Director’s Message

Welcome! Since its launch in 2012, Georgetown’s Global Human Development Program has quickly established itself as home to one of the world’s premiere master’s degree programs in international development. The GHD degree is an innovative, academically rigorous skills-based graduate program that is preparing the next generation of development professionals to work with public sector agencies, private businesses, and non-profit organizations involved in development. Through coursework, extracurricular activities, faculty mentoring, and practical field work experiences, our graduates develop the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary to become leaders in development, and to make a difference in our global community.

We are proud to be part of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service family, which has earned a long-standing global reputation for excellence and has been the top-ranked school of international affairs in the world for many years. In recent years the School – and the University more broadly – has attracted many new top-flight faculty with outstanding records of practical experience, research and teaching in development. There are very few universities — if any — that have as many people working in applied development as Georgetown. With our small class sizes and frequent small group discussions, there are substantial opportunities for regular interactions and strong relationships among the students and between students and faculty.

The GHD program strongly emphasizes practical hands-on opportunities for students to work on real-world development issues. Students intern with the many development organizations here in Washington, D.C., spend their summer field experience working on exciting projects in developing counties, and devote their second-year Capstone project to engaging with a real-world client over several months on an issue of importance to the client organization. As a result, our students complete the program with significant professional experience, and a wealth of contacts to help them in the job market. Finally, there is no better place to study development and take advantage of practical opportunities for enrichment than Washington DC. Within three miles of campus are the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, USAID, the State Department, MCC, Peace Corps, and dozens of some of the finest development organizations in the world. Our deep contacts with, and close proximity to, these organizations provide ample opportunities for students to regularly engage with professionals working in these and other organizations as they prepare to launch their career.

We would love to have you join us! To learn more, stop by for a visit, or call or email us for more information.

Steve Radelet, PhD
Donald F. McHenry Chair in Global Human Development
Director, Global Human Development Program