UMass Boston

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

• A minimum, cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or international equivalent) in all undergraduate work, though an exception may be made based on the holistic strength of the application
• A master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of recognized standing or an international equivalent at the time of enrollment
• Official transcripts for all institutions where you have earned more than 6 credits: Applicants who completed the majority of their undergraduate coursework outside of the United States are typically required to submit official TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English proficiency test score
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Statement of Purpose
• Two (2) letters of recommendation
• Two (2) writing samples

Deadlines: February 15 for fall

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Program Cost Information: For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or send an email to Bursar@umb.edu. Please refer to Graduate Student Financial Aid for more information on financial aid.

Core Required Courses (15 Credits)

• GISD 601 - Current and Historical Perspectives on Global Inclusion and Social Development 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 605 - International Responses to Social Inclusion 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 606 - Research and Evaluation in Diverse Settings: Methods and Implications 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 801 - Innovations Seminar 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 802 - Social Innovations in Domestic Settings Seminar 3 Credit(s)

Core Electives (9 Credits)

Complete three from below.

• GISD 608 - Ethics and Professionalism in Global Inclusion and Social Development 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 609 - Justice: A Global Transdisciplinary Framework for Culture and Innovation 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 610 - Strategies for Systemic Change 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 611 - Managing Change: Supporting Communities and Embracing Cultures 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 615 - State, Sovereignty and Governance for Inclusion and Social Development 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 616 - Population Needs and Global Practice 3 Credit(s)

Concentration Courses (15 Credits)

Complete five courses from one of the concentrations below.

• Disability Studies Concentration
• Gerontology Concentration
• Human Rights Concentration
• Nonprofit Management Concentration
• Transnational, Cultural, and Community Studies Concentration
• Individualized Plan of Study Concentration

Advanced Electives (12 Credits)

Complete four electives chosen in consultation with the graduate program director. Two electives must be research courses.

Research Seminars (6 Credits)

• GISD 898 - Transdisciplinary Research to Practice Group 3 Credit(s) - complete two semesters

Dissertation Seminars (12 Credits)

• GISD 899 - Dissertation Research Seminar 6 Credit(s) - complete two semesters

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Core Required Courses (12 Credits)

• GISD 601 - Current and Historical Perspectives on Global Inclusion and Social Development 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 602 - GISD 602 Research in Diverse Settings: Challenging Epistemological Hegemony 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 605 - International Responses to Social Inclusion 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 803 - Qualitative Methods: Research Praxis for Global Justice 3 Credit(s)

Core Electives (9 Credits)

Complete three from below.

• GISD 608 - Ethics and Professionalism in Global Inclusion and Social Development 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 609 - Justice: A Global Transdisciplinary Framework for Culture and Innovation 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 610 - Strategies for Systemic Change 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 611 - Managing Change: Supporting Communities and Embracing Cultures 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 615 - State, Sovereignty and Governance for Inclusion and Social Development 3 Credit(s)
• GISD 616 - Population Needs and Global Practice 3 Credit(s)

Advanced Electives (18 Credits)

Complete six electives chosen in consultation with the graduate program director. Three electives must be research courses; of the three research electives, one must have a quantitative focus.

Research Seminar (3 Credits)

Complete one semester of transdisciplinary research seminar.

• GISD 898 - Transdisciplinary Research to Practice Group 3 Credit(s)

Dissertation Seminars (12 Credits)

• GISD 899 - Dissertation Research Seminar 6 Credit(s) - complete two semesters

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

In this program, students will:

• Examine how to deepen inclusion and social development, from the local to the global level. For their doctoral degrees, students conduct rigorous original research around the world and in the United States, adding to existing knowledge in meaningful ways so as to affect the lives of marginalized populations and make meaningful policy change.
• Examine the interrelationships among health, wellness, social development, political participation, organizational behavior, and economic empowerment in the context of vulnerability. Our transdisciplinary approach allows students to think outside of traditional academic silos and engage in cutting-edge methodologies that produce original research outcomes.
• Upon completion of their degrees, pursue careers in policy, research, and education in universities; national and international nonprofits; civil society organizations; bilateral and multi-lateral institutions; local, regional, and national governments; and the for-profit sector. In all these roles, they increase inclusion and improve social development regionally, nationally, and globally.

Post-Bachelor's Option

Complete 69 credits from 21 courses including five required core courses, three elective core courses, five concentration courses, four advanced electives, two research seminars, and two dissertation seminars.

Concentration: Students must choose a concentration from disability studies; gerontology; human rights; non-profit management; transnational, cultural, and community studies; or individual plan of study.
Capstone: Completion of a master’s project consisting of a 7,000 to 8,000 word writing project (research paper, policy analysis project, program development project, grant application, or self-directed paper) and a public oral or poster presentation of the writing project.
Doctoral candidacy: Successful completion of a written and oral comprehensive examination of content related to the core courses in the program.
Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research.
Second language proficiency: Each PhD student must achieve a certain level of proficiency in a language other than their native language. American Sign Language (ASL) can be used as a second language.

En Route Master’s Degree: Students may, with the approval of the program director, apply to receive an MS degree en route to the PhD. To qualify, students must complete the requirements outlined in the Global Inclusion and Social Development (MA) program.

GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required from all courses applied toward the program.
Residency: No more than six credits of graduate coursework from another institution may be applied toward the program. Transfer courses must have a grade of B or higher and be approved by the graduate program director.
Statute of limitations: Eight years.

Post-Master's Option

Complete 54 credits from 16 courses including four required core courses, three program elective core courses, six advanced electives (one elective must be quantitative research oriented), one research seminar, and two dissertation seminars.

Students who are interested in earning a second master’s degree, or do not have a master’s degree, can complete the 67 credit post-bachelors option.

Doctoral candidacy: Successful completion of a written comprehensive comprehensive statement that links core concepts and content with students’ area of research; the comprehensive statement is woven into students’ dissertation proposals and evaluated as part of the dissertation proposal process during dissertation seminar.
Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research

Second language proficiency: Each PhD student must achieve a certain level of proficiency in a language other than their native language. American Sign Language (ASL) can be used as a second language.

GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required from all courses applied toward the program.
Residency: No more than six credits of graduate coursework from another institution may be applied toward the program. Transfer courses must have a grade of B or higher and be approved by the graduate program director.
Statute of limitations: Eight years.

Graduate Program Director Valerie Karr
valerie.karr@umb.edu
(617) 287-4336