UMF International & Global Studies (IGS)

Discover this 100% online degree

At the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF), the International & Global Studies program empowers students to explore the world through a flexible, career-focused academic pathway. Delivered through a strategic partnership with the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s (UMPI) YourPace program, this fully online offering allows students to study global systems, cultures, and international issues at their own pace and on their own schedule.

Designed for today’s globally minded learners, the program integrates coursework in history, political science, international relations, and foreign language. Students engage with topics such as human rights, global conflict, economic development, and non-Western perspectives, preparing them for careers in diplomacy, government, education, NGOs, and international business.

This partnership brings together UMF’s strong academic foundation and UMPI’s innovative competency-based learning model. Students earn credit as they demonstrate mastery, accelerating their learning and controlling their timelines ideal for working adults, transfer students, or those seeking flexible pathways to a degree.

Whether you’re launching an international career, enhancing your global awareness, or preparing for graduate study, the International & Global Studies program at Farmington offers the knowledge, skills, and flexibility to help you thrive in a connected world.

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What is Competency-Based Education?

Designed to leverage your previous knowledge, college coursework, and work experience, competency-based education enables you to earn your degree at your pace as you demonstrate mastery of relevant academic content. The University of Maine at Presque Isle has been a leader in delivering competency-based education since 2017.

How YourPace saves you time and money:

Prove your knowledge, move ahead—the faster you advance, the more you save
Flat tuition rate per 8-week session, no matter how many courses you complete
With no weekly deadlines, you control the speed of completion*

*Time to completion varies by student and is based on several factors including prior college coursework, relevant work experience, amount of time dedicated to studying, and the number of courses completed each session.

Upcoming Session Dates

The Dates YourPace Students Need to Know

There are six opportunities throughout the year to begin our YourPace online program. Find the start date below that works best for you and apply before the application deadline. Please note, application and document deadlines are the same. UMPI must receive all documents including official transcripts by the document deadline to be considered. Transcripts can often take 10 or more business days from the request date to be received by UMPI, please plan accordingly.

Term	APP DEADLINE (4:00 PM ET)	START DATE	DOCUMENT DEADLINE	CONFIRMATION DEADLINE (4:00 PM ET)	REGISTRATION DEADLINE	TUITION DEADLINE	CLASS END DATE	Term Length
Fall 1	08/01/25	09/02/25	08/12/25	08/19/25	08/26/25	08/28/25	10/24/25	8 weeks
Fall 2	09/26/25	10/27/25	10/07/25	10/14/25	10/21/25	10/23/25	12/19/25	8 weeks
Spring 1	12/12/25	01/12/26	12/23/25	12/30/25	01/06/26	01/08/26	03/06/26	8 weeks
Spring 2	02/06/26	03/09/26	02/17/26	02/24/26	03/03/26	03/05/26	05/01/26	8 weeks
Summer 1	04/10/26	05/11/26	04/21/26	04/28/26	05/05/26	05/07/26	07/03/26	8 weeks
Summer 2	06/05/26	07/06/26	06/16/26	06/23/26	06/30/26	07/07/26	08/28/26	8 weeks

YourPace IGS Program Offerings

The University of Maine at Farmington delivers a forward-thinking International & Global Studies program, designed to prepare students for leadership in today’s interconnected world. Powered by YourPace at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, this fully online and competency-based program allows you to progress at your own pace while earning a degree rooted in global knowledge, ethics, and critical thinking.

The core of the major is a program of cross-listed courses that may be taken in combination at UMF, through travel courses, and during study abroad, in areas such such as: anthropology, business, Chinese, economics, education, French, geography, history, Japanese, political science, religion and Spanish.

The UMF International and Global Studies program provides you with greater knowledge and appreciation of the world’s diverse socio-cultural, economic, and political systems while exploring critical historical and contemporary issues that span the globe.

It helps broaden your potential career options, including careers in areas such as: international business & tourism, global health, international development, ESL and international education, immigration and refugee services, international law, human rights & conflict resolution, government and foreign service, non-governmental & aid agencies.

In this YourPace online program, you will learn to:

Examine how cultural, historical, and political systems shape global relations
Investigate the forces of globalization, inequality, and transnational challenges
Analyze global conflicts and study foreign policy development
Apply ethical reasoning to issues in international affairs
Explore case studies across regions including Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East

Faculty with Real-World Experience

Whether you want to influence local government, shape public programs, or lead community change, you’ll learn from UMF faculty who have worked directly in the policy field. Their insights and guidance help you master each competency at your own pace, so you gain practical skills and confidence to step into leadership roles.

YourPace Tuition

Learn more about our affordable tuition

The YourPace IGS Program offers an affordable flat tuition rate, ensuring you pay the same amount per session regardless of how many courses you complete. With no hidden fees or additional textbook costs, this flexible competency-based education program allows you to save more the faster you finish. Whether you’re looking to accelerate your degree or complete courses at your own pace, you’ll benefit from transparent pricing and a cost-effective learning experience.

Financial aid is available in the form of loans on the FAFSA website.
UMF school code 002040

Tuition breakdown:

$1,800 per session

Flat-Rate Tuition

Frequently Asked YourPace International & Global Studies Questions

In a competency-based model, you progress by demonstrating mastery of specific skills or topics rather than following a fixed schedule. This approach lets you focus on areas where you need development while bypassing content you already know.

Yes. Students will complete the University of Maine at Farmington’s General Education Curriculum requirements and can use UMPI YourPace courses to meet those requirements.

Have questions or need more information about competency based education?

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Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online?

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UMPI is ranked as one of the top 10 Regional Colleges in the North for graduates with least debt—UMPI is the top institution in Maine and all of New England to appear on this list. – U.S. News & World Report, 2025.

EXPECT to Finish at YourPace

YourPace Courses Success Coach Center for Innovative Learning

YourPace Admissions

Requirements for these International & Global Studies program offerings

We’ve made the admission process simple and streamlined so it’s easier for you to get started. Those interested in earning their competency based education degree in IGS should have the equivalent of a high school diploma and possess some prior college credit and/or work experience.

Admission Requirements:

No Application Fee

Minimum 1.75 GPA

Admissions Requirements and Guidelines for Undergraduate Programs

Students must be 20 years of age at the time of application.
High school diploma or equivalent (e.g., HiSet, GED)
Minimum cumulative college of GPA 1.75 from most recently attended institution
- Submission of all official transcripts:Transcripts are only considered official if they are sent directly to UMPI from the granting institution or their electronic ordering service. Student-submitted transcripts are not accepted.
Students who do not have any college credits must submit the following:
- Provide high school transcript, high school equivalency test (HiSet), or GED

Instructions for international students:

All international transcripts will only be accepted if the student provides them through an evaluation service. The evaluation agency must be a member of NACES or AICE. We will not accept unofficial copies (e.g., from the student)
Canadian schools and universities from a French-only institution (mostly in the province of Quebec) must be evaluated
International students are required to demonstrate English proficiency by submitting scores from an English language proficiency test taken no more than two-years prior to date of application

Additional guidelines for international applicants may be found here.

Please Note: Student under 20 years of age do not meet the requirements for the YourPace programs. We do offer other programs that may meet your needs. If you would like more information about our traditional programs, please visit https://www.umpi.edu/admissions/. You can also reach out to the Admissions Office at umpi-admissions@maine.edu or by calling 207.768.9433.

Institutions and third-party vendors may submit official documents such as official transcripts and English proficiency exam score reports to: edocs@maine.edu

Mailing Address:

Application Processing Center
PO Box 412
Bangor, ME 04402-0412

YourPace International & Global Studies Courses

This YourPace degree from UMF empowers students to explore global issues through a flexible and personalized academic plan. Courses are drawn from disciplines like political science, history, art, economics, and anthropology. A core set of foundational courses is complemented by electives aligned with your unique policy or regional interests.

A look at the UMF Bachelor of Arts: International & Global Studies YourPace Degree

At UMF, we believe that meaningful understanding of complex global issues requires a broader academic lens. Our Bachelor of Arts in International & Global Studies follows an interdisciplinary model that breaks down traditional academic silos. Students explore at least two distinct but related fields of study, gaining a well-rounded perspective that connects disciplines, deepens critical thinking, and prepares them to navigate a globally interconnected world.

About the Concentration

International and Global Studies (IGS) introduces students to the global community as they develop a greater knowledge and appreciation of the diverse cultural, historical, economic, linguistic, and political systems in the world.

Required Courses:

INS 100 – Introduction to International and Global Studies (Social Science) Credits: 3

Elective courses:

27 credits – at least 6 credits at the 300 level

Each semester the IGS program will publish a list of courses offered on campus that can count for an elective in the program.

Catalog listing of electives.

[Additional courses can be added to this list; note that not all of these electives will be available at the time of program launch ]

Course	Title	Credits
ANT 210	Latin America: Cultures and Contexts	3
ANT 365	Health, Healing and Society	3
ARH 272	History of Japanese Art	3
EPP 310	Sustainable Development in Practice	3
HTY 212	Making of the Modern World	3
HTY 353	Israeli-Palestinian Conflict	3
MUH 259	Music of Japan	3
POS 121	Comparative Politics	3
POS 226	Islam and Politics	3
POS 241	Comparative Social Policy	3
POS 336	Globalization and Governance	3
POS 341	Immigration Policy	3

View Course Catalog

YourPace Partnership Program

This University of Maine at Farmington degree is powered by YourPace at UMPI. This innovative YourPace partnership program provides adult learners with an incredibly flexible, accessible, and affordable pathway to degree completion and career advancement. UMPI is the first public university in New England to offer accredited CBE degrees and is the only campus in the University of Maine System approved by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) to deliver CBE programming.

NECHE

The University of Maine at Presque Isle and the University of Maine at Farmington are accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

University of Maine System

UMPI and UMF are respected members of the University of Maine System.

C-BEN

UMPI is proud to be a member institution in the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN).

What can you do with a degree in International & Global Studies?

Next Step: Admissions

We’re so excited that you’re considering the University of Maine at Presque Isle! As a student at UMPI, we want your experience to be anything but ordinary! So what makes UMPI extraordinary? Our Learning Environment, Our Student Engagement and Our Location!

No matter what stage of life you are in, we can help you take the plunge into higher education and put you on YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS!

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UMF International & Global Studies (IGS)