International Transactions (ITRN)

Related Catalog Entry: The Institute of Public Policy

Related Mason Website: The Institute of Public Policy (http://www.gmu.edu/departments/tipp/)

500 Approaches to International Commerce and Policy (3:3:0). First foundation course in the ICP program. Introduces the fields of national economic policy and international trade, investment, and finance.Using a case-study method, students learn basic economic concepts such as national income accounting, balance of payments, and factors affecting foreign exchange rates. Students are also given practice in comparing national strategies for growth and development and in using political and economic analysis to assess the reasons for the choice of a national economic strategy and its relative effectiveness.

502 Comparative Political Institutions (3:3:0). Introduces the political institutions of the United States and its major trading partners in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The course underlines American exceptionalism, how the latter is manifested in the country's institutions and policies, and what consequences it has for America's international position.

503 Investment and Macroeconomics for International Commerce (3:3:0). Provides students with an overview of basic concepts in macroeconomic theory, as well as mathematical skills, with an emphasis on their application to problems of the contemporary global economy. The course covers subjects such as monetary systems, balance of payments, the foreign exchange market, foreign investment and international institutions, and issues in world monetary arrangements.

504 Trade and Microeconomics for International Commerce (3:3:0). Provides a foundation in international economics and presents the fundamentals of international trade, finance, and transactions. The course focuses on alternative approaches to understanding the international economic system. Topics include classical and neoclassical theories of trade, alternative theories of trade and their extensions, tariffs, customs unions, institutions, and economic development. Students learn to employ appropriate analytical approaches, including graphical analyses, and to communicate the results concisely. Throughout, the emphasis is on relating theory to practical applications.

601 Research and Analysis Methods for International Commerce (3:3:0). Provides the skills necessary to conduct qualitative and quantitative research and analysis of international trade and transactions. Students obtain practical information on sources of data, their origins, strengths, and weaknesses. The course helps students develop tools for statistical analysis of data, and includes use of computers for analyzing and displaying information. It covers major data sources as well as literature and indices related to international transactions. A final oral and written presentation that demonstrates skill in communicating complex data concisely is required.

602 International Financial Institutions and Globalization (3:3:0). Focuses on the activities and roles of financial institutions in the international financial system. This course examines basic concepts of international finance; international, regional, and national financial organizations; and financial markets. Key policy issues such as the environment and externalities, equity issues and sectoral imbalances, the international debt crisis, and financial challenges facing the new and developing states are discussed. A variety of financial instruments are examined, and case studies of particular transactions are explored. This course provides a conceptual foundation for understanding global financial issues, as well as a practical understanding of the financing sources for international transactions.

603 International Trade Relations (3:3:0). Examines the role of the United States in the world economy and the evolving global trading system. The course analyzes the regulatory framework for trade, and the political dynamics of international trade relations. Particular attention is given to domestic trading institutions and global and regional institutions such as the GATT/WTO, NAFTA, EU, and APEC. The debate between free and fair trade advocates as well as prospects for U.S. trade policy are examined.

604 International Trade and Technology (3:3:0). Examines science and technology policies and international trade, with an emphasis on their relationships and interactions. The roles of science and technology as economic drivers are assessed, and the strategies employed by companies and governments to link research and development to economic growth and competitiveness are explored. The research and development systems and technology-related trade policies of the United States, Japan, Europe, major developing countries, and selected newly industrialized economies are examined, with an emphasis on policies affecting trade and technology. Specific cases involving interactions between science, technology, and international trade are explored.

605 International Commerce and Culture (3:3:0). Examines and applies the major dimensions of cultural analysis to international commerce and policy. The course assesses cultural perspectives that influence the flow of peoples, messages, goods, capital, and technology across national and cultural boundaries. It focuses on problems that U.S. officials and the business community face when conducting activities in the context of differing cultures and value systems. Examples from particular world culture zones are considered, including East Asia, Africa, the Muslim world, Europe, and the former Soviet Union.

612 International Business Operations and the Multinational Corporation (3:3:0). Examines the international business environment and the challenges facing companies in conducting operations in an increasingly interconnected global marketplace. The course focuses on issues of management and organization, as well as on the resolution of conflicts that may arise between business organizations and their home and host governments. An additional focus is on the role of multinational corporations in the international environment and their impact on global trade, economic development, and the political system. Trade and international investment theories and the world financial environment are also studied. Broad issues such as sovereignty of decision making and the global impact of business activities are also explored.

701 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy (1-3:1-3:0). Offers specialized courses by institute or adjunct faculty on various aspects of international commerce and policy.

702 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy: Study Abroad (3:3:0). Provides an opportunity for study abroad under the supervision of a George Mason faculty member. Course topics, content, and locations vary.

710 International Business Transactions: Finance and Investment (3:3:0). Focuses on techniques for financing of trade and on payment methods, including letters of credit, countertrade, and other approaches. Issues of direct concern in the financing of international business operations, such as preparing financing proposals, risk insurance, international taxation, pricing policies, and currency conversion and foreign exchange risk management, are covered. The course introduces concepts of foreign direct investment, alliances and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other methods for investing overseas.

711 United States Law and Global Trade (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ITRN 603 or permission of instructor. Surveys the types of regulations imposed by the United States, foreign governments, and international institutions on transnational business activities. The course reviews the principal regulatory bodies in the United States and overseas, their powers, and their authorities. Tariffs and customs regulations; product safety and environmental restrictions; intellectual property, copyright, trademark and patent regulations; and licensing rules are covered. The course also covers special restrictions that may be imposed because of political considerations such as embargoes, munitions controls, and antibribery and antiboycott regulations.

712 World Trade Organization and Global Trade (3:3:0). Focuses on the legal aspects of international trade regulation by studying the international legal and political regime established under the WTO and assessing the impact of domestic economic legislation on U.S. trade regulations.

716 European Union in the International System (3:3:0). Examines current developments in European market integration from a global perspective. Emphasizes the impact of the single market and proposed economic and monetary union of the United States and other major trading partners. Examines European economic relations with Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the Lome Pact countries.

718 Japan's International Trade and Technology (3:3:0). Examines the interrelationship of international trade and economic development in post-war Japan. Focuses on the importance of technology in Japan's domestic and international trade policies. Emphasizes current business and political issues in the context of the global trading system.

720 Regional and Supranational Organizations (3:3:0). Assesses the role of international organizations in the international system today and focuses on a wide range of international and regional economic and political institutions. Emphasizes the changing nature of these organizations in relation to nation states and the relationship of international organizations to U.S. national security and economic interests.

730 Information Technology Fundamentals for International Business and Trade (3:3:0). Deals with technology and issues relating to the emergence of computing, information, and telecommunications technologies in the mainstream of society. The aim is to provide a general understanding and facility with technologies of contemporary interest.

731 Business to Business Marketing in International Commerce (3:3:0). Provides students with an understanding of the concepts of the international marketing process and the international environment within which companies operate.

732 International Commodities Transactions (3:3:0). Provides students with a framework for understanding the design and valuation of derivative securities and their use in managing financial risk. Students are familiarized with the instruments and institutions of U.S. financial markets, focusing particularly on "derivative" markets.

734 Pricing in International Commerce (3:3:0). Deals with learning the theory and techniques of pricing that enable an organization to effectively pursue its marketing and business strategies.

736 Sources of Growth in East Asia (3:3:0). Examines the extraordinary economic success of the East Asian NIEs and some of their present problems. The focus is on understanding the proximate sources of growth, the role of technological development, and salient political issues.

737 World Trade in Semiconductors and Information Technologies (3:3:0). Examines bilateral and multilateral approaches to world trade in technology products. The U.S.-Japan Agreement on Semiconductors and its successor agreements are compared with those of the WTO. The course also looks at the effects of the agreements on U.S. industry, their relevance to trade development, and commercial transactions.

738 Fundamentals of International Marketing (3:3:0). Allows students to acquire a working knowledge of principles and practices that enable managers to effectively market organizations, products, services, and brands. The course emphasizes the international dimensions of marketing where appropriate.

740 ABCs of Exporting and Importing (3:3:0). Acquaints students with legal, regulatory, and practical issues that arise in importation and exportation of merchandise. Topics include the theoretical framework for government oversight of international movement of goods; legal issues between parties and governments; and practical guidance concerning the structuring of import and export transactions to avoid legal and tariff liability.

742 Technology Policy and International Strategies (3:3:0). Introduces students to the opportunities and problems created for organizations and society by the emerging Internet and policies affecting the trajectory of Internet developments. Also covered are technological factors in the planning horizon and domestic policy and international treaty factors affecting the Internet trajectory; and new horizons for Internet applications.

743 Global Policy and Business Scenarios (3:3:0). Scenario planning is a rational way of laying out a broad range of future opportunities and then systematically preparing for them. This class focuses on learning the methodology of scenario planning through the use of a challenging case study.

744 The Politics of International Competitiveness (3:3:0). An inquiry into the governance problems of public managers and political leaders as they cope with global competitiveness in the post-industrial era. The course focuses on the integration of the public and private sectors worldwide, with special emphasis on the U.S. role and how it influences such areas as technology transfer, national security, electronic commerce, trade policies, money flows, and human resources.

750 Trade and Politics in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union (3:3:0). Examines the background of and recent developments in the political, business, and cultural environment confronting American firms seeking to do business in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The course emphasizes international trade patterns and relations between these states and the United States. It examines modes of doing business in these countries and the unique problems American firms confront. The focus is on privatization, joint ventures, and countertrade.

751 Trade, Investment, and Politics in the Western Hemisphere (3:3:0). Examines the cultural, political, economic, and legal aspects of conducting business and trade with countries of the Western Hemisphere. The focus is on the evolving pattern of inter- and intra-hemisphere trade, as well as on the region's global trade integration. Special attention is given to NAFTA and other bilateral and regional agreements, and to the potential for and implications of a free trade area in the hemisphere. The course emphasizes manipulation and analysis of regional trade data to describe and project trade patterns.

752 International Business Lobbying in the United States, Europe, and Japan (3:3:0). Presents a comparative overview of the lobbying process and of lobbying practices, and explores the representation of foreign firms in the United States, the European Community and its member states, and Japan. Contemporary problems relating to lobbying by multinational corporations in a foreign political and cultural setting are examined.

754 International Commercialization of Space (3:3:0). Examines the international market for space activities and services, including launch and satellite operations. The roles of space technology and the legal, political, and business environments in which space activities take place are emphasized. The course includes study of technological, financial, legal, and regulatory issues.

756 National Security and the Global Economy (3:3:0). Examines the impact of globalization and changes in the international economic and political systems on concepts of national security. The nexus of economic and security concerns in the post-cold war era, with particular attention to emerging issues, including trade and economic security, proliferation of advanced military technology and control of weapons of mass destruction, international drug trafficking, and defense conversion, is emphasized. The focus is on the implications of changing security requirements on U.S. defense and economic policy and activities.

757 Global Corporate Business Planning and the Competitive Edge (3:3:0). Provides students with an introduction to planning international business activities, including licensing agreements, joint ventures, acquisitions, and divestitures. Using a step-by-step planning methodology, students learn to integrate marketing, financial, regulatory, legal, and cultural factors into a management strategy and business plan.

758 Global Market Planning Practicum (3:3:0). Provides students with an opportunity to develop an international market plan for a specific industry or service sector. Students consult with industry experts and use key trade databases to develop a strategic plan that recommends market entry strategies. The completed market plan is submitted to industry experts for their use and dissemination.

759 Trade Licensing, Controls, and Documentation (3:3:0). Examines legislation and practices concerning regulation of trade. Current customs and import-export control regulations and documentation requirements for international transactions are reviewed. The course is designed for students who need a practical and detailed understanding of rules and documentation for international business transactions.

760 International Environmental Politics (3:3:0). Examines the growing concerns related to global environmental issues, and problems that they pose to political institutions—domestic, foreign, and international. The course covers the major environmental issues such as global warming, ozone depletion, cross-border flow of pollution, and threats to biodiversity. It assesses the strengths and weaknesses of traditional political institutions in dealing with these issues and providing for sustainable economic development while limiting environmental damage.

761 European Political and Economic Union (3:3:0). Examines the movement for European integration since World War II, focusing on the political and institutional development of the European Community/Union. Topics include theories of European integration, the Treaties of Rome, the Single European Act, the Maastricht Treaty, EU policies and programs, and the European Union's external relations. Analyzes especially the changing nature of U.S.-EU relations and prospects for EU enlargement into Central and Eastern Europe.

764 Trade, Investment, and Politics in East Asia (3:3:0). Examines issues related to international transactions involving Korea, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, with some attention to Japan. The focus is on trade and financial relations between these East Asian nations and the United States. The course assesses the impact of culture and domestic political and economic institutions within these states as well as their roles in regional institutions and in the international system.

765 Trade, Investment, and Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa (3:3:0). Examines the role and potential of sub-Saharan Africa in the international trading system. Political, historical, cultural, and development factors are emphasized. The course focuses on the perspectives of U.S. firms as well as on international institutions trading or investing in this region.

766 Trade, Investment, and Politics in the Middle East and North Africa (3:3:0). Examines the major economic, political, and cultural issues that influence trade and investment relations with the Middle East and North Africa. The course focuses on the roles of international and regional institutions in economic development, and develops an understanding of the challenges facing the region and of their implications for the formulation of trade and investment strategies by U.S. firms.

767 Political Economy and Integration in Latin America (3:3:0). Examines the contemporary political, economic, and cultural dynamics of the Latin American and Caribbean regions. Issues and trends that affect U.S.-Latin American political, business, and trade relations, particularly recent political and economic reforms, are emphasized. The course examines the roles of domestic interest groups and decision-making systems in individual countries, as well as the evolution of regional integration arrangements and integration with the international system.

768 Global Intellectual Property Rights and International Trade (3:3:0). Examines national, regional, and international systems for the protection of intellectual property. The course addresses the current international system and the ongoing multilateral efforts to strengthen intellectual property protection worldwide. Regions and countries that pose special challenges for intellectual property, and U.S. policy and law related to these challenges, are examined.

769 International Entrepreneurship (3:3:0). Introduces students to a practical planning approach for small and medium-size entrepreneurial firms seeking to enter the international marketplace. The course focuses on the key business and financial documents related to doing business overseas, and assesses the role of language, technology, and information systems in formulating a successful business strategy. Role playing and simulated negotiations provide opportunities for students to sharpen their business skills.

770 International Contract Negotiation (3:3:0). Reviews the growing role of arbitration in international transactions. The roles of international, national, and government arbitration bodies, with a particular emphasis on how differing cultural characteristics affect negotiating behavior and the effectiveness of arbitration, are examined.

771 Trade, Investment and Politics in South and Southeast Asia (3:3:0). Focuses on trade and finance issues in the most dynamic countries of South and Southeast Asia. The course assesses cultural and political factors, regional trade patterns, and institutions, with a focus on the implications for regional development and for business opportunities for U.S. firms.

772 International Telecommunications (3:3:0). Focuses on developments in the field of international telecommunications and satellite regulation. The regulatory environment and the business and financial aspects of the global telecommunications industry are examined.

773 International Strategic Management (3:3:0). Presents a comprehensive approach to international strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation processes affecting policy and program development within multinational firms and government agencies. Integrates marketing, finance, accounting, and management. Covers techniques for forecasting international business, political, economic, technological, legal, and socio-cultural forces.

780 Internship (1/3:3:0). Open to authorized graduate majors only. Departmental and advisor approval are necessary before enrolling. Provides the student with a practical work experience in state, federal, or international agencies or the private sector. A written project that integrates the work experience and the student's academic program is required.

790 Independent Study (1/3:3:0). Open to authorized graduate majors only. Departmental and advisor approval are necessary before enrolling. Provides students an opportunity to pursue intensive research in an area of particular interest not covered by other courses. Note: Not all courses earn three hours of graduate credit. Some courses may vary in length and thus in credits earned. Some course requirements are subject to change.