George Mason University 1997-98 Catalog Catalog Index
Course Descriptions

Search the 1997-1998 Catalog:

Public and International Affairs


Faculty

Robinson Professors: Heclo, Paden

Professors: Clark, Dawisha, Gortner, Pfiffner, White

Associate Professors: Brown, Conant, Conlan, Dudley, Friedlander, Gifford, Hart Nibbrig, Katz, Knight, Mahler, Hung Nguyen, Regan, Sacco, Travis

Assistant Professors: Cargo, Harbour, McFerson, Norman-Major, Rosenblatt, Spalding, Spengler, Wan

Adjunct Professors: Bodilly, Bushee, Butler, Cummings, Czarda, Doyle, Edner, Erickson, Fiorino, First, Froehlich, Jian, Kane, Korotkin, Puscheck, Rodela, Sigman, Tucker

Affiliate Faculty, The Institute of Public Policy: Fukuyama, Fuller, Garreau, Haynes, Kash, Lipset, Stough

Affiliate Faculty, International Institute: Dinan, Barry, Francis

Affiliate Faculty, Program on Social and Organizational Learning: Addleson, Joseph

Affiliate Faculty, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution: Mitchell, Rubenstein, Sandole

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated GOVT and PUAD in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog.


Undergraduate Programs in Public and International Affairs

B.A. Degree with a Major in Government and Politics

See College of Arts and Sciences section in the catalog for general education requirements for the B.A. degree. In addition to general requirements, candidates must complete the following:

  1. 12 credit hours in core requirements: GOVT 103; 132, 133, or 149; 241; 250

  2. 24 credit hours in advanced government courses. At least 3 credit hours must be taken from each of the fields listed below:

    American Institutions and Behavior: GOVT 301-319, 410-419

    Political Theory: GOVT 320-329, 420-429

    Comparative and International: GOVT 330-349, 430-449

    Public Administration and Policy: GOVT 350-369, 450-469

    GOVT 480 or 490 may be substituted for two of the upper-division courses with permission of adviser. Only three hours of GOVT 480 may be substituted for a major requirement.

  3. 6 credit hours in analytic skills from the following: CS 103, 262; DESC 200; ECON 103, 104;
    GOVT 359, 459; MATH 106, 108, 110;
    STAT 250, 362; SOCI 221, 405

A total of 120 credit hours is required for the B.A. degree, 45 of which must have been at the 300 and 400 levels. Only GOVT courses passed with a grade of C or better may be used to fulfill major requirements.

B.A. Degree with a Major in International Studies

See College of Arts and Sciences section in the catalog for general education requirements for the B.A. degree. In addition to general requirements, candidates must complete the following:

  1. 15 credit hours in core requirements, distributed as follows:

  2. 12 credit hours of advanced courses in international studies, distributed as follows:

    GOVT 330s, 340s, 430s, 440s. GOVT 480 or 490 may be substituted for two courses with permission of adviser. Only three hours of GOVT 480 may be substituted for a major requirement.

  3. ECON 103 and 104 (also fulfills 6 credits of general education social sciences requirements)

  4. 12 credit hours in upper-level approved courses from the following: ANTH, COMM, ECON, EUST, FREN, GEOG, GERM, HIST, LAS, MLSC, PHIL, RELI, RUSS, SOCI, SPAN, STAM, UNIV (an approved course list is available in the department), and USST.

  5. 3 credit hours in an upper-level course in the same language the student has taken to complete the B.A. general education requirements. Literature courses taught in translation are excluded; RUSS 252 is included. This requirement is waived for international students from non-English-speaking countries.

A total of 120 credit hours is required for the B.A. degree, 45 of which must have been at the 300 and 400 levels. Only GOVT courses and upper-level approved courses passed with a grade of C or better may be used to fulfill major requirements.

B.S. Degree with a Major in Public Administration

  1. 39 credit hours in general education requirements, including the following:

  2. 15 credit hours of core requirements, including GOVT 103; 132, 133, or 149; 204; 241; 250

  3. 21 credit hours of advanced government courses including GOVT 355, 356, and 451 (students can substitute GOVT 357, 452, or 490 for one of these); one course from GOVT 320s or 420s; one course from GOVT 360s or 460s

    6 credits taken outside of GOVT 350s and 450s (can include 480, 490, or 496). Only three hours of GOVT 480 may be substituted for a major requirement.

  4. ECON 103, 104, and one upper-level course

  5. 3 credit hours in ACCT

  6. GOVT 359 or 459

  7. 12 credit hours in either Option A or B below:

A total of 120 credit hours is required for the degree, 45 of which must have been at the 300 and 400 levels. Only GOVT courses passed with a grade of C or better may be used to fulfill major requirements.

Minors


Minor in American Government
This minor develops knowledge of the principles, institutions, and behaviors of the American political system. A minor in American Government requires 18 hours of government courses, including GOVT 103 Introduction to American Government. Select 5 additional courses from the following:

Minor in Public Policy and Management
This minor introduces students to the theory and process of policy formulation and implementation in the politcal/governmental arena. A minor in Public Policy and Management requires 18 hours of government courses, including GOVT 103 Introduction to American Government. Select 5 additional courses from the following:

Minor in International/Comparative Studies
This minor increases students' awareness of the regions and current issues of the world on theoretical and practical levels. A minor in International/Comparative Studies requires 18 hours of government courses, including GOVT 132 or 133 Introduction to International/Comparative Politics. Select 5 additional courses from the following:

Minor in Legal Studies
This minor focuses on the constitutional foundations, interpretation, processes, and functions of domestic and international law. A minor in Legal Studies requires 18 hours of government courses, including GOVT 103 Introduction to American Government. Select 5 additional courses from the following:


PAGE Program

The general education requirements (with the exception of foreign language) for the B.A. and B.S. degrees are satisfied by successful completion of the Program for Alternative General Education (PAGE). See PAGE category in this catalog, and see PAGE office for sample schedule for majors in Government and Politics, International Studies, and Public Administration. PAGE courses will not be available after May 1998.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in Government and Politics, International Studies, and Public Administration may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing the 300-level GOVT courses in their major programs.

Teacher Licensure (Certification)

Students who wish to become elementary, middle, or secondary school teachers should consult the sections on licensure (certification) found in the catalog under Graduate School of Education. Those planning to become secondary school teachers should consult the secondary education adviser in their discipline.


Graduate Programs in Public and International Affairs

Master of Public Administration, M.P.A.

The M.P.A. is a 36-credit-hour program. The curriculum consists of a required set of core courses and electives. In the core courses, emphasis is placed on the development of analytic and problem-solving skills, as well as knowledge about public policy and management. Elective courses can be used by students to focus their knowledge and skill development within a particular concentration, such as public management, policy, financial management, nonprofit management, or international management. Alternatively, the electives can be used to extend the breadth of a student's study, with courses drawn from a variety of concentrations or even from other departments and institutes within the university.

M.P.A. students at George Mason have the research and cultural resources of the Washington metropolitan area at their disposal. Government agencies representing all levels of government in the U. S. federal system are located in proximity to the campus, as are the National Archives, Library of Congress, and Smithsonian Institution. Another benefit of George Mason's location for M.P.A. students is the wide range of internship opportunities that are available in governmental and nonprofit organizations. The M.P.A. program regularly has internship invitations from national, state, and local government organizations, as well as from nonprofit organizations whose principal work is at the local, state, national, or international levels. Many of these internships are paid positions.

M.P.A. courses are delivered at both the Fairfax and Arlington campuses. All classes are delivered in the late afternoon or evening. The Arlington Campus is located near a Metro stop, which makes it easily accessible for those who work in Washington, D.C. The Fairfax Campus can also be reached by Metro and bus. Convenient parking is available at both the Fairfax and Arlington campuses.

Completion of the M.P.A. can lead to a variety of post-graduate opportunities, including the Presidential Management Internship. With more than 500 alumni, the M.P.A. program can also serve as a valuable source for networking and job placement. Additionally, the M.P.A. can serve as a key credential in the pursuit of a Ph.D. in Public Policy, offered by The Institute for Public Policy.

Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following:

  1. An official university transcript showing completion of an undergraduate degree. Admissions preference will be given to applicants who have a 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of their undergraduate work or in their major field of study.

  2. Three letters of recommendation (letters should assess the applicant's academic and career potentials).

  3. A resume listing work experience and volunteer activities.

  4. A statement of educational and professional goals.

  5. GRE General Test scores (not required of persons who have completed another graduate degree, e.g., master's, J.D.). GMAT or LSAT scores may be substituted for the GRE.

Courses Outside the Public Administration Program
Graduate courses taken at George Mason may be transferable to the M.P.A. program provided that they are from related field and prior approval is received from the faculty adviser or M.P.A. director.

Up to six graduate credits taken at another accredited university or college may also be transferable to the M.P.A. program. Approval for such a transfer must be given by the student's adviser, the chair of the Department of Public and International Affairs, and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Program Requirements
All students are required to take a set of M.P.A. core courses. These courses give students the opportunity to develop a shared knowledge base and a shared set of skills. The courses are focused on the knowledge and skills that are needed by people who want to play a leadership role in public and nonprofit organizations.

Students may take their elective courses within one of the concentrations listed below. Alternatively, with the approval of their adviser, students may create their own concentration, or they may select their elective courses from several concentrations or fields.

Public Management:

Policy Studies:

Nonprofit Management:

International Management:

Certificate in Nonprofit Management

The Certificate in Nonprofit Management is a 15-semester-hour graduate program. Students may enter this program at the beginning of any semester. Applications are made to the Certificate in Nonprofit Management program through the Admissions Office. If application deadlines are missed, students may enter the program in Extended Studies status; however, application to the program must be made before the beginning of the third semester. Students must apply to the certificate program to be eligible for the certificate. Students may transfer earned credits to the M.P.A. degree pending admission to the M.P.A. program.

Application Requirements
An applicant must submit the following:

  1. An application form

  2. Proof of a baccalaureate degree documented by two copies of transcripts from each institution attended

  3. An application fee

Certificate Requirements
This certificate may be obtained through standard three-semester-hour courses, or through an innovative sequence of one-semester-hour courses designed especially for distribution through distance learning technology, off-site venues, and concentrated seminar formats to accommodate the working schedules of students.

The certificate requires the following:


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