calendar | contact us | news | people finder | site map

International Business Law Track

---

See also International Business Law Sequence below.

The International Business Law Track is one of George Mason's five specialty track programs. It is designed to give students specialized preparation for practice in the rapidly changing global business community. Approximately one-third of the 84 credits required for graduation must be in international business law courses. The remaining two-thirds of the course work of the track is outside international business law, thereby ensuring students substantial breadth in their professional training.

The course requirements for the International Business Law Track are as follows:

• 31 credit hours in international business law courses
• 45 credit hours in required General Law Program courses (including Professional Responsibility)
• 8 credit hours in elective courses

Selected Course Descriptions

International Business Economics and Law is designed to provide International Business track students with an analytical framework, based on microeconomic theory, for studying law and policy questions relating to international trade issues. Topics covered include comparative advantage and the gains from trade, patterns of trade, the effects of tariffs, subsidies and other trade laws, balance of payments issues, exchange rate determination, and industrial policy.

International Law considers traditional public international law issues and analyzes them in an economic and game-theoretic perspective. Emphasis is on basic concepts of public international law, including sources and evolution of international law; relation of international law to municipal law; subjects of international law; peaceful settlement of disputes; international agreements; jurisdictional competence; state responsibility and treatment of aliens; the use of force; and the evolving role of international organizations. International Trade Law and Regulation covers trade law, principally American law and the related international regime. Topics include separation of powers in trade policy matters; trade agreements, tariffs, classification, and valuation; statutory import remedies (e.g., "retaliation", unfair imports, anti-dumping/countervailing duties); and export licensing, promotion, and controls. It also examines the mechanisms related to regulating international business and trade (e.g., GATT).

International Commercial Transactions treats a variety of forms of international contract (including sales of goods, currencies, securities, loans, joint ventures, and distributorships) and related judicial and arbitration procedures. Decisions of tribunals in common law and civil law jurisdictions are comparatively considered to present a range of issues arising in contemporary practice.

European Union Law reviews major legal aspects of the European market institutions and operations with emphasis on attaining an integrated market. International Business Track Thesis requires the student to develop, expand, and refine a research paper into an article suitable for publication in a law journal.

Schedule For The International Business Track

Note: The following schedules are illustrative of the general order in which students should take the courses. Some courses might not be offered during the semesters indicated in these schedules, so be sure to check with the Records Office for a current schedule of courses.
 

Day Division			Evening Division
First Year - Fall			First Year - Fall
Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis I	2		Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis I	2
Torts I	3		Torts I	3
Contracts I	3		Contracts I	3
Property	4		Economic Foundations of Legal Studies	3
Economic Foundations of Legal Studies	3
Total	15		Total	11
First Year - Spring			First Year - Spring
Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis II	2		Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis II	2
Torts II	3		Torts II	3
Contracts II	3		Contracts II	3
Civil Procedure	4		Civil Procedure	4
Criminal Law	3
Total	15		Total	12
Second Year - Fall			Second Year - Fall
Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis III	2		Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis III	2
Constitutional Law	4		Constitutional Law	4
Business Associations	4		Property	4
Conflict of Laws	3		Int'l Business Economics and Law	2
Int'l Business Economics and Law	2
Total	15		Total	12
Second Year - Spring			Second Year - Spring
Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis IV	2		Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis IV	2
Administrative Law	3		Administrative Law	3
International Trade Law & Regulation	3		Criminal Law	3
Constitutional Law II*	2		Constitutional Law II*	2
Income Tax	4
Total	14		Total	10
Third Year - Fall			Third Year - Fall
Comparative Law	3		Business Associations	4
European Union Law	2		International Commercial Transactions	2
International Business Track Thesis	2		Conflict of Laws	3
International Commercial Transactions	2		International Law	3
International Law	3
Professional Responsibility	2
Total	14		Total	12
Third Year - Spring			Third Year - Spring
Antitrust	3		Income Tax	4
Electives	8-9		Int'l Trade Law and Regulation	3
Total	11-12		Antitrust	3
			Total	10
			Fourth Year - Fall
			International Business Track Thesis	2
			Comparative Law	3
			European Union Law	2
			Professional Responsibility	2
			Electives	2-3
			Total	11-12
			Fourth Year - Spring
			Electives	8-9
Total Hours: 84			Total Hours: 84

* Note: Constitutional Law II is a requirement for students who entered law school in Fall 2003. This means that it is first required in Spring 2005.

---

International Business Law Sequence

George Mason law students may, in the alternative, choose to pursue the International Business Law Sequence. This sequence is designed for students who wish to gain a solid foundation in international business law, but who also wish to have more flexibility in their course of study.

In order to complete the International Business Law Sequence, students must complete the following international business courses:

Course	Credit Hours
International Business Economics and Law	2
International Commercial Transactions	2
International Law	3
International Trade Law and Regulation	3
European Union Law	3

One of the following electives: Comparative Law; International Dispute Resolution; International Finance; International Protection of Intellectual Property; International Trade Seminar.