2012-2013 University Catalog

Global Affairs, MA

Banner Code: LA-MA-GLOA

The master of arts in global affairs is an interdisciplinary program offering students the opportunity to engage in advanced study of a broad range of international global issues. Students complete a core curriculum that provides the knowledge and skills to think and act globally and then select a specialization. The possible specializations include courses offered by academic departments across the university. All students in the program take part in a residency abroad, typically two weeks in duration, and complete a capstone seminar. Graduates of the program are prepared for careers in a wide variety of international contexts.

This has been designated a Green Leaf program. For further information, please go to Green Leaf Programs and Courses .

This program of study is offered by the Global Affairs program .

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see the Academic Policies chapter of the catalog.

Application Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Admission chapter of this catalog. For information specific to the MA in global affairs, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental web site.

Degree Requirements

Students who wish to study abroad may not use more than 3 credits towards their specialization and must receive approval prior to studying abroad. Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average with no more than 2 grades below B. Students pursuing this degree must complete 30 credits distributed as follows:

Four core courses (12 credits)

GLOA 600 - Global Competencies Credits: 3
GLOA 610 - Economic Globalization and Development Credits: 3
GLOA 620 - Human Systems Credits: 3
GLOA 710 - Seminar Abroad Credits: 3

One course (3 credits) chosen from:

GCH 543 - Global Health Credits: 3
ITRN 602 - International Financial Institutions and Globalization Credits: 3
ITRN 603 - International Trade Relations Credits: 3

Specialization (12 credits)

Students choose to specialize in one of eight fields by completing 12 credits in that field selected from the courses listed. The specialization is developed in consultation with an advisor. Students who wish to design their own concentration must submit a one-page proposal and receive written approval from the director. Specialization courses must come from at least two academic disciplines.

Global Conflict and Security

Choose 12 credits from:

BIOD 610 - Advanced Topics in Biodefense Credits: 1-4 (minimum of 3 credits)
BIOD 621 - Ethics and International Security Credits: 3
CONF 501 - Introduction to Conflict Analysis and Resolution Credits: 3
CONF 652 - Conflict Analysis and Resolution for Prevention, Reconstruction, and Stabilization Contexts Credits: 3
CONF 653 - World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution Credits: 3
CONF 658 - Diversity and Difference in Conflict Analysis and Resolution Credits: 3
CONF 659 - Leadership in Conflict Analysis and Resolution Credits: 3
CONF 736 - Globalization and International Conflict Credits: 3
CONF 746 - Peace Building Credits: 3
GOVT 541 - Introduction to Critical Analysis and Strategic Response to Terrorism Credits: 3
GOVT 640 - Strategic Responses to Terrorism: Coordinated Decision Making Credits: 3
GOVT 745 - International Security Credits: 3
ISA 562 - Information Security Theory and Practice Credits: 3
PUAD 634 - Management of International Security Credits: 3
PUBP 650 - Peace Operations I Credits: 3
PUBP 651 - Peace Operations II Credits: 3

Global Culture and Society

Choose 12 credits from:

ANTH 635 - Regional Ethnography Credits: 3
ANTH 655 - Nationalism, Transnationalism, and States: Local and Global Perspectives Credits: 3
ANTH 721 - Culture, Power, and Conflict Credits: 3
GOVT 530 - Comparative Politics Credits: 3
GOVT 641 - Seminar in Global Systems Credits: 3
GOVT 725 - Democratic Theory Credits: 3
GOVT 739 - Issues in Comparative and International Politics Credits: 3
HIST 510 - Approaches to Modern World History Credits: 3
HIST 535 - Problems in Comparative World History Credits: 3
HIST 615 - Problems in American History Credits: 1-6
HIST 791 - Comprehensive Readings in Comparative World History Credits: 3
MUSI 640 - Topics in World Musics Credits: 3
RELI 632 - World Religions in Conflict and Dialogue Credits: 3
RELI 633 - Ethical Perspectives of World Religions Credits: 3
RELI 642 - Sacred Language, Scripture, and Culture Credits: 3
SOAN 500 - Communicating across the Disciplines Credits: 3
SOAN 510 - Culture and Globalization Credits: 3
SOCI 623 - Racial and Ethnic Relations: American and Selected Global Perspectives Credits: 3
WMST 640 - Women and Global Issues Credits: 3

Global Economics and Development

This specialization is best suited for students with an academic background in economics or for students who have taken microeconomics, macroeconomics, and calculus with a minimum grade of 3.00 in all three.

Choose 12 credits from: