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2016-2017 University Catalog
Global Affairs, BA
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Banner Code: LA-BA-GLOA
Web: globalaffairs.gmu.edu
College: College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Program: Global Affairs
Global affairs is a transdisciplinary major that introduces students to the global processes affecting all societies. Students in this program are encouraged to participate in study abroad opportunities and internships. They can complement their major with a second major or a minor.
This has been designated a Green Leaf program. For further information, please go to Green Leaf Programs and Courses .
For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see the Academic Policies section of the catalog.
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Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor’s degrees , including Mason Core requirements. Students pursuing a BA in global affairs must complete additional college requirements for the BA degree in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students pursuing this degree must complete 36-39 credits within the major, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. Students completing the Smithsonian-Mason semester program will have a total of 40-43 credits. Students must have a minimum grade of 2.00 in each of the core courses and a minimum grade of 1.67 in each of the courses used to fulfill the concentration and the language requirement for global affairs majors. Students who major in global affairs may not also earn the minor in global systems or receive credit for ECON 390 .
Six core courses (18 credits)
6-9 credits of language study beyond intermediate proficiency
To fulfill this requirement, students can continue the study of one language beyond the intermediate proficiency level (required for all BA degrees in the college) or choose to study other languages. After a student has demonstrated intermediate proficiency in one language, the remainder of the requirement may be fulfilled by taking any courses taught in a foreign language, at any level. Students are required to complete:
- 9 credits beyond the completion of 210 or the receipt of heritage language waiver
- 6 credits beyond the completion of 202
Four courses (12 credits) in an approved concentration
Courses applied to a global affairs concentration must come from at least two different departments. Concentration courses must be unique to the concentration: they cannot be simultaneously used to fulfill any Mason Core or college requirement for the bachelor’s degree. They cannot be applied to any other major, minor, concentration, or certificate.
In addition to the courses listed below, other relevant courses, including special topics courses, study abroad, and internships (maximum 3 credits), may be applied to a concentration with prior written approval from the director. ▲ Concentration in the Environment (EVT)
Students may complete this concentration through 12 credits of regular coursework or through the Smithsonian-Mason Semester Program (16 credits).
Regular Coursework
Choose 12 credits from the following: Smithsonian-Mason Semester Program
Students complete 16 credits offered through the Mason Center for Conservation Studies in cooperation with the Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Students may choose to focus their study on “Conservation, Biodiversity and Society”, or on “Wildlife Ecology and Conservation”. Students take the courses in the selected focus area together in one semester, living on site at the institute in Front Royal, VA. Students who apply this coursework to the concentration cannot also apply it to the minor in Conservation Studies.
Students may choose one of the following focus areas: Conservation, Biodiversity and Society option
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation option
▲ Concentration in Global Economy and Management (GEM)
In this concentration, students explore marketing, managing, and developing world economies. Students interested in economics, business, and management should consider this concentration.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
Note:
BULE courses require the approval of the director. ▲ Concentration in Global Governance (GLGV)
In this concentration students explore how national governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations work together to identify, understand, and address global issues. Coursework covers diplomacy, international law and organizations, international security, and conflict resolution.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in Global Inequalities and Responses (GIR)
This concentration provides students with a historical perspective regarding international issues such as stratification, gender roles, race relations, and social movements. Students interested in government, anthropology, sociology, and women and gender studies should consider this concentration.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in Human Security (HMSC)
This concentration is designed to conceptualize security beyond the boundaries of political security (violence and conflict) to promote a more comprehensive understanding of “human security” in its multiple facets: food and health (famine and infectious disease), environmental security (natural disasters and climate change), and economic security (development).
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in International Development (IDEV)
In this concentration, students explore the many facets of development work as practiced by national governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations today. Students learn about economic development, environmental conservation, sustainable tourism, democratization, human rights, international ethics, and humanitarian relief.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in Media, Communication, and Culture (MCC)
This concentration addresses the historic trends and recent explosion in media and communication technologies as well as their cultural contexts. Students interested in the fields of cultural studies, communications, sociology and anthropology, and information technology should consider this concentration.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in Africa (AFR)
This concentration focuses on the societies of Africa, their history, culture, economics, and politics, including the pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial experiences. Course options include African diaspora experiences. Students interested in art history, French, economics, government, and history should consider this concentration.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in Asia (ASA)
This concentration emphasizes Asia’s history and increasingly significant role in contemporary world issues. The courses in this concentration cover the economic, social, and political issues that confront the Pacific, India, China, and mainland Asia. Students interested in anthropology, history, art history, government, and religious studies should consider this concentration.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in Europe (EU)
This concentration focuses on Europe’s long history of art, innovation, and imperialism. Students who are interested in art history, foreign languages, government, history, and philosophy should consider this concentration.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in Latin America (LA)
This concentration provides students with a historical understanding of the economic, social, and political issues of Latin America. Students interested in the anthropology, history, government, or economics of this region should consider this concentration.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in Middle East and North Africa (MNA)
This concentration provides students with an historical perspective on the political, social, and artistic issues in the Middle East and North Africa. Courses include the Arab-Israeli conflict, francophone literature from North Africa, and art and archeology of the ancient Near East. Students interested in the anthropology, history, or religion of this region should consider this concentration.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in North America (NA)
This concentration provides students with insight into the political, economic, social, and artistic history of North America. Students interested in the language, government, or history of this region should consider this concentration.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Concentration in Russia and Central Asia (RCA)
This concentration focuses on the social, political, and economic climates of Russia and Central Asia historically and today. Students interested in the culture, politics, economics, or history of this region should consider this concentration.
Choose 12 credits from the following:
▲ Individualized Concentration (IND)
Students who wish to design their own concentration must submit a one-page proposal and create a curriculum plan to be approved by the director.
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 global affairs may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing EVPP 337 . Total: 36-39 credits (Students completing the Smithsonian-Mason semester program will have 40-43 credits.)
Mason Core (40 credits)
Note: some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.
Expand each item below for a link to specific course lists for each category.
Foundation Requirements (15-19 credits)
Core Requirements (22 credits)
Synthesis/Capstone Requirement (minimum 3 credits)
College Level Requirements for the BA degree
In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the course work below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (Mason Core requirements or requirements for the major).
Philosophy or religious studies (3 credits)
Fulfilled by any course in philosophy or religious studies (PHIL, RELI) except for PHIL 323 , 324 , 327 , 393 , 460 . PHIL 253 and RELI 235 cannot be used to fulfill both the philosophy/religious studies requirement and the Mason Core literature requirement.
Social and behavioral science (3 credits)
3 credits in addition to the university-wide requirement in social and behavioral science for a total of 6 credits. The two courses used to fulfill the combined college and university requirements must be from different disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. This requirement may be fulfilled by completing any course in ANTH, CRIM, ECON, GOVT, HIST (except 100 or 125), LING, PSYC, or SOCI and these courses in GGS: 101 , 103 , 110 , 301 , 303 , 304 , 305 , 306 , 315 , 316 , 320 , 325 , 330 , 357 , 380 .
Non-Western culture (3 credits)
3 credits of an approved course in the study of a non-Western culture in addition to the course used to fulfill the Mason Core requirement in global understanding. A course used to fulfill the Mason Core global understanding requirement may not be simultaneously used to satisfy this college-level requirement. A course used to fulfill this requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill any other requirements (Mason Core requirements, college-level requirements, or requirements for the major). Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Electives
Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.
Degree Total: Minimum 120 credits
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