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2016-2017 University Catalog
Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS
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Banner Code: LA-MAIS-ISIN
Web: mais.gmu.edu
College: College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Program: Interdisciplinary Studies
The MAIS is for students who seek a master’s degree that integrates knowledge from several disciplines. It addresses the rapidly evolving demand for unique graduate study by promoting advanced scholarship that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Applicants must show a capacity for original thought in cross disciplinary research. There may be additional skills required of students applying to specific concentrations. Students will be admitted only if the program can assign to them a faculty advisor appropriate for the intended course of study.
Students can pursue one of the following structured interdisciplinary concentrations:
Students also have the opportunity to design an individualized concentration to meet the special needs of their careers.
An accelerated master’s option in selected concentrations is available to students in any/selected bachelor’s program. See Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Programs for listings and specific requirements.
This has been designated a Green Leaf program. For further information, please go to Green Leaf Programs and Courses .
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see the Academic Policies section of the catalog.
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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 Admissions section in this catalog. For information specific to the MA in Interdisciplinary Studies, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental web site. Degree Requirements
Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete 36 credits of graduate course work in one of the concentrations below. Students must submit a curriculum worksheet that has been approved by their faculty adviser and the director.
Courses applied to the degree are subject to the following restrictions: a maximum of 6 credits may be earned through independent study or directed readings and research courses; a maximum of 6 credits may be taken through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area; a maximum of 15 credits may be transfer credits; a maximum of 6 of the transfer credits may be from other accredited institutions.
Transfer credits include credits taken before first enrolling as an admitted degree-seeking student (at another institution, in another Mason graduate program, or in Mason nondegree status) or credits taken at another institution after admission to the degree program through study abroad or study elsewhere (which requires prior written approval of the director and the dean). Additional information may be found in the Academic Policies section of this catalog.
All students complete their work in the program with a project or thesis. Students are required to take MAIS 796 - MAIS ProSeminar (1 credit), MAIS 797 - Interdisciplinary Studies Proposal (1 credit), and either MAIS 798 - Interdisciplinary Studies Project (1-4 credits) or MAIS 799 - Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis (3-4 credits). Students electing to complete the concentration in community college teaching with a thesis will complete 38 credits. ▲ Concentration in Community College Teaching (CCT)
This concentration qualifies students to teach entry-level courses in rapidly growing fields at community colleges. In addition, it may be an appropriate graduate credential for some faculty currently teaching in community colleges.
In addition to required courses and a knowledge area, students pursuing this concentration are required to take a one-credit proposal course and complete a project or thesis. The concentration in community college teaching is administered by the Higher Education Program. One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Four required courses (12 credits) in college teaching
Seven required courses (21 credits) in a knowledge area chosen from the following:
Four core courses (12 credits)
Three elective courses (9 credits)
Electives are chosen from graduate-level communication courses in consultation with a faculty advisor. They may include core courses listed above not already used to meet the 12 credit requirement. Knowledge area total: 21 credits
Two to three core courses (6-9 credits)
Four to five elective courses (12-15 credits)
Electives are chosen from graduate-level English courses in consultation with a faculty advisor. Knowledge area total: 21 credits
Three core courses (9 credits)
Four elective courses (12 credits)
Electives must be graduate-level INFS or INFS-related courses chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Knowledge area total: 21 credits
Two core courses (6 credits)
Five elective courses (15 credits)
Electives are from graduate-level courses in mathematics and related disciplines (including statistics) chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Knowledge area total: 21 credits
Three core courses (9 credits)
Four elective courses (12 credits)
At least three elective courses (9 credits) must be graduate-level SPAN courses; one (3 credits) may be a graduate-level FRLN course. Electives should be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Knowledge area total: 21 credits
Teaching English as a Second Language
Six core courses (18 credits)
One elective course (3 credits)
Elective should be from graduate-level courses in linguistics or a related area chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Knowledge area total: 21 credits
Project (1 credit) or thesis (3 credits)
▲ Concentration in Computational Social Science (CSS)
Computational social science (CSS) is a relatively new interdisciplinary science in which social science questions are investigated with modern computational tools. Computational social scientists investigate complex social phenomena such as economic markets, traffic control, and political systems by simulating the interactions of the many actors in such systems on computers. They hope to gain insights which will lead to better management of the behavior of the larger social systems, i.e., prevention of market crashes, smoothed traffic flow, or maintenance of political stability. The intractability of many social problems calls for the new approaches provided by computational social science.
CSS is a highly interdisciplinary field that requires teams to plan and complete projects, be they undertaken by government, industry, or non-profit entities. Project managers of such teams, overseeing all elements of project design and execution, tend to hold PhDs. The MAIS concentration will train students to be members of these project teams, able to meaningfully contribute to background research and to project design, execution, and communication.
Prior background should include a bachelor’s degree in one of the social sciences, in computer science, in engineering, or in a relevant discipline, as well as undergraduate courses in these and related areas. Bachelor’s degrees in other areas are also eligible, but the student may be required to take additional courses in social science, mathematics, or computer science as prerequisites to admission. One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Six core courses (18 credits)
Three required courses (9 credits)
The required CSS courses provide an understanding of the conceptual, technical, and practical foundations of computational social science. Three elective courses (9 credits) chosen from:
The electives provide an understanding of the technical foundations and current work in at least two subfields of computational social science. One research course (3 credits) chosen from:
The research course provides students with exposure to the most current ongoing research in the field and allows them to further develop their computational research expertise. Three to four elective courses (9-12 credits)
The electives allow students to acquire a substantive specialization as well as additional training in social and computational science. Because of the broad spectrum of social science phenomena, methodologies, and student backgrounds, there is a large pool of potential courses. Electives may include any Mason master’s-level course in computational social science, social science, computer science, statistics, or other quantitative methods such as data visualization, information technology, and geographic information science. Electives should be selected in conjunction with and approval of the student’s advisor and the Director of CSS Graduate Studies. If the student does not have prior coursework in multivariate statistical analysis, the electives should include at least one such course relevant for the student’s chosen specialization.
Students who elect to complete a 4-credit project or thesis take 9 elective credits. Students who complete a 1-credit project take 12 elective credits. Project (1-4 credits) or thesis (4 credits)
▲ Concentration in Energy and Sustainability (EAS)
This concentration is designed for students interested in careers in energy and sustainability-related positions in the public, private, or non-profit sectors, including law, national and international policy, media, government, and business. As one of the University’s Green Leaf academic programs, the concentration in energy and sustainability focuses on finding ways to meet present needs for energy and material goods without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. A sustainability education lies at the intersection of environmental science, engineering, economics, business, public policy, social justice, and many other areas. Energy required to fuel all of these endeavors is a crucial component of sustainability.
One required course of interdisciplinary studies proseminar (1 credit)
Three core courses in energy and sustainability (9 credits)
Two required courses (6 credits)
One natural science course (3 credits) chosen from:
Two courses (6 credits) in energy, sustainability or environmental policy:
Students choose from the following courses or other relevant courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.
Two courses in humanities or social science approaches to sustainability and environmental issues (6 credits)
Students choose from the following courses or other relevant courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.
One course (3-4 credits) in planning, modeling, or management
Students choose from the following courses or other relevant courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.
One course (3 credits) in natural science
Students choose from the following courses or other relevant courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.
One research methods course (3 credits)
Students choose one of the following courses or other relevant courses in consultation with an advisor. Project (1-4 credits) or thesis (4 credits)
Students who wish to do a project in lieu of a thesis will take 1 credit of MAIS 798 and an additional 3 credit elective course from the courses listed under the electives requirement. Students who choose to write a thesis will take 4 credits of MAIS 799 and no additional electives.
▲ Concentration in Folklore Studies (FLKS)
This concentration explores the processes of tradition that move through multiple expressive forms, such as folktales, folk beliefs, folk medicine, folk art, folksong, and literature. A discipline based on ethnographic fieldwork, folklore offers students a chance to work in communities and collect living traditional materials that are critical to human identity and values. Interdisciplinary by nature, folklore thrives on local particularities and compelling global connections. Internships in the many Washington, D.C., metropolitan area folklore organizations are central to students’ experiences. This course of study prepares students for careers in cultural agencies, governmental organizations, teaching institutions, and advanced study in the humanities.
Students pursuing this concentration must complete at least 6 credits of courses from outside the English Department. One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Six core courses (18 credits)
Special topics in folklore (9 credits) chosen from:
Courses may be repeated. Pathways in folklore scholarship (3 credits)
Internship in folklore (3 credits)
Research methodology course (3 credits) chosen from:
Specialization (9 credits)
Students choose an area of specialization which must be approved by a faculty advisor. Specialization topics include public folklore (museums, archives, arts and humanities councils, and nonprofit organizations); folklore (ethnicity and immigration); folklore and literature; folklore and the teaching of writing and literature; folklore and history; and folklore and conflict resolution. Students can also opt for open specialization, with courses chosen in consultation with advisor. Possibilities include folklore and editing, applied storytelling, folklore and mythology, folklore and art history, folklore and gender studies, and folklore and communication. One to two elective courses (3 to 6 credits)
Electives require the prior written approval of a faculty advisor. Student who elect to do a 1 credit project take 6 elective credits. Students who do a 4 credit thesis take 3 elective credits. Project (1 credit) or thesis (4 credits)
▲ Concentration in Higher Education (HEDU)
This concentration prepares individuals for administrative and leadership positions in colleges and universities, associations, and government agencies whose activities affect higher education. Within the concentration, students may choose to emphasize administration or student affairs. One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Four core courses (12 credits)
One course (3 credits) chosen from:
Three additional core courses (9 credits)
Students choose relevant courses in consultation with an advisor. One course (3 credits) of research methodology
One course (3 credits) of specialization
Three to four elective courses (9-12 credits)
Students chose electives in consultation with their advisor. The number of elective credits will vary depending on the number of project credits. Project (1-4 credits) or thesis (4 credits)
▲ Individualized Concentration (IND)
This concentration is for students who wish to design a graduate program to meet the special needs of their careers and life plans. Students usually choose this option because traditional graduate programs do not meet their specific goals. Students, with help from their faculty advisor, design a unique program of study that includes courses from several academic departments.
Students have access to most graduate courses offered by Mason but must meet all course prerequisites. Each student must submit a curriculum worksheet approved by the student’s advisor and director during the first semester enrolled. Any subsequent amendments must have the approval of the student’s advisor and the director. One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Disciplinary focus (12 to 18 credits)
Students must complete a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 credits in one discipline. Complementary disciplines (9 to 18 credits)
Students take 9-18 courses in complementary disciplines. These require the approval of faculty advisor and MAIS director. Research methods (3 credits)
Students take a research methods course approved by faculty advisor and MAIS director. Project (1-4 credits) or thesis (4 credits)
▲ Concentration in Neuroethics (NETH)
The MAIS concentration in neuroethics is a joint program of the interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program and the Department of Philosophy. It offers students a unique opportunity to study key ethical issues arising from advances in neuroscience research and technologies. The degree is sutiable for students interested in doctoral work in neuroscience, cognitive science, clinical bioethics, or the study of law. It also can serve as an entry point for employment into government or private sector industries of ethic and policy related brain science issues.
The degree is intended for students interested in doctoral work in neuroscience, cognitive science, or bioethics. It also can help students who will work on medical and scientific research projects in government or the private sector.
Admission to the Neuroethics Program is open to students with an undergraduate degree in many fields. Applicants should demonstrate proficiency in at least two of the following academic areas as evidenced by 18 or more credits of undergraduate or graduate course work.
Biology
Bioengineering
Chemistry
Ethics/Philosophy
Medical Education
Neuroscience
Psychology
Students in the MAIS program in neuroethics must complete 32 course credits consisting of a proseminar, five core courses and six electives that match the educational objectives of the student. In addition, students are required to write a thesis or complete a two-semester project, for a total of 36 credits.
One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Five core courses (13 credits) in ethics and neuroscience
18 credits (6 courses) of electives
Students may choose to specialize in cognitive neuroethics or public neuroethics. All students are encouraged to plan their course work in consultation with the neuroethics concentration head.
Specialization in Cognitive Neuroethics
Take 18 credits from the courses below or other relevant course chosen in consultation with an advisor.
Specialization in Public Neuroethics
Take 18 credits from the courses below or other relevant course chosen in consultation with an advisor.
Project or thesis (3 credits)
Students cap their study by writing a master’s thesis or completing a two-semester project in an area of neuroethics. The project may involve student observation and involvement in scientific research, clinical work, or policy setting.
▲ Concentration in Religion, Culture, and Values (RCV)
The concentration in religion, culture, and values is particularly relevant for students who are interested in careers in law, national and international government, print and media journalism, library sciences, archives and museums, public and social service, teaching, advanced graduate studies, and religious communities and institutions. The Washington, DC metropolitan area is rich in the presence of many major religious traditions and their places of worship.
The core courses introduce students to the study of religion as a unique and rigorous intellectual discipline. Students learn to evaluate a variety of perspectives on religion and gain a clear understanding of the dimension of the sacred in all aspects of human life including those commonly designated “secular”. Students discover how religious perceptions of the sacred respond to an evolving world and relate to and influence cultures, institutions, and values.
Students also examine the effects of historical crises and the forces of change on religions including contemporary religious pluralism and inter-religious dialogue. Students gain a deeper knowledge of specific traditions and a more profound understanding of values and worldviews from the viewpoint of cultural diversity and religious pluralism. One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Two core courses (6 credits) chosen from:
Two or three courses (6 to 9 credits) in religious studies chosen from:
One course in research methodology (3 credits) chosen from:
Two or three courses in a specialization (6 to 9 credits)
Specialization in religion, culture, and communication
Students take the course below and one or two other relevant courses chosen in consultation with an advisor. Specialization in religious traditions and conflict analysis and resolution
Specialization in religion, culture, and ethics
Specialization in religion, values, and international politics
One to four elective courses (3 to 12 credits)
Students choose electives in consultation with their advisor, bearing in mind their specialization, project, or thesis topic. Any of the courses under the specializations listed above or courses from other disciplines listed below may be used as electives. Project (1-4 credits) or thesis (4 credits)
▲Concentration in Social Entrepreneurship (SOCE)
The concentration in social entrepreneurship will equip students with the subject matter expertise, strategic knowledge, technical support, and social networks needed to create, operate, develop, and accelerate startups; bring ideas to scale; and improve an existing program’s effectiveness. These future leaders will learn about sustainability, ethical leadership, strategic management, and working effectively within complex networks made up of divergent groups of stakeholders. All students will complete a capstone research project and an experiential learning requirement that deliver practical knowledge and real-world experience. This degree is suitable for students seeking careers in government, business, or the non-profit sector.
One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Three core courses (9 credits)
Two courses (6 credits) in social entrepreneurship and leadership
One course (3 credits) in business chosen from:
Interdisciplinary perspectives and competencies in social entrepreneurship (9 credits)
Students take three courses from the list of competencies below to complement the skills they have already acquired through formal education and professional experience, or other courses to enhance their skills, including oral and written communication, that are chosen in consultation with an advisor.
Environmental and Public Policy
Business and Project Management
Leadership and Well-Being
Subject Matter Expertise (9 credits)
Students must develop expertise in the social problem they seek to address through entrepreneurship. Possible areas of focus include global and/or local poverty, homelessness, human trafficking, conflict resolution, women’s rights, racial inequality, educational and health-care access, climate change, environmental sustainability, and human rights, among other possible topics.
Experiential Learning Requirement (3 credits)
Students will seek out and/or create an opportunity for experiential learning that aligns with a social mission. Experiential learning opportunities can include internships, service-learning, consulting projects, and field studies or research (including overseas). Because the intention is to develop and apply newly acquired skills, students may not use work done previously or their current employment to fulfill this requirement. All experiential learning projects must be approved by the social entrepreneurship concentration head the semester before registering for the course. Students may register for an individualized section of INTS 595 - Experiential Learning or another graduate-level internship or practicum course to fulfill this requirement. Students must complete the experiential learning component before registering for MAIS 798 or MAIS 799 .
Project (4 credits) or thesis (4 credits)
▲ Concentration in Social Justice and Human Rights (SJHR)
The social justice and human rights concentration is designed to cultivate a deep theoretical understanding of the social, political, cultural, historical, and economic implications of a wide array of social injustices and human rights issues. Students are engaged in the applied process of imagining and actualizing holistic and complex strategies for creating and sustaining a more equitable, just, and humane world.
One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Two core courses (6 credits)
One foundational course (3 credits)
One ecological justice course (3 credits)
Emphasis courses (9 credits)
Students complete 9 credits of courses with an emphasis on a specific social justice or human rights issue or context or a specific region, chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Examples of issue emphases include racial justice, human trafficking, or children’s rights. Context emphases examples include the education, corporate, or government sector. Regional emphases examples include the Middle East, Latin America, or Southeast Asia.
Elective courses (12 credits) chosen from:
Students complete 12 elective credits from the following, chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. At least 6 of these credits must focus on a social justice or human rights issue, context, or region unrelated to the student’s chosen emphasis.
- CONF 601 - Theories of Conflict and Conflict Resolution Credits: 3
- CONF 695 - Selected Topics Credits: 3
- CONF 702 - Peace Studies Credits: 3
- CONF 709 - War, Violence, and Conflict Resolution Credits: 3
- CONF 720 - Ethnic and Cultural Factors in Conflict Resolution Credits: 1-3
- CONF 722 - Conflict and Religion Credits: 3
- CONF 723 - Conflict and Gender Credits: 3
- CONF 728 - Human Rights Theory and Practice in Comparative Perspective Credits: 3
- CONF 739 - Collective Action, Social Movements, and Globalization Credits: 3
- CONF 746 - Peace Building Credits: 3
- CONF 749 - World Religions, Violence, and Conflict Resolution Credits: 1-3
- HE 606 - Diversity in Higher Education Credits: 3
- EDUC 537 - Introduction to Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Learners Credits: 3
- EDUC 892 - Social Justice and Equity in International Education Credits: 3
- EDUC 894 - Seminar in Multicultural Education Credits: 3
- GOVT 727 - Restorative Justice Credits: 3
- GOVT 841 - Ethics and Human Rights in International Affairs Credits: 3
- PUAD 642 - Environmental Policy Credits: 3
- PUAD 649 - Advocacy and Lobbying Credits: 3
- PUBP 736 - International Migration and Public Policy Credits: 3
- PUBP 765 - Human Smuggling and Trafficking Credits: 3
- SOCI 605 - Gender and Social Structure Credits: 3
- SOCI 623 - Racial and Ethnic Relations: American and Selected Global Perspectives Credits: 3
- SOCI 641 - Micro Sociology: Inequality and Everyday Life Credits: 3
- WMST 600 - Special Topics Credits: 3 (when topic is Narratives of Human Rights: Violations Against Women and Girls; Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights; or Gender, Sexuality, and Disability)
- WMST 630 - Feminist Theories across the Disciplines Credits: 3
- WMST 640 - Women and Global Issues Credits: 3
One research methods course (3 credits) chosen from
Project or thesis (4 credits)
▲ Concentration in War and the Military in Society (WMS)
Recent events have demonstrated the degree to which military issues affect social groups, global politics, and the world economy. Understanding the ways in which armies are raised and funded, the reasons troops serve, the conditions military personnel and civilians endure during wartime, and the multifaceted and evolving ways in which nations conceive of the military apparatus has direct bearing on future policy decisions.
The concentration in war and the military in society emphasizes scholarship that examines issues of international security and conflict in the past, present, and future. It equips students with the skills to understand the interconnected nature of those elements and to examine critically the ways in which they have changed and continue to change over time. One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Four core courses (12 credits)
Two courses (6 credits) chosen from:
Two courses (6 credits) chosen from:
Six to seven elective courses (18-21 credits)
Students choose electives in consultation with an advisor, bearing in mind their specialization and proposed topic for their project or thesis. Students interested in the intellectual consideration of the military, war, and society should choose courses in anthropology, history, religious studies, and sociology. Students interested in practical applications of the study of the military, war, and society to contemporary security issues should choose courses in biodefense, geography, and government. Students may take additional courses from the core requirements as electives with permission from their advisor, but their coursework overall must include at least six credits in two or more disciplines.
Students who choose to do a project complete seven elective courses (21 credits); those who choose a thesis complete six elective courses (18 credits). Project (1-4 credits) or thesis (4 credits)
▲ Concentration in Women and Gender Studies (WGST)
The concentration in women and gender studies promotes advanced scholarship that transcends traditional boundaries. Students combine required coursework in women and gender studies with courses in a discipline of interest such as history, literature, sociology, anthropology, health, education, philosophy, social work, conflict analysis and resolution, or the arts. The program accommodates both full-time and part-time students.
Of the coursework required for this concentration as described below, at least 24 credits must be in courses related to the study of women and gender and 12 credits in courses in a field focus. All courses related to the study of women and gender must be approved by the head of the concentration in women and gender studies. Students must earn a grade of B or higher in the core courses.
Students interested in pursuing a dual master’s program linking the MAIS degree and a master’s degree in another discipline should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies regarding Individualized Dual Master’s Degree Programs. Students approved to pursue dual master’s study linking the MAIS degree with a concentration in women and gender studies and the MA philosophy degree will complete WMST 630 /PHIL 658 and 3 additional credits of WMST courses to apply to the philosophy degree as elective credit. Six credits of approved PHIL credits will apply to the MAIS degree as elective credit.
One required course of proseminar (1 credit)
Three core courses (9 credits)
Field focus (12 credits)
Students complete 12 credits in one field (not limited to a single discipline) chosen and developed in consultation with a faculty advisor, including 9 credits in a course that addresses the study of women and gender.
Elective courses (9 to 12 credits)
Students must take at least 6 credits in courses that address the study of women and gender and that are not part of the field focus. Three of these credits must be in a WMST designated course. WMST 611 - Feminist Research Practice is not required but is highly recommended.
Project (1-4 credits) or thesis (4 credits)
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