The Global Affairs MA is an interdisciplinary program offering students the opportunity to engage in advanced study of a broad range of global issues. Students complete a core curriculum that provides the knowledge and skills to think and act globally. Students also pursue specializations that include relevant courses from 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 enter the workforce or move forward in established international and domestic careers in the public sector, non-governmental organizations, and business.
This is a Green Leaf program.
Admissions
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For specific information, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental website.
Policies
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Students who wish to pursue study abroad in addition to the required core course GLOA 710 Seminar Abroad must receive prior approval and may not use more than 3 credits earned while abroad towards their specialization. A maximum of 3 credits of GLOA 695 Internship can be applied to the specialization.
Students must maintain a 3.00 cumulative grade point average with no more than two grades below B.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 30
This is a Green Leaf program.
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GLOA 600 | Global Competencies | 3 |
| GLOA 605 | Interdisciplinary Research Methods | 3 |
| GLOA 610 | Economic Globalization and Development | 3 |
| GLOA 615 | Case Studies in Globalization | 3 |
| GLOA 710 | Seminar Abroad | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Capstone
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GLOA 720 | Capstone Research Seminar | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Specialization
Students choose to specialize in one of four 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 specialization must submit a one-page proposal and receive written approval from the director.
- Global Conflict and Security
- Global Culture and Media
- Global Governance and Economy
- Global Development and Sustainability
Global Conflict and Security
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Case Studies in Globalization (when topic is relevant to specialization and different from that meeting core requirement) | ||
| Issues in Global Affairs (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Independent Study (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Internship (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Refugees in the Contemporary World | ||
| Nonproliferation and Arms Control | ||
| Examining Terrorist Groups | ||
| Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction | ||
| Strategic Communication | ||
| Frameworks for Ethical Dispute Resolution Practice | ||
| Foundations for Understanding Conflict | ||
| Coaching Through Conflict | ||
| Conflict Analysis and Resolution Advanced Skills | ||
| Conflict Analysis and Resolution for Prevention, Reconstruction, and Stabilization Contexts | ||
| Mass Atrocity: Early Warning and Prevention | ||
| Leadership in Conflict Analysis and Resolution | ||
| Conflict Assessment and Program Evaluation | ||
| Funding and Managing Peacebuilding Programming | ||
| Principles of Environmental Conflict Resolution | ||
| Conflict and Race | ||
| Conflict and Gender | ||
| Globalization and International Conflict | ||
| Reconciliation | ||
| Dynamics of Post-War Peacebuilding | ||
| Foundations of Security Studies | ||
| International Security | ||
| Problems in American History (when topic is U.S. National Security State) | ||
| Topics in the American Civil War Era (when topic is Military History) | ||
| Research Seminar in History (when topic is War and Modern Society) | ||
| Management of International Security | ||
| International Conflict and Crisis Response | ||
| Peace and Stabilization Operations | ||
| Intelligence and National Security | ||
| Global Development and Human Security | ||
or other course approved by the Director of Graduate Studies | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Global Culture and Media
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Case Studies in Globalization (when topic is relevant to specialization and different from that meeting core requirement) | ||
| Issues in Global Affairs (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Independent Study (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Internship (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Refugees in the Contemporary World | ||
| Sociocultural Theory in Anthropology | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Anthropology (when topic is Environment and Culture) | ||
| Regional Ethnography | ||
| Culture, Power, and Conflict | ||
| Seminar in Communication (when topic is Cancel Culture in Public and Political Communication) | ||
| Theories of Public Relations | ||
| Conflict and Race | ||
| Conflict and Gender | ||
| Topics in Traditional Chinese Literature | ||
| Gender and Sexuality | ||
| Social Institutions | ||
| Internet Cultures | ||
| Special Topics in Economics (when topic is Culture and Economics) | ||
| Child and Adolescent Development in Global Contexts | ||
| Introduction to Culturally Linguistically Diverse Learners | ||
| Education and Culture | ||
| Seminar in Multicultural Education | ||
| Seminar in Global Culture | ||
| Feminist Theory and Criticism | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Gender, Race, and the Natural World | ||
| Special Topics (when topic is Asian American Women Writers) | ||
| New Technologies in the Global Economy | ||
| Technology, Culture and Commerce | ||
| Special Topics in Geography and Geoinformation Science (when topic is Geography of Religion and Belief) | ||
| Politics and Societies of the Middle East | ||
| Approaches to Modern World History | ||
| Approaches to Middle East and Islamic History | ||
| The Modern Metropolis in Europe and the U.S. | ||
| Becoming Modern: Asia/Europe | ||
| Global History of Sexuality and Gender | ||
| Critical Race Studies | ||
| Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought | ||
| Critical Issues and Debates in Middle East and Islamic Studies | ||
| Topics in World Musics | ||
| Public Technology Management | ||
| Culture, Organization, and Technology | ||
| Telecommunications Policy | ||
| World Religions in Transition and Transformation | ||
| Religion and Secularity in State and Society | ||
| Interreligious Dialogue | ||
| Sociology of Culture | ||
| International Migration in the Age of Globalization | ||
| Feminist Theory | ||
| Global Social Thought | ||
| Globalization and Social Movements | ||
| Decolonizing Social Research | ||
| Human Behavior and Social Systems | ||
| Social Policy for Children and Youth | ||
| Poverty, Oppression, and Inequity | ||
| Methods of Literary and Cultural Studies | ||
| Sport in the Global Marketplace | ||
| Feminist Theories | ||
| Transnational Issues of Gender and Race | ||
or other course approved by the Director of Graduate Studies | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Global Governance and Economy
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Case Studies in Globalization (when topic is relevant to specialization and different from that meeting core requirement) | ||
| Issues in Global Affairs (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Independent Study (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Internship (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Refugees in the Contemporary World | ||
| Policy and Culture | ||
| Nonproliferation and Arms Control | ||
| Political Communication | ||
| Engaging Conflict (when topic is Democracy) | ||
| Collaborative Community Action Participatory Governance | ||
| Macroeconomic Theory | ||
| Comparative Economic Systems | ||
| Special Topics in Economics (when topic is Defense and Peace Economics) | ||
| Public Choice I | ||
| Global Financial Crises and Institutions | ||
| Global Trade Relations | ||
| Technology, Culture and Commerce | ||
| U.S. and Global Public Health Systems (when topic is Politics of Eurasia) | ||
| European Political and Economic Union | ||
| Political Economy and Integration in Latin America | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Advanced Seminar in Comparative Politics | ||
| International Negotiation | ||
| Critical Issues and Debates in Middle East and Islamic Studies | ||
| Policy and Program Evaluation | ||
| Global Development and Human Security | ||
| Strategic Trade Controls | ||
| Administration in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | ||
| Introduction to Management of Nonprofits | ||
| Organization Theory and Management Behavior | ||
| National Budgeting | ||
| Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise | ||
| Public Technology Management | ||
| Ethics and Public Administration | ||
| Cross-Cultural and Ethical Dimensions of International Management | ||
| Collaborative Public Management | ||
| Theory and Practice in Public Policy | ||
| Culture, Organization, and Technology | ||
| Microeconomics for Public Policy | ||
| International Migration and Public Policy | ||
| Public Sector Economics for Public Policy | ||
| Global Threats and Medical Policies | ||
| Global Governance | ||
| Islam and Human Rights | ||
| Human Behavior and Social Systems | ||
| Immigration Policy | ||
| Social Policy for Children and Youth | ||
| Global Human Rights Policy | ||
Or other course approved by the Director of Graduate Studies | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Global Development and Sustainability
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Case Studies in Globalization (when topic is relevant to specialization and different from that meeting core requirement) | ||
| Issues in Global Affairs (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Independent Study (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Internship (when topic is relevant to specialization) | ||
| Policy and Culture | ||
| Human Growth and Development | ||
| Environmental Anthropology | ||
| Regional Ethnography | ||
| Consumer-Provider Health Communication | ||
| Environmental Communication | ||
| Principles of Environmental Conflict Resolution | ||
| Conflict in Development | ||
| Economic Development | ||
| Special Topics in Economics (when topic is Historical Political Economy) | ||
| Child and Adolescent Development in Global Contexts | ||
| Selected Topics in Environmental Science (when topic is Geographical Approaches to Sustainability Development) | ||
| Marine Conservation | ||
| Evidence-Based Environmental Policymaking | ||
| Energy Policy | ||
| Food-Energy-Water Nexus | ||
| Global Biodiversity Governance | ||
| Fundamentals of Ecology | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Social Science | ||
| Translating Environmental Policy into Action | ||
| Environment and Development in Asia | ||
| Environmental Policy in Latin America | ||
| Environment and Development in Africa | ||
| Environmental Science and Public Policy | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Applied Ecology and Ecosystem Management | ||
| Foundations of Public Health | ||
| Global Health | ||
| Environmental Health | ||
| Global Infectious Diseases | ||
| U.S. and Global Public Health Systems | ||
| Global Non-Communicable Diseases | ||
| Transportation Geography | ||
| Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development | ||
| Geography of North Africa and the Middle East | ||
| Issues in Regional Geography | ||
| Health Geography | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Urban Planning | ||
| Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy | ||
| Microeconomics and Trade Policy | ||
| Global Financial Crises and Institutions | ||
| Global Trade Relations | ||
| New Technologies in the Global Economy | ||
| Technology, Culture and Commerce | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| Comparative International Health Systems | ||
| Microeconomics for Public Policy | ||
| Public Sector Economics for Public Policy | ||
| Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis for Public Policy | ||
| Global Threats and Medical Policies | ||
| Religion and the Natural Environment | ||
| International Migration in the Age of Globalization | ||
| Sociology of Development | ||
| Sociology of Human Rights | ||
Or other course approved by the Director of Graduate Studies | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking foreign languages or global affairs with a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.
Foreign Languages, MA and Global Affairs, MA Dual Degree
The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and the Global Affairs Program offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Foreign languages MA (concentration in Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish, or Spanish-bilingual/multicultural education) and the Global Affairs MA with a minimum of 48 credits rather than the minimum of 60 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6.
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 Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's program see Application Requirements and Deadlines.
Requirements
Students pursuing a dual master's program linking the Foreign Languages MA with a concentration in Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish, or Spanish bilingual/multicultural education with the Global Affairs MA can share 12 credits between the two programs.
Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking global affairs or interdisciplinary studies (concentration in women and gender studies) with a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6 Individualized Dual Master's Degree Programs.
Global Affairs, MA and Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) Dual Degree
The Global Affairs and Interdisciplinary Studies Programs offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Global Affairs MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) with 54 credits rather than 66 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6 Individualized Dual Master's Degree Programs.
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 Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's program see Application Requirements and Deadlines.
Requirements
Total credits: 54
Required Global Affairs Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GLOA 600 | Global Competencies | 3 |
| GLOA 610 | Economic Globalization and Development | 3 |
| GLOA 615 | Case Studies in Globalization | 3 |
| GLOA 710 | Seminar Abroad | 3 |
| Select three courses from the chosen specialization for the global affairs MA | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Required Women and Gender Studies Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| WMST 630 | Feminist Theories | 3 |
| WMST 640 | Transnational Issues of Gender and Race | 3 |
| Select one course in critical race studies from the following: | 3 | |
| Critical Race Studies | ||
| Representations of Race | ||
| Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought | ||
or INTS 541 | Policing Black Bodies | |
| Policing Black Bodies | ||
| Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Select one course in bodies and sexualities from the following: | 3 | |
| Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
| Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
| Queer Theory | ||
| Select one course in transnational and global perspectives from the following: | 3 | |
| Transnational Sexualities | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
| Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
| Sociology of Globalization | ||
| Select 9 credits in elective courses chosen from the following and not used to fulfill another requirement: | 9 | |
| Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
| Transnational Sexualities | ||
| Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
| Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Queer Theory | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
| Internship | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Required Methods Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Interdisciplinary Research Methods | ||
| Feminist Research Methods | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Capstone
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Capstone Research Seminar | ||
| Integrated Learning Experience | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Project or Thesis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Interdisciplinary Studies Project (take 3 credits) | ||
| Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis (take 3 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Bachelor's Degree (any)/Global Affairs, Accelerated MA
Overview
Highly qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA/BS in a chosen major and an MA in Global Affairs in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.
See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree for policies related to this program.
Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
BAM Pathway Admission Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Polices and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies. For information specific to the accelerated MA in global affairs, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental website.
Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits, and after meeting the following:
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.25
- Enrolled in or have completed a foreign language course 202 or higher with a minimum grade of C- prior to graduation with the BA (or other evidence of proficiency in foreign language).
Students who are accepted in the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits.
Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements
Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MA program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form:
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.25
- Successfully met Mason's requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completed the application for graduation.
Accelerated Pathway Requirements
To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Standing courses (up to 12 credits) | ||
| Required Course | 3 | |
| Global Competencies | ||
| Additional Optional Courses | ||
| Economic Globalization and Development | ||
| Case Studies in Globalization 1 | ||
| Issues in Global Affairs 2 | ||
| Reserve Graduate Credit courses (up to 6 credits) taken while an undergraduate and will only count for the graduate degree program | ||
| GLOA 599 | Issues in Global Affairs 2 | 1-6 |
| GLOA 605 | Interdisciplinary Research Methods | 3 |
| GLOA 615 | Case Studies in Globalization | 3 |
| 500- or 600-level courses approved for student's specialization | ||
- 1
First 3 credits taken to fulfill the GLOA 615 requirement. May be repeated one time for another 3 credits as a specialization course, with permission of program.
- 2
As a specialization course.
For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements see AP.6.7 Bachelor's Accelerated Master's Degree policies.
Program Outcomes
- Students will be able to develop an original research question based on knowledge gained through coursework and extra-curricular experiences that is relevant to global studies.
- Students will be able to apply theoretical frameworks from multiple disciplines to analyze issues and challenges relevant to globalization.
- Students will be able to summarize key questions or issues in globalization and global studies.
- Students will be able to identify and break down assumptions made about global processes or dynamics.
- Students will be able to evaluate global ethical, social, and environmental problems and challenges and the influence of human actions on them and to use necessary analytical skills to propose appropriate solutions.
- Students will be able to demonstrate familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methods prominent in the social sciences.
- Students will be able to construct an informed research project and to conduct research in an ethical manner.
- Students will be able to synthesize information from various credible sources and present information clearly and concisely in written or oral forms that are understandable for the audience.