The Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies brings together research, theory and practice across numerous disciplines. Integrative studies majors select a multidisciplinary concentration or work with student services staff to develop their own concentration, uniquely suited to their academic and career goals. Integrative studies majors explore new topics and experiences while gaining the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce. Required coursework is offered in small classes with ample room for discussion, collaborative learning, and experiential learning, including in-community projects, volunteer opportunities, field work, internships and work with faculty on research that directly engages current social and global challenges.
Policies
Students must fulfill all Requirements for Bachelor's Degrees including the Mason Core. Integrative studies students may fulfill lower level Mason Core requirements through approved integrative studies (INTS) coursework. Students pursuing a BA in integrative studies must complete a minimum of 30 credits of (INTS) coursework, with at least 15 credits at the 300 and 400 levels. These 30 INTS credits fulfill the writing intensive and synthesis Mason Core requirements.
Students must complete ENGH 302 Advanced Composition (Mason Core). A maximum of 15 credits of INTS 299 Study Abroad or INTS 399 Study Abroad can be applied to the major. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.00 in courses applied to the major. Before registering, students should see an advisor to help plan their degree program to meet Mason requirements. The advisor also can help students choose electives or a minor.
For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: minimum 120
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Students pursuing a BA in Integrative Studies must complete a minimum of 30 credits of (INTS) coursework, with at least 15 credits at the 300 and 400 levels.
Integrative studies students complete INTS 391 Understanding Integrative Studies and INTS 491 Senior Capstone and choose a concentration from the options below. Before registering, students should see an advisor to help plan their degree program to meet Mason requirements. The advisor also can help students choose electives or a minor.
Required Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTS 391 | Understanding Integrative Studies | 1 |
| INTS 491 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 4 | |
Concentration in the Major
A concentration is the equivalent of a major in a traditional degree program. Students choose from an established multidisciplinary concentration below or create with faculty an individualized program of study to fit their interests and needs. Concentration coursework combines integrative studies (INTS) classes with coursework from other Mason units (departments, schools, and colleges). While fulfilling the concentration requirements, students are also responsible for completing a minimum of 30 credits of INTS coursework. Any INTS courses required for the concentration will apply. Students must present a minimum GPA of 2.00 in courses applied to the concentration.
Available Concentrations
- African and African American Studies (AAMS)
- Childhood Studies (CHDS)
- Education Studies (ESTU)
- International Studies (INST)
- Leadership and Organizational Development (LODV)
- Legal Studies (LGLS)
- Social Justice and Human Rights (SJHR)
- Social Science for Education (SSED)
- Women and Gender Studies Concentration (WGST)
- Individualized Concentration (IND)
Concentration in African and African American Studies (AAMS)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| AFAM 200 | Introduction to African American Studies (Mason Core) | 3 |
| African Studies | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Black and Minority Cultures in Arabic Literature | ||
| Survey of African Art (Mason Core) | ||
| Global Dance Perspectives I (Mason Core) (when topic is World Dance: Africa) | ||
| African Economic Development (Mason Core) | ||
| Geography of North Africa and the Middle East | ||
| Survey of African History (Mason Core) | ||
| Survey of African History (Mason Core) | ||
| History of South Africa (Mason Core) | ||
| Religions of Africa (Mason Core) (Race and Ethnicity) | ||
| Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Scientific Racism and Human Variation | ||
| Gender, Race, and Class in the Media | ||
or WMST 375 | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and TV | |
| Politics of Race and Gender | ||
| Critical Race Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Representations of Race (Mason Core) | ||
| Introduction to Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Race and Ethnicity in a Changing World (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Justice | ||
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Black Social Movements | ||
| Women's Activism: From Jim Crow to Black Power | ||
| Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Justice Narratives (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Justice Education (Mason Core) | ||
| Policing Black Bodies | ||
or WMST 416 | Policing Black Bodies | |
| Social Movements and Political Protest | ||
| Black Social Movements: Gendering of Violence and Activism | ||
| Women's Activism: From Jim Crow to Black Power | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Special Topics in African and African American Studies | ||
| Internship | ||
| Beginnings of African American Literature Through 1865 | ||
| African American Literature: Reconstruction to 1903 | ||
| African American Literature Through 1946 | ||
| Contemporary African American Literature | ||
| Topics: American Literary Periods (when topic is 20th/21st Century African American LGBTQ Literature) | ||
| Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | ||
| The African American Experience in the United States: African Background to 1885 | ||
| The African American Experience in the United States: Reconstruction to the Present | ||
| Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought | ||
| The Urban World (Mason Core) | ||
| Women During the Enslavement Era | ||
Any course listed above not used to meet category requirement | ||
Other relevant courses with advisor approval | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Concentration in Childhood Studies (CHDS)
Provides students with an in-depth understanding of childhood in historical, contemporary, and global contexts and incorporates study in child policy, parenting, and family development. This concentration prepares students for:
- graduate studies in fields such as educational / school psychology, special education, social work, social justice & human rights, public policy
- careers in nonprofit leadership, child welfare and advocacy, juvenile justice
Students complete the following coursework:
Seven Required Courses (minimum of 23 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTS 312 | Images and Experiences of Childhood: Social Construct, Literature, and Film | 3-6 |
| INTS 316 | Introduction to Childhood Studies (Mason Core) | 4 |
| INTS 317 | Issues in Family Relationships (Mason Core) | 4 |
| or INTS 321 | Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core) | |
| PSYC 100 | Basic Concepts in Psychology (Mason Core) | 3 |
| PSYC 211 | Lifespan Development (Mason Core) | 3 |
| PSYC 313 | Child Development | 3 |
| STAT 250 | Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | 3-4 |
| or SOCI 313 | Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Mason Core) | |
| Total Credits | 23-27 | |
Additional Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three courses from the following: | 9-18 | |
| Children and Media | ||
| Youth and Conflict | ||
| Critical Study of Children's Literature | ||
| Health Interventions for Vulnerable Populations | ||
| Conflict Resolution and Transformation | ||
| Violence, Gender, and Sexuality | ||
| Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core) | ||
| The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core) | ||
| Youth, Music, Social Change | ||
| Youth Resistance and Advocacy | ||
| Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core) | ||
| Strategies for Nutrition Education | ||
| Community Nutrition | ||
| Nutrition throughout the Life Cycle | ||
| Nutrition and Chronic Illnesses | ||
| Nutrition and Weight Management: Obesity, Anorexia, and Bulimia | ||
| Sport Based Youth Development | ||
| Adolescent Development | ||
| Personality Theory | ||
| Psychopathology | ||
| Psychology of Gender | ||
| Behavior Disorders of Childhood | ||
| Child and Family Welfare | ||
| Sociology of Delinquency | ||
| Youth Culture and Society (Mason Core) | ||
Other relevant courses with approval of advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 9-18 | |
Concentration in Education Studies (ESTU)
Examines the foundations of formal education, the nature of learning, and contemporary issues & opportunities in education. This concentration prepares students for:
- post-baccalaureate or graduate teacher licensure programs (including accelerated master’s programs)
- graduate studies in fields such as higher education, educational psychology, school psychology, guidance counseling
- careers in educational policy & funding
- nonprofit leadership (museums, child-care centers, environmental centers, recreational centers, Boys & Girls Club)
Students complete the following coursework. Students who intend to pursue graduate-level teaching licensure degrees at Mason should also meet with the advisors in https://education.gmu.edu/teacher-track/connect.
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose two courses from the following: | 6-7 | |
| Teacher: A Historical Perspective | ||
| Poverty, Wealth and Inequality in the US (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Justice Education (Mason Core) | ||
| Education in Contemporary Society | ||
| Total Credits | 6-7 | |
Additional Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum of 24 credits chosen from the following: | 24 | |
| The Museum (Mason Core) | ||
| Introduction to Design Thinking | ||
| Health Promotion and Education | ||
| Leadership Theory and Practice | ||
| Introduction to Childhood Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core) | ||
| The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Justice Consciousness and Action | ||
| College to Career Skills | ||
| Principles of Fund Raising | ||
| Leadership in a Changing Environment | ||
| Leadership and Organizational Problem-Solving | ||
| Self-Care and Well-Being for Helping Professionals | ||
| Mathematics for the Elementary School Teachers I | ||
| Mathematics for the Elementary School Teachers II (Mason Core) | ||
Natural Science lab not applied toward mason Core Requirements | ||
| Introduction to Neuroscience (Mason Core) | ||
| Psychomotor Learning | ||
| Lifespan Development (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Psychology (Mason Core) | ||
| Principles of Learning | ||
| Educational Psychology | ||
| Child Development | ||
| Adolescent Development | ||
| Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Psychological Tests and Measurements | ||
| Psychopathology | ||
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Creativity and Innovation | ||
| Human Factors Psychology | ||
| Social Inequality (Mason Core) | ||
| Youth Culture and Society (Mason Core) | ||
| The Sociology of Higher Education (Mason Core) | ||
| LGBTQ Issues in Education | ||
Coursework from core course list not used to meet that requirement | ||
Other coursework with advisor approval | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Concentration in International Studies (INST)
Addresses world issues, examining the natural environment, globalization, media and technologies, and war and violent conflict, while deepening understanding of an increasingly interdependent world. This concentration prepares students for:
- graduate studies in fields such as policy and politics, global affairs, social justice & human rights, conflict resolution
- careers in civil service, international leadership / business
Students complete the following coursework:
Language Proficiency
All students must demonstrate language proficiency at the intermediate level through coursework (a Mason course numbered 202) or proficiency testing.
Foundational Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTS 303 | Introduction to International Studies (Mason Core) | 3 |
| INTS 362 | Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core) | 3 |
| INTS 435 | Leadership in a Changing Environment | 3-4 |
| or INTS 406 | Global Leadership (Mason Core) | |
| Total Credits | 9-10 | |
Religious Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Spirituality and Healing (Mason Core) | ||
| Religion and Politics | ||
| Religion, Values, and Globalization | ||
| Women in Religious Traditions | ||
| Comparative Study of Religions (Mason Core) | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Geography
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Global Environmental Hazards | ||
| Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core) | ||
| Population Geography (Mason Core) | ||
| Economic Geography | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Globalization
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Civilizations | ||
| Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Globalization (Mason Core) | ||
| Globalization and Culture (Mason Core) | ||
| Introduction to Global Affairs (Mason Core) | ||
| Digital Futures | ||
| Globalization and Society (Mason Core) | ||
| Globalization and Social Change (Mason Core) | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Sustainability
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3-6 | |
| Sustainable World (Mason Core) | ||
| Environmental Justice (Mason Core) | ||
| Conservation Biology (Mason Core) | ||
| Plants and People - Sustenance, Ceremony, and Sustainability | ||
| Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core) | ||
| Total Credits | 3-6 | |
Politics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Political Anthropology (Mason Core) | ||
| Political Geography (Mason Core) | ||
| International Relations Theory | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Social Action and Conflict Transformation
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3-6 | |
| Law and Justice (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core) | ||
| Conflict, Trauma and Healing | ||
| Spirituality and Conflict Transformation (Mason Core) | ||
| Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core) | ||
| Human Trafficking and Smuggling | ||
| Race and Ethnicity in a Changing World (Mason Core) | ||
| Total Credits | 3-6 | |
Creative Arts
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Global Dance Perspectives I (Mason Core) | ||
| Global Dance Perspectives II (Mason Core) | ||
| Global Voices (Mason Core) | ||
| The Idea of a World Literature (Mason Core) | ||
| World Literatures in English | ||
| Musics of the World (Mason Core) | ||
| Art as Social Action (Mason Core) | ||
| World Stages (Mason Core) | ||
| Total Credits | 3-4 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three electives 1 | 9-12 | |
| Total Credits | 9-12 | |
| 1 | Students take three additional courses focused on an international area of their interest with the advice and approval of an adviser. |
Concentration in Leadership and Organizational Development (LODV)
Combines a liberal arts curriculum and the practicality of business skills, focused around a central idea: knowing how people react to organizations and how organizations react to people. This concentration prepares students for:
- graduate studies in fields such as business, leadership, organization development & knowledge management
- careers in management, events planning, health services, and nonprofit organizations
Required Courses
Understanding the interdisciplinary nature of leadership and its application to personal, organizational and societal development
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTS 204 | Leadership Theory and Practice | 4 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Leadership in a Changing Environment | ||
or INTS 406 | Global Leadership (Mason Core) | |
or INTS 451 | Leadership and Organizational Problem-Solving | |
| Total Credits | 7-8 | |
Additional Course
Developing a heightened sense of self, including: inner knowledge, core values, intersecting identities, well-being, and impact on others
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Women and Leadership | ||
| Mindfulness, Meaning Well-Being | ||
| Science of Well Being | ||
| Total Credits | 3-4 | |
Additional Course
Understanding ethical approaches to leadership and change, and applying ethics in personal and organizational processes
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Ethics and Leadership | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
| Ethics and Economics | ||
| Total Credits | 3-4 | |
Additional Course
Understanding team and organizational learning
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| College to Career Skills | ||
| The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Psychology (Mason Core) | ||
| Total Credits | 3-4 | |
Additional Course
Demonstrating competence in personal and professional communication
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Public Speaking and Critical Thinking Skills (Mason Core) | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Issues in Intercultural Communication | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | ||
| Total Credits | 3-4 | |
Additional Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following that have not already been taken to fulfill a core concentration requirement. | 12-18 | |
| Survey of Accounting | ||
| Accounting for Decision Making | ||
| Legal Environment of Business | ||
| Business Analytics I (Mason Core) | ||
| Develop Professional Skills II: Advanced Elements | ||
| Business Analytics II | ||
| Financial Management | ||
| Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core) | ||
| Conflict Resolution and Transformation | ||
| The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core) | ||
| Foundations of Resilience and Well-Being | ||
| Leadership and Organizational Problem-Solving | ||
| Global Leadership (Mason Core) | ||
| College to Career Skills | ||
| Principles of Fund Raising | ||
| Introduction to Business Information Systems (Mason Core) | ||
| Principles of Marketing | ||
| Social Psychology (Mason Core) | ||
| The Future of Work | ||
Other relevant courses with approval of advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 12-18 | |
Concentration in Legal Studies (LGLS)
Combines coursework in communication, political systems, criminology, ethics and philosophy, history, and economics to prepare students for the rigors of careers and graduate work in the area of law or legal studies. With advanced planning, students may be eligible for an accelerated law degree through Mason’s Scalia Law School.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 173 | Logic and Critical Thinking | 3 |
| INTS 300 | Law and Justice (Mason Core) | 3 |
| CRIM 423 | Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| or GOVT 423 | Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties | |
| CRIM 424 | Constitutional Law: Criminal Process and Rights | 3 |
| or CRIM 430 | Criminal Law | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Advanced Writing or Research Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Research Methods and Analysis in Criminology | ||
| Introduction to Writing and Rhetoric | ||
| Rhetoric of the Essay | ||
| Professional and Technical Writing | ||
| Forms of Nonfiction | ||
| Research for Social Change | ||
| Research Methods and Analysis (Mason Core) | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Additional Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select a minimum of 15 credits from the following: | 15 | |
| Legal Environment of Business | ||
| Roman Law and Society | ||
| Case Studies in Persuasion | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Journalism Law | ||
| Mediating Conflict | ||
| Introduction to Criminal Justice (Mason Core) | ||
| Introduction to Law and Society | ||
| Law and Justice around the World (Mason Core) | ||
| Family Law and the Justice System | ||
| Advanced Topics in Law and Society | ||
| Controversial Legal Issues | ||
| Public Law and the Judicial Process | ||
or GOVT 301 | Public Law and the Judicial Process | |
| Law and Economics | ||
| Introduction to American Government (Mason Core) | ||
| Law and Society | ||
| Law and Ethics of War | ||
| International Law and Organization | ||
| Administrative Law and Procedures | ||
| Healthcare Law | ||
| Family Law and Public Policy | ||
| Public Speaking and Critical Thinking Skills (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core) | ||
| Conflict Resolution and Transformation | ||
| Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core) | ||
| Poverty, Wealth and Inequality in the US (Mason Core) | ||
| Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core) | ||
| Human Trafficking and Smuggling | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Religion and Law in the United States | ||
| Criminology | ||
| Sociology of Delinquency | ||
Other relevant courses with approval of advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Social Justice and Human Rights (SJHR)
Examines local, societal, and global issues through both a human rights lens, focusing on the fundamental rights of human beings and how they are secured or denied, and a social justice lens, focusing on societal inequalities and how they are sustained or alleviated. Students develop nuanced understandings of the relationships between individual experience in a local context and global systems of privilege and oppression. This concentration prepares students for:
-
graduate studies in fields such as human rights education, advocacy, law, and domestic and global justice
-
careers in legal, nonprofit, educational, and community change organizations and governmental agencies
Students complete the following coursework:
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTS 334 | Environmental Justice (Mason Core) | 4 |
| INTS 362 | Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core) | 3 |
| INTS 337 | Social Justice Consciousness and Action | 3 |
| or INTS 434 | Research for Social Change | |
| INTS 437 | Critical Race Studies (Mason Core) | 3 |
| or INTS 438 | Representations of Race (Mason Core) | |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 18 credits from the following: | 18 | |
| Law and Justice (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core) | ||
| Conflict Resolution and Transformation | ||
| Violence, Gender, and Sexuality | ||
| Spirituality and Conflict Transformation (Mason Core) | ||
| Introduction to Childhood Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Poverty, Wealth and Inequality in the US (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Justice Consciousness and Action | ||
| Art as Social Action (Mason Core) | ||
| Gender Representation in Popular Culture (Mason Core) | ||
| Women and Leadership | ||
| Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core) | ||
| Human Trafficking and Smuggling | ||
| Leadership in a Changing Environment | ||
| Social Justice Education (Mason Core) | ||
| Scientific Racism and Human Variation | ||
| DNA, Identity, and Power | ||
| Social Movements and Political Protest | ||
| Race and Ethnicity in a Changing World (Mason Core) | ||
| Conflict, Violence, and Peace | ||
| Sociology of Human Rights | ||
Other relevant coursework from AFAM, ANTH, COMM, CONF, CRIM, CULT, EVPP, FRLN, GLOA, GOVT, PHIL, PSYC, SOCI, WMST, and other coursework with advisor approval. | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Concentration in Social Science for Education (SSED)
Meets the Virginia Department of Education content-area requirements, preparing students for graduate licensure programs in secondary education history and social science. Qualified students have the opportunity to apply for the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s program and obtain both a BA in Integrative Studies and an MEd in Curriculum & Instruction (Secondary Education History & Social Science concentration) within five years.
Students complete the following coursework:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 103 | Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ECON 104 | Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GGS 103 | Human Geography (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 103 | Introduction to American Government (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 121 | Formation of the American Republic (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 125 | Introduction to Global History (Mason Core) | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| History of Virginia to 1800 | ||
| Development of Modern America (Mason Core) | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Teacher: A Historical Perspective | ||
| Temptress: Sexuality and Power | ||
| Select 6 credits of GGS coursework | 6 | |
| Select 15 credits from the following: | 15 | |
| Law and Justice (Mason Core) | ||
| Introduction to International Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core) | ||
| Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Justice Education (Mason Core) | ||
| Total Credits | 51 | |
Concentration in Women and Gender Studies (WGST)
Exploration of gender in social, political, cultural, and economic life; gender in history; women and the media; feminist theory; the relationship between sex and gender; the impact of sex, race, class, disability, and sexual orientation on people’s lives; and the ways in which gender stereotypes influence the self in relationship to others
Students complete the following coursework:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| WMST 200 | Introduction to Women and Gender Studies (Mason Core) | 3 |
| WMST 208 | Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies (Mason Core) | 3 |
| WMST 330 | Feminist Theories of Gender, Sexuality, and Race | 3 |
| WMST 410 | Feminist Research Methods | 3 |
| INTS 437 | Critical Race Studies (Mason Core) | 3 |
| Intersections of Gender, Sexuality and Race | ||
| Select two courses from the following: | 6-7 | |
| Current Issues in Women and Gender Studies 1 | ||
| Current Topics in LGBTQ Studies | ||
| Queer Theory | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
| Transnational Sexualities | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
| Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
| Race, Class, and LGBTQ Communities | ||
| Policing Black Bodies | ||
| Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies 1 | ||
| Critical Race Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Representations of Race (Mason Core) | ||
| Black Social Movements: Gendering of Violence and Activism | ||
| Women During the Enslavement Era | ||
| Women's Activism: From Jim Crow to Black Power | ||
| Gender, Race, Sexuality, and TV | ||
Other WMST special topics courses with advisor approval | ||
| History and Culture | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Gender, Race, and Class in the Media | ||
| U.S. Women's History | ||
| Women in Islamic Society (Mason Core) | ||
| Temptress: Sexuality and Power | ||
| Philosophy, Race, and Gender | ||
| Women in Religious Traditions | ||
| Women and Work | ||
| Black Social Movements: Gendering of Violence and Activism | ||
| Women During the Enslavement Era | ||
| Women's Activism: From Jim Crow to Black Power | ||
| Gender, Health, and Culture in the United States | ||
Other WMST special topics courses with advisor approval | ||
| Transnational Perspectives | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core) | ||
| Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core) | ||
| Human Trafficking and Smuggling | ||
| Global Representations of Women (Mason Core) | ||
| Transnational Sexualities | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
| Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Asian American Women Writers (Mason Core) | ||
| Topics in Communication and Gender | ||
| Topics: Women and Literature | ||
| Cultural Constructions of Sexualities | ||
| Women's Health | ||
| Images and Experiences of Childhood: Social Construct, Literature, and Film | ||
| Issues in Family Relationships (Mason Core) | ||
| Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core) | ||
| Women and Leadership | ||
| Psychology of Gender | ||
| Contemporary Gender Relations (Mason Core) | ||
| Contemporary Women Playwrights | ||
Courses in above areas not already taken | ||
| Special Topics 2 | ||
| Feminist Research Methods 2 | ||
| Feminist Theories 2 | ||
| Transnational Issues of Gender and Race 2 | ||
| Total Credits | 30-32 | |
| 1 | Various special topics courses with the approval of the undergraduate advisor. |
| 2 | Six credits of WMST 600 Special Topics, WMST 610 Feminist Research Methods, WMST 630 Feminist Theories, or WMST 640 Transnational Issues of Gender and Race may apply to elective requirement for students accepted into the accelerated master's degree in interdisciplinary studies (MAIS) with a concentration in women and gender studes. |
Individualized Concentration (IND)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| With approval of the executive director, students may construct an individualized concentration. | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Additional Electives
Any remaining credits may be completed with electives to bring the degree total to 120.
Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies Sample Plan of Study
A sample four year graduation plan and degree planning worksheet can be found at https://academicaffairs.chss.gmu.edu/undergraduate-students/advising/advising-sheets. The plan is a recommended sequencing of courses based on prerequisites and scheduling. This may not fit every student's needs and is a guideline, not a requirement. Students should confirm major requirements with their academic advisor each semester and with their PatriotWeb Degree Evaluation to ensure they enroll in the proper courses and are on track to graduate.
The accelerated master's program below specifies the BA in integrative studies as a feeder degree for its program. Many other accelerated master's programs are also available for any bachelor's degree at Mason. See the full list of degrees with accelerated programs at George Mason.
Integrative Studies, BA (Social Science for Education Concentration)/Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education History and Social Science Concentration)
Overview
Highly-qualified Mason undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's option and obtain a BA in Integrative Studies (concentration in social science for education) and an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction (Secondary Education History and Social Science concentration) in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 143 credits.
See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree for policies related to this program.
This accelerated option is offered jointly by the School of Integrative Studies and the School of Education.
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 Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies. For information specific to this accelerated master's program, see Application Requirements and Deadlines.
Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits, and additional unit-specific criteria.
Students who are accepted into the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits and course-specific pre-requisites.
Accelerated Master’s Admission Requirements
Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MEd program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:
- 3.0 overall GPA
- Completion of specific undergraduate coursework
- Successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing 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 which can be taken as Advanced Standing or Reserve Graduate credit (to be determined by the student and their advisor):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDRD 619 | Literacy in the Content Areas | 3 |
| SEED 522 | Foundations of Secondary Education | 3 |
| SEED 540 | Human Development and Learning: Secondary Education | 3 |
| SEED 567 | Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary School | 3 |
| SEED 667 | Advanced Methods of Teaching Social Sciences in the Secondary School | 3 |
| SEED approved elective | ||
For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies.
Program Outcomes
- Written Communication - Demonstrate effective writing skills while understanding and communicating to diverse audiences.
- Inquiry - Evaluate scholarly works and format a question, problem, or challenge that is relevant and appropriate in scope.
- Civic Engagement - Articulate the responsibility of the individual within local and global communities.
- Digital Literacy – Proficient use of information technology and congruence with ethical standards around digital literacy in everyday life.
- Reflective Practice – Analyze prior learning and apply that knowledge to demonstrate comprehension and future implications.
- Well-Being - Develop self-efficacy and regularly assess the quality of one's own life.