George Mason University

Bachelor of Arts in Global Affairs

As a global affairs graduate, you will:

• Gain a deep understanding of political, social, economic, and cultural globalization
• Understand the use of different kinds of data and theories to analyze current global issues
• Be trained in writing effectively for policy and other audiences
• Be prepared to work in cross-cultural environments
• Have advanced language skills
• Have expertise in your concentration, be it a world region or issues such as global governance, the global economy, international development, or the environment

Our graduates pursue careers in international security and intelligence, global health and international development, law, business, media, and management.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: minimum 120

This is a Green Leaf program.

Core Courses in the Major

• GLOA 101 Introduction to Global Affairs (Mason Core) 3 or SOCI 120 Globalization and Society (Mason Core)
• CONF 340 Global Conflict Analysis and Resolution (Mason Core) 3
• CULT 320 Globalization and Culture 3
• ECON 385 International Economic Policy 3
• EVPP 337 Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries 3
• GOVT 322 International Relations Theory 3

Total Credits 18

Capstone Course

Select one of the following:

• GLOA 400 Global Affairs Capstone (Mason Core)
• GLOA 492 Honors Research Project in Global Affairs (Mason Core)

GLOA Foreign Language Requirement (6 credits of language study beyond intermediate proficiency)

All BA students in CHSS are required to demonstrate intermediate proficiency in one foreign language. To fulfill the Global Affairs foreign language 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 demonstrating intermediate proficiency in one foreign language, an additional six credits of courses taught in a foreign language, at any level, are required.

Concentrations in the Major

Students select one concentration and complete the requirements therein. 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 with each concentration, 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.

Available Concentrations

• Concentration in the Environment (EVT)
• Concentration in Global Economy and Management (GEM)
• Concentration in Global Governance (GLGV)
• Concentration in Global Inequalities and Responses (GIR)
• Concentration in Human Security (HMSC)
• Concentration in International Development (IDEV)
• Concentration in Media, Communication, and Culture (MCC)
• Concentration in Africa (AFR)
• Concentration in Asia (ASA)
• Concentration in Europe (EU)
• Concentration in Latin America (LA)
• Concentration in the Middle East and North Africa (MNA)
• Concentration in North America (NA)
• Concentration in Russia and Central Asia (RCA)
• Individualized Concentration (IND)

Concentration in the Environment (EVT)

Students may complete this concentration through 12 credits of regular coursework or through the Smithsonian-Mason Semester Program (15-16 credits).

Regular Coursework

Select 12 credits from the following: 12

• ANTH 370 Environment and Culture
• BIOL 301 Biology and Society (Mason Core)
• ECON 335 Environmental Economics 1
• ECON 435 Economics of Energy
• EVPP 108 Ecosphere - Introduction to Environmental Science I-Lecture (Mason Core)
• EVPP 336 Human Dimensions of the Environment
• EVPP 377 Applied Ecology
• EVPP 475 Global Biodiversity Governance
• GEOL 309 Oceanography
• GGS 302 Global Environmental Hazards
• GGS 303 Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core)
• GGS 307 Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development
• GGS 311 Geographic Information Systems
• GOVT 361 Introduction to Environmental Policy or EVPP 361 Introduction to Environmental Policy
• GOVT 362 Intermediate Environmental Policy or EVPP 362 Intermediate Environmental Policy
• INTS 334 Environmental Justice (Mason Core)
• PHIL 243 Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core)
• PHIL 343 Topics in Environmental Philosophy (Mason Core)
• TOUR 340 Sustainable Tourism

Total Credits 12

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", "Wildlife Ecology and Conservation", or "Endangered Species 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.

Select one of the following focus areas: 16

Conservation, Biodiversity, and Society option (16 credits):

• CONS 320 Conservation in Practice
• CONS 401 Conservation Theory
• CONS 402 Applied Conservation
• CONS 410 Human Dimensions in Conservation (Mason Core)
• CONS 490 RS: Integrated Conservation Strategies (Mason Core)

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation option (16 credits):

Offered only in Fall semesters, students complete four required courses:

• CONS 400 Conservation Seminar
• CONS 404 Biodiversity Monitoring
• CONS 405 Landscape and Macrosystems Ecology
• CONS 496 Research in Conservation (Mason Core)

Endangered Species and Conservation option (16 credits)

Offered only in Spring semesters, students complete four required courses:

• CONS 400 Conservation Seminar
• CONS 406 Small Population Management
• CONS 491 RS: Conservation Management Planning (Mason Core)
• CONS 496 Research in Conservation (Mason Core)

Total Credits 16

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 Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries.

Upper-Level Requirement

Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements.

Additional Electives

Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.

College Level Requirements in the BA Degree

In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the coursework 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
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Foreign Language
• Non-Western Culture

Mason Core

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.

Foundation Requirements

• Written Communication (ENGH 101) 3
• Oral Communication 3
• Quantitative Reasoning 3
• Information Technology and Computing 3

Exploration Requirements

• Arts 3
• Global Understanding 3
• Literature 3
• Natural Science 7
• Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
• Western Civilization/World History 3

Integration Requirements

• Written Communications (ENGH 302) 3
• Writing-Intensive 3
• Synthesis/Capstone 3

Total Credits 40

George Mason is All Together Different

We became Virginia’s most diverse and highest-ranked university for innovation by welcoming all who are prepared for the academic rigor of a Research 1 (R1) university. Here, Patriots live and learn together in a research-intensive environment, gaining the skills necessary to build a better world for themselves and their communities.

When our students graduate, they continue that work, with nearly nine in ten graduates achieving positive career outcomes within just six months of graduation as they strive for the future they want and deserve. George Mason didn’t achieve this incredible success by being like other institutions. We did it by being All Together Different.

George Mason is ranked a top public university

Undergraduate Programs

Tied for #51 in U.S. News & World Report Five “top 100” undergraduate programs in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report:

• Business (#84)
• Computer science (#100)
• Economics (#99)
• Psychology (#67)
• Teaching (#48 – top 50)

George Mason is a local powerhouse with a global reach

Located just outside Washington, D.C., George Mason’s beautiful 677-acre residential campus in Fairfax, Virginia, is home to the most diverse student body in Virginia. Our physical presence extends across the state and beyond, with Mason Square, our campus in Arlington; the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas; the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in Front Royal; and our overseas campus in Songdo, South Korea.
As a Patriot, you will be part of a powerful regional presence with a global reach.

George Mason is focused on outcomes

89% of our graduates achieve positive career outcomes within six months of graduation.

George Mason is strengthened by our alumni

245,000+ Alumni. With nearly 70 percent of our alumni remaining in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area after graduation, you’ll be connected to an influential and effective network of Patriots ready to help you land the interview, internship, or job that advances your career.

George Mason is fueled by Patriot Pride

We wear green and gold. Patriot Pride flows all throughout campus and is demonstrated by the George Mason gear that we wear, the fight song that we sing, and the work that we do to create a better George Mason community and a better world.