BA in Global Affairs

Global Study, Global Leadership

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-BA-GLOA-KOR

Green Leaf

Global affairs is an interdisciplinary major that introduces students to the processes of globalization that affect all societies. Students gain a sophisticated understanding of complex issues such as terrorism, refugee crises, global inequality, and health and environmental challenges. Core courses in the major provide a knowledge foundation of the political, economic, cultural, and environmental processes in our global and globalizing world. The choice of a thematic or regional concentration helps students tailor the degree to their particular interests and career goals. Students in this program are encouraged to participate in study abroad opportunities and internships. They can complement their major with a second major or a minor.

This is a Green Leaf program

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Honors in the Major

Highly qualified students may pursue advanced work leading to graduation with honors in the major. Global affairs majors who have completed 75 credits with an overall GPA of 3.50 and a GPA of 3.50 in courses for the major are eligible to apply to graduate with honors.

Students pursuing honors in the major must complete the two-course honors sequence, GLOA 491 Honors Seminar in Global Affairs and GLOA 492 Honors Research Project in Global Affairs (Mason Core), with a minimum GPA of 3.50 in the sequence. Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements are guaranteed acceptance.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: minimum 120

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 in the Major

GLOA 101 Introduction to Global Affairs (Mason Core) 3
CONF 340 Global Conflict Analysis and Resolution (Mason Core) 3
CULT 320 Globalization and Culture (Mason Core) 3
ECON 385 International Economic Policy 3
EVPP 337 Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries 3
GOVT 322 International Relations Theory 1 3
Total Credits 18
1

Note the prerequisite for this course: GOVT 132 Introduction to International Politics (Mason Core) or GOVT 133 Introduction to Comparative Politics (Mason Core)

Capstone Course

Select one of the following:
Global Affairs Capstone (Mason Core)
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 language1. 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.

1

Intermediate proficiency is achieved by completing a course in a foreign language numbered 202 (or higher level courses taught in the language) or achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test. A three course sequence in American Sign Language (EDSE 115 American Sign Language (ASL) I, EDSE 116 American Sign Language (ASL) II, and EDSE 219 American Sign Language (ASL) III) will also meet the foreign language requirement. Students who are already proficient in a second language may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement.

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 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
Environment and Culture
BIOL 301
Biology and Society (Mason Core)
Environmental Economics 1
Economics of Energy
Ecosphere - Introduction to Environmental Science I-Lecture (Mason Core)
EVPP 336
Tackling Wicked Problems in Society the Environment
EVPP 377
Applied Ecology
Global Biodiversity Governance
Oceanography
GGS 302
Global Environmental Hazards
Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core)
GGS 307
Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development
Geographic Information Systems
Global Health and Development
GOVT 361
Introduction to Environmental Policy
or EVPP 361
Introduction to Environmental Policy
GOVT 362
Intermediate Environmental Policy
or EVPP 362
Intermediate Environmental Policy
Environmental Justice (Mason Core)
Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core)
Topics in Environmental Philosophy (Mason Core)
TOUR 340
Sustainable Tourism
Total Credits 12
1

Note the prerequisites for this course: ECON 103 Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) and ECON 104 Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles (Mason Core)

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):
Conservation in Practice
Conservation Theory
Applied Conservation
Human Dimensions in Conservation (Mason Core)
RS: Integrated Conservation Strategies (Mason Core)
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation option (16 credits):
Offered only in Fall semesters, students complete four required courses:
Conservation Seminar
Biodiversity Monitoring
Landscape and Macrosystems Ecology
Research in Conservation (Mason Core)
Endangered Species and Conservation option (16 credits)
Offered only in Spring semesters, students complete four required courses:
Conservation Seminar
Small Population Management
RS: Conservation Management Planning (Mason Core)
Research in Conservation (Mason Core)
Total Credits 16

Concentration in Global Economy and Management (GEM)

In this concentration, students explore marketing, managing, financing, and networking dimensions of the globalizing world economy. Students will take classes on economic policies of national governments and international organizations as well as operations of non-government market actors.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Money and Banking
Economics of Developing Areas (Mason Core)
Economic Development of Latin America (Mason Core)
African Economic Development (Mason Core)
Economies in Transition (Mason Core)
International Economics
International Financial Management
Media, Technology, and Globalization
GOVT 343
International Political Economy
GOVT 367
Money, Markets and Economic Policy (Mason Core)
Cross Cultural and Global Management
Global Marketing
Introduction to International Business (Mason Core)
Special Topics: Business Minor
Legal Environment of Business 1
Commercial Law 1
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12
1

BULE courses require the approval of the director.

Concentration in Global Governance (GLGV)

In this concentration students explore how national governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations interact to identify, understand, and address global issues. Coursework covers such topics as transnational challenges, theories of international relations, global institutions, international law and ethics, international security, and conflict. Students are expected to garner theoretical and practical understanding of the ways in which national and transnational actors approach global problems.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Political Anthropology (Mason Core)
Foundations of Intercultural Communication (Mason Core)
Law and Justice around the World (Mason Core)
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Global Biodiversity Governance
Political Geography (Mason Core)
Human Security, Globalization, and Development
GOVT 342
Diplomacy
GOVT 343
International Political Economy
GOVT 344
American Foreign Policy
GOVT 346
American Security Policy
GOVT 347
International Security
GOVT 412
Politics and the Mass Media
GOVT 434
Democracy in Global Perspective
GOVT 445
Human Rights
GOVT 446
International Law and Organization
GOVT 447
Revolution and International Politics
GOVT 448
Ethics and International Politics
Conflict Resolution and Transformation
Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core)
Power, Politics, and Society
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in Global Inequalities and Responses (GIR)

This concentration addresses global social issues and the steps actors such as non-profits, social movements, and international organizations take to address these issues. Courses cover human rights, refugee crises, gender violence, racial discrimination, and economic inequality from both historical and contemporary perspectives and in different parts of the world. Students are expected to acquire the skills to analyze complex social problems and to be able to formulate effective strategies to address these.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Scientific Racism and Human Variation
CONF 394
Human Rights and Inequality
Law and Justice around the World (Mason Core)
Health and Disease
Culture, Sexuality and the Global AIDS Epidemic
GGS 304
Population Geography (Mason Core)
Global Health and Development
GOVT 414
Politics of Race and Gender
Comparative Slavery
Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core)
Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core)
Social Movements and Political Protest
Race and Ethnicity in a Changing World (Mason Core)
Contemporary Gender Relations (Mason Core)
Social Inequality (Mason Core)
Global Representations of Women (Mason Core)
Introduction to Women and Gender Studies (Mason Core)
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in Human Security (HMSC)

This concentration is designed to conceptualize security beyond the boundaries of national security and to promote a more comprehensive understanding of "human security" in its multiple facets, including: food and health (famine and infectious disease), environmental security (natural disasters and climate change), and economic security (development). Coursework addresses these and other themes and draws on government, sociology, criminology, environmental science and policy, and other fields. Students are expected to garner an understanding of the sources of insecurity in today's world.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Refugees (Mason Core)
Social Dynamics of Terrorism, Security, and Justice
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Economics of Developing Areas (Mason Core)
EVPP 436
Politics of Climate Change Governance
Health and Disease
Global Health Interventions: History and Systems
Geographic Information Systems
Human Security, Globalization, and Development
GOVT 346
American Security Policy
GOVT 347
International Security
GOVT 460
Surveillance and Privacy in Contemporary Society
Conflict Resolution and Transformation
Conflict, Trauma and Healing
Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core)
Globalization and Social Change (Mason Core)
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in International Development (IDEV)

In this concentration, students examine international development, its challenges, and how these are addressed by governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Coursework covers development economics, the politics of developing regions and transitional economies, the social consequences of global inequality, public health and health-related development issues, humanitarian relief, and more. Students are expected to gain the knowledge and skills to prepare them for work in the development sector or for further specialized studies in international development.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Refugees (Mason Core)
Economics of Developing Areas (Mason Core)
Economic Development of Latin America (Mason Core)
African Economic Development (Mason Core)
Global Biodiversity Governance
Global Health (Mason Core)
Global Health Interventions: History and Systems
Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core)
GGS 307
Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development
Human Security, Globalization, and Development
Global Health and Development
GOVT 434
Democracy in Global Perspective
GOVT 445
Human Rights
GOVT 446
International Law and Organization
HEAL 350
Health Interventions for Vulnerable Populations
Conservation Biology (Mason Core)
Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core)
Ethical Issues in Global Health
TOUR 340
Sustainable Tourism
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in Media, Communication, and Culture (MCC)

In this concentration, students examine historic trends and recent changes in media and communication technologies as well as their cultural contexts. Coursework includes critical analysis of media content, comparison of global media infrastructures and systems of political communication, discussion of the foundations of intercultural communication, and more. Students are expected to gain an understanding of the role of media and communication in shaping and responding to global issues of concern.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Globalization (Mason Core)
Language and Culture
Work, Technology, and Society: An IT Perspective (Mason Core)
Hip Hop Culture
Media and Society
Foundations of Intercultural Communication (Mason Core)
Issues in Intercultural Communication
Media Criticism
Politics and the Mass Media
Global Dance Perspectives II (Mason Core)
Folklore and Folklife (Mason Core)
Global Voices (Mason Core)
The Idea of a World Literature (Mason Core)
World Literatures in English
Topics in World Literature (Mason Core)
Contexts for Global Cinema (Mason Core)
Media, Technology, and Globalization
Modern Telecommunications
Digital Futures
Applied Cross-Cultural Psychology (Mason Core)
Sociology of Culture
THR 359
World Stages (Mason Core)
or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in Africa (AFR)

This concentration focuses on the societies of Africa, their history, culture, economics, and politics, including the pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial experiences. Course options include African diaspora experiences. Upon completion of this concentration, students will have an in-depth understanding of Africa as an international actor, African contributions (past and present) to global society, the political and economic challenges facing the continent today, and African solutions to problems such as civil wars and inequality.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Survey of African Art (Mason Core)
African Economic Development (Mason Core)
Topics in Francophone African Literature and Culture
Geography of North Africa and the Middle East
Survey of African History (Mason Core)
Survey of African History (Mason Core)
The African American Experience in the United States: African Background to 1885
The African American Experience in the United States: Reconstruction to the Present
History of South Africa (Mason Core)
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in Asia (ASA)

This concentration emphasizes Asia's increasingly significant role in contemporary global issues as well as its historical contexts. The courses in this concentration cover the economic, social, and political issues that confront the Asia-Pacific region (that is, East and Southeast Asian countries).  Students interested in anthropology, history, art history, government, and religious studies should consider this concentration.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Peoples and Cultures of India (Mason Core)
Survey of Asian Art (Mason Core)
Arts of India (Mason Core)
Arts of Southeast Asia (Mason Core)
Arts of China (Mason Core)
Arts of Japan (Mason Core)
Survey of Chinese Literature (Mason Core)
Modern Chinese Literature in Translation (Mason Core)
Major Chinese Writers (Mason Core)
Asian American Women Writers (Mason Core)
Contemporary Chinese Film
Special Topics in Chinese Studies
GOVT 333
Government and Politics of Asia
GOVT 338
Government and Politics of Russia
GOVT 341
Chinese Foreign Policy
GOVT 433
Political Economy of East Asia
Survey of East Asian History (Mason Core)
Survey of East Asian History (Mason Core)
History of Traditional China
Modern China (Mason Core)
Modern Japan (Mason Core)
Postwar Japan (Mason Core)
Post-1949 China (Mason Core)
Japanese Culture in a Global World (Mason Core)
Japanese Cinema
Traditional Korean Literature in Translation
Introduction to Religions of Asia (Mason Core)
Hinduism (Mason Core)
Chinese Philosophies and Religious Traditions
Buddhism (Mason Core)
Daoism
Russian Civilization (Mason Core)
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in Europe (EU)

This concentration is designed to equip students with a deep and broad understanding of politics, history, culture, religion, and the arts in Europe as well as Europe's lasting legacies across the globe. Coursework includes broad surveys on government, geography, literature, and economics as well as special topics courses on the Renaissance, World Wars I and II, and nationalism in Eastern Europe. Upon completion of this concentration, students will have the ability to think critically about how historical processes and current events in Europe not only impact Europeans, but also the global community at large.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Early Renaissance Art in Italy, 1300-1500 (Mason Core)
Nineteenth-Century European Art (Mason Core)
Twentieth-Century European Art (Mason Core)
British and Irish Drama after 1900
Continental Fiction, 1880-1950
Major French Writers (Topic Varies) (Mason Core)
French and Francophone Cinema
Major Writers (Mason Core)
Topics in German Literature and Film
Geography of Europe
GOVT 334
Government and Politics of Europe
GOVT 337
Ethnic Politics in Western Europe and North America
GOVT 338
Government and Politics of Russia
Western Europe in the Middle Ages
The Renaissance
The Reformation
Old Regime and Revolutionary Europe
Nineteenth-Century Europe
Europe in Crisis: 1914-1948
Nationalism in Eastern Europe
History of Germany
Modern Britain
Russian Civilization (Mason Core)
Introduction to Spanish Culture
Major Hispanic Writers (Mason Core)
Spanish Civilization and Culture
Medieval and Early Modern Literature of Spain
Modern and Contemporary Literature of Spain
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in Latin America (LA)

This concentration is designed to provide students with an overview of Latin America and its diaspora. Course options include broad surveys of Latin American history, art, literature, music, culture, and politics, as well as courses that provide in-depth exploration of topics such as colonialism, economic development, political movements, race and ethnicity, migration, and aesthetic trends. Upon completion of this concentration, students will have an in-depth understanding of Latin America as an international actor, Latin American contributions (past and present) to global society, and the political and economic challenges faced by the region.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Peoples and Cultures of Latin America (Mason Core)
Ancient Mesoamerica (Mason Core)
Survey of Latin American Art (Mason Core)
Twentieth-Century Latin American Art (Mason Core)
Economic Development of Latin America (Mason Core)
Geography of Latin America
GOVT 331
Government and Politics of Latin America
Survey of Latin American History (Mason Core)
Survey of Latin American History (Mason Core)
Revolution and Radical Politics in Latin America (Mason Core)
Conquest and Colonization in Latin America (Mason Core)
Introduction to Latin American Culture (Mason Core)
Major Hispanic Writers (Mason Core)
Introduction to Latina/o Studies (Mason Core)
Introduction to Hispanic Literary Analysis
Latin American Civilization and Culture (Mason Core)
The Literature of Spanish America
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in Middle East and North Africa (MNA)

This concentration provides students with a contemporary and historical perspective on the politics, economics, and religious diversity of the Middle East and North Africa. Coursework includes broad surveys as well as courses on specific topics such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, francophone literature from North Africa, politics and Islam, and art and archeology of the ancient Near East. Upon completion of this concentration, students are expected to have an in-depth understanding of the current state of the Middle East and North Africa and how this state has developed historically.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East (Mason Core)
Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Mason Core)
Art of the Islamic World (Mason Core)
Geography of North Africa and the Middle East
GOVT 332
Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
GOVT 345
Islam and Politics
Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core)
Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core)
Arab-Israeli Conflict
Women in Islamic Society (Mason Core)
The Middle East in the 20th Century
Introduction to Religions of the "West" (Mason Core)
Judaism (Mason Core)
Islam
Qur'an and Hadith
Sufism
Judaism from Exile to Talmud
Islam, Democracy, and Human Rights
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in North America (NA)

In this concentration, students explore the multifaceted development of the United States and its relationship with its North American neighbors. Coursework includes historical examinations of pre-American culture, as well as in-depth surveys of political, economic, cultural, and artistic developments in United States. Upon completion of this concentration, students will have the ability to critically assess how the US has influenced and been influenced by European and non-European societies and traditions, knowledge of the development of American government and its consequences within and beyond North America, and an appreciation of the role of arts and literature in American culture.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
American Architecture and Material Culture (Mason Core)
Studies in 18th- and 19th-Century Art of the United States (Mason Core)
Studies in 20th-Century Art of the United States (Mason Core)
Recent American Fiction
Recent American Poetry
Geography of the United States
GOVT 301
Public Law and the Judicial Process
GOVT 307
Legislative Behavior
GOVT 308
The American Presidency
GOVT 337
Ethnic Politics in Western Europe and North America
GOVT 420
American Political Thought
The African American Experience in the United States: Reconstruction to the Present
U.S. Women's History
History of the Old South
The South since 1865
War and American Society
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Concentration in Russia and Central Asia (RCA)

This concentration provides students contemporary and historical perspectives on the political, economic, and cultural climates and trends in Russia and Central Asia. Upon completion of this concentration, students will not only have the skills to critically assess the impacts of Soviet-era legacies on newly independent political systems, economies in transition, and re-emerging cultural traditions, but also knowledge of pre-Soviet sociocultural and political environments in Russia and Central Asia.

Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Economies in Transition (Mason Core)
GOVT 338
Government and Politics of Russia
GOVT 340
Central Asian Politics
GOVT 447
Revolution and International Politics
The Soviet Union and Russia Since World War II
Rise of Russia (Mason Core)
Modern Russia and the Soviet Union (Mason Core)
Major Russian Writers (Mason Core)
19th-Century Literature in Translation (Mason Core)
20th-Century Literature in Translation (Mason Core)
Russian Civilization (Mason Core)
Contemporary Post-Soviet Life (Mason Core)
Russian Drama and Theater
Russian Poetry
Topics in (Post) Soviet Film
Or other course approved by the program director
Total Credits 12

Individualized Concentration (IND)

Students who wish to design their own concentration must submit a one-page proposal and create a curriculum plan to be approved by the director.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in global affairs may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing EVPP 337 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
Select 3 credits from the following: 3
PHIL 1
1

Note that the following courses may not be used to fulfill this requirement:

  • PHIL 323 Classical Western Political Theory 
  • PHIL 324 Modern Western Political Theory 
  • PHIL 327 Contemporary Western Political Theory 
  • PHIL 393 Humanities College to Career 
  • PHIL 460 Senior Seminar in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics


Additionally, PHIL 253RELI 235RELI 333, and RELI 339 cannot be used to fulfill both the philosophy/religious studies requirement and the Mason Core literature requirement.

Social and Behavioral Sciences
Select 3 credits of social and behavioral sciences from the following (additional to the Mason Core social and behavioral sciences requirement) 1 3
ANTH
CRIM
ECON
GOVT
HIST 2
LING
PSYC
SOCI
Or choose from the following GGS courses:
Major World Regions (Mason Core)
Human Geography (Mason Core)
Introduction to Geoinformation Technologies
Political Geography (Mason Core)
Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core)
GGS 304
Population Geography (Mason Core)
GGS 305
Economic Geography
Urban Geography
Geography of the United States
Geography of Latin America
Geography of Europe
Geography of North Africa and the Middle East
Geography of Eastern Europe and Russia
Urban Planning
Geography of Virginia
1

The two courses used to fulfill the combined college and Mason Core requirements must be from different disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. 

2

HIST 100 and HIST 125 may not be used to fulfill this requirement.

Foreign Language
Intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language, fulfilled by: 1
Or achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test
Or completing the following ASL three course sequence:
EDSE 115
American Sign Language (ASL) I
EDSE 116
American Sign Language (ASL) II
EDSE 219
American Sign Language (ASL) III
1

Students who are already proficient in a second language may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement. Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Non-Western Culture

Select 3 credits of an approved course in the study of a non-Western culture (additional to the Mason Core requirement in global understanding)

Select 3 credits (additional to Mason Core Global Understanding requirement) 1
ANTH 114 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Mason Core) 3
ANTH 300 Civilizations 3
ANTH 302 Peoples and Cultures of Latin America (Mason Core) 3
ANTH 307 Ancient Mesoamerica (Mason Core) 3
ANTH 308 Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East (Mason Core) 3
ANTH 309 Peoples and Cultures of India (Mason Core) 3
ANTH 313 Myth, Magic, and Mind (Mason Core) 3
ANTH 314 Zombies 3
ANTH 317 East Asian Cultures 3
ANTH 330 Peoples and Cultures of Selected Regions: Non-Western 3
ANTH 332 Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Globalization (Mason Core) 3
ANTH 381 Medical Anthropology 3
ANTH 396 Issues in Anthropology: Social Sciences (Mason Core) 3
ARAB 360 Topics in Arabic Cultural Production 3
ARAB 420 Survey of Arabic Literature 3
ARAB 440 Topics in Arabic Religious Thought and Texts (Mason Core) 3
ARTH 203 Survey of Asian Art (Mason Core) 3
ARTH 204 Survey of Latin American Art (Mason Core) 3
ARTH 206 Survey of African Art (Mason Core) 3
ARTH 318 Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt 3
ARTH 319 Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Mason Core) 3
ARTH 320 Art of the Islamic World (Mason Core) 3
ARTH 382 Arts of India (Mason Core) 3
ARTH 383 Arts of Southeast Asia (Mason Core) 3
ARTH 384 Arts of China (Mason Core) 3
ARTH 385 Arts of Japan (Mason Core) 3
ARTH 482 RS: Advanced Studies in Asian Art 3
CHIN 318 Introduction to Classical Chinese (Mason Core) 3
CHIN 320 Contemporary Chinese Film 3
CHIN 325 Major Chinese Writers (Mason Core) 3
CHIN 470 Special Topics in Chinese Studies 3
DANC 118 Global Dance Perspectives I (Mason Core) 3
ECON 361 Economic Development of Latin America (Mason Core) 3
ECON 362 African Economic Development (Mason Core) 3
FREN 454 Topics in Caribbean Francophone Literature and Culture 3
GGS 101 Major World Regions (Mason Core) 3
GGS 316 Geography of Latin America 3
GGS 317 Geography of China (Mason Core) 3
GGS 325 Geography of North Africa and the Middle East 3
GGS 399 Select Topics in GGS 3
GOVT 332 Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa 3
GOVT 333 Government and Politics of Asia 3
GOVT 338 Government and Politics of Russia 3
GOVT 340 Central Asian Politics 3
GOVT 341 Chinese Foreign Policy 3
GOVT 345 Islam and Politics 3
GOVT 433 Political Economy of East Asia 3
HIST 251 Survey of East Asian History (Mason Core) 3
HIST 252 Survey of East Asian History (Mason Core) 3
HIST 261 Survey of African History (Mason Core) 3
HIST 262 Survey of African History (Mason Core) 3
HIST 271 Survey of Latin American History (Mason Core) 3
HIST 272 Survey of Latin American History (Mason Core) 3
HIST 281 Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core) 3
HIST 282 Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core) 3
HIST 326 Stalinism 3
HIST 327 The Soviet Union and Russia Since World War II 3
HIST 328 Rise of Russia (Mason Core) 3
HIST 329 Modern Russia and the Soviet Union (Mason Core) 3
HIST 353 History of Traditional China 3
HIST 354 Modern China (Mason Core) 3
HIST 356 Modern Japan (Mason Core) 3
HIST 357 Postwar Japan (Mason Core) 3
HIST 358 Post-1949 China (Mason Core) 3
HIST 360 History of South Africa (Mason Core) 3
HIST 364 Revolution and Radical Politics in Latin America (Mason Core) 3
HIST 365 Conquest and Colonization in Latin America (Mason Core) 3
HIST 366 Comparative Slavery 3
HIST 387 Topics in Global History (Mason Core) 3-6
HIST 461 Arab-Israeli Conflict 3
HIST 462 Women in Islamic Society (Mason Core) 3
HIST 465 The Middle East in the 20th Century 3
JAPA 310 Japanese Culture in a Global World (Mason Core) 3
JAPA 340 Topics in Japanese Literature (Mason Core) 3
JAPA 380 Japan in Motion 3
KORE 300 Korean Culture and Society 3
KORE 320 Korean Popular Culture in a Global World 3
KORE 385 Introduction to Korean Linguistics 3
MUSI 103 Musics of the World (Mason Core) 3
RELI 211 Introduction to Religions of the "West" (Mason Core) 3
RELI 212 Introduction to Religions of Asia (Mason Core) 3
RELI 312 Islam 3
RELI 313 Hinduism (Mason Core) 3
RELI 314 Chinese Philosophies and Religious Traditions 3
RELI 315 Buddhism (Mason Core) 3
RELI 317 Daoism 3
RELI 318 Korean Philosophy and Religions 3
RELI 338 Qur'an and Hadith 3
RELI 342 Comparative Study of Mysticism 3
RELI 344 Muhammad: Life and Legacy 3
RELI 358 Islamic Thought (Mason Core) 3
RELI 367 Islamic Law, Society, and Ethics 3
RELI 368 Islam, Democracy, and Human Rights 3
RELI 490 Comparative Study of Religions (Mason Core) 3
RUSS 353 Russian Civilization (Mason Core) 3
RUSS 354 Contemporary Post-Soviet Life (Mason Core) 3
WMST 407 Transnational Sexualities 3
1

A course used to fulfill the Mason Core global understanding requirement may not be simultaneously used to satisfy this college-level requirement. A course used to fulfill this requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill any other requirements (Mason Core requirements, college-level requirements, or requirements for the major). Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

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.

Students who have completed the following credentials are eligible for a waiver of the Foundation and Exploration (lower level) requirement categories. The Integration category (upper level) is not waived under this policy. See Admissions for more information. 

  • VCCS Uniform Certificate of General Studies
  • VCCS or Richard Bland Associate of Science (A.S.), Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.&S.), or Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.)
Foundation Requirements
Written Communication (ENGH 101) 3
Oral Communication 3
Quantitative Reasoning 3
Information Technology and Computing 3
Exploration Requirements
Arts 3
Global History 3
Global Understanding 3
Literature 3
Natural Science 7
Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Integration Requirements
Written Communications (ENGH 302) 3
Writing-Intensive 1 3
Synthesis/Capstone 2 3
Total Credits 40
1

Most programs include the writing-intensive course designated for the major as part of the major requirements; this course is therefore not counted towards the total required for Mason Core.

2

Minimum 3 credits required.