School of Public Policy

• Faculty
• Research and Visiting Faculty
• Adjunct Faculty
• Course Work
• Home Page: http://www.gmu.edu/departments/tipp/
• Graduate Programs
  • Public Policy, Ph.D.
    • Admission Requirements
    • Deadlines
    • Degree Requirements
  • International Commerce and Policy, M.A.
    • Admission Requirements
    • Degree Requirements
    • Courses
  • Certificate Programs
  • New Professional Studies: Organizational Learning, M.S.
  • New Professional Studies: Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics, MS
  • Related Degree Program
  • Joint M.P.A./Ph.D. Admissions
  • Special Programs

Faculty

Research and Visiting Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Course Work

The School of Public Policy (SPP) offers courses designated PUBP, ITRN, and LRNG in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog. Further academic courses are offered in conjunction with the research activities of the Mason Enterprise Center for Regional Analysis and Entrepreneurship and the Electronic Commerce Resource Center.

Graduate Degree (Ph.D.) in Public Policy

The Ph.D. in Public Policy program is distinctive in its heavy emphasis on the combined influence of technology, culture, and institutions on public policy. Participants in the program investigate the increasing tension between rapidly changing technological capabilities driven by science and engineering and the less fluid elements of culture and institutions. The program places great emphasis on original research focused on important problems and issues in public policy.

The Ph.D. program is organized around faculty research interests in technology-driven organizational change. Emphases in the program are science and technology policy; regional development policy; society, values, and policy; governance and public management policy; and organizational informatics. To investigate the policy issues associated with substantive policy areas, students develop in-depth understanding of American institutions, values, and culture; competence in research methods and advanced analytical methodologies; and a comparative, international perspective. At the time of admission, each student is assigned a faculty mentor who assists in designing and developing the student's program.

The School of Public Policy, within which the Ph.D. in Public Policy program is housed, has the investigation of alternative approaches to policy as a primary interest. This interest results from a view that the rapid changes resulting from modern technology require modifications both in the substance of public policy and in the way public policy is made. A goal of the program is to contribute to conceptual developments that will allow policy modifications to occur while protecting the fundamental, pluralistic, and democratic character of policy making in the United States.

Admission Requirements
The program seeks students with exceptional potential for accumulating, sorting, analyzing, and communicating information and findings effectively. Public policy is inherently complex and value laden. In the end, high-quality policy analysis requires thoughtful and judicious management of complex and incommensurate information, both quantitative and qualitative. Thus, the program seeks students who can manage and integrate both kinds of information and produce persuasive, well-organized, written syntheses. The ideal Ph.D. program applicant intends to be a full-time student and has demonstrated capabilities in research and writing, basic mathematical skills roughly equal to the first semester of calculus and a competence in statistics, some background in economics, and a theoretical and working knowledge of public policy processes. Applicants with strong records who are deficient in one or more of these areas may be admitted to the program and will receive assistance in making up deficiencies. Part-time study is also possible for those able to commit to a demanding program. The following items should be included with the application for graduate admission:

0. A two-page written statement of the student's interest in and goals for advanced study in public policy.

1. A resume or vita.

2. A master's degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.000 or better, and official transcripts of all university work. International students are required to submit a transcript evaluation of all academic work.

3. Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the General Management Aptitude Test (GMAT). Exam scores should not be older than 5 years.

4. Two letters of recommendation from faculty at the prospective student's previous institutions or from persons acquainted with policy-relevant work. At least one recommendation should be from an individual who is qualified to attest to the candidate's academic potential.

5. A writing sample (approximately 5 pages long) such as a technical report, professional publication, or term or seminar paper.

Deadlines
The application deadline for students desiring financial aid is March 15. The deadline for all other students is May 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester.

Degree Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 82 credits of course work, of which no more than 24 credits may be dissertation credits. Up to 30 credits from a prior master's degree may be applied toward the doctoral requirements at the discretion of the graduate program director. Credit is not given for comprehensive examinations passed at other universities.

Specific course work requirements for the doctorate include seven core courses (four in research and analytic methods and three in foundational policy topics), three semesters of participation in the research colloquium, two courses in an area of program concentration, and four advanced courses tailored to the student's research needs and interests. Courses are determined in collaboration with the student's advisor and the graduate program director, and typically draw widely from other programs throughout the university as well as the school.

At the completion of the first academic year of full-time study, students must pass a qualifying examination that evaluates their mastery of the first year's material and their ability to integrate that material in addressing important and complex public policy problems and issues. The program also requires that students pass a field examination structured around their specific field of proposed doctoral research, typically in the second or third year of study. Other requirements include the successful preparation and defense of both a doctoral research proposal and the ensuing dissertation.

International Commerce and Policy, MA

The International Commerce and Policy (ICP) program is an exciting interdisciplinary course of study to help students prepare for jobs in the new global economy. Unlike traditional international affairs programs, we are focused on international economic issues such as global trade and investment. The Master of Arts in International Commerce and Policy differs from an M.B.A. program by providing training in the political, social, and technological aspects of the global economy. In today's world, it is critical for all participants in global markets to understand the multifaceted environment in which they work.

The core faculty draws on the strengths of SPP. It is supplemented by a large number of adjunct faculty who bring a wealth of practical knowledge and experience to the program. They are drawn from such agencies as the Department of Commerce, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, International Trade Commission, and State Department, as well as from the private sector and the trade association community.

Courses are offered in the late afternoon and in the evening to fit the schedules of busy professionals. In addition to classroom study at George Mason, the program emphasizes experiential learning. It supports student internships, cooperative planning, and research activities with private- and public-sector employers, as well as a variety of study abroad experiences. For instance, the program has a special arrangement with Saint Peter's College, Oxford University, which permits qualified students to study at Oxford during the summer session. A study abroad program has also been established with the Capitol University of Economics and Business in Beijing, China.

Admission Requirements
Students from all backgrounds are welcome. While many may have prior training in business and economics, others see the ICP program as a bridge from government, education, and other nonbusiness occupations to careers in the global economy. To enter the program as a degree candidate, a student must meet the following minimum requirements:

0. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

1. A GPA of 3.000 or higher in the last 60 credits of undergraduate work

2. A completed graduate application, along with official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

3. A resume

4. An expanded goals statement

5. Two letters of recommendation, preferably from academic institutions

Results of either the GRE or GMAT taken within the last five years are strongly recommended.

Students whose first language is not English, or who have not received a degree from an English-speaking institution, must achieve a score of 575 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). While students from any major may apply, applicants are expected to have some knowledge of economics, preferably at least two undergraduate economics classes.

Degree Requirements
The ICP program requires 42 credits of course work. All degree candidates must take 25 credits of work in the required courses, as described below. The remaining course work encompasses electives, and a final project, internships, independent studies, and study abroad. These should be chosen in consultation with an advisor, and related to the student's career objectives. Most electives are grouped into thematic areas, such as international trade and finance, international marketing, international trade relations, and technology and international commerce. Many students opt to focus their studies on a particular region, policy issue, or business sector.

Courses

Core Curriculum
The ICP program is based upon a cohort system, in which each entering class must take the same sequence of courses for the first half of the program. The curriculum for this sequence of seven courses is designed as a single unit. All seven required courses will be offered in both fall and spring semesters. Electives are offered each semester, with particular concentration during the summer. Besides allowing class members to get to know each other well, this system ensures that students have adequate background for higher level courses, and allows the faculty to plan the required core courses as a coherent group.

The first courses in the fast-track core are ITRN 500 and ITRN 503. ITRN 500 Approaches to International Commerce and Policy uses a case method of instruction to help students understand the interactions of business, finance, technology, and government in the world economy. ITRN 503 Investment and Macroeconomics for International Commerce focuses on macroeconomic theory and mathematical concepts, with an emphasis on its application to international finance and business activity. This course is integrated with the ITRN 500 case studies. (Students with significant prior study or experience in economics and analysis may be exempted from ITRN 503.)

Students then take the remaining five core courses that provide critical research, analytical, and communications skills, as well as an introduction to the complex environment of international commerce. ITRN 504 Trade and Microeconomics in International Commerce focuses on microeconomic theory and its application to international trade. ITRN 601 Research and Analysis Methods for International Commerce is a methodology course. These courses provide conceptual grounding in economic analysis, as well as practical skills in identifying, acquiring, and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data related to international trade, finance, and business operations.

All students must choose one of the following courses: ITRN 502 Comparative Political Institutions, which focuses on American political institutions and those of America's major trading partners in Europe, Asia, and Latin America; or ITRN 605 International Commerce and Culture, which examines different cultural perspectives. The course combines readings, research, and lectures with small-group discussions led by a multicultural team of faculty.

ITRN 603 International Trade Relations is a required core class; and students must choose one of the following: ITRN 602 International Financial Institutions and Globalization, or ITRN 604 International Trade and Technology.

Elective Courses
Students take five elective courses that broaden their knowledge of international commerce and provide practical skills they can employ in the workplace. Students may select electives from 700-level courses, or from courses offered by other university departments, institutes, and centers, with the approval of an advisor. Internships and other practical experience are strongly recommended. In addition, students are strongly urged to participate in one of the study abroad programs.

Examples of Course Selections
The following are examples of courses that students with a particular interest might take, after completing the required core curriculum. Students are encouraged to take electives that are of interest to them.

International Business Operations
A student with an interest in international business could also take ITRN 602 International Financial Institutions and Globalization, or ITRN 603 International Trade Relations, and five electives, such as the following:

ITRN 612 International Business Operations and the Multinational Corporation
ITRN 701 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy: International Business
ITRN 752 International Business Lobbying in the United States, Europe, and Japan
ITRN 757 Global Corporate Business Planning and the Competitive Edge
ITRN 769 International Entrepreneurship
ITRN 770 International Contract Negotiation
ITRN 773 International Strategic Management

International Finance
A student with an interest in international finance issues and operations would take ITRN 602 International Financial Institutions and Globalization, and five electives, such as the following:

ITRN 701 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy: International Finance
ITRN 710 International Business Transactions: Finance and Investment
ITRN 711 United States Law and Global Trade
ITRN 732 International Commodities Transactions
ITRN 734 Pricing in International Commerce

International Marketing
A student with an interest in an international business career would take ITRN 602 International Financial Institutions and Globalization and five other electives.

ITRN 731 Business to Business Marketing in International Commerce
ITRN 734 Pricing in International Commerce
ITRN 738 Fundamentals of International Marketing
ITRN 757 Global Corporate Business Planning and the Competitive Edge
ITRN 758 Global Market Planning Practicum

Regional Perspectives on International Commerce and Policy
The ICP program offers students the opportunity to concentrate their studies on one or more global regions.

In cooperation with the Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the program offers a focus in Asia-Pacific trade and investment. For this specialty, a student might take the following:

ITRN 701 Special Topics in International
Commerce: Economic Development and Crisis in Asia
ITRN 702 Special Topics in International
Commerce: Study Abroad (summer study in China; 6 credits)
ITRN 718 Japan's International Trade and Technology
ITRN 764 Trade, Investment, and Politics in East Asia

A student who wants to focus on the implications of European integration for international trade might take ITRN 603 International Trade Relations and then five electives, such as the following:

ITRN 702 Special Topics in International
Commerce: Study Abroad (Oxford University summer program; 6 credits)
ITRN 716 European Union in the International System
ITRN 752 International Business Lobbying in the United States, Europe, and Japan
ITRN 761 European Political and Economic Union

Technology and International Commerce
Students in this emphasis take ITRN 604 International Trade and Technology and five electives, such as the following:

ITRN 701 Special Topics in International Commerce: Global Political Economy of Cyberspace
ITRN 718 Japan's International Trade and Technology
ITRN 730 Information Technology Fundamentals for International Business and Trade
ITRN 737 World Trade in Semiconductors & Information Technologies
ITRN 754 International Commercialization of Space
ITRN 772 International Telecommunications

Other Electives
In addition to a regular series of electives on policy issues, business skills, and regional perspectives, the ICP program offers a continually changing series of courses on current topics under ITRN 701 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy. Recent examples of such course offerings include International Competitive Strategies, Global Trade Policy, International Banking and Country Risk, Technology Policy and International Strategies, International Business, Advanced Management in International Business, and Global Internet Policies and Applications. These courses are taught by visiting or adjunct faculty who are directly involved in the topics under study.

Final Project
All students must integrate their knowledge and skills in a final project. This is required for graduation and is assigned variable credit. The project is a 40-page capstone paper that draws together the key themes from the program.

Certificate Programs

The university offers six certificate programs in global trade management; international business planning; international market analysis; managing international commerce; regional trade policy and planning; and science, technology, and the global economy. The programs are open to those with a bachelor's degree who seek continuing education and fresh skills to remain competitive in an increasingly complex global economy. The certificates are awarded after completion of 15 credits.

New Professional Studies: Organizational Learning, M.S.

The organizational learning track of the New Professional Studies MS program is an innovative program offered by the Program on Social and Organizational Learning. An integrated, 21-month program, it is designed for working professionals with several years of work experience. It provides the conceptual tools and practical guidance to foster organizational change. A feature of the track is its group-oriented approach to learning. This is supported by the use of Lotus Notes and web-based collaborative computer technologies. Students develop the competencies to apply these technologies to make organizations more effective.

The track focuses on three related areas:

0. Creating and leveraging knowledge through networks of people who communicate and collaborate

1. Understanding and managing change by integrating the diverse roles of people, processes, and technology

2. Enhancing and facilitating collaboration by building effective relationships in technology-rich environments

The organizational learning track has the following objectives:

0. Meeting the needs of the working professional in rapidly changing organizations

1. Linking theory and practice through action-oriented group learning

2. Building a learning community of collaborative colleagues

3. Integrating technologies by using groupware skills to enable a high degree of collaboration and interaction between students and faculty

Admission Requirements
Admission is based on a departmental admissions committee's evaluation of the applicant's suitability. The committee's assessment will be based on the applicant's transcripts of academic accomplishment, work experience, letters of recommendation, a statement of goals, and, when possible, an interview with members of the department. Applicants are requested to submit curricula vitae with applications.

Degree Requirements
The MS in New Professional Studies: Organizational Learning begins each year in the fall. It is a 33-credit, part-time program, which runs over five consecutive semesters. The participants work in teams and complete most of the courses in sequence. Elective choices are available in the fourth and fifth semesters. During the final semester, participants complete an integrative project in which they apply appropriate research methods to organizations. Overall, the process and methods of evaluation stress the cumulative development of competencies and the capacity to apply the insights gained. Students are expected to have easy access to a computer with collaborative computing software and Internet access. Minimum computer specifications can be obtained from the program office. Successful completion of the following courses is necessary to fulfill the course requirements of the track.

 

Core Courses
	Credits
MNPS 700 The New Professionalism: Theory and Practice	3
MNPS 702 The New Professional as Reflective Practitioner	3
MNPS 703 Technology and Learning in the New Professions	3
MNPS 704 Research Methodologies in the New Professions	3
Additional Requirements
LRNG 602 Group Dynamics and Team Learning	3
LRNG 672 Organizational Learning Laboratory	3
MNPS 720 Learning Community	3
LRNG 792 Special Topics: Strategic Knowledge Management	3
Electives (minimum of two)	6
Action Research Practicum	3
Total	33

Individual LRNG courses and sequences of courses serve to fulfill requirements and restricted electives in a growing number of additional graduate programs, including the Ph.D. in Public Policy, the Ph.D. in Economics, the D.A. in Community College Education, the M.A. in Telecommunications, the Master of Public Administration, and the M.A.I.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies. LRNG courses can satisfy students wishing to concentrate in a variety of areas.

A student can pursue an interest in information-age change management and technology through these courses:

LRNG 583 Groupware for Organizational Learning LRNG 596 Independent Study LRNG 601 Organizational Learning LRNG 602 Group Dynamics and Team Learning LRNG 672 Organizational Learning Laboratory LRNG 692 Special Topics in LRNG LRNG 792 Special Topics in LRNG LRNG 796 Independent Study

A focus on applications of an Austrian economics perspective can be gained in these courses:

LRNG 676 Comparative Socio-Economic Systems LRNG 781 Interpretive Social Theory

The program's courses address social theory as well as practical issues related to change management in organizations and subtle questions in the philosophy of knowledge. In teaching and research, the faculty members address such issues as how learning processes work in human society. The methodological slant is interpretive, emphasizing ethnographic and archival approaches to empirical work. Theory is grounded in application in organizations. The courses examine the role of knowledge, communication, interpersonal and group dynamics, markets, and information technology in social institutions and organizations.

Further information can be obtained from the executive secretary, Program on Social and Organizational Learning, by calling (703) 993-1142, by faxing (703) 993-3788, or by sending e-mail to psol@gmu.edu.

New Professional Studies: Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics, MS

The transportation policy, operations, and logistics track of the New Professional Studies MS program is designed for students and practicing professionals engaged in planning, regulating, managing, and operating transportation facilities and services. Through this 33-credit degree program, students obtain a working knowledge of the theory, policy, law, research, and practices required for effectively and efficiently supplying and operating transportation facilities and services. They also are able to think critically and analytically about the problems and challenges in this field, and to communicate their analyses clearly and effectively, both through written and oral presentations. The degree is administered through the School of Public Policy's Center for Transport Policy and Logistics.

Admission Requirements
Admission is based on a center admissions committee's evaluation of the applicant's suitability, based on transcripts of academic accomplishment, work experience, letters of recommendation, a statement of goals, and, when possible, an interview with members of the Center for Transport Policy and Logistics. Individual admission applications are processed for all students. Team applications from groups of individuals at one site are also welcome.

Students may start the transportation policy, operations, and logistics program in the fall semester (admissions at other times are subject to approval of the program director). The admissions committee considers an application as soon as the file is complete. Late applications are considered on a space-available basis. A complete application file consists of the following:

0. The graduate application form.

1. Two copies of official transcripts from each college and graduate institution attended.

2. A resume listing work experience and volunteer activity.

3. Two letters of recommendation.

4. A statement of professional goals.

Inquiries about this program should be directed to the Center for Transport Policy and Logistics by calling (703) 993-2275, by faxing to (703) 993-1574, or by sending e-mail to transpol@gmu.edu.

Degree Requirements
The degree requires completion of 11 courses (33 credits). Six of the courses are required:

0. *MNPS 700 The New Professionalism: Theory and Practice

1. *MNPS 702 The New Professional as Reflective Practitioner

2. *MNPS 703 Technology and Learning in the New Professions

3. *MNPS 704 Research Methodologies in the New Professionalism

4. PUBP 723 Metropolitan Transportation Policy

5. PUBP 722 Practicum in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics

*Note: Students registering for MNPS 700, MNPS 702, MNPS 703, and MNPS 704 should register for the sections specific to the MS in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics within each semester's course offerings.

The remaining five courses may be chosen from the following list, not more than two at the 500 level:

0. PUBP 721 Transportation Economics

1. ITRN 701 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy: Transportation Logistics

2. PUBP 601 Theory and Practice of Regional Economic Development

3. PUBP 770 Topics in Regional and Urban Development Policy

4. PUAD 615 Administrative Law

5. GEOG 505 Transportation Geography

6. PUBP 817 Policy Research Topics: Transportation Policy (Spatial Econometrics)

7. PUAD 749 Issues in Public Policy: Public Policy and the Environment (specific section must be approved by program director)

The time to complete the degree varies. Part-time enrollees may take up to a maximum of six years. Other students enroll in cohorts that complete courses at a pace equivalent to 15 credits per year; these students complete the degree in two years. Accelerated programs for cohort groups from the same employer are actively promoted, allowing completion of the 33 credits in a shorter time.

Completing the degree constitutes completing course work equivalent to a minimum of 33 credits and remaining in good academic standing.

Related Degree Program

SPP offers a concentration in regional economic development and technology within the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (M.A.I.S.). Refer to the Interdisciplinary Studies section of the "College of Arts and Sciences" chapter.

In addition, SPP offers a concentration in peace operations within the M.A.I.S. program. Based on the Conceptual Model of Peace Operations, this program allows the student to take courses in peace making, peace building, and peace support. The objective of the program is to educate practitioners of peace operations on the contributions other professions make to a field intervention for peace. The entire program requires 30 credits at the master's level and a six-credit thesis or project.

Joint M.P.A./Ph.D. Admissions

Students with outstanding academic records and a clear interest in public policy research may be eligible for this program. For more information, contact the program coordinator at (703) 993-3183.

Special Programs
SPP sponsors a variety of specialized seminars and short courses throughout the year, including an annual program on the Future of the Northern Virginia Economy. In preparation is a new series of specialized flexible courses in science and technology policy.