Public and International Affairs
Faculty
Robinson Professors: Heclo, Paden
Professors: R. Clark, Dawisha, Gortner, Keeter
(chair), Pfiffner, White
Associate professors: Brown, Cargo, Conant,
Conlan, Dudley, Friedlander, Gifford, Hart-Nibbrig, Katz,
Mahler, Hung Nguyen, Regan, Sacco
Assistant professors: Harbour, Hennessey, Rosenblatt, Wan
Visiting assistant professors: J. Clark, Duquette,
Foraker, Harvey, Miller
Adjuncts: Abel, Abramson, Beyoghlow, Boudon, Brandwine, Burroughs, Bushee, Butler, Campanelli, Conti, Cummings, Czarda, Edner, Erickson,
Fiorino, First, Froehlich, Gillespie, Hauss, Hercik, Hovell,
Jarding, Leitner, Lettice, Lewis, Mayer, Simon, Smith,
Spalding, Stevenson, Tibbets, Tkacik, Tucker, Uscher,
Webb, Webber, Woddard
Visiting instructor: Ludwick
Affiliate faculty, The Institute of Public
Policy: Fukuyama, Fuller, Garreau, Haynes, Kash, Lipset, Stough, Tolchin
Course Work
The Public and International Affairs Department offers
all course work designated ADJ, GOVT, LRNG, and PUAD
in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.
Undergraduate Programs
Government and International Politics, B.A.
See "College of Arts and Sciences" chapter in the
catalog for general education requirements for the B.A. In
addition to the general requirements, candidates must complete
the following:
- Fifteen credits in core requirements: GOVT 101,
103, 132, 133, 300
- Twenty-four credits in advanced government
courses. Atleast three credits must be taken from each of the
fields listed below:
American politics: GOVT 301-319, 410-419
Political theory and law: GOVT 320-329, 420-429
International and comparative politics: GOVT
330-349, 430-449
Public administration and policy: GOVT 350-369, 450-469
With permission of an advisor, a total of nine
credits of GOVT 480, GOVT 490, GOVT 491, and
GOVT 496 may be substituted for upper-division GOVT
courses. Only three credits of a six-credit GOVT 480 and
six credits of GOVT 496 may be substituted for
major requirements.
- Three credits of analytic or language competency
skills from the following: GOVT 359, 400, 459; ECON
103, 104; SOCI 313, 405; any CS, MIS, INFS, or STAT
course; or an upper-level foreign language course taught in
the language.
A total of 120 credits are required for the B.A., 45
of which must have been at the 300 and 400 levels.
Only GOVT courses passed with a grade of C or
better may be used to fulfill major requirements.
Public Administration, B.S.
- Thirty-nine credits in general education
requirements, including the following:
- Nine credits in ENGL 101, 303, and COMM
- Six credits in literature
- Nine credits in history, with at least three
credits at the 300 level or above
- Nine credits from any two of ANTH, PSYC, or
SOCI; and six credits in analytical skills selected from
the following: PHIL; DESC 210, 301; STAT 250, 350; SOCI 313; MATH 106, 108, 110, or 111
- Eighteen credits of core requirements, including
GOVT 101; 103; 132, 133, or 149; 204; 300; 351
- Twenty-one credits of advanced government courses
including GOVT 355, 356, and one course from
GOVT 357, 452, or 490; one course from GOVT 320s or 420s;
one course from GOVT 360s or 460s
Six credits taken outside of GOVT 350s and 450s (may include 480, 490, 491, or 496). Only three
credits of a six-credit GOVT 480 may be substituted for
a major requirement. The same GOVT 490 may not be substituted for more than one major requirement.
- ECON 103, 104, and one upper-level ECON course
- Three credits in ACCT
- GOVT 359 or 459
- Twelve credits in either Option A or B below.
Option A
Information and reasoning: GOVT 359, 400, 459;
GOVT 490 on information management; any CS, MIS, or INFS
course; STAT 362; SOCI 405; ACCT 202, 310; PHIL 105, 173,
212, 371, 372, 373, or 376 (may use only six credits from
ACCT and PHIL)
Option B
Foreign language: One modern foreign language
through the intermediate level
A total of 120 credits is required for the degree, 45 of
which must have been at the 300 and 400 levels. Only
GOVT courses passed with a grade of C or better may be used
to fulfill major requirements.
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 government
and international politics, and in public administration may
fulfill this requirement by successfully completing the
300-level GOVT courses in their major programs.
Teacher Licensure (Certification)
Students who wish to become elementary or
secondary school teachers should consult the sections on licensure
(certification) found in the catalog in the "Graduate School
of Education" chapter. Those planning to become
secondary school teachers should consult the secondary
education advisor in their discipline.
Administration of Justice, B.S.
The B.S. in Administration of Justice provides a sound
liberal education with a substantial exposure to the
criminal justice system and process. In addition to ensuring the
strong background necessary for law school and/or graduate
study in administration of justice or public administration,
the broad range of courses available allows the student to
prepare for careers in corrections, the courts,
investigations, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and private security.
This inter institutional and interdisciplinary program
requires a minimum of 120 credits of course work, 45 of which
must be at the 300 level or above. A grade of D in any of the
ADJ courses may not be used toward graduation. Prior to
admission, students who major in administration of justice
are expected to have completed the requirements for the
major in an associate's degree in administration of justice at
either Northern Virginia Community College or its equivalent.
Program requirements are as follows:
- Twenty credits in general education
requirements: ENGL 101 and 302, six credits of literature, and
eight credits (two semesters) of a laboratory science
sequence in astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, or
physics (BIOL 124, 125 excluded).
- Forty-eight credits in core requirements: 27 to 36
credits in administration of justice taken at Northern
Virginia Community College or its equivalent, ADJ 377,
plus 9 to 18 upper-level credits in administration of justice
completed at George Mason.
- Thirty credits in supporting requirements, including
at least 15 credits in two of the following support fields:
Accounting
Computer science
Government
Psychology
Sociology
Foreign language
Social work 210, 300, 301*, 323, 324, 351*,
352, 400, 423, 425, 471, 475, 499, 511, 598
- Three credits in computer science and three credits
from the following: STAT 250; DESC 210; PSYC 300; SOCI 313
- Sixteen credits of general electives, which may
include additional courses in the student's support fields. It
may be possible to earn a minor in certain support fields.
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 administration
of justice fulfill this requirement by successfully
completing ADJ 377 Public Safety Officer and the Law.
Minors
Interdisciplinary Minors in Global Systems and in Urban and Suburban Studies
The department coordinates these interdisciplinary
minors. See the "University Academic Programs and
Resources" chapter for descriptions.
Minor in American Government
This minor develops knowledge of the principles,
institutions, and behaviors of the American political system.
Aminor in American government requires 18 credits of
government courses, including GOVT 103 Introduction to
American Government and five additional courses from the following:
- GOVT 132 Introduction to International Politics
- Any GOVT 301-309 Political Institutions
- Any GOVT 310-319 Political Behavior
- GOVT 344 American Foreign Policy
- GOVT 420 American Political Thought
- Relevant GOVT 480 or 490
Minor in Public Policy and Management
This minor introduces students to the theory and process
of policy formulation and implementation in the
political/governmental arena. A minor in public policy and
management requires 18 credits of government courses,
including GOVT 103 Introduction to American Government and
five additional courses from the following:
- GOVT 350-359 Public Administration
- Any GOVT 360-369 Public Policy
- Any GOVT 450-459 Public Administration
- Any GOVT 460-469 Public Policy
- Relevant GOVT 480 or 490
Minor in International/Comparative Studies
This minor increases students' awareness of the regions
and current issues of the world on theoretical and practical
levels. A minor in international/comparative studies
requires 18 credits of government courses, including GOVT 132
or 133 Introduction to International/Comparative Politics
and five additional courses from the following:
- GOVT 103 Introduction to American Government
- Any GOVT 330-339 Comparative Politics
- Any GOVT 340-349 International Studies
- Any GOVT 430-439 International Studies
- Any GOVT 440-449 International Studies
- Relevant GOVT 480 or 490
Minor in Legal Studies
This minor focuses on the constitutional foundations,
interpretation, processes, and functions of domestic and
international law. A minor in legal studies requires 18 credits
of government courses, including GOVT 103 Introduction
to American Government and GOVT 301 Public Law and
Judicial Process and four additional courses from the following:
- GOVT 307 Legislative Behavior
- GOVT 320 Political Values
- GOVT 420 American Political Thought
- GOVT 422 Constitutional Interpretation
- GOVT 423 Civil Rights and Liberties
- GOVT 424 Constitutional Law and Procedural Rights
- GOVT 446 International Law
- GOVT 452 Administrative Law and Procedures
- Relevant GOVT 480-490
Honors Program
Qualified students may pursue advanced work leading
to graduation with honors from the Department of Public
and International Affairs. Those highly qualified
students selected for the honors program participate in a
two-course sequence leading to graduation with departmental honors.
Graduate Program
Public Administration, M.P.A.
The 36-credit Master of Public Administration program
is designed to build the knowledge base and skills of
people who are playing, or who intend to play, a leadership role
in organizations that develop or implement public policy.
The curriculum consists of eight required courses and four
electives. In the required courses, emphasis is placed on
the development of knowledge about public policy and
management, as well as analytical problem solving and
communication skills. Elective courses can be used by students
to focus their knowledge and skill development within one
of the following nine emphases: public management,
public policy, financial management, nonprofit management,
international management, state and local government,
environmental science and public policy, human
resources management, and health policy and administration.
Alternatively, the electives can be used to extend the breadth of
a student's study, with courses drawn from a variety of
emphases or even from other departments and institutes within
the university.
M.P.A. students at George Mason have the research and
cultural resources of the Washington metropolitan area at
their disposal. Government agencies representing all levels
of government in the U.S. federal system are located close
to the campus, as are the National Archives, Library of
Congress, and Smithsonian Institution. Another benefit of
George Mason's location for M.P.A. students is the wide range
of internship opportunities available in governmental and
nonprofit organizations. The M.P.A. program regularly has
internship invitations from national, state, and local
government organizations, as well as from nonprofit organizations
whose principal work is at the local, state, national, or
international levels. Many of these internships are paid positions.
M.P.A. courses are delivered at both the Fairfax and
Arlington Campuses during the week at 1:30, 4:30, 6, and
7:20p.m. Classes are also offered during the weekend in an
accelerated format, meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays every other weekend for eight
weeks. The Arlington Campus is located near a Metro stop,
which makes it easily accessible for those who work in
Washington, D.C. The Fairfax Campus can be reached by taking a
bus from the Metro. Convenient parking is available at both
the Fairfax and Arlington Campuses.
Completion of the M.P.A. can lead to a variety of
postgraduate opportunities, including the Presidential
Management Internship. With more than 750 alumni, the M.P.A.
program can also serve as a valuable source for networking and
job placement. Additionally, the M.P.A. can serve as a key
credential in the pursuit of a Ph.D. in Public Policy, offered
by The Institute of Public Policy of George Mason University.
Application and Admission
Students may start the M.P.A. program in the fall, spring,
or summer semesters. 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:
- The graduate application form
- Two copies of official transcripts from each college
and graduate institution attended
- A resume listing work experience and volunteer activity
- Three letters of recommendation
- A statement of professional goals
- Test scores from the GRE, Miller Analogies Test,
GMAT, or LSAT
If the applicant's undergraduate GPA is 3.300 or higher,
the applicant may petition the Admissions Committee for
a waiver of the examination. However, to be considered
for financial aid, all applicants must submit a GRE score.
Applicants who already have a graduate degree in another
field may also petition the Admissions Committee for a
waiver of the examination requirement.
An individual with an outstanding academic record and
clear interest in public policy research may apply for joint
admission to the M.P.A. program and the Ph.D. in Public
Policy program. For more information, contact the M.P.A.
coordinator at (703) 993-1411.
Transfer of Credits
Up to 12 graduate credits may be transferred into the
M.P.A. program, pending approval by the M.P.A. Admissions
Committee and the dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences. Students may petition the M.P.A. Admissions Committee
for approval of graduate credits taken at other
accredited universities or colleges; generally, this is limited to 6
credits, though up to 12 credits may be granted in special cases at
the discretion of the committee. Students may also petition
to receive transfer credit taken while they were enrolled in
other graduate programs at George Mason. Petitions for more
than six credits taken while enrolled through Extended
Studies are strongly discouraged. Students who enroll initially
through Extended Studies are advised to submit their application
to the M.P.A. program in their first semester of study.
Program Requirements
All students are required to take a set of M.P.A. core
courses. These courses give students the opportunity to develop
a shared knowledge base and a shared set of skills. The
courses are focused on the knowledge and skills that are needed
by people who want to play a leadership role in
organizations that develop and implement public policy.
PUAD 502 Administration in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
PUAD 611 Problem Solving and Data Analysis I
PUAD 612 Problem Solving and Data Analysis II
PUAD 620 Organization Theory and Management Behavior
PUAD 640 Public Policy Process
PUAD 660 Public and Nonprofit Accounting and Finance
PUAD 680 Managing Information Resources
PUAD 700 Ethics and Public Administration (or 702)
Students may take their elective courses within one of
the emphases listed below. Alternatively, with the approval
of their advisor, students may create their own emphasis,
or they may select their elective courses from several
emphases or fields.
Emphasis in Public Management
PUAD 615 Administrative Law
PUAD 621 Principles and Practices in Government Organization and Management
PUAD 622 Program Planning and Implementation
PUAD 661 Public Budgeting Systems
PUAD 670 Personnel Administration in the Public Sector
PUAD 729 Issues in Public Management
PUAD 730 Professional Development Workshop
PUAD 742 Program Evaluation
PUAD 750 Changing Patterns of Governance
PUAD 759 Issues in Local Government Administration
PUAD 769 Issues in Public Financial Management
LRNG 720 Market-Based Management
PUAD 794 Internship
Emphasis in Public Policy
PUAD 622 Program Planning and Implementation
PUAD 643 Public Policy Research
PUAD 727 Seminar in Risk Assessment and Decision Making
PUAD 741 Policy Analysis
PUAD 742 Program Evaluation
PUAD 749 Issues in Public Policy
PUAD 750 Changing Patterns of Governance
PUAD 769 Issues in Public Financial Management
LRNG 681 Interpretive Economics
PUBP 701 Methods in Policy Analysis and Research
PUBP 704 Managerial Economics/Policy Analysis
PUAD 794 Internship
Emphasis in Financial Management
PUAD 661 Public Budgeting Systems
PUAD 664 Advanced Topics in Nonprofit and Public Financial Management
PUAD 729 Issues in Public Management (Auditing and Performance Assessment)
PUAD 769 Issues in Public Financial Management
PUAD 794 Internship
Emphasis in Nonprofit Management
PUAD 505 Introduction to Management of Non-profits
PUAD 636 The NGO: Managing the International Nonprofit Organization
PUAD 664 Advanced Topics in Nonprofit and Public Financial Management
PUAD 681 The Community, Media Relations, and Fund Raising
PUAD 720 Performance Evaluation for Managers
PUAD 730 Professional Development Workshop
PUAD 729 and 749 (offered periodically on nonprofit issues)
PUAD 794 Internship
Emphasis in International Management
PUAD 504 Managing in the International Arena: Theory and Practice
PUAD 634 Management of International Security
PUAD 731 International Political Economy
PUAD 738 Issues in International Security
PUAD 739 Issues in International Management
CONF courses offered by George Mason's
Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
ITRN courses offered by George Mason's International Commerce and Policy program
PUAD 794 Internship
Emphasis in State and Local Government
PUAD 615 Administrative Law
PUAD 661 Public Budgeting Systems
PUAD 651 Administration in the Commonwealth of Virginia
PUAD 681 The Community, Media Relations, and Fund Raising
PUAD 729 Issues in Public Management
PUAD 730 Professional Development Workshop
PUAD 750 Changing Patterns of Governance
PUAD 759 Issues in Local Government Administration
PUAD 794 Internship
Emphasis in Environmental Science and Public Policy
Previous Science Major
PUAD 741 Policy Analysis
PUAD 749 Issues in Public Policy (Public Policy and the Environment)
BIOL 607 Fundamentals of Ecology
BIOL 641 Environmental Science and Public Policy
EVPP 675 Environmental Planning and Administration
If the student would like more science, the department
recommends one of the following ecology courses in the
place of BIOL 607:
BIOL 546 Estuarine and Coastal Ecology
(saltwater and estuarine emphasis)
BIOL 547 Terrestrial Plant Ecology
BIOL 550 Waterscape Ecology and Management (freshwater emphasis)
It is recommended that students with little or no
science background take an introductory biology sequence:
BIOL 102, 103 or 211, 212.
PUAD 741 Policy Analysis
PUAD 749 Issues in Public Policy (Public Policy and the Environment)
BIOL 607 Fundamentals of Ecology
BIOL 670 Environmental Law for Biologists or PRLS 501 Introduction to Natural Resources Law (both should be taken after BIOL 607)
Emphasis in Human Resources Management
PUAD 670 Personnel Administration in the Public Sector
PUAD 729 Issues in Public Management
MGMT 721 Seminar in Personnel Administration
PSYC 635 Topics in Organizational Psychology
PSYC 631 Industrial and Personnel Testing and Evaluation
PSYC 638 Training: Psychological Contributions to Theory, Design, and Evaluation
PSYC 640 Techniques in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
PSYC 667 Behavior in Small Groups and Teams
Emphasis in Health Policy and Administration
PUAD 741 Policy Analysis
HSCI 578 Introduction to the U.S.Health Care System
HSCI 542 Health Care and the Political Process
HSCI 866 Health Care and Public Policy
HSCI 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Policy and Management
HSCI 710 Health Practicum
PUAD 794 Internship
Certificate in Nonprofit Management
The certificate in nonprofit management is a
15-credit graduate program. Students may enter this program at
the beginning of any semester. Applications are made to
the certificate in nonprofit management program through
the Graduate Admissions Processing Center of the College
of Arts and Sciences. Students may transfer credits earned
to the M.P.A. degree pending admission to the M.P.A. program.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements are the same as they are for
the M.P.A. degree program.
Certificate Requirements
This certificate may be obtained through standard
three-credit courses or through online courses. It requires
the following:
PUAD 505 Introduction to Management of Non-profits
PUAD 660 Public and Nonprofit Accounting and Finance
PUAD 681 The Community, Media Relations, and Fund Raising
PUAD 702 Nonprofit Law, Governance, and Ethics
One elective
Program on Social and
Organizational Learning
The Program on Social and Organizational Learning is
an interdisciplinary program. The program's courses
are designed to serve graduate students and advanced
undergraduates in a variety of fields. These fields include
organizational behavior, economics,
telecommunications, management, nursing administration, education,
software systems engineering, English, psychology,
international commerce and policy, public affairs, and sociology.
Faculty
Professor: Lavoie
Associate professors: Addleson (director), Cox,
Foreman, Thatchenkery
Assistant professor: Baker
New Professional Studies: Organizational Learning, M.S.
The organizational learning track of the New
Professional Studies M.S. 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:
- Creating and leveraging knowledge through networks
of people who communicate and collaborate
- Understanding and managing change by integrating
the diverse roles of people, processes, and technology
- Enhancing and facilitating collaboration by
building effective relationships in technology-rich environments
The organizational learning track has the following objectives:
- Meeting the needs of the working professional in
rapidly changing organizations
- Linking theory and practice through
action-oriented group learning
- Building a learning community of collaborative
colleagues
- 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 M.S. 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. Specific 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
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