The Institute 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
  • Related Degree Program
  • Joint M.P.A./Ph.D. Admissions
  • Special Programs

Faculty

Research and Visiting Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Course Work

The Institute of Public Policy (TIPP) offers courses designated PUBP and ITRN 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; evolutionary systems and economic 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 Institute 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 convincing, 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:

1. A two-page written statement of the student's interest in and goals for advanced public policy and study.
2. A resume or vita.
3. A master's degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.000 or better and official transcripts of all university work.
4. Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the General Management Aptitude Test (GMAT). Exam scores should not be older than 5 years.
5. Two letters of recommendation from faculty at the prospective student's previous institutions or from persons acquainted with policy-relevant work.
6. s A writing sample such as a technical report, professional publication, or term or seminar paper.

Deadlines
The application deadline for students desiring financial aid is April 1. 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 four core courses in research and analytic methods and three in foundational policy topics, three courses divided among two of the areas of program concentration (typically the first course in each of two areas and the second in one of them), and a three-course sequence in advanced methodology tailored to the student's research needs and interests. This sequence is determined in collaboration with the student's advisor and the graduate program director and typically draws widely from courses offered throughout the university as well as in the program.

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, M.A.

The Master of Arts in International Commerce and Policy is an innovative graduate program for current and aspiring private- and public-sector professionals who seek the knowledge and skills to be effective in an increasingly complex global marketplace.

This interdisciplinary course of study focuses on the global economy, but from a point of view that integrates economics and business with the study of politics, technology, and society. Unlike traditional international affairs programs, the program is focused on international economic issues such as global trade and investment. The ICP degree 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. This degree is designed to provide the practical tools needed to compete in the world marketplace.

The core faculty draws on the strengths of TIPP. 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 United States Trade Representative, International Trade Commission, and State Department, as well as from the private sector.

Courses are offered in the evenings 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. Study abroad program has also been established with the Capitol University of Economics and Business in Beijing, China.

Admission Requirements
Students from many academic disciplines and personal backgrounds provide a lively and diverse student body for the program. To enter the program as a degree candidate, a student must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A GPA of 3.000 or higher in the last 60 credits of undergraduate work.
3. A completed graduate application, along with official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
4. A resume.
5. An expanded goals statement.
6. 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 one undergraduate economics class.

Degree Requirements
The M.A. program requires 39 credits of course work. All degree candidates must take 24 credits of work in the required courses, as described below. The remaining course work encompasses electives, and a final project, internships, independent studies, or 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 M.A. 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 eight courses is designed as a single unit. All eight required courses will be offered in both fall and spring semesters, with electives concentrated in 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 six 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 also must take 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.

Students must take at least two of the following three courses: ITRN 602 International Financial Institutions and Globalization; ITRN 603 International Trade Relations; and ITRN 604 International Trade and Technology.

The last core course is 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.

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. A maximum of 3 credits in the final 12 credits of the program are given for internships and independent studies. 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 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 International Finance
ITRN 710 International Business Transactions: Finance and Investment
ITRN 711 Regulation of International Commerce
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 709 International Business Transactions: Marketing and Distribution
ITRN 731 Business to Business Marketing in International Commerce
ITRN 734 Pricing in International Commerce
ITRN 738 Fundamentals of International Marketing
ITRN 739 International Strategic Market Planning
ITRN 758 Global Market Planning Practicum

International Business Operations
A student with an interest in international business would 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 711 Regulation of International Commerce
ITRN 752 International Business Lobbying: United States, Europe, and Japan
ITRN 753 State and Local Strategies for Trade and Development
ITRN 759 Trade Licensing, Controls, and Documentation
ITRN 770 International Contract Negotiation

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

Regional Perspectives on International Commerce and Policy
The M.A. 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 focus, 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

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

Final Project or Comprehensive Exam
All students must integrate their knowledge and skills in a final project or a comprehensive exam. This is required for graduation and is assigned three credits. The project includes a 40-page research 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 master'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.

Related Degree Program

TIPP offers a concentration in regional economic development and technology within the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. Refer to the Interdisciplinary Studies section of the "College of Arts and Sciences" chapter.

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

TIPP 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, trade, and technology policy.