About Global Affairs

Students interested in the study of global affairs at Mason have the opportunity to participate in two of the few truly interdisciplinary global studies degrees in the United States. The Global Affairs Program at Mason draws upon faculty and courses across the university to provide students with comprehensive yet specialized degrees. Global Affairs students examine transnational and international processes in a wide range of areas. Students also study specific regions, languages, and investigate the ways particular parts of the world experience global phenomena.

Graduate Program

The Global Affairs graduate program prepares globally competent professionals to enter today's fast-paced, interconnected world. Using a multidisciplinary approach, coursework highlights both the theoretical and practical aspects of the cultural, political, and economic dynamics of globalization.

The MA is designed for maximum flexibility for full or part-time students. Courses in the thirty-credit, non-thesis program are offered in the evenings at George Mason’s Fairfax and Arlington campuses. Students create their interdisciplinary specialization from courses in highly ranked departments across the university, including economics, history, sociology, government, and public policy. Fall or spring semester admissions are available.

Mason offers an ideal atmosphere to study global affairs because the highly international university itself draws its students from more than 130 countries, with at least 80 languages spoken. The program attracts an especially dynamic and diverse student body, and our students enhance the classroom conversation through their multiple perspectives and experiences.

Global Affairs faculty hold particular expertise in human rights, media, resources and the environment, political economy, and critical geopolitics.  Faculty have active research in West Africa, Central America, South America, South Korea, and the Baltic states, among others. They provide personal attention to students and bring to bear the resources of George Mason, an R1 university and the largest public research university in Virginia.

Watch our online information session for prospective graduate students and sign up for one of our live information sessions found here.

Undergraduate Program

The program offers a major and a minor in global affairs. Students pursuing either program of study take a core of courses that introduce them to the interdisciplinary study of global issues. In addition, majors choose from a range of possible concentrations that focus on either the study of a global theme or a specific world region.

The major in global affairs is one of the few truly interdisciplinary global studies bachelor's degrees in the United States. It draws on faculty and courses from across the university who have an expertise in global affairs.

Study Abroad

Undergraduate students in global affairs are strongly encouraged to take part in a study abroad experience. These experiences can be as brief as two weeks or as long as a semester or a full academic year. Mason Study Abroad offers a wide range of study abroad opportunities for our students, or you may arrange to study abroad through other accredited college and university programs.

The graduate program includes a two-week seminar abroad, offered each summer and winter break, as part of the required core curriculum. These seminars are taught annually in different world regions according to a rotating schedule.