Catalog Course Descriptions
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Global Affairs Courses
Undergraduate
Surveys wide range of global topics: previous periods of globalization, international organizations and law, transnational corporations and global economy, immigration and refugees, world environmental concerns, world culture, war and peace, paradoxical presence of nationalism and fundamentalism in global world, and antiglobalization movement.Limited to three attempts.
Focuses on career choices and effective self-presentation for soon-to-be graduating students with majors in Global Affairs. Explores how skills typically learned in humanities majors can be leveraged for a successful transition to post-graduation employment.Equivalent to UNIV 420.
This course takes media as a lens to examine the cultural, political, and economic dimensions of globalization. Begins with historical attempts to democratize the international communication systems and technologies and moves to examine a series of topics related to media globalization, such as: media in nation-building, pop culture, international news reporting, television and film production, the political-economic tensions embedded in media streaming services, information overload, and digital activism. Analyzes media technologies from an interdisciplinary perspective.Limited to three attempts.
Examination of human security from an interdisciplinary perspective emphasizing critical approaches to it from fields such as development studies, anthropology, history, and geography. Human security is often articulated with non-conventional security threats. Course traces genealogy (and critiques of it) of human security including connections to the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. Students examine the sources of insecurity in today’s world and the intersection of insecurity and development, contributions of government and international actors usually not seen within the security field, and the role of grassroots actors in promoting human security.Limited to three attempts.
This course explores the intersection of health, globalization and development drawing from multidisciplinary theoretical perspectives to provide a critical perspective on global health and development research as well as practice. Will provide students an opportunity to examine and understand the historical context of global health and development; the role of contemporary global health institutions, the politics of health and global health, and behavior change and development strategies.Limited to three attempts.
Students draw from interdisciplinary core and concentration coursework in order to synthesize, compare and consolidate the various approaches and theories explored throughout the major through a focus on a pressing global issue. Additionally, course is designed to further develop research, writing, presentation, and organizational skills.May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Selected topics in global affairs. Content varies. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different.May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Study abroad under supervision of Mason faculty. Course topics, content, and locations vary. Notes: May be repeated with permission of department.May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Reading or research on specific topic related to globalization, under direction of faculty member. Notes: At least one written paper required. Course may involve combination of reading assignments, tutorials, presentations, or off-campus activities.May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of global affairs. Covers a variety of topics, including consideration of economic, political, and cultural forces at work in the complex interactions among global processes.Limited to three attempts.
Honors-level research on specialized topic in Global Affairs culminating in substantial paper and oral presentation.Limited to three attempts.
On-the-job training in transnational or international fields through approved internship programs. Notes: Enrollment and credits controlled by Global Affairs Program. Contact Global Affairs Program one semester before planned enrollment.May be repeated within the term.
Selected topics in global affairs. Content varies. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different.May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Graduate
Studies current issues and debates in global affairs. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different.May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Explores the nature of globalization. Students will understand the characteristics of the current global system; be familiar with key global issues and debates; have an advanced understanding of and appreciation for organizations, languages, cultures in many global contexts; and be better habituated to thinking across disciplinary lines.May not be repeated for credit.
Designed to provide students with an overview of basic techniques in quantitative and qualitative methods with special attention to epistemological and ethical concerns in global studies research. Course includes a discussion of the theoretical assumptions that shape research questions and design, practical exercises in research techniques, and analysis of methodology in practice.May not be repeated for credit.
Focuses on the intersection of countries and firms in the arenas of international trade, investment and finance, as the lenses into understanding better today's "global" economy: countries of differing levels of economic development and economic system structure, factors of monetary union and currency disequilibria, trade liberalization or protectionism, market entry, cross-border variables, risk and relations. May not be repeated for credit.
Introduces interdisciplinary, social theoretical approaches and themes useful to understanding today’s global issues and then applies them to a particular case study. Considers scholarly debates around globalization in the context of this case study.May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Reading or research on specific topic related to globalization, under directions of faculty member. Notes: At least one written paper required. Course may involve combination of reading assignments, tutorials, presentations, or off-campus activities.May not be repeated for credit.
On-the-job training related to Global Affairs through an approved internship. Students may apply up to 3 credits of GLOA 695 to their specialization.May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Intensive program in a foreign setting focusing on a deep overview of the research specialization of the supervising faculty member. Required pre-departure component to set the intellectual, logistical and culture terms of the abroad period. Locations vary from year to year. Notes: May be repeated with permission of program.May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Provides students with the opportunity to engage in significant original research an analysis of a topic in global affairs. Topics vary from year to year.May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Studies current issues and debates in global affairs. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different.May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
