The Environment Concentration

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-BA-GLOA-EVT

Global affairs is an interdisciplinary major that introduces students to the processes of globalization that affect all societies. Students gain a sophisticated understanding of complex issues such as terrorism, refugee crises, global inequality, and health and environmental challenges. Core courses in the major provide a knowledge foundation of the political, economic, cultural, and environmental processes in our global and globalizing world. The choice of a thematic or regional concentration helps students tailor the degree to their particular interests and career goals. Students in this program are encouraged to participate in study abroad opportunities and internships. They can complement their major with a second major or a minor.

This is a Green Leaf program. 

Honors in the Major

Highly qualified students may pursue advanced work leading to graduation with honors in the major. Global affairs majors who have completed 75 credits with an overall GPA of 3.50 and a GPA of 3.50 in courses for the major are eligible to apply to graduate with honors.

Students pursuing honors in the major must complete the two-course honors sequence, GLOA 491 Honors Seminar in Global Affairs and GLOA 492 Honors Research Project in Global Affairs (Mason Core), with a minimum GPA of 3.50 in the sequence. Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements are guaranteed acceptance.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: minimum 120

This is a Green Leaf program.

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Core Courses in the Major

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Note the prerequisite for this course: GOVT 132 Introduction to International Politics (Mason Core) or GOVT 133 Introduction to Comparative Politics (Mason Core)

Capstone Course

GLOA Foreign Language Requirement
(6 credits of language study beyond intermediate proficiency)

All BA students in CHSS are required to demonstrate intermediate proficiency in one foreign language¹. To fulfill the Global Affairs foreign language requirement, students can continue the study of one language beyond the intermediate proficiency level required for all BA degrees in the college or choose to study other languages.  After demonstrating intermediate proficiency in one foreign language, an additional six credits of courses taught in a foreign language, at any level, are required.

¹

Intermediate proficiency is achieved by completing a course in a foreign language numbered 202 (or higher level courses taught in the language) or achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test. A three course sequence in American Sign Language (EDSE 115 American Sign Language (ASL) I, EDSE 116 American Sign Language (ASL) II, and EDSE 219 American Sign Language (ASL) III) will also meet the foreign language requirement. Students who are already proficient in a second language may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement.

Concentration in the Major

Students select one concentration and complete the requirements therein. Courses applied to a global affairs concentration must come from at least two different departments. Concentration courses must be unique to the concentration: they cannot be simultaneously used to fulfill any Mason Core or college requirement for the bachelor's degree. They cannot be applied to any other major, minor, concentration, or certificate.

In addition to the courses listed with the concentration, other relevant courses, including special topics courses, study abroad, and internships (maximum 3 credits), may be applied to a concentration with prior written approval from the director.

Concentration in the Environment (EVT)

Students may complete this concentration through 12 credits of regular coursework or through the Smithsonian-Mason Semester Program (15-16 credits).

Regular Coursework

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Note the prerequisites for this course: ECON 103 Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) and ECON 104 Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles (Mason Core)

Smithsonian-Mason Semester Program

Students complete 16 credits offered through the Mason Center for Conservation Studies in cooperation with the Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Students may choose to focus their study on "Conservation, Biodiversity and Society", "Wildlife Ecology and Conservation", or "Endangered Species Conservation". Students take the courses in the selected focus area together in one semester, living on site at the institute in Front Royal, VA. Students who apply this coursework to the concentration cannot also apply it to the minor in Conservation Studies.

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 global affairs may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing EVPP 337 Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries.

Upper Level Requirement

Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements.

Additional Electives

Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.

College Level Requirements in the BA Degree

In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the coursework below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (Mason Core requirements or requirements for the major).

Philosophy or Religious Studies

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Note that the following courses may not be used to fulfill this requirement:

• PHIL 323 Classical Western Political Theory 
• PHIL 324 Modern Western Political Theory 
• PHIL 327 Contemporary Western Political Theory 
• PHIL 393 Humanities College to Career 
• PHIL 460 Senior Seminar in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

Additionally, PHIL 253, RELI 235,  RELI 333, and RELI 339 cannot be used to fulfill both the philosophy/religious studies requirement and the Mason Core literature requirement.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

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The two courses used to fulfill the combined college and Mason Core requirements must be from different disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. 

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HIST 100 and HIST 125 may not be used to fulfill this requirement.

Foreign Language

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Students who are already proficient in a second language may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement. Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Non-Western Culture

Select 3 credits of an approved course in the study of a non-Western culture (additional to the Mason Core requirement in global understanding)

¹

A course used to fulfill the Mason Core global understanding requirement may not be simultaneously used to satisfy this college-level requirement. A course used to fulfill this requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill any other requirements (Mason Core requirements, college-level requirements, or requirements for the major). Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Mason Core

Some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.

Students who have completed the following credentials are eligible for a waiver of the Foundation and Exploration (lower level) requirement categories. The Integration category (upper level) is not waived under this policy. See Admissions for more information. 

• VCCS Uniform Certificate of General Studies
• VCCS or Richard Bland Associate of Science (A.S.), Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.&S.), or Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.)

¹

Most programs include the writing-intensive course designated for the major as part of the major requirements; this course is therefore not counted towards the total required for Mason Core.

²

Minimum 3 credits required.