The Environment Concentration

Catalog Year: 2022-2023

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

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.

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

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

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Foreign Language

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)

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.