BA in Government and International Politics
Concentrations
Catalog Year: 2026-2027
Banner Code: PP-BA-GVIP
The BA in Government and International Politics teaches students to critically examine political issues, prominent actors, and processes in government, foreign policy, and international affairs. The government and international politics program:
- Equips students with expertise in international relations, political analysis, public service, legal studies, campaigns, or research.
- Prepares students for leadership roles in law, government, nonprofits, or private businesses in the U.S. and around the world.
- Provides students a foundation for graduate study in law, political science, public policy, public administration, comparative politics, area and regional studies, and international affairs.
Students may tailor the degree to their interests and career goals by pursuing one of ten optional concentrations.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Policies
For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.
Program Requirements
Students must fulfill all Requirements for Bachelor's Degrees including the Mason Core. Students pursuing a BA in Government and International Politics must complete additional requirements for the BA degree in the Schar School of Policy and Government.
Students pursuing this degree must complete 43 credits in GOVT and earn a minimum grade of 2.00 in each course applied to the major.
Honors in the Major
Highly qualified students majoring in Government and International Politics and Public Administration may pursue advanced work leading to graduation with honors in the major. Those students selected for participation in this program take a two-course sequence: GOVT 491 Honors Seminar (Mason Core) and GOVT 496 Directed Readings and Research. To graduate with honors in the major, students must complete these courses with a minimum GPA of 3.50.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: minimum 120
Students pursuing a BA in Government and International Politics and wishing to narrow their focus may choose to concentrate in one of eight government fields or complete a higher credit concentration in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.
Required Courses for the BA
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| GOVT 101 | Democratic Theory and Practice (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 103 | Introduction to American Government (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 132 | Introduction to International Politics (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 133 | Introduction to Comparative Politics (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 300 | Research Methods and Analysis (Mason Core) | 4 |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Select one seminar from the following: | 3 | |
| Synthesis Seminar (Mason Core) | ||
| Honors Seminar (Mason Core) 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 19 | |
- 1
This option is for students who have been accepted to pursue honors in the major.
Government & International Politics Field Study
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select any eight upper-level government field courses (GOVT 301-GOVT 496), with or without a government concentration. | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
To fulfill the field study requirement, students may complete a government and international politics concentration by taking four courses in one field plus any four additional upper-level government field courses.1 Students have the option of completing two concentrations by taking four courses in one field and four courses in a second field (without overlap).
Students who do not pursue a concentration may choose 24 credits from the upper-level government field courses (GOVT 301-GOVT 496, with restrictions) for a broader learning experience.
Up to three credits of GOVT 480 Internship may be used to fulfill the field course requirement. Up to six credits of GOVT 398 Study Abroad, GOVT 399 Research Practicum, and GOVT 496 Directed Readings and Research may be used to fulfill this requirement. GOVT 490 Synthesis Seminar (Mason Core) or GOVT 491 Honors Seminar (Mason Core) may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
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The Politics, Philosophy, and Economics Concentration is a high-credit program with distinct course requirements.
Concentrations
- Concentration in American Institutions and Processes (AMIP)
- Concentration in Comparative Politics (CPOL)
- Concentration in International Political Economy (IPE)
- Concentration in International Relations (INTR)
- Concentration in Law, Philosophy and Governance (LPGV)
- Concentration in Political Analysis (PA)
- Concentration in Political Behavior and Identity Politics (PBIP)
- Concentration in Public Policy and Administration (PPA)
- Individualized Concentration (IND)
- Concentration in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 0-12 credits in any one concentration | 0-12 | |
| Total Credits | 0-12 | |
Students may partially satisfy the field study requirement by completing four courses (minimum 12 credits) in any one approved concentration. Students have the option of completing two concentrations by taking four courses in one field and four courses in a second field (without overlap).
Concentration in American Institutions and Processes (AMIP)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 301 | Public Law and the Judicial Process | 3 |
| GOVT 304 | American State and Local Government | 3 |
| GOVT 307 | Legislative Behavior | 3 |
| GOVT 308 | The American Presidency | 3 |
| GOVT 319 | Issues in Government and Politics | 1-3 |
| GOVT 344 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 357 | Urban Planning | 3 |
| GOVT 364 | Public Policy Making | 3 |
| GOVT 400 | Issues in Political Analysis | 1-3 |
| GOVT 409 | Virginia Government and Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 422 | Constitutional Interpretation | 3 |
| GOVT 423 | Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 |
Concentration in Comparative Politics (CPOL)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 330 | Politics of Africa | 3 |
| GOVT 331 | Politics of Latin America | 3 |
| GOVT 332 | Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| GOVT 333 | Politics of East Asia | 3 |
| GOVT 334 | Politics of Europe | 3 |
| GOVT 335 | Politics of South Asia | 3 |
| GOVT 338 | Politics of Eurasia | 3 |
| GOVT 339 | Issues in the Politics of Advanced Industrial Societies | 1-3 |
| GOVT 341 | Chinese Foreign Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 342 | Diplomacy | 3 |
| GOVT 344 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 345 | Islam and Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 430 | Comparative Political Leadership | 3 |
| GOVT 434 | Democracy in Global Perspective | 3 |
| GOVT 443 | Law and Ethics of War | 3 |
| GOVT 444 | Issues in International Studies | 1-3 |
| GOVT 445 | Human Rights | 3 |
| GOVT 447 | Revolution and International Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 448 | Ethics and International Politics | 3 |
Concentration in International Political Economy (IPE)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 322 | International Relations Theory | 3 |
| GOVT 339 | Issues in the Politics of Advanced Industrial Societies | 1-3 |
| GOVT 343 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| GOVT 366 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| GOVT 367 | Money, Markets and Economic Policy (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 368 | Tools for Economic Policy Analysis | 3 |
| GOVT 444 | Issues in International Studies | 1-3 |
| GOVT 446 | International Law and Organization | 3 |
| GOVT 469 | Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
| ECON 385 | International Economic Policy | 3 |
Concentration in International Relations (INTR)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 322 | International Relations Theory | 3 |
| GOVT 341 | Chinese Foreign Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 342 | Diplomacy | 3 |
| GOVT 344 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 345 | Islam and Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 346 | American Security Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 347 | International Security | 3 |
| GOVT 443 | Law and Ethics of War | 3 |
| GOVT 444 | Issues in International Studies | 1-3 |
| GOVT 445 | Human Rights | 3 |
| GOVT 446 | International Law and Organization | 3 |
| GOVT 447 | Revolution and International Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 448 | Ethics and International Politics | 3 |
Concentration in Law, Philosophy and Governance (LPGV)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 301 | Public Law and the Judicial Process | 3 |
| GOVT 307 | Legislative Behavior | 3 |
| GOVT 322 | International Relations Theory | 3 |
| GOVT 323 | Classical Western Political Theory | 3 |
| GOVT 324 | Modern Western Political Theory | 3 |
| GOVT 327 | Topics in Contemporary Western Political Theory | 3 |
| GOVT 329 | Issues in Political Theories and Values | 1-3 |
| GOVT 334 | Politics of Europe | 3 |
| GOVT 352 | Responsible Innovation | 3 |
| GOVT 407 | Law and Society | 3 |
| GOVT 420 | American Political Thought | 3 |
| GOVT 422 | Constitutional Interpretation | 3 |
| GOVT 423 | Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| GOVT 427 | Feminist Political Thought | 3 |
| GOVT 428 | Advanced Democratic Theory | 3 |
| GOVT 443 | Law and Ethics of War | 3 |
| GOVT 445 | Human Rights | 3 |
| GOVT 446 | International Law and Organization | 3 |
| GOVT 448 | Ethics and International Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 452 | Administrative Law and Procedures | 3 |
| GOVT 460 | Surveillance and Privacy in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| GOVT 461 | Governance in Space | 3 |
| GOVT 463 | Artificial Intelligence: Technological and Societal Implications | 3 |
| GOVT 469 | Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
Concentration in Political Analysis (PA)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 307 | Legislative Behavior | 3 |
| GOVT 343 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| GOVT 356 | Public Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| GOVT 357 | Urban Planning | 3 |
| GOVT 358 | Nonprofit Financial Planning | 4 |
| GOVT 366 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| GOVT 367 | Money, Markets and Economic Policy (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 368 | Tools for Economic Policy Analysis | 3 |
| GOVT 400 | Issues in Political Analysis | 1-3 |
| GOVT 426 | Political Theory of Autonomous Algorithms | 3 |
| GOVT 463 | Artificial Intelligence: Technological and Societal Implications | 3 |
| GOVT 469 | Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
| STAT 350 | Introductory Statistics II | 3 |
| Any 400-level STAT course | ||
Concentration in Political Behavior and Identity Politics (PBIP)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 312 | Political Parties and Campaigns | 3 |
| GOVT 313 | Political Psychology | 3 |
| GOVT 318 | Interest Groups, Lobbying, and the Political Process | 3 |
| GOVT 319 | Issues in Government and Politics | 1-3 |
| GOVT 345 | Islam and Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 400 | Issues in Political Analysis | 1-3 |
| GOVT 412 | Media and Political Controversy | 3 |
| GOVT 414 | Politics of Race and Gender | 3 |
| GOVT 423 | Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 |
Concentration in Public Policy and Administration (PPA)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 304 | American State and Local Government | 3 |
| GOVT 329 | Issues in Political Theories and Values | 1-3 |
| GOVT 351 | Administration in the Political System | 3 |
| GOVT 354 | Nonprofit Sector in Society | 3 |
| GOVT 355 | Public Personnel Administration | 3 |
| GOVT 356 | Public Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| GOVT 357 | Urban Planning | 3 |
| GOVT 358 | Nonprofit Financial Planning | 4 |
| GOVT 361 | Introduction to Environmental Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 362 | Intermediate Environmental Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 363 | Science and Technology Institutions/Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 364 | Public Policy Making | 3 |
| GOVT 366 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| GOVT 367 | Money, Markets and Economic Policy (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 368 | Tools for Economic Policy Analysis | 3 |
| GOVT 369 | Cybersecurity Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 400 | Issues in Political Analysis | 1-3 |
| GOVT 452 | Administrative Law and Procedures | 3 |
| GOVT 460 | Surveillance and Privacy in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| GOVT 462 | Public Interest Technology | 3 |
| GOVT 463 | Artificial Intelligence: Technological and Societal Implications | 3 |
| GOVT 464 | Issues in Public Policy and Administration | 1-3 |
| GOVT 467 | How Washington Really Works | 3 |
| GOVT 469 | Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
Individualized Concentration (IND)
Create your own concentration consisting of four upper-level courses with Schar School advisor approval. A minimum of two courses in this concentration must be GOVT.
Concentration in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)
The high-credit PPE Concentration is for students interested in a program that explores the interdisciplinary connections between philosophy, politics, and economics. This is a joint program between the Schar School of Policy and Government and the Philosophy and Economics departments in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS).
Required Politics Foundational Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| These core courses fulfill both the BA GVIP and PPE Concentration requirements. | ||
| GOVT 101 | Democratic Theory and Practice (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 103 | Introduction to American Government (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 132 | Introduction to International Politics (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 133 | Introduction to Comparative Politics (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GOVT 300 | Research Methods and Analysis (Mason Core) | 4 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Required Politics Senior Seminar
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| This course fulfills both the BA GVIP and PPE Concentration requirement. | ||
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Synthesis Seminar (Mason Core) | ||
| Honors Seminar (Mason Core) 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
- 1
This option is for students who have been accepted to pursue honors in the major.
Politics Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Politics Electives - select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Public Law and the Judicial Process | ||
| Legislative Behavior | ||
| The American Presidency | ||
| Political Parties and Campaigns | ||
| Interest Groups, Lobbying, and the Political Process | ||
| Classical Western Political Theory | ||
| Politics of Latin America | ||
| Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | ||
| Politics of East Asia | ||
| Politics of Europe | ||
| Politics of Eurasia | ||
| Islam and Politics | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Policy | ||
| Public Policy Making | ||
| Public Policy Analysis | ||
| Money, Markets and Economic Policy (Mason Core) | ||
| Constitutional Interpretation | ||
| Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties | ||
| Law and Ethics of War | ||
| Required Politics Culminating Course | 3 | |
| How Washington Really Works | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Economics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Economics Foundational Courses | 6 | |
| Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) | ||
| Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles (Mason Core) | ||
| Economics Electives - select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Intermediate Microeconomics | ||
| Managerial Economics and Strategy | ||
| Economic Problems and Public Policies | ||
| Money and Banking | ||
| Intermediate Macroeconomics | ||
| Economics of Labor | ||
| Public Finance | ||
| Introduction to Econometrics | ||
| Economics of Developing Areas (Mason Core) | ||
| Topics in Economic History (Mason Core) | ||
| International Economics | ||
| Austrian Economics | ||
| Public Choice | ||
| Game Theory and Economics of Institutions | ||
| Design and Analysis of Experiments | ||
| The Development of Economic Thought | ||
| Smithian Political Economy I (Mason Core) | ||
| Smithian Political Economy II | ||
| Required Economics Culminating Course | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Philosophy
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Philosophy Foundational Course - select one from the following: | ||
GOVT/PHIL 324 |
Modern Western Political Theory | |
GOVT/PHIL 327 |
Topics in Contemporary Western Political Theory | |
| Philosophy Electives - select two from the following: | 6 | |
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Philosophy of the Social Sciences | ||
| Ethics and Economics | ||
| Required Philosophy Culminating Course | 3 | |
| Theories of Justice | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors. Students majoring in government and international politics may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing GOVT 490 Synthesis Seminar (Mason Core) or GOVT 491 Honors Seminar (Mason Core) in their major programs.
Schar School Requirement in Addition to Mason Core Below
Proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate level.
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.
All Integration-level requirements must be completed at George Mason and cannot be satisfied through transfer credit. These courses are integral to the university's educational philosophy and ensure that all graduates demonstrate proficiency in writing, critical thinking, and integrative learning consistent with the university's standards. Rare exceptions to this policy may only be granted by the Provost's Office.
Students who have completed the following credentials are eligible for a waiver of the Foundation and Exploration (lower level) requirement categories with the exception of Written Communication, which must be met by transferring in or taking an approved coruse at George Mason University. 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.)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Requirements | ||
| Written Communication (lower-level) | 3 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Information Technology and Computing | 3 | |
| Exploration Requirements | ||
| Arts | 3 | |
| Global Contexts | 3 | |
| Global History | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 7 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Just Societies (optional) 1 | ||
| Integration Requirements | ||
| Written Communication (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive 2 | 3 | |
| Mason Apex 3 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
- 1
In addition to covering content related to the designated category, Exploration level courses marked with a Just Societies "flag" are specifically designed to help students learn how to interact effectively with others from all walks of life, including those with backgrounds and beliefs that differ from their own. Students who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in this area may choose to enroll in a Just Societies-flagged course. Students interested in this approach to completing their Mason Core Exploration Requirements should work closely with their advisor to identify the appropriate Just Societies-flagged courses.
- 2
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.
- 3
Minimum 3 credits required.