Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
College of Humanities and Social Sciences • Schar School of Policy and Government
College of Humanities and Social Sciences • Schar School of Policy and Government
Catalog Year: 2022-2023
Banner Code: PP-BA-GVIP
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.
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.
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.
| 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 | |
GOVT 490 |
Synthesis Seminar (Mason Core) | |
GOVT 491 |
Honors Seminar (Mason Core) 1 | |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
| 1 | This option is for students who have been accepted to pursue honors in the major. |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select any eight advanced government field courses, with or without a government concentration | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Students may complete a government concentration (four courses) in one field, then complete any four more advanced government field courses to satisfy this requirement. Students who do not pursue a government concentration may choose 24 credits from the advanced government field courses listed below (with restriction) for a broader learning experience.
Up to three credits of GOVT 399 Research Practicum and GOVT 480 Internship may be used to fulfill the field course requirement with prior advisor approval. Up to six credits of GOVT 496 Directed Readings and Research may be used to fulfill this requirement with prior advisor approval. GOVT 490 Synthesis Seminar (Mason Core) or GOVT 491 Honors Seminar (Mason Core) may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
Advanced government field courses include courses numbered GOVT 301 - GOVT 499
| 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 301 | Public Law and the Judicial Process | 3 |
| GOVT 302 | American Political Development | 3 |
| GOVT 304 | American State and Local Government | 3 |
| GOVT 305 | Contemporary American Federalism | 3 |
| GOVT 307 | Legislative Behavior | 3 |
| GOVT 308 | The American Presidency | 3 |
| GOVT 309 | Government and Politics of Metropolitan Areas | 3 |
| GOVT 311 | Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior | 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 365 | State and Regional Public Policy | 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 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 331 | Government and Politics of Latin America | 3 |
| GOVT 332 | Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| GOVT 333 | Government and Politics of Asia | 3 |
| GOVT 334 | Government and Politics of Europe | 3 |
| GOVT 337 | Ethnic Politics in Western Europe and North America | 3 |
| GOVT 338 | Government and Politics of Russia | 3 |
| GOVT 339 | Issues in the Politics of Advanced Industrial Societies | 1-3 |
| GOVT 340 | Central Asian Politics | 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 433 | Political Economy of East Asia | 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 |
| 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 433 | Political Economy of East Asia | 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 |
| 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 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 301 | Public Law and the Judicial Process | 3 |
| GOVT 302 | American Political Development | 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 | Contemporary Western Political Theory | 3 |
| GOVT 328 | Global Political Theory | 3 |
| GOVT 329 | Issues in Political Theories and Values | 1-3 |
| GOVT 334 | Government and Politics of Europe | 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 469 | Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
| 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 433 | Political Economy of East Asia | 3 |
| GOVT 469 | Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
| STAT 350 | Introductory Statistics II | 3 |
| Any 400-level STAT course | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 311 | Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior | 3 |
| 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 353 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| GOVT 400 | Issues in Political Analysis | 1-3 |
| GOVT 412 | Politics and the Mass Media | 3 |
| GOVT 414 | Politics of Race and Gender | 3 |
| GOVT 423 | Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| 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 353 | Social Entrepreneurship | 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 364 | Public Policy Making | 3 |
| GOVT 365 | State and Regional Public Policy | 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 400 | Issues in Political Analysis | 1-3 |
| GOVT 452 | Administrative Law and Procedures | 3 |
| GOVT 460 | Surveillance and Privacy in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| GOVT 464 | Issues in Public Policy and Administration | 1-3 |
| GOVT 467 | Current Issues in Economic Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 469 | Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
Create your own concentration consisting of four upper level courses with Director approval. A minimum of two courses in this concentration must be GOVT.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
GOVT 490 |
Synthesis Seminar (Mason Core) | |
GOVT 491 |
Honors Seminar (Mason Core) 1 | |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| 1 | This option is for students who have been accepted to pursue honors in the major. |
Students complete the following coursework:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| American Politics | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
GOVT 301 - GOVT 319 |
||
GOVT 401 - GOVT 419 |
||
| Political Theory and Law | ||
| GOVT 323 | Classical Western Political Theory | 3 |
| International and Comparative Politics | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
GOVT 330 - GOVT 349 |
||
GOVT 430 - GOVT 449 |
||
| Public Policy and Administration | ||
| GOVT 467 | Current Issues in Economic Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 469 | Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
| Additional Upper Level GOVT Courses | ||
| GOVT 422 | Constitutional Interpretation | 3 |
| Two additional upper division GOVT courses | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 324 | Modern Western Political Theory | 3 |
| or PHIL 324 | Modern Western Political Theory | |
| GOVT 327 | Contemporary Western Political Theory | 3 |
| or PHIL 327 | Contemporary Western Political Theory | |
| PHIL 357 | Philosophy of the Social Sciences | 3 |
| or PHIL 371 | Philosophy of the Natural Sciences | |
| PHIL 358 | Ethics and Economics | 3 |
| or PHIL 311 | Philosophy of Law | |
| PHIL 429 | Advanced Topics in Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| ECON 103 | Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ECON 104 | Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ECON 306 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Austrian Economics | ||
| Public Choice | ||
| Game Theory and Economics of Institutions (Choose one of the following:) | ||
| Law and Economics | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| One course in Philosophy or Religion | ||
| One additional course in Social and Behavioral Sciences | ||
| One course in Non-Western Culture | ||
| Proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate level | ||
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Requirements | ||
| Written Communication (ENGH 101) | 3 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Information Technology and Computing | 3 | |
| Exploration Requirements | ||
| Arts | 3 | |
| Global Understanding | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 7 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Western Civilization/World History | 3 | |
| Integration Requirements | ||
| Written Communications (ENGH 302) | 3 | |
| Writing-Intensive 1 | 3 | |
| Synthesis/Capstone 2 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
| 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. |