Who should apply?
The Global Commerce and Policy, MA program (GCPO) is an interdisciplinary course of study to help students from around the world prepare for jobs in the new economy. Unlike traditional international affairs programs, the degree is focused on such international economic issues as global trade and investment. This innovative master’s degree program is designed for current and aspiring private and public sector professionals who seek the knowledge and skills to be effective in an increasingly complex world marketplace.
Why choose George Mason?
With George Mason University’s prime location in the Washington, D.C. area, Schar School students gain access to leading scholars and practitioners who bring real-world experience to the classroom, providing you with the mentorship and skillsets needed to advance in your career.
The Schar School as a whole has 80+ faculty members, as well as hundreds of adjunct faculty, allowing students to gain access to a variety of perspectives and subjects through elective courses. Full-time GCPO professors have held positions at the World Bank, the US International Trade Commission, the United Nations Development Program, the US Treasury, the European Commission, the US Office of Technology Assessment, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Beyond this, they have even more extensive consulting experience around the world.
Program requirements may change; please refer to the Global Commerce and Policy, MA Program Page in the Mason Course Catalog for the most up-to-date requirements. This program can be completed completely online or in a hybrid format.
Requirements: 36 credits total
- 21 credits core courses
- 15 credits Electives and/or Concentration Courses
Core Courses (21 credits)
- ITRN 500 Global Political Economy | 3 credits
- ITRN 501 Data Analysis for Global Political Economy | 3 credits
- ITRN 503 Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy | 3 credits
- ITRN 504 Microeconomics and Trade Policy | 3 credits
- ITRN 602 Global Financial Crises and Institutions | 3 credits
- ITRN 603 Global Trade Relations | 3 credits
- ITRN 605 Technology, Culture and Commerce | 3 credits
Electives and/or Concentration Courses (15 credits)
If desired, a student has the option to declare one of three concentrations. Students without a concentration may select any ITRN or POGO course, any courses from the concentrations listed below, or other courses as approved by the advisor or program director.
Concentration in Global Finance, Investment and Trade (GFIT)
Select four courses within the area of concentration. Preapproved courses include the following:
- BIOD 622 Negotiating in the International Arena | 3 credits
- GOVT 742 International Negotiation | 3 credits
- ITRN 604 New Technologies in the Global Economy | 3 credits
- ITRN 612 International Business Operations and the Multinational Corporation | 3 credits
- ITRN 701 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy | 3 credits
- ITRN 702 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy: Study Abroad | 3 credits
- ITRN 710 International Business Transactions: Finance and Investment | 3 credits
- ITRN 711 United States Law and Global Trade | 3 credits
- ITRN 712 World Trade Organization and Global Trade | 3 credits
- ITRN 736 Sources of Growth in East Asia | 3 credits
- ITRN 738 Fundamentals of International Marketing | 3 credits
- ITRN 740 Trade and Regulatory Compliance | 3 credits
- ITRN 758 Global Market Planning Practicum | 3 credits
- POGO 731 Business and Politics in Emerging Markets | 3 credits
- ITRN 761 European Political and Economic Union | 3 credits
- ITRN 767 Political Economy and Integration in Latin America | 3 credits
- ITRN 769 International Entrepreneurship | 3 credits
- ITRN 770 International Contract Negotiation | 3 credits
- ITRN 771 Trade, Investment, and Politics in South and Southeast Asia | 3 credits
- ITRN 791 Advanced Trade Policy | 3 credits
- PUAD 739 Issues in International Management | 3 credits
- PUBP 710 Topics in Public Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 716 Transportation Operations and Logistics | 3 credits
- PUBP 736 International Migration and Public Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 763 Illicit Trade | 3 credits
- PUBP 764 Transnational Crime and Corruption | 3 credits
- PUBP 765 Human Smuggling and Trafficking | 3 credits
- PUBP 782 International Financial Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 783 Global Governance | 3 credits
- POGO 750 Topics in Policy and Government | 3 credits
Concentration in Global Development and Governance (GDGV)
Select four courses within the area of concentration. Preapproved courses include the following:
- BIOD 620 Global Health Security Policy | 3 credits
- BIOD 726 Food Security | 3 credits
- GOVT 631 Seminar in Comparative Politics and Institutions | 3 credits
- GOVT 742 International Negotiation | 3 credits
- ITRN 701 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy | 3 credits
- ITRN 702 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy: Study Abroad | 3 credits
- ITRN 736 Sources of Growth in East Asia | 3 credits
- ITRN 760 International Environmental Politics | 3 credits
- ITRN 761 European Political and Economic Union | 3 credits
- ITRN 767 Political Economy and Integration in Latin America | 3 credits
- ITRN 769 International Entrepreneurship | 3 credits
- ITRN 770 International Contract Negotiation | 3 credits
- ITRN 771 Trade, Investment, and Politics in South and Southeast Asia | 3 credits
- POGO 730 Global Economic and Human Development | 3 credits
- POGO 731 Business and Politics in Emerging Markets | 3 credits
- PUAD 636 The NGO: Policy and Management | 3 credits
- PUAD 739 Issues in International Management | 3 credits
- PUBP 655 State- and Institution-Building | 3 credits
- PUBP 710 Topics in Public Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 732 Labor Markets and Policies | 3 credits
- PUBP 736 International Migration and Public Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 753 Ethics in Public Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 757 Public Policy in Global Health and Medical Practice | 3 credits
- PUBP 758 Global Threats and Medical Policies | 3 credits
- PUBP 760 Science and Technology Policy in the 21st Century | 3 credits
- PUBP 761 Social Entrepreneurship and Public Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 763 Illicit Trade | 3 credits
- PUBP 764 Transnational Crime and Corruption | 3 credits
- PUBP 765 Human Smuggling and Trafficking | 3 credits
- PUBP 781 Entrepreneurship and Economic Development | 3 credits
- PUBP 783 Global Governance | 3 credits
- POGO 750 Topics in Policy and Government | 3 credits
Concentration in Global Risk and Strategy (GRS)
Select four courses within the area of concentration. Preapproved courses include the following:
- BIOD 706 Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons Policy and Security | 3 credits
- BIOD 620 Global Health Security Policy | 3 credits
- BIOD 709 Nonproliferation and Arms Control | 3 credits
- BIOD 722 Examining Terrorist Groups | 3 credits
- BIOD 725 Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction | 3 credits
- BIOD 726 Food Security | 3 credits
- ITRN 701 Special Topics in International Commerce and Policy | 3 credits
- ITRN 710 International Business Transactions: Finance and Investment | 3 credits
- ITRN 740 Trade and Regulatory Compliance | 3 credits
- ITRN 756 National Security and the Global Economy | 3 credits
- GOVT 744 Foundations of Security Studies | 3 credits
- GOVT 745 International Security | 3 credits
- POGO 731 Business and Politics in Emerging Markets | 3 credits
- PUAD 504 Managing in the International Arena: Theory and Practice | 3 credits
- PUAD 630 Emergency Planning and Preparedness | 3 credits
- PUAD 631 Disaster Response Operations and Recovery | 3 credits
- PUAD 637 Managing Homeland Security | 3 credits
- PUAD 727 Seminar in Risk Assessment and Decision Making | 3 credits
- PUBP 505 Politics and Practice of International Security Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 655 State- and Institution-Building | 3 credits
- PUBP 710 Topics in Public Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 714 Topics in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics | 3 credits
- PUBP 736 International Migration and Public Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 743 National Security Management and Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 751 International Police Operations | 3 credits
- PUBP 759 National Security Law and Public Policy | 3 credits
- PUBP 763 Illicit Trade | 3 credits
- PUBP 764 Transnational Crime and Corruption | 3 credits
- PUBP 765 Human Smuggling and Trafficking | 3 credits
- PUBP 769 Political Violence and Terrorism | 3 credits
- POGO 750 Topics in Policy and Government | 3 credits
Tuition
Tuition and Fees: All of Mason’s tuition rates and fees can be found on our Student Accounts site.
Please Note: In addition to the tuition and fees described above, various course and lab fees may be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled. Please refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees.
Financial Aid
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Additionally, visit the Office of Military Services for information about Armed Forces Tuition Assistance (TA), a benefit for eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
In addition to university-wide resources, the Schar School has a dedicated team of student services and career development advisors to assist you in your academic and professional plans. The Master’s in Global Commerce and Policy program prepares students for a range of industries and roles in the public and private sectors. In a recent graduating class career outcomes survey, the following were the top employers of program graduates:
- BAE Systems Inc.
- Bloomberg
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- Fannie Mae
- Honeywell
- Inter-American Development Bank
- International Monetary Fund
- Northrop Grumman
- The World Bank
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
Visit the Master’s in Global Commerce and Policy Employment Outcomes page for more information.
Application Requirements
- Graduate application and fee
- 750-1,000 word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
- Current resume
- Unofficial transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the U.S. For international institutions, transcripts may be unofficial but should include cumulative transcripts, degree certificate, individual semester marksheets (if applicable), and diploma (if applicable)
- Two letters of recommendation. At least one recommendation should be from an individual who is qualified to attest to the candidate’s academic potential
- Additional requirements for applicants with international credentials
If you have any questions during the application process, please contact schar@gmu.edu or (703) 993-2280.
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