Mason Online

Archives: Programs

Economics (BA/BS)

Program Description

Bachelor of Science (BS) and The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics prepare students to analyze complex economic issues and make data‑driven decisions in a global economy.

Offered 100% online through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University, this flexible undergraduate degree develops strong foundations in economic theory, quantitative analysis, and critical thinking.

The BS in Economics provides a stronger emphasis on quantitative analysis. You will be well prepared for a career as an analyst in government, consulting, trade associations, or other private sector positions, and for graduate school in economics or more quantitative business administration programs.

The BA in Economics is designed for students with a strong interest in a broad education in the liberal arts tradition. The course work emphasizes a well-rounded undergraduate education with opportunities develop your critical thinking skills, language proficiency, and writing ability. These learning outcomes are particularly valuable for law school or graduate programs in business or public administration.

Having a degree in economics prepares students for a wide variety of exciting career options and choosing the program at George Mason University has a number of distinct advantages for our students. To begin to understand the full potential of our academic program, please explore the “Why Should I Study Economics?” page to understand all of the benefits of an economics major.

Banner code: LA‑BS‑ECON / LA-BA-ECON

Sociology (BA)

Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology helps students understand and address today’s most pressing social issues, including inequality, social justice, identity, and institutional power.

Offered 100% online through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University, this interdisciplinary undergraduate degree combines sociological theory, research methods, and real‑world application.

Students explore how race, class, gender, and culture shape individual and collective experiences while developing strong critical thinking, research, and communication skills. Designed for students seeking meaningful careers or graduate study, the Sociology BA prepares graduates to become effective analysts, advocates, and agents of social change.

Sociology is the systematic study of today’s most pressing issues: social justice and inequality and the tension between individual freedom and institutional social control.  Sociologists explore how individuals create and re-create a self within the context of their culture and history.  Sociology also traces the emergence and persistence of social movements driven by groups seeking to transform society.  Sociology courses offer opportunities to look broadly at the ways race, ethnicity, gender and social class affect our own lives and the lives of others and sociology students gain the knowledge to become agents of social change. Mason’s Sociology program emphasizes sociology, where theory and research moves out of the classroom into the world and provides concrete solutions to urgent social problems.

Banner code: LA-BA-SOCI

Global Affairs (BA)

Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Global Affairs prepares students to understand and address today’s most pressing international challenges, including global security, migration, economic inequality, environmental change, and humanitarian crises.

Offered 100% online through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University, this interdisciplinary degree builds strong foundations in global politics, economics, culture, and policy analysis.

With flexible regional and thematic concentrations, students customize their studies to align with career goals in government, international organizations, nonprofit advocacy, global business, and development, gaining the analytical and cross‑cultural skills needed for success in a globalized world.

The study of Global Affairs offers both broad perspectives and specialized knowledge on complex issues such as terrorism, refugee crises, global inequality, and health and environmental challenges. Core courses in the major provide the foundation for this understanding. Your choice of a thematic or regional concentration helps you tailor your degree to your particular interests and career goals.

Banner code: LA‑BA‑GLOA

Public Policy (MPP)

Program Description

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) prepares professionals to analyze, develop, and evaluate public policy in complex and evolving policy environments.

Offered 100% online or in a hybrid format through the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, this graduate program equips students with advanced skills in policy analysis, data‑driven decision‑making, economic and social policy, and global policy challenges. Designed for aspiring and experienced policy professionals, the MPP prepares graduates for influential roles in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, international institutions, and consulting firms addressing today’s most pressing public issues.

Address a vast range of public concerns, including terrorism, human trafficking, gender studies, environmental hazards, and hunger with the Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government.

Effective public policies advance the public good. The Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at the Schar School of Policy and Government prepares you to move into influential positions in the policy world. You will develop skills in policymaking and analysis necessary to understand and solve critical problems. Our MPP graduates advance in careers across a wide range of policy areas and hold positions throughout the public and private sectors, including government agencies, NGOs, and consulting firms.

Public Administration (MPA)

Program Description

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) prepares professionals for leadership and management roles in government, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

Offered 100% online or in a hybrid format through the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, this graduate program explores how public policy, administration, leadership, and politics intersect in today’s complex governance environment. Students develop in‑demand skills in public management, budgeting, policy analysis, and communication, positioning graduates to advance into senior‑level public administration and nonprofit leadership roles at the local, state, national, and global levels.

Sound leadership and management are vital to organizational and governmental effectiveness. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government puts you on a path toward senior-level positions in organizations that implement and manage public policies. In this program, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of how leadership, management, policy, and politics intersect, along with the tools to enhance your communication, budgeting, and analytic skills. As a graduate of one of the largest MPA programs in the country, you will join thousands of Schar School alumni working in various roles in local, state, and national government, nonprofit management, and many other careers.

International Security (MA)

Program Description

The Master’s in International Security , MA program prepares professionals to address enduring and emerging security challenges of the 21st century, by deepening conceptual knowledge of the field, learning in-depth about a range of current security issues, and mastering analytic and policy skills for a career in the field. The international security program provides strong background in theories of international relations and strategic thought, as well as electives on a wide range of topics, from great power competition to terrorism and WMD, and nontraditional threats from crime and corruption, cyberspace, food and natural resource insecurities, and more. The approach is inclusive and cross-disciplinary. Students will learn about leadership, decision-making, and the major national security institutions of defense, intelligence, and diplomacy.

Global Commerce and Policy (MA)

Program Description

The Global Commerce and Policy (MA) program equips students with the interdisciplinary expertise needed to succeed in today’s global economy.

Offered 100% online or in a hybrid format, this master’s degree integrates international trade, finance, investment, public policy, law, and technology to examine how cross‑border economic activity is shaped and regulated.

This innovative master’s degree program is designed for professionals in the public and private sectors, the program focuses on applied global economic issues—setting it apart from traditional international affairs or MBA programs—and prepares graduates to navigate the political, economic, and regulatory forces that influence global commerce and policy decision‑making.

Banner code: PP-MA-GCPO

Spanish Heritage Language Education (Graduate Certificate)

Program Description

The Spanish Heritage Language Education (SHLE) is an innovative interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate prepares educators and affiliated professionals to advocate for heritage speakers of Spanish as well as to design and implement teaching materials and curricula for heritage speakers of Spanish in K–12 and higher‑education settings.

Offered 80–100% online, this interdisciplinary graduate certificate provides specialized training in heritage language pedagogy, curriculum design, sociolinguistics, and culturally sustaining teaching practices. With a strong emphasis on antiracist, social‑justice‑oriented, and inclusive approaches, the SHLE program equips participants to design meaningful Spanish instruction that affirms students’ linguistic and cultural identities while meeting the growing demand for heritage language education expertise.

The Graduate Certificate in Spanish Heritage Language Education (SHLE) is an innovative interdisciplinary program that prepares educators and affiliated professionals to advocate for heritage speakers of Spanish as well as to design and implement teaching materials and curricula for heritage speakers of Spanish. The SHLE certificate, will provide you with expertise on the educational needs of heritage speakers of Spanish as well as antiracist, social justice-oriented approaches to teaching Spanish. You’ll also learn about current Latinx and Latin American literature, culture, film, and television, and how to effectively incorporate them into Spanish curricula.

Please visit the program page on the Spanish Department website for more information on the program.

Banner code: LA-CERG-SHLE

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (PhD)

Program Description

George Mason University offers an online Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (PhD) program focused on cutting‑edge research at the intersection of biology, computer science, and quantitative data analysis. This interdisciplinary doctoral program prepares students to solve complex biological problems using advanced computational methods.

Researchers in bioinformatics and computational biology use high‑performance computing to collect, store, analyze, and present large and complex biological datasets. Their work supports major advances in disease detection, drug development, forensics, agriculture, and environmental science, combining biological insight with powerful data‑driven tools.

This research focused online PhD program is designed to educate the next generation of computational biologists for careers in academia, industry, and government. Students complete an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes foundational bioscience courses alongside advanced coursework in bioinformatics, genomics, and computational biology.

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Most required coursework can be completed in approximately two years. After completing coursework, passing the comprehensive exam, and successfully proposing a dissertation, students advance to doctoral candidacy. In the final phase of the program, students focus on original research that culminates in the completion and defense of a doctoral dissertation.

The program is structured to be accessible for full- and part-time students. The courses are offered in a hybrid or distance learning format without requiring students to travel to campus. Because the research work is computational, students may choose to earn their doctoral degree entirely remotely or in a traditional face-to-face format.

Computer Science (MS)

Program Description

Prepare to create software solutions for the future in George Mason University’s online MS in Computer Science program.

You’ll gain expert-level problem-solving abilities while building skills in advanced programming, model construction and analysis, and analysis of algorithms as you advance your knowledge in the top areas of computer science, including:

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Databases
  • Programming Languages
  • Software Engineering
  • Systems and Networks
  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • Visual Computing
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You’ll learn how to create software solutions to complex issues as you learn from highly experienced, award-winning faculty.

By graduation, you’ll have the knowledge and skills needed to solve the challenges you’ll face as a computer software engineer, architect, or developer.

Ranked a Top 30 Program, and Highest-Ranked Computer Science Program in Virginia, by CSRankings.org

Top 65 Best Computer Science Schools by U.S. News & World Report, 2022