Program Overview

Introduction to the Schar School of Policy and Government

The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University offers a wide range of programs for students interested in policy and government.

Programs

• Undergraduate programs:
  • Global Opportunities
  • Public Administration, BS
    • Northern Virginia Local Government Cohort
  • BA in International Security and Law
  • Major in Government and International Politics
  • Government and International Politics Concentrations
    • Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Concentration
  • First-Year Learning Community
  • Technology Policy
  • Undergraduate Minors and Joint Programs
    • How to Declare a Minor
  • Schar School Undergraduate Student Liaisons
  • Prepare for a Career in Law
• Master's Programs:
  • MS in Biodefense
    • Biodefense MS Degree Requirements
  • Master's in Global Commerce and Policy
    • Global Commerce and Policy Curriculum
  • MA in International Security
    • International Security MA Degree Requirements
  • Organization Development and Knowledge Management
    • Coaching Skills for Organizational Transformation
    • Organization Development and Knowledge Management Curriculum
    • Organization Development and Knowledge Management Program Information and Schedule
  • MA in Political Science
    • MA in Political Science Degree Requirements
    • Master's in Political Science Faculty
  • MPA in Public Administration
    • Is a Master of Public Administration Degree Right for You?
    • Master's in Public Administration Faculty
    • Master's in Public Administration Program Curriculum
  • MPP in Public Policy
    • Is a Master of Public Policy Degree Right for You?
    • Master of Public Policy Curriculum
    • Public Policy, Master's in Public Policy Emphasis Areas
  • NSPP Cohort
  • Graduate Student Ambassadors
  • The Difference between the MPP and MPA Degrees
• PhD Programs:
  • Biodefense, PhD
  • Political Science, PhD
    • PhD in Political Science Curriculum
  • Public Policy, PhD
    • PhD in Public Policy Curriculum
• Graduate Nondegree Studies
• Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's (BAM)
• Graduate Certificate Programs:
  • Global Economic Policy Certificate
  • Biodefense Certificate
  • Emergency Management and Homeland Certificate
  • Global Health and Security Certificate
  • Illicit Trade Analysis Certificate
  • National Security and Public Policy Certificate
  • Nonprofit Management Certificate
  • Public Management Certificate
  • Science, Technology, and Security Certificate
  • Terrorism and Homeland Security Certificate
  • Trade Compliance Certificate
• Executive Education:
  • Executive Certificate in Higher Impact Leadership
  • Executive Education: Program Areas
  • Research & Fellowship Program
  • Young Scholars Research Program
    • NextGen Science: Machine Learning & Bioinformatics
    • Three-month Internship - NASA Data Science Analysis and Scholarly Research Paper Writing - Summer 2025
    • BioScience: AI & Life Science in Disease Research
    • Young Scholars Publications
  • Customized Programs:
    • International Clients
    • Private Sector Focus
    • Public Sector Focus

Global Economic Policy Certificate

The Global Economic Policy Graduate Certificate educates students in the foundations of international economics and the analysis of global economic policies. Students learn the techniques of trade policy analysis, gain knowledge in the analysis of open-economy macroeconomics and international finance, and cover the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.

Program At-a-Glance

• Completion Requirements: 5 courses (15 credits)
• Duration: 1 to 1.5 years on average
• Semester of Entry: Fall and spring

Certificate Program Requirements

Schar School certificate students take the same classes as master's students, choosing from a wide selection of specialized electives taught by renowned faculty.

Core Courses

Students are required to take the following:

• GCP 503: Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy
• GCP 504: Microeconomics and Trade Policy or PUBP 720: Managerial Economics and Policy Analysis
• GCP 501: Data Analysis in Global Political Economy or POGO 511: Statistical Methods for Policy Analysis
• GCP 604: New Technologies in the Global Economy or GCP 605: Technology, Culture and Commerce

Elective Courses

Courses should be chosen in consultation with an advisor and approved in advance by the program director. Possible elective courses include:

• GCP 602: Global Financial Crises and Institutions
• GCP 791: Advanced Trade Policy
• POGO 611: Advanced Data Analysis for Policy and Government
• POGO 750: Global Tax Policy
• PUBP 721: Transportation Economics
• PUBP 732: Labor Markets and Policies
• PUBP 792: Advanced Economic Analysis for Public Policy Research

Faculty and Research

The Schar School faculty areas of research include:

• Comparative Studies
• Economics, Development & Public Finance
• International Affairs & Security Studies
• Methods & Data Science
• Public Private & Nonprofit Management
• Regional Expertise:
  • Africa
  • East & South Asia
  • Europe
  • Eurasia
  • Latin America
  • Middle East
  • United States
• Science & Technology
• Social Policy
• U.S. Politics & Legal Studies

The school also has various research centers, institutes, and initiatives, including the Federal Workforce Initiative and the Regional Elected Leaders Initiative.

Alumni and Giving

The Schar School has an alumni leadership and chapter, as well as opportunities for alumni to get involved through mentorship programs, events, and giving.

About the Schar School

The Schar School of Policy and Government is ranked among the top policy schools in the country. It offers a range of programs, from undergraduate to PhD, as well as executive education and certificate programs. The school is committed to providing students with a world-class education and preparing them for careers in policy and government.

The school is led by Dean Mark J. Rozell and has a staff directory that includes faculty, administrators, and research center faculty. The school is also committed to accessibility, compliance, and community, and has a number of initiatives in place to support these goals.

Overall, the Schar School of Policy and Government is a leading institution for the study of policy and government, and offers a range of programs and opportunities for students and alumni.