The Schar School is home to more than 800 undergraduate students who are majoring in Government and International Politics, International Security and Law, and Public Administration, as well as hundreds more students who are pursuing Schar School minors and unique multidisciplinary joint programs.
CONCENTRATION IN PHILOSOPHY, POLITICS, AND ECONOMICS (PPE)
The Department of Philosophy, Department of Economics, and the Schar School of Policy and Government jointly offer a concentration in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). The PPE concentration provides students with the multidisciplinary training needed to tackle today’s most complex social problems. The program is a springboard to careers in public service, law, finance, business, journalism, and the academy. PPE students enjoy close contact with prestigious faculty, unique international partnerships, and special extra- curricular events.
CONCENTRATION IN TECHNOLOGY POLICY
The Schar School and the School of Computing jointly created this undergraduate degree at the intersection of technology and policy. Students who complete the Applied Computer Science BS with a concentration in Technology Policy will have the knowledge and skills of a traditional computer science major. They will also have the benefits of a full social science and policy degree. The BS explores the possibilities and challenges inherent in new technologies and the ways in which public institutions can seek to regulate these technologies to maximize their benefits. Students are treated as co-majors and take an equal number of courses in each school.
MINORS
Alongside your major and the optional concentrations in select majors, a minor offers a focused area of study that can enrich your academic experience. A minor is a great way to deepen your knowledge, explore a secondary interest, and strengthen your resume—whether you're preparing for a career or graduate school. More than 135 minors in a range of subjects are available at Mason, most of which are available to students across the university. The Schar School offers the following minors:
American Government Minor
This minor offers students a focused understanding of American political institutions, processes, and behavior. Through the study of Congress, the presidency, the courts, and public opinion, students explore how policies are made and who influences them. The program also examines contemporary political issues as well as the evolving role of government in society. Students will develop a foundation for understanding American democracy and its impact at home and abroad.
Global Systems Minor
Global systems have become increasingly important to the way we live and work, and a global perspective makes us more aware of how we are connected to others around the world and to the whole of nature.
The interdisciplinary minor in global systems is designed to complement virtually any undergraduate major. It works well for majors in business, economics, languages, geography, government and international politics, history, and many other areas of study. Students in professional programs can connect their focus areas to global issues of health care, trade and finance, or technology. Students in the liberal arts gain insights into their disciplines as they learn how the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences are affected by global issues such as demographic change, telecommunications, and environmental protection.
Other globally oriented courses may also fulfill or substitute for the requirements of this program with prior advisor approval.
This is an interdisciplinary minor offered by the Schar School of Policy and Government and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Government analytics involves the use of cutting-edge tools of data science and analysis to address political, policy, and governance problems at federal, state, local, and organizational levels. This minor introduces students to the tools and context that are now commonly employed by government entities and agencies, as well as by the non-profit and private sectors. In particular, students will work with canonical programming languages (R and Python) and apply these tools to substantive issues in political science, public administration, and international relations.
The minor integrates a technical curriculum with real-world applicability and gives students the flexibility and independence to develop unique expertise and hone research skills. The curriculum also introduces students to issues of copyright and privacy that are integral to ethical government analytics.
International and Comparative Studies Minor
This interdisciplinary minor offers students a global perspective on how governments function, how societies interact, and how international systems shape our world. Through the study of political institutions with a focus on the global challenges facing societies, students gain a deeper understanding of international relations and comparative politics, and the interactions between them. The curriculum encourages critical thinking in four broad topic areas: world regions, politics and policy, global perspectives, and international studies. This minor complements a wide range of majors and prepares students to engage thoughtfully and effectively in an increasingly interconnected world.
International Security Minor
The world faces a complex range of threats to its security and stability. Some, including war, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, have been around for a long time. Others, including climate change and cyber conflict, are relatively new. In today’s increasingly connected world, old threats like pandemic disease and state fragility now take on a new urgency. Using a mix of history, theory and policy analysis, the international security minor prepares students to think critically about these pressing issues.
Legal Studies Minor
This minor offers a foundation in the principles, institutions, and philosophical underpinnings of both domestic and international law. Students explore constitutional law and legal theory, as well as the roles of courts, legislatures, and regulatory bodies. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, legal reasoning, and the impact of law on society and governance. This minor complements a wide range of majors and provides insight into the structures that shape legal systems and the rule of law.
Political communication explores the interaction among members of the public, the media, advocacy groups, and politicians in democratic society. This minor uses a diverse approach to questions of how mass and interpersonal communication influence democratic functioning, including:
- How political actors use strategic messaging to persuade and mobilize the public
- How citizens make sense of these messages and their impact on political actors use strategic messaging to persuade and mobilize the public engagement, deliberation, efficacy, knowledge, and participation
- The role of the media in facilitating or hindering this relationship
Political communication includes explicitly political activities like voting and political campaigns. It also encompasses any issue of public debate or deliberation, including culture and social movements.
This interdisciplinary minor is offered jointly by the Schar School of Policy and Government and the CHSS Department of Communication.
Political Philosophy Minor
This minor provides students with an intensive study of political philosophy and political theory. Students take courses in the history of political philosophy; the moral evaluation of political institutions; the ethical, social, and political issues raised by globalization; and the conceptual foundations of democracy and human rights. Through this coursework, students are able to study this field from a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives. They develop a deeper philosophical perspective on political institutions and have a solid foundation for further graduate study in philosophy, government, or policy studies.
This interdisciplinary minor is offered jointly by the Schar School of Policy and Government and the CHSS Department of Philosophy.
Public Policy and Management Minor
This minor equips students with the knowledge and skills to understand how policies are developed, implemented, and evaluated in complex political environments. Students study policy and management theories and institutions while examining leadership strategies that shape effective governance at all levels. With a focus on real-world problem solving and decision-making, students will gain the analytical tools and expertise needed by leaders and managers to formulate and implement policy while navigating complexities in the political arena.
Urban and Suburban Studies Minor
This is an interdisciplinary minor offered with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students may design their own focus by consulting with the minor advisor.