George Mason University, Schar School of Policy and Government

A Modern, Experiential Emphasis for a Distinct Career Advantage

In the George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government’s Master of International Security program, the mechanism for giving students a competitive edge to address critical global challenges is “deeply experiential and molded around real-world applications,” according to Professor Ellen Laipson, the program’s director.

This hands-on learning model is made possible by the newness of the Schar School’s International Security program and the fresh perspectives of its faculty. “Students here get the foundational education you find in other institutions, but our program is young — less than 10 years — and so are many of our faculty,” Laipson says. “The consequence is that we’re nimble and responsive to shifting priorities for employers.”

In practice, this effort to match curriculum and in-classroom learning to career needs has led to reconfiguring international security courses to account for increased demand for skills in cybersecurity, AI, complex weapons, interagency operations, transnational security challenges, illicit finance, smuggling, and more.

Laipson says that these courses are taught both by tenure-track PhDs and also by former or current practitioners who provide valuable real-world perspectives to the curriculum. The Schar School’s location in Arlington, Virginia, minutes from Washington, DC, attracts top adjunct talent.

“Having practitioners as part of our faculty connects our students directly to Washington’s national security apparatus,” Laipson says. “In our faculty, our students see examples of where their studies can take them professionally.”

Outside of the classroom, the Schar School’s International Security program offers students a range of experiential learning opportunities. Study-abroad programs can set students in a new direction and identify specialties they want to pursue, from sanctions compliance to post-conflict resolution. Other experiential learning opportunities include the Schar School’s Center for Security Policy Studies Fellowship, or work with the Hayden Center or the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center. Students visit Civil War battlefields, participate in crisis simulations, and get other hands-on experience.

Students in the International Security program also gain a career advantage from close proximity to alumni working in national security agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector.

“Our alumni out in the field let our students know about openings and internship opportunities and give them introductions to other practitioners,” Laipson says. “Especially with the current uncertainty, having connections not just in government but also the private sector and nonprofit worlds is a major competitive advantage for our students.”

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Program Spotlight: MA in Global Commerce and Policy

The Schar School also offers an MA in Global Commerce and Policy program, which is an economic counterpart to the International Security program. The interdisciplinary design of the Global Commerce and Policy program gives students the skills to adapt to multiple sectors, including finance, consulting, and government.

“The current revival of economic nationalist policies and increased leverage of economic affairs for security ends make the Global Commerce and Policy program more important than ever,” says Kenneth A. Reinert, professor of public policy at the Schar School.

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George Mason University, Schar School of Policy and Government
https://schar.gmu.edu/contact-admissions
[email protected]
703-993-8099