College Code: E1
The College of Education and Human Development is a vibrant and inclusive scholarly community promoting learning and development across the life span.
Our three schools offer a diverse range of academic programs and transdisciplinary opportunities that integrate theory with practical experience, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and preparation needed to address the challenges of today's dynamic workforce. Our School of Education—the largest and most comprehensive in Virginia—is the alma mater for one third of teachers and administrators in Northern Virginia’s world-class school systems. Our School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management’s comprehensive sport management, event management, tourism, and recreation programs engage students in real-word experiences in our nation’s capital, providing graduates with a unique and competitive advantage in the marketplace. Our School of Kinesiology offers students a variety of experiential learning opportunities that prepare them to improve the health, movement, and performance of people in their communities.
At the heart of our success is a distinguished faculty that includes many nationally and internationally prominent scholars, endowed professorships in special education and science education, and five professors who have received the highest honors from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
The college’s innovative research and pace of performance have resulted in a research portfolio that has grown dramatically in a very short time. Commitment to research-informed practice, combined with our collaborative community and our passion for social justice, truly makes us all together different and positions our graduates to become agents of positive change locally, nationally, and globally.
Degrees, Minors, and Certificates
CEHD offers a doctoral degree along with graduate and undergraduate degrees, certificates, and minors.
The School of Sport, Recreation and Tourism Management and the School of Kinesiology collaborate with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Health, School of Business, College of Science, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution to offer minors and certificates in interdisciplinary areas of study. Students may elect to take a minor in addition to their major field of study. For policies governing all minors, see AP.5.3.4 Minors.
In addition, the School of Education collaborates with the College of Science, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and College of Engineering and Computing to offer undergraduate secondary education certificates and the College of Visual and Performing Arts (Schools of Music and Theater) to provide programs in music and theater education that can lead to Virginia teaching licensure.
Policies
In addition to the policies stated in Academic Policies, the following policies and procedures apply to all students in the college.
Communication Policy
All correspondence from the program, school, college, and university administration is sent to the student's official Mason e-mail account. Students must use their Mason e-mail account to communicate with their programs and other administrative units.
CEHD Academic Policies
Students are ultimately responsible for their academic progress towards their degrees and/or certificates. They are strongly advised to consult Academic Policies for information concerning university-wide requirements for degree and non-degree students in addition to those for this college. Students with questions regarding academic policies and college-level requirements should contact the CEHD Student and Academic Affairs Office (Thompson Hall, Suite 2200; 703-993-2080; cehdsaa@gmu.edu). Additional policy information and forms are available online.
CEHD Grading Policy
All CEHD undergraduate and graduate students are held to the university grading policies as described in AP.3 Grading. Those students enrolled in a CEHD licensure program have higher minimum grade requirements which are detailed in each specific program's page.
Grade Appeals
For courses taken within the College of Education and Human Development, students may appeal grades that they believe were assigned unjustly or were based on unclear criteria in accordance with Academic Policies. Students who would like to contest a course grade should first contact their instructor for clarification. If a mutually satisfactory resolution is not reached, the student may submit a formal grade appeal to the CEHD Office of Student and Academic Affairs (SAA) for program-level and/or college review. For more information regarding the grade appeal process, please refer to the SAA website.
Study Elsewhere
Once enrolled in degree status at Mason, undergraduate students with fewer than 60 hours of transfer coursework (not including registration through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area or coursework completed through the Global Education Office) may take up to twelve credits of coursework in CEHD disciplines at another institution. Students with 60 or more hours of transfer coursework are not permitted to take additional coursework in CEHD disciplines at another institution. A student may seek permission for additional hours beyond these limits for summer registration if his/her permanent residence is more than fifty miles from the Fairfax campus. Students who enroll elsewhere without advance written permission will not receive transfer credit for the coursework taken at another institution unless they re-apply for admission to Mason as transfer applicants and meet all priority deadlines. Re-admission is not guaranteed and transfer credit is awarded based upon course equivalencies in effect at the time of re-admission. Courses previously attempted at Mason (including withdrawals) cannot be taken elsewhere.
Professional Teacher Licensure
CEHD is responsible for professional courses, special standards, and licensure recommendations for students completing state-approved (Virginia) licensure programs that prepare teachers, administrators, counselors, and related-instructional personnel.
Initial teacher licensure is available at the undergraduate level in elementary education, early childhood education for diverse learners, special education, and secondary education: biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, English, health and physical education, mathematics, music, and physics. Initial teacher licensure is available at the graduate level in art, early childhood, elementary, English as a second language, foreign language, secondary, and theater arts. The Special Education Program offers initial teacher licensure through graduate certificates that include Adapted Curriculum, General Curriculum, and Visual Impairments.
For more information please contact the CEHD Office of Admissions (Thompson Hall, Suite 1700; 703-993-2892; cehdgrad@gmu.edu). Additional information is available online.
Notes on Background Checks and Licensure
The majority of Mason CEHD programs require multiple field experiences. Our school and agency partners require Mason students to be fingerprinted and pass a criminal background check prior to field experience work. Students must assume the risk that classes may be deferred and their program delayed due to the individual severity of notations on such a check and review by individual agencies.
George Mason University will verify completion of the requirements of a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) state-approved preparation program at the graduate or undergraduate level. Such verification does not guarantee the issuance of Virginia Collegiate Professional, Postgraduate Professional, or Pupil Personnel license from the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is solely the student's responsibility to comply with all requirements for licensure by the Commonwealth. Under Virginia law, a social security number is required for licensure.