Graduate International Pathways to master's degrees in the Costello College of Business
INTO Mason provides five Graduate International Pathways for international students to enter various graduate degrees in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University. The pathways give students the academic foundation, essential language skills, and cultural knowledge to successfully move on to their master's degree programs. For most students, enrolling in a Graduate International Pathway will add one additional semester to their overall master's degree program.
The following are the available Graduate International Pathways at INTO Mason to degrees in the Costello College of Business at GMU:
- Accounting
- Business Administration (MBA)
- Business Analytics
- (Business) Management
- Real Estate Development
The following are the types of pathways available:
- One Term pathways (Accelerated): These pathways lead students through their first semester of graduate school. Upon completion of all matriculation requirements, students will move on to their degree-seeking program often with several graduate credits completed as determined by the graduate degree program. Three of the four Business pathways have one-term options available (all except Accounting).
- Two Term pathways (Standard): These pathways lead students through their first year of graduate school. Upon completion of all matriculation requirements, students will move on to their degree-seeking program often with several graduate credits completed as determined by the graduate degree program. All four Business pathways have two-term options available.
- Three Term pathway (Comprehensive): This pathway is currently only available to students enrolling in the Accounting pathway and is designed to start students a semester earlier than the standard two-term pathway. In their first semester, students take Academic English classes along with one Accounting pre-requisite class and a language support class. Their second and third semesters then follow the standard two-term pathway in Accounting.
- Bridge pathways: These pathways provide foundational coursework designed to substitute for an additional year of undergraduate academic coursework, to render students with three-year baccalaureate degrees eligible to move on to their graduate degree program. Students will often move on to those degree-seeking programs with several graduate credits completed as determined by the graduate degree program. All four Business pathways have Bridge options available.
INTO Mason Graduate Pathway Programs often require credit loads above the established 11-credit limit for non-degree students. These Pathways are built to provide additional language and cultural support to international and multilingual students seeking master's degrees via the Pathways. This support is reflected in the additional courses required for Graduate Pathway students, which result in a curriculum that exceeds the university's Academic Load policies. These required additional courses include English for Academic Purposes and Cultural Transition courses along with classes in their future degree programs. This academic load has resulted in better graduation rates overall for INTO Mason students as compared to their directly admitted classmates and similar GPAs. Each program’s requirement section indicates the semesters when an overload is required.
Graduate International Pathways are designed for international students who:
- Need further English language development. Students who require a moderate amount of English language support can enter all available International Pathways to strengthen their language proficiency and ensure their long-term academic success
- Require a fourth year of undergraduate study. Students who hold three-year baccalaureate degrees that are not formally evaluated as equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree may enter many Graduate International Pathways. For these students, their pathway acts as a "bridge" enhancing their international educational background with academic coursework to meet the eligibility for admission to a GMU graduate degree program
- Fall short of meeting the minimum GPA or admission test score requirements
- Need to improve study skills for success in their chosen field of study
- Any or all of the above
Administered through INTO Mason in partnership with the academic units across the university, the courses in each Graduate International Pathway are taught by highly qualified Mason instructional faculty members and supported by International Pathways academic advisors.
Students enrolled in any Graduate International Pathway should review the program's student guidebook for specific details related to program requirements and expectations.
Program Requirements
The following Graduate International Pathways are offered by INTO Mason in collaboration with the Costello College of Business:
Accounting Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Accounting degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| ACCT 531 | Foundations of Financial Reporting I | 3 |
| ACCT 551 | Foundations of Taxation of Business Entities | 3 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the second semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Accounting degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| ACCT 532 | Foundations of Financial Reporting II | 3 |
| ACCT 561 | Foundations of Assurance Services | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 505 | Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students | 1 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the first semester of the Comprehensive, 3-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Accounting degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive semester 1 of 3 | ||
| AE 050 | Level 5 Core | 0 |
| AE 051 | Level 5 Oral Comm Skills | 0 |
| ACCT 531 | Foundations of Financial Reporting I | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
The following grid is for the second semester of the Comprehensive, 3-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Accounting degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive semester 2 of 3 1 | ||
| ACCT 551 | Foundations of Taxation of Business Entities | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the third semester of the Comprehensive, 3-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Accounting degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive semester 3 of 3 1 | ||
| ACCT 532 | Foundations of Financial Reporting II | 3 |
| ACCT 561 | Foundations of Assurance Services | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 505 | Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students | 1 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the first semester of the Bridge Pathway into the Master of Science in Accounting degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| ACCT 531 | Foundations of Financial Reporting I | 3 |
| ACCT 551 | Foundations of Taxation of Business Entities | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the second semester of the Bridge Pathway into the Master of Science in Accounting degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| ACCT 532 | Foundations of Financial Reporting II | 3 |
| ACCT 561 | Foundations of Assurance Services | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
Business Analytics Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Business Analytics degree. (Available only for an August / fall start):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| GBUS 601 | Statistics for Management 1 | 0 |
| MSBA 738 | Data Mining for Business Analytics | 3 |
| or MSBA 618 | Programming for Business Analytics | |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the second semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Business Analytics degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 | ||
| MSBA 615 | Database Management for Business Analytics | 3 |
| or MSBA 625 | Exploratory Data Analysis and Visualization | |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 505 | Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students | 1 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The following grid is for the single semester of the Accelerated, 1-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Business Analytics degree (Available only for spring/January start):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated semester 1 of 1 1 | ||
| MSBA 601 | Statistics and Software for Business Analytics 1 | 0 |
| MSBA 615 | Database Management for Business Analytics | 3 |
| MSBA 625 | Exploratory Data Analysis and Visualization | 3 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the first semester of the 2-semester Bridge Pathway into the Master of Science in Business Analytics (Available only for fall / August start):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Core Course | 3 | |
| MSBA 738 | Data Mining for Business Analytics | 3 |
| or MSBA 618 | Programming for Business Analytics | |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the second semester of the 2-semester Bridge pathway into the Master of Science in Business Analytics:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Upper-level Undergraduate Core Course | 3 | |
| MSBA 615 | Database Management for Business Analytics | 3 |
| or MSBA 625 | Exploratory Data Analysis and Visualization | |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| INYO 505 | Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students | 1 |
| Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
Finance Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the single semester Accelerated Pathway into the Master of Science in Finance degree (Available only for fall / August start):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated semester 1 of 1 1 | ||
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| MSF 632 | Statistical and Quantitative Methods for Finance | 3 |
| MSF 643 | Financial Economics and Statement Analysis | 3 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
Note: In the first (and only) semester of the accelerated Pathway program, students will be required to take a credit overload (14 credits). A number of supports are provided to ensure success. INTO Mason students receive wraparound support during their pathway, to include the variety of language supports offered in the INTO Mason Learning Resource Center, tutors who focus on graduate pathway coursework, and regular meetings with their advisors. In addition, INTO Mason provides peer mentors to Pathway students to assist with study skills and personal challenges.
Management Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Management degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| GBUS 601 | Statistics for Management 1 | 0 |
| GBUS 613 | Financial Reporting and Decision Making | 3 |
| GBUS 643 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the second semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Management degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 | ||
| GBUS 638 | Operations Management | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 505 | Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students | 1 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The following grid is for the single semester of the Accelerated, 1-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Management degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated semester 1 of 1 1 | ||
| GBUS 601 | Statistics for Management 1 | 0 |
| GBUS 613 | Financial Reporting and Decision Making | 3 |
| GBUS 643 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| GBUS 613 | Financial Reporting and Decision Making | 3 |
| MBA 633 | Statistics for Business Decision Making | 3 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the second semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 2 of 2 | ||
| GBUS 643 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 505 | Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students | 1 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The following grid is for the single semester of the Accelerated, 1-semester Pathway into the Master of of Business Administration (MBA) degree (Available for only spring / January start):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated semester 1 of 1 1 | ||
| GBUS 613 | Financial Reporting and Decision Making | 3 |
| MBA 633 | Statistics for Business Decision Making | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the first semester of the 2-semester Bridge Pathway into the Master of Science in Business Administration degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level undergraduate course | 3 | |
| GBUS 613 | Financial Reporting and Decision Making | 3 |
| MBA 633 | Statistics for Business Decision Making | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the second semester of the 2-semester Bridge Pathway into the Master of Science in Business Administration degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| GBUS 643 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students (Upper-level Undergraduate Course) | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
Real Estate Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Real Estate degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 | ||
| REAL 605 | Policy and Planning of the Built Environment | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 11 | |
The following grid is for the second semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Real Estate degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 | ||
| REAL 625 | Financial Analysis and Valuation | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 505 | Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students | 1 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The following grid is for the first semester of the Accelerated, 1-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Real Estate degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated semester 1 of 1 | ||
| REAL 605 | Policy and Planning of the Built Environment | 3 |
| or REAL 625 | Financial Analysis and Valuation | |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 11 | |
The following grid is for the first semester of the 2-semester Bridge Pathway in Real Estate degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| REAL 605 | Policy and Planning of the Built Environment | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
The following grid is for the Second semester of the 2-semester Bridge Pathway in Real Estate degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level undergraduate course | 3 | |
| REAL 625 | Financial Analysis and Valuation | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 505 | Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students | 1 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.
Business Analytics Graduate Certificate Pathway
The following grid is for the pathway into the Business Analytics Graduate Certificate (Available only for spring / January start):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 1 | ||
| GBUS 738 | Data Mining for Business Analytics | 3 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 11 | |