Graduate International Pathway to a master's degree in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
INTO Mason provides one Graduate International Pathway for international students to enter the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University. The pathway gives students the academic foundation, essential language skills, and cultural knowledge to successfully move on to their master's degree program. For most students, enrolling in a Graduate International Pathway will add one additional semester to their overall master's degree program.
The following is the available Graduate International Pathway at INTO Mason to the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at GMU:
- Conflict Analysis and Resolution
The following are the types of pathways available:
- One Term pathway (Accelerated): This pathway leads 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.
- Two Term pathway (Standard): This pathway leads 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.
- Bridge pathway: This pathway provides 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 their degree program with several graduate credits completed as determined by the graduate degree program. The following Carter School programs offer a Bridge option:
- Conflict Analysis and Resolution
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 generally 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 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution:
Conflict Analysis and Resolution Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| CONF 600 | Foundations of Conflict Analysis and Resolution | 6 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| 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 Conflict Analysis and Resolution degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| CONF 657 | Facilitation Skills | 3 |
| CONF 610 | Conflict Inquiry | 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 single semester of the Accelerated, 1-semester Pathway into the Master of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated semester 1 of 1 1 | ||
| CONF 600 | Foundations of Conflict Analysis and Resolution | 6 |
| 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 Bridge Pathway into the Master of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| CONF 600 | Foundations of Conflict Analysis and Resolution | 6 |
| 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 Conflict Analysis and Resolution degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| CONF 657 | Facilitation Skills | 3 |
| CONF 610 | Conflict Inquiry | 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 | 15 | |
- 1
A credit overload is required in this semester.