Graduate International Pathways to master's degrees in Education and Human Development

INTO Mason provides five Graduate International Pathways for international students to enter various graduate degrees in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) 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 or two additional semesters to their overall master's degree program.

The following are the available Graduate International Pathways at INTO Mason to degrees in the College of Education and Human Development at GMU:

  • Curriculum and Instruction with concentration in Early Childhood and Elementary Education
  • Educational Psychology
  • Special Education with concentration in Early Childhood and Elementary Education
  • Special Education without concentration
  • Sport and Recreation Studies

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. All five CEHD pathways have one-term options available.
  • 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 five CEHD pathways have two-term options available.
  • 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 five CEHD pathways have Bridge options available.

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 College of Education & Human Development

Curriculum and Instruction with concentration in Early Childhood Education Graduate Pathway

The following grid is for the first semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with concentration in Early Childhood Education degree:

Standard semester 1 of 2
ECED 501Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence3
EAP 506Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I4
EAP 410Language Support for International Students2
INYO 504Transitions for International Graduate Students3
Total Credits12

The following grid is for the second semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with concentration in Early Childhood Education degree:

Standard semester 2 of 2
ECED 504Engaging Families of Diverse Young Learners3
ECED 503Inclusive Curriculum for Young Learners: Planning Instruction and Guidance3
EAP 507Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines4
INYO 505Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students1
EAP 401Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students1
Total Credits12

The following grid is for the single semester of the accelerated, 1-semester pathway into the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with concentration in Early Childhood Education degree:

Accelerated semester 1 of 1
ECED 501Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence3
ECED 503Inclusive Curriculum for Young Learners: Planning Instruction and Guidance3
EAP 507Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines4
INYO 504Transitions for International Graduate Students3
EAP 401Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students1
Total Credits14

Educational Psychology Graduate Pathway

The following grid is for the first semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Science in Educational Psychology degree:

Standard semester 1 of 2
EDRS 590Education Research3
EAP 506Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I4
INYO 504Transitions for International Graduate Students3
EAP 410Language Support for International Students2
Total Credits12

The following grid is for the second semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Science in Educational Psychology degree:

Standard semester 2 of 2
EDRS 621Qualitative Inquiry in Education3
or EDRS 620 Quantitative Inquiry in Education
EDEP 602Fundamentals of Educational Psychology3
EAP 507Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines4
INYO 505Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students1
EAP 401Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students1
Total Credits12

The following grid is for the single semester of the accelerated, 1-semester pathway into the Master of Science in Educational Psychology degree:

Accelerated semester 1 of 1
EDRS 590Education Research3
EDEP 602Fundamentals of Educational Psychology3
EAP 507Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines4
INYO 504Transitions for International Graduate Students3
EAP 401Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students1
Total Credits14

Special Education with concentration in Early Childhood Education Graduate Pathway

The following grid is for the first semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Education in Special Education with concentration in Early Childhood Education degree:

Standard semester 1 of 2
ECED 501Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence3
EAP 506Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I4
INYO 504Transitions for International Graduate Students3
EAP 410Language Support for International Students2
Total Credits12

The following grid is for the second semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Education in Special Education with concentration in Early Childhood Education degree:

Standard semester 2 of 2
ECED 504Engaging Families of Diverse Young Learners3
ECED 503Inclusive Curriculum for Young Learners: Planning Instruction and Guidance3
EAP 507Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines4
INYO 505Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students1
EAP 401Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students1
Total Credits12

The following grid is for the single semester of the accelerated, 1-semester pathway into the Master of Education in Special Education with concentration in Early Childhood Education degree:

Accelerated semester 1 of 1
ECED 501Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence3
ECED 503Inclusive Curriculum for Young Learners: Planning Instruction and Guidance3
EAP 507Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines4
INYO 504Transitions for International Graduate Students3
EAP 401Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students1
Total Credits14

Special Education, without concentration Graduate Pathway

The following grid is for the first semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Education in Special Education, without concentration degree:

Standard semester 1 of 2
EDSE 501Introduction to Special Education3
EAP 506Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I4
INYO 504Transitions for International Graduate Students3
EAP 410Language Support for International Students2
Total Credits12

The following grid is for the second semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Education in Special Education, without concentration degree:

Standard semester 2 of 2
EDSE 517Computer Applications for Special Populations3
EDSE Elective3
EAP 507Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines4
INYO 505Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students1
EAP 401Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students1
Total Credits12

The following grid is for the single semester of the accelerated, 1-semester pathway into the Master of Education in Special Education, without concentration degree:

Accelerated semester 1 of 1
EDSE 501Introduction to Special Education3
EDSE 517Computer Applications for Special Populations3
EAP 507Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines4
INYO 504Transitions for International Graduate Students3
EAP 401Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students1
Total Credits14

Sport and Recreation Studies Graduate Pathway

The following grid is for the first semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Studies degree:

Standard semester 1 of 2
SRST 606Foundations of Sport and Recreation Studies3
EAP 506Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I4
INYO 504Transitions for International Graduate Students3
EAP 410Language Support for International Students2
Total Credits12

The following grid is for the second semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Studies degree:

Standard semester 2 of 2
SPMT or RMGT Course3
SPMT or RMGT Course3
EAP 507Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines4
EAP 401Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students1
INYO 505Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students1
Total Credits12

The following grid is for the single semester of the accelerated, 1-semester pathway into the Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Studies degree:

Accelerated semester 1 of 1
SRST 606Foundations of Sport and Recreation Studies3
SPMT or RMGT Course3
EAP 507Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines4
INYO 504Transitions for International Graduate Students3
EAP 401Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students1
Total Credits14