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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| INYO 504 | Accelerated Graduate Transitions for International Students | 3 |
| ECED 501 | Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 507 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines II | 4 |
| EAP 405 | Special Topics in Advanced English for Academic Purposes | 1 |
| INYO 508 | Special Topics Content Support in the Disciplines | 1 |
| ECED 504 | Engaging Families of Diverse Young Learners | 3 |
| ECED 503 | Inclusive Curriculum for Young Learners: Planning Instruction and Guidance | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 508 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines III | 4 |
| EAP 405 | Special Topics in Advanced English for Academic Purposes | 1 |
| INYO 504 | Accelerated Graduate Transitions for International Students | 3 |
| ECED 501 | Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence | 3 |
| ECED 503 | Inclusive Curriculum for Young Learners: Planning Instruction and Guidance | 3 |
| Total Credits | 14 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| INYO 504 | Accelerated Graduate Transitions for International Students | 3 |
| EDRS 590 | Education Research | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
The following grid is for the second semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Science in Educational Psychology degree:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 507 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines II | 4 |
| EAP 405 | Special Topics in Advanced English for Academic Purposes | 1 |
| INYO 508 | Special Topics Content Support in the Disciplines | 1 |
| EDRS 621 | Qualitative Inquiry in Education | 3 |
| or EDRS 620 | Quantitative Inquiry in Education |
| EDEP 550 | Theories of Learning and Cognition | 3 |
| or EDEP 551 | Principles of Learner Motivation |
| Total Credits | 12 |
The following grid is for the single semester of the accelerated, 1-semester pathway into the Master of Science in Educational Psychology degree:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 508 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines III | 4 |
| EAP 405 | Special Topics in Advanced English for Academic Purposes | 1 |
| INYO 504 | Accelerated Graduate Transitions for International Students | 3 |
| EDRS 590 | Education Research | 3 |
| EDEP 550 | Theories of Learning and Cognition | 3 |
| or EDEP 551 | Principles of Learner Motivation |
| Total Credits | 14 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| INYO 504 | Accelerated Graduate Transitions for International Students | 3 |
| ECED 501 | Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 507 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines II | 4 |
| EAP 405 | Special Topics in Advanced English for Academic Purposes | 1 |
| INYO 508 | Special Topics Content Support in the Disciplines | 1 |
| ECED 504 | Engaging Families of Diverse Young Learners | 3 |
| ECED 503 | Inclusive Curriculum for Young Learners: Planning Instruction and Guidance | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 508 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines III | 4 |
| EAP 405 | Special Topics in Advanced English for Academic Purposes | 1 |
| INYO 504 | Accelerated Graduate Transitions for International Students | 3 |
| ECED 501 | Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence | 3 |
| ECED 503 | Inclusive Curriculum for Young Learners: Planning Instruction and Guidance | 3 |
| Total Credits | 14 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| INYO 504 | Accelerated Graduate Transitions for International Students | 3 |
| EDSE 501 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 507 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines II | 4 |
| EAP 405 | Special Topics in Advanced English for Academic Purposes | 1 |
| INYO 508 | Special Topics Content Support in the Disciplines | 1 |
| 3 |
| EDSE 517 | Computer Applications for Special Populations | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 508 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines III | 4 |
| EAP 405 | Special Topics in Advanced English for Academic Purposes | 1 |
| INYO 504 | Accelerated Graduate Transitions for International Students | 3 |
| EDSE 501 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| EDSE 517 | Computer Applications for Special Populations | 3 |
| Total Credits | 14 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| INYO 504 | Accelerated Graduate Transitions for International Students | 3 |
| SRST 606 | Foundations of Sport and Recreation Studies | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 507 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines II | 4 |
| EAP 405 | Special Topics in Advanced English for Academic Purposes | 1 |
| INYO 508 | Special Topics Content Support in the Disciplines | 1 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 508 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines III | 4 |
| EAP 405 | Special Topics in Advanced English for Academic Purposes | 1 |
| INYO 504 | Accelerated Graduate Transitions for International Students | 3 |
| SRST 606 | Foundations of Sport and Recreation Studies | 3 |
| 3 |
| Total Credits | 14 |
