Graduate International Pathways to master's degrees in Humanities and Social Sciences
INTO Mason provides Graduate International Pathways for international students to enter various graduate degrees in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) 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 College of Humanities and Social Sciences at GMU:
- Communication
- Economics
- English - Linguistics
- Global Affairs
- MAIS - Social Entrepreneurship
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. One CHSS pathways the one-term option available (Economics only).
- 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 CHSS 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. Two of the three pathways have Bridge options available (all except Linguistics).
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
- 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
- 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
- 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 Humanities and Social Sciences:
Communication Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Arts in Communications degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| COMM 600 | Introduction to Graduate Studies | 3 |
| 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 | 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 Arts in Communications degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| COMM class | 3 | |
| COMM class | 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 Arts in Communications degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated semester 1 of 1 1 | ||
| COMM 600 | Introduction to Graduate Studies | 3 |
| COMM class | 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 Bridge Pathway pathway into the Master of Arts in Communications degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level undergraduate course | 3 | |
| COMM 600 | Introduction to Graduate Studies | 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 second semester of the Bridge Pathway pathway into the Master of Arts in Communications degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level undergraduate course | 3 | |
| COMM Class | 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 this semester.
Economics Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Arts in Economics degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| ECON 630 | Mathematical Economics I | 3 |
| 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 | 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 Arts in Economics degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| ECON 615 | Macroeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 535 | Survey of Applied Econometrics | 3 |
or ECON Elective | ||
| 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 Arts in Economics degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated semester 1 of 1 1 | ||
| ECON 630 | Mathematical Economics I | 3 |
| ECON 611 | Microeconomic Theory | 3 |
or ECON Elective | ||
| 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 Bridge Pathway pathway into the Master of Arts in Economics degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level undergraduate course | 3 | |
| ECON 630 | Mathematical Economics I | 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 Bridge Pathway pathway into the Master of Arts in Economics degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level undergraduate course | 3 | |
| ECON 535 | Survey of Applied Econometrics | 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.
Linguistics Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Arts in English - Linguistics degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| LING 500 | Linguistic Variation | 3 |
| or LING 506 | Introduction to Linguistic Analysis | |
| 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 | 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 Arts in English - Linguistics degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Take two courses from the following lists (with only one course coming from List B) | 6 | |
| List A: LING 500 or 506, LING 521, LING 522, LING 523 | ||
| List B: LING 532, 532, 535, 536, 537, 538, 542 | ||
| 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.
Global Affairs Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Arts in Global Affairs degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| GLOA 600 | Global Competencies | 3 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| 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 second semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Arts in Global Affairs degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| GLOA 605 | Interdisciplinary Research Methods | 3 |
| GLOA 610 | Economic Globalization and Development | 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 Arts in Global Affairs degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated semester 1 of 1 1 | ||
| GLOA 600 | Global Competencies | 3 |
| GLOA 610 | Economic Globalization and Development | 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 Bridge Pathway into the Master of Arts in Global Affairs degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level undergraduate course | 3 | |
| GLOA 600 | Global Competencies | 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 Bridge Pathway into the Master of Arts in Global Affairs degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level undergraduate course | 3 | |
| GLOA 605 | Interdisciplinary Research Methods | 3 |
| GLOA 610 | Economic Globalization and Development | 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.
Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with Concentration in Social Entrepreneurship Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard 2-semester Pathway to the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with the Social Entrepreneurship Concentration:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| GBUS 613 | Financial Reporting and Decision Making | 3 |
| 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 | 12 | |
- 1
This semester requires a credit overload.
The following grid is for the second semester of the Standard 2-semester Pathway to the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with the Social Entrepreneurship Concentration:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| INTS 540 | Contemporary Issues in Social Justice Human Rights | 3 |
| INTS 575 | Special Topics | 3-4 |
| 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 |
| Total Credits | 14-15 | |
- 1
This semester requires a credit overload.
The following grid is for the single semester of the Accelerated Pathway to the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with the Social Entrepreneurship Concentration:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 1 1 | ||
| INTS 540 | Contemporary Issues in Social Justice Human Rights | 3 |
| GBUS 613 | Financial Reporting and 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
This semester requires a credit overload.
The following grid is for the first semester of the Bridge Pathway to the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with the Social Entrepreneurship Concentration:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| GBUS 613 | Financial Reporting and Decision Making | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
- 1
This semester requires a credit overload.
The following grid is for the second semester of the Bridge Pathway to the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with the Social Entrepreneurship Concentration:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| INTS 540 | Contemporary Issues in Social Justice Human Rights | 3 |
| 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 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
This semester requires a credit overload.