Banner Code: IN-MA-P001
Graduate International Pathways to master's degrees in Humanities and Social Sciences
INTO Mason provides three 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 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 Humanities and Social Sciences at GMU:
- Communication
- Economics
- English - Linguistics
- Global Affairs
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).
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 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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| COMM 600 | Introduction to Graduate Studies | 3 |
| EAP 410 | Language Support for International Students | 2 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
The following grid is for the second semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Arts in Communications degree:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 3 |
| 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 |
The following grid is for the single semester of the accelerated, 1-semester pathway into the Master of Arts in Communications degree:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| COMM 600 | Introduction to Graduate Studies | 3 |
| 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 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| ECON 630 | Mathematical Economics I | 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 |
The following grid is for the second semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Arts in Economics degree:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| ECON 615 | Macroeconomic Theory | 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 |
The following grid is for the single semester of the accelerated, 1-semester pathway into the Master of Arts in Economics degree:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| ECON 630 | Mathematical Economics I | 3 |
| ECON 611 | Microeconomic Theory | 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 |
English - Linguistics Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Arts in English - Linguistics degree:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| LING 520 | Introduction to Linguistics | 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 |
The following grid is for the second semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Arts in English - Linguistics degree:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 3 |
| 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 |
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:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 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 |
The following grid is for the second semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Arts in Global Affairs degree:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 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 |
The following grid is for the single semester of the accelerated, 1-semester pathway into the Master of Arts in Global Affairs degree:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 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 |
