Graduate International Pathways to master's degrees in the Schar School of Policy and Government
INTO Mason provides two Graduate International Pathways for international students to enter various graduate degrees in the Schar School of Policy and Government 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 Schar School of Policy and Government at GMU:
- International Commerce and Policy
- Public Policy
The following is the type of pathway 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. Both Schar School pathways have two-term options available.
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
- 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 Schar School of Policy & Government:
Global Commerce and Policy Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Arts in Global Commerce and Policy degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| GCP 500 | Global Political Economy | 3 |
| or GCP 504 | Microeconomics and Trade Policy | |
| 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 Global Commerce and Policy degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 2 of 2 | ||
| GCP 503 | Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy | 3 |
| or GCP 500 | Global Political Economy | |
| EAP 401 | Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students | 1 |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 4 |
| INYO 505 | Intercultural Competence and Professional Development for Multilingual Graduate Students | 1 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The following grid is for the single semester of the Accelerated Pathway into the Master of Arts in Global Commerce and Policy degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GCP 500 | Global Political Economy | 3 |
| or GCP 504 | Microeconomics and Trade Policy | |
| 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 | 9 | |
The following grid is for the first semester of the Bridge Pathway into the Master of Arts in Global Commerce and Policy degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| GCP 500 | Global Political Economy | 3 |
| or GCP 504 | Microeconomics and Trade Policy | |
| EAP 507 | Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines | 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 Commerce and Policy degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| GCP 500 | Global Political Economy | 3 |
| or GCP 503 | Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy | |
| 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.
Public Policy Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the Standard, 2-semester Pathway into the Master of Public Policy degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| GCP 503 | Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy | 3 |
| or POGO 511 | Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | |
| or PUBP 503 | Culture, Organization, and Technology | |
| 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 Public Policy degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard semester 2 of 2 | ||
| PUBP 500 | Theory and Practice in Public Policy | 3 |
| or GCP 503 | Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy | |
| 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 | 9 | |
The following grid is for the single semester of the Accelerated Pathway into the Master of Public Policy degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated semester 1 of 1 1 | ||
| GCP 503 | Macroeconomic Policy in the Global Economy | 3 |
| or POGO 511 | Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | |
| or PUBP 503 | Culture, Organization, and Technology | |
| 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 first semester of the Bridge Pathway into the Master of Public Policy degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergraduate Course | 3 | |
| POGO 511 | Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 |
| or PUBP 500 | Theory and Practice in Public Policy | |
| 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 Public Policy degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| Upper-level Undergrduate Course | 3 | |
| PUBP 500 | Theory and Practice in Public Policy | 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.
Master of Public Administration Graduate Pathway
The following grid is for the first semester of the standard, 2-semester pathway into the Master of Public Administration:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| PUAD 502 | Administration in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 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 into the Master of Public Administration:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Semester 2 of 2 | ||
| POGO 511 | Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 |
| or PUAD 520 | Organization Theory and Management Behavior | |
| 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 | 9 | |
The following grid is for the first semester of the 2-semester Bridge pathway into the Master of Public Administration:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge Semester 1 of 2 1 | ||
| PUAD 502 | Administration in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| EAP 506 | Graduate Communication in the Disciplines I | 4 |
| INYO 504 | Transitions for International Graduate Students | 3 |
| Upper-level Undergraduate Core Course | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
- 1
This semester requires a credit overload.
The following grid is for the second semester of the 2-semester Bridge pathway into the Master of Public Administration:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge Semester 2 of 2 1 | ||
| POGO 511 | Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 |
| or PUAD 520 | Organization Theory and Management Behavior | |
| 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 |
| Upper-level Undergraduate Core Course | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
This semester requires a credit overload.