Welcome to George Mason University

The College of Education and Human Development

Come join our learning community!

International Community

Mason welcomes students from over 125 countries creating a diverse environment rich in cultural perspectives.

Candidates Presenting International Credentials

Foreign national—citizen of any country other than the United States Nonimmigrant visa-more than 20 types (F-1 or J-1 student

visa)-temporary visit Immigrant visa (limited, work-H-1B, etc.)-permanent visit

Permanent resident—lawful immigrant Immigrant goes through a three-step process to get permanent

residency—can take several years Issued Permanent Resident Card (Alien Registration Card or

Green Card) U.S. Citizen

OIPS: oips.gmu.edu

Phase I: Exploration

Why George Mason University?

Nationally accredited (NCATE) programs Wide variety of programs Convenient class times (4:30 and 7:20) Team to assist you

Advisor Endorsement Specialist endorse@gmu.edu Field Placement Specialist lclarkg@gmu.edu Licensure Specialist edlicen@gmu.edu

Get Familiar with CEHD Programs

http://cehd.gmu.edu/academics/programs/

o Each program has its own Web site with Academic and Admissions information

o You can find forms and Pre-Admission Requirements for your program

o You do not have to have a background in education to pursue our programs

Pick a Program

http://cehd.gmu.edu/academics/programs/

International Credential Evaluation

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) requires all applicants who have completed degrees outside the United States to submit official transcript evaluations from an organization recognized by either the National Association of Credential Evaluation Officers (www.naces.org/members.htm) or the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) (www.aacrao.org/international).

More information: http://cehd.gmu.edu/assets/docs/forms/Admissions/intl_trans_submission_guide.pdf

International Credential Evaluation for Licensure Applicants

All initial teaching and school counseling licensure applicants presenting international credentials require a course-by-course international transcript evaluation acceptable by both the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) http://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching/licensure/graduates_foreign_institutions.pdf

and George Mason University (GMU). Although we do not endorse any particular evaluation

agency, World Education Service (WES) and AACRAO are accepted by both the VDOE and GMU.

World Education Services (WES)

www.wes.org/application/apply_now.asp WES will electronically provide verified transcripts

(academic credentials) with an international credential evaluation to GMU by ordering the WES ICAP: http://www.wes.org/students/faq.asp#h .

The verified academic credentials fulfill all of GMU’s transcript requirements by including: transcript with degree conferral English translation copy of your graduation diploma or degree certificate

(applicants from China must submit both)Attested documents must be provided to CEHD Admissions IF they are not included.

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)

www.aacrao.org/international/foreignEdCred.cfm Authorize AACRAO to forward the completed paper evaluation directly to:

George Mason University

CEHD Admissions

Robinson A103

4400 University Dr., MS 4D1

Fairfax, VA 22030 If you opt to have an electronic evaluation sent, they are sent to GMU Main

Admissions and it may take added time to have them routed to CEHD Admissions. You should request that your evaluation be sent to CEHD Admissions at MS 4D1.

Additionally, you will need to submit official transcripts and an attested copy of your diploma or degree certificate to CEHD Admissions if your degree conferral is not listed on your transcript (applicants from China must submit both).

  More information:

http://cehd.gmu.edu/assets/docs/forms/Admissions/intl_trans_submission_guide.pdf

Evaluation Fees

In addition to sending your international credential evaluation to GMU, you should request additional copies for your future employer and the Virginia Department of Education if you are pursuing licensure.

Agencies charge fees for their services and may have document requirements that are different from George Mason University. You are responsible for payment of all fees charged by external agencies.

Attested Documents

University Embassy or Consulate Fulbright Education USA Amideast British Council

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

George Mason University requires graduate applicants to hold a credential that we evaluate to be comparable to a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the United States.

All three-year bachelor’s degrees will be evaluated by GMU to ensure they meet GMU degree requirements.

Graduate Bridge Program

Graduate Bridge Program

Designed for domestic and international graduate school candidates with three-year bachelor’s degrees

Supplements undergraduate education Prepares for graduate study Provisional graduate admission Apply to graduate program for

consideration

Graduate Bridge Program Details

11 credits of undergraduate general education course work

3 credits of graduate course work 28 credit hours (14 fall/14 spring) Certificate of Preparation for Graduate Study

Qualifications for Bridge Program

Three year international degree (technical orientation highly sought)

TOEFL/IELTS score (must meet University and program requirements)

Must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative or last 60 hours GPA in undergraduate course work

Must meet all graduate program requirements

English Proficiency

Rigorous graduate coursework Full command of academic English Successful throughout studies Accurately comprehend written graduate-level English Clearly understand rapidly spoken English in

classroom lectures and in professional settings Write with the proper grammar and syntax Respond quickly in English using an appropriate

collegiate vocabulary

English Proficiency

Mason strictly requires all students who have not earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States, Canada (excluding province of Quebec), United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand to take an English proficiency examination

All applicants must achieve a minimum score set by Mason in order to be considered for admission.

Exams measure reading, comprehension, writing, and speaking fairly and consistently

Will not be waived for individuals regardless of country of citizenship, the length of time they may have lived in the United States, study of English in another country, or the amount of coursework taken at English language learning organizations.

TOEFL

TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language): www.ets.org/toefl

(scores valid for 2 years; GMU institutional code 5827)

 

INTERNET-BASED:

Phone registration: 800-GO-TOEFL (Thompson ProMetric)

Internet-based sites: http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/tclists/IBT_u.html

 

PAPER-BASED:

Online registration for paper-based: www.ets.org/toefl

Paper-based sites: http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/tclists/PBT_u.html

 

Scores required for admission to GMU:

TOEFL internet 88, subsections 20 (*ESL requires 100, subsections 23)

TOEFL paper 575 (*ESL requires 600) 

IELTS

IELTS International English Language Testing System: www.ielts.org

(scores valid for 2 years)

 

Registration guide: http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/faqs.aspx

 

LOCAL SITE:

IELTS Administrator Tel: (703) 527-7888 Ext. 104

1901 N. Moore Street (703) 294-6012

Suite LL-01

Arlington, VA 22209

 

Scores required for admission to GMU: IELTS 6.5 (*ESL requires 7.0)

Teacher Licensure Candidates

Praxis I or qualifying exam: http://cehd.gmu.edu/teacher/test

Endorsement review: http://cehd.gmu.edu/teacher/endorse/

ACTFL WPT and OPI (foreign language teaching)

Career Switcher/Secondary Ed for candidates with five-years of full-time work experience must also complete VCLA and Praxis II

Praxis Test Preparation (Licensure)

CEHD Office of Education Services Workshops

http://cehd.gmu.edu/oes/praxis/ PRAXIS I (Reading/Writing and Math) PRAXIS II (English,

Math, Social Studies for Secondary levels)

LearningPlus Tutorial Developed by ETS to help teacher candidates prepare for the Praxis I and Praxis II

exams. Computer-delivered, fully interactive instructional package. Available for student use in the Learning Services Office in Student Union Building

I, room 350. A $20 fee provides up to 100 hours of self- paced instruction. For more information, call 703.993.2999.

Deadlines

Pay close attention to the deadline for your graduate program.

Students pursuing a F-1 or J-1 student visa need to apply 30 days prior to all published deadlines to facilitate processing of immigration documents.

Phase 2: Applicant

Apply Online

Guidelines- http://cehd.gmu.edu/admissions/steps/

Send in sealed documents together—MS4D1 Check your application status

http://admissions.gmu.edu/ApplicationStatus

Domestic students accepted for fall are allowed to enroll in summer classes. Students seeking F-1 visas begin programs in the fall (except FAST TRAIN).

A completed Certificate of Financial Responsibility signed by you and your sponsor. Your sponsor is the person(s) or organization who will pay for your educational expenses if the funds are not your own. http://admissions.gmu.edu/global/CertificateOfFinancialResponsibility09.pdf

A photocopy of a bank statement in your sponsor’s name, dated within the past 6 months, indicating a valid account number, and demonstrating a sufficient minimum account balance.

Credit card statements, business accounts, property value documents, solvency statements, statements of income, and insurance policies may not be submitted as sources of financial verification.

A photocopy of the identification page of your passport.

Students must go to the U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for F-1 or J-1 visa

Immigration Documents

Remember to Update Your Info

Names

o If you were previously a Mason Student your information may be under a previous name

o Visit http://cehd.gmu.edu/documents/admissions/ for form and required documentation

Addresses

o Email cehdgrad@gmu.edu with your new address and contact information

*We cannot discuss your application with anyone else without written consent from you.

How Do You Get Admitted?

Your application will be evaluated using the following standards:

A minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credit hours of bachelor’s degree

Passing TOEFL/IELTS score Praxis I composite score of at

least 532 or SAT/ACT/VCLA plus math equivalent

Strong letters of recommendation

Endorsement requirements fulfilled (ELED,SEC,FLL)

Interview and writing sample if required.

Communication E-mail acknowledgment (must provide e-mail address)

Self managed process Lacking letter

Sent once application is processed, if incomplete Decision letter

Sent via postal mail 2-4 wks after interviews (POM)

G number—Mason ID

What is the Cost?

Student Accounts:http://studentaccounts.gmu.edu/

Tuition rates are set in May by the Board of Visitors .

Students with F-1 or J-1 visas are out-of-state. All other applicants should submit an in-state tuition application for consideration. Your status will be determined based on the information provided in this form. Some international students may be legally capable of establishing domicile while present in the United States. A list of visa categories which are eligible for in-state tuition rates are contained in the Virginia Domicile Guidelines: www.schev.edu/finaid/GuidelinesAddendumA.pdf

Scholarships/Funding

General financial aid information for international applicants can be found at: http://financialaid.gmu.edu/htmldocs/international.html

  For information about doctoral fellowships, please

contact the PhD Program Office Manager at (703) 993-2011.

The application for assistantships can be found at:http://cehd.gmu.edu/oasa/funding_opps/

FAQ: What if You Miss the Deadline?

Domestic students (U.S. citizens or permanent residents) presenting international credentials may take a class or two as a non-degree student. Candidates requesting a student visa (F-1 or J-1) are not eligible for this status.

Questions regarding class registration eligibility should be directed to the program office manager.

There are restrictions on how many classes can transfer into degree and certificate programs

Students should only be in non-degree status for one semester.

Website: http://admissions.gmu.edu/nondegree/

Tel: 703.993.2400

Phase 3: Student

Registration Print the new student welcome letter

http://cehd.gmu.edu/assets/docs/forms/Admissions/NewStudentWelcome.pdf

Activate your student record: Provisional- return signed contract Full admit- http://cehd.gmu.edu/admissions/rsvp

Students with a F-1 or J-1 visa must register as a full-time graduate student (9 credits)

Contact your advisor

International New Student Orientation

Our International Programs and Services Office conducts a mandatory international student orientation every August: http://oips.gmu.edu/programs/orientation.html

Information will be sent with your immigration document.

Assistance CEHD Admissions:

703-993-2010, cehdgrad@gmu.edu

OASA: 703-993-2080 (once enrolled)

Financial Aid: 703-993-2353

College of Education and Human Development

George Mason University

4400 University Drive, MS 4D1

Fairfax, VA 22030