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Graduate Admissions

The department offers MS and PhD programs in Computer Science; MS programs in Software Engineering, Information Systems, and Information Security and Assurance. The department also offers three concentrations in the PhD Program in Information Technology (in Information Systems, Information Security, and Software Engineering) and several graduate certificates. Whereas a Masters is intended for people wishing for advanced study in the field, a Ph.D. is intended for an eventual career in research: this includes professional scientists, industry researchers, and academics. Besides universities, nearly every major computer software and hardware firm employs Ph.Ds. as part of their research and development teams. Ph.D.s are also common in government research positions.

Ph.D. Admissions

For information on applying to the CS or IT Ph.D. programs, see the PhD Program Page.

GMU Ph.D. students are typically supported by Fellowships, Graduate Teaching Assistantships, and Graduate Research Assistantships.

At GMU, the MS and Ph.D. programs are mutually independent, although it is possible to transfer between the two programs. Admission to the Ph.D. program is more competitive than to the MS program. (An MS degree is not required for admission to the Ph.D. program. You may wish to consider both programs.)

MS Admissions

For information on applying to the MS programs offered by the department, see the Masters Programs Page.

Undergraduate Admissions

The department offers several programs for the undergraduate student, including a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science, and also a Bachelor's of Science in Applied Computer Science with concentrations in Biology, Computer Game Design, Geography, and Software Engineering.

How to Apply

Admission to George Mason is competitive. Each candidate who presents sufficient admission qualifications is reviewed in the context of other qualified applicants. An offer of admission is valid only for the semester for which the student applied. Application for undergraduate admission can be made online at the GMU web site http://admissions.gmu.edu.

Freshman Requirements

The following factors are considered when reviewing applications for admission:

  • Cumulative high school grade point average for course work completed in grades 9 through 12.
  • Level of difficulty of course work elected throughout the high school years, particularly in English, mathematics, and science.
  • Scores from Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and/or the American College Test (ACT).
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) where applicable

Transfer Requirements

The university accepts qualified students who wish to transfer from other colleges. A transfer applicant who has completed at least 30 semester hours of transferable credit must submit two copies of official transcripts from each collegiate institution attended. Transfer applicants with fewer than 30 semester hours of transferable credit must also submit a copy of their secondary school record, as well as SAT or ACT scores. Students transferring from vocational programs or non-accredited institutions are normally expected to meet the University's requirements governing admission of freshmen.

See GMU's Transfer Admissions page for more information.