The Accelerated Master’s Degree Program is designed for S-CAR’s highly qualified and highly motivated undergraduates. It provides a streamlined application process with no application fee.
During the first semester of senior year, after completing 90 hours of undergraduate coursework, admitted students will take 6 credits (2 classes) that will count towards both their undergraduate AND graduate degrees. The courses should be graduate electives and may count towards an undergraduate concentration. During the second semester of senior year, students will take 6 credits (2 classes) that will count towards the graduate degree only.
The Accelerated Master’s Program allows undergraduate students to apply six (6) graduate credits to both their undergraduate AND graduate degrees and provides the opportunity for students to take an additional six (6) graduate credits to be held for reserve graduate credit and applied only to the graduate degree.
As a result, students admitted to an accelerated master’s degree program have the opportunity to complete both degrees in record time. It is important that applicants understand that the Accelerated Master’s Program is not an early admission program. Failure to meet the terms of your admission regarding the scheduled undergraduate degree conferral date or the approved graduate courses may result in termination from the accelerated master’s program.
Only Conflict Analysis and Resolution majors who have completed at least 75 credits toward the bachelor’s degree and no more than 90 credits toward the degree are invited to apply. Students with more than 90 credits will be considered on a case-by-case basis. At least 24 credits must have been taken at Mason at time of application and the student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.3 or higher.
Applicants are evaluated for admission with the same criteria as all other Master’s Program applicants.
To apply, students must meet all criteria stated in the George Mason University Catalog and in the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution’s Accelerated Master’s Program Policies and Procedures.
Interested students must meet with an Academic Advisor to review program policy and the Accelerated Master's Application at least one month before the application deadline.
Application does not guarantee admission.
Accelerated Master's Program Policy and Procedures (PDF)
GPA Requirements
- Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.3 or higher at the time of application.
- No grade below a B is permitted for any undergraduate or graduate course taken after application to the accelerated master’s program until completion of the undergraduate program.
- If a student receives a grade below a B in any course after acceptance in the program, they will not be allowed to continue on to the master’s program. Students that have received a grade below a B in any course after acceptance into the program may re-apply to the master’s program after conferral of the undergraduate degree however; re-application does not guarantee admission.
- At the time of the undergraduate degree conferral, students’ GPAs must meet the standard required for admission to the master’s degree.
Graduate Course Criteria
- During the first semester of senior year, after completing 90 hours of undergraduate coursework, admitted students may take up to 6 credits (2 classes) that will count towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.
- During second semester senior year, student may take up to 6 credits (2 classes) that will count towards a graduate degree only.
- Students may not take more than 12 credits in a semester if taking 2 graduate courses or 15 credits in a semester if taking 1 graduate course.
- Students may only take graduate CONF courses numbered 650 - 699 with the exception of CONF 668, CONF 690 and CONF 694.
Course Restrictions
- Students may not take more than 12 credits a semester if taking two graduate courses or 15 credits a semester if taking one graduate course.
- Graduate courses cannot be numbered higher than 699.
- CONF 610 may be taken during the final semester of the program only if all undergraduate program core CONF courses have been completed successfully, including CONF 490, with the exception of Mason Core and concentration requirements.
Student Requirements
- Students are responsible for the submission of the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition Form to the Registrar’s office at the beginning of the last undergraduate semester.
- Students admitted to the accelerated master’s program must enroll in the graduate program in the semester immediately following conferral of the undergraduate degree.
Upon conferral of the student's undergraduate degree, accelerated students will be fully admitted to the graduate degree program in the fall or spring term (not summer) immediately following. The student will then be assessed graduate tuition and will be subject to all graduate academic policies, as listed in the George Mason Catalog.
If your last undergraduate semester will be fall and are applying for the Spring 2016 - Fall 2016 program cycle, you must submit your application by October 15 to start the following spring semester.
If your last undergraduate semester will be spring and are applying for the Fall 2016 - Spring 2017 program cycle, you must submit your application by February 1 to start the following fall semester.
Interested students must meet with an Academic Advisor to review program policy and the Accelerated Master's Application at least one month before the application deadline.
Students who qualify under the terms stated above must use the Accelerated Master's Application instead of the standard university Application for Graduate Study to initiate the evaluation of your admissibility for the Accelerated Master’s Program.
Before submitting the application students should meet with an undergraduate academic advisor to review program policies, admissibility for the program, the schedule for undergraduate degree completion, and appropriate graduate course work.
If the student is deemed initially eligible, he or she must submit the following materials as a complete application packet electronically or in-person to Sarah Kincaid:
- Accelerated Master's Application
- Goals statement (750-1000 words)
- Resume
- Three letters of recommendation (see an advisor for letters of recommendation guide)
- Your choice of paper or revised paper from an undergraduate course assignment that best reflects your analytical writing ability, reasoning capacity, and critical thinking skills on a topic related to conflict and/or conflict resolution.
Applicants must complete an interview with a graduate and undergraduate advisor. The advisors will include their comments on the Accelerated Master’s Application. Students are responsible for ensuring that there is adequate time for the interview before the application deadline.
If approved, the applicant will receive a letter of admission to the Accelerated Master’s Program and a graduate admissions approval letter for the term the student is to officially begin the master’s program.
Please contact Sarah Kincaid, Academic Advisor, at [email protected] or Lisa Shaw, Director of Student Services and Field Experience, at [email protected] with questions regarding the Accelerated Master's Program.