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School of Education - George Mason University

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You're an individual. Your MEd program should be too.

The Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning (ASTL) Individualized concentration is developed in consultation with an advisor to offer coursework in a specialized area to meet your unique career interests and needs. 
 
While the options are many, here are a few popular paths.
 
Provisionally Licensed? 
Mason’s School of Education offers Professional Studies courses for teachers who have been hired by a school division and have been cited with required courses in one or more areas. Taken as non-degree, these courses (up to 12 credits) can be applied to your MEd in ASTL to fulfill concentration coursework. Taken as degree-seeking as part of your MEd program, up to 18 credits of professional studies courses can be applied to fulfill ASTL concentration coursework.  
 
Graduate Certificates 
Mason offers several certificates that can be pursued as part of your MEd program in ASTL to add additional credentials to your resume. Here are a few (certificates with an asterisk can be applied for VDOE add-on endorsement):

 Special Education 

 
Dual Enrollment 
There is a shortage of qualified high school teachers to teach dual enrollment courses. If you are interested in teaching dual enrollment courses, you can achieve your qualifying graduate coursework qualifications through your ASTL MEd. Eighteen credit hours of subject-specific coursework are needed to teach dual enrollment in Virginia. Make these subject-specific courses your ASTL concentration! 
 
Unique and Varied Interests? 
If your career interests combine multiple fields not addressed in the other five ASTL concentrations, the ASTL Individualized program could be just for you by allowing you to take courses from across the university and combine them with your education core. Music education and teacher leadership? History and peace building? In consultation with an advisor, design the program for you. 
 
Check out the tabs below for more information and consult a program rep today for more information! 

What Does an Individualized Concentration Mean?

This ASTL concentration allows students to create an individualized program of study that meets their specific professional goals. Students schedule an appointment to design a customized concentration with a program advisor.

The concentration consists of 12 credits of core courses and 18 credits of additional concentration courses chosen in consultation with an advisor. It also has a performance-based portfolio that serves as a program-exit requirement and showcases the student’s work.

Importantly, graduates earn the advantages of a master’s degree, including the possibility of increased pay and opportunities to be curriculum leaders in their schools.

Who Should Apply?

Educators holding a bachelor's degree with or without a master's degree may apply for the full master's degree program, which includes 12 credits of core education courses and 18 credits of courses chosen with support from a Mason advisor. This is not an initial licensure program.

Can I Use Graduate Credits from Other Universities to Reduce my Course Load?

Possibly! University policy allows for up to 12 credits (depending on the program) that have not been previously used to complete a degree to be transferred from another accredited graduate program. Consultation with an ASTL advisor is necessary to determine if and which courses may be acceptable to a specific concentration. The literacy: K-12 reading specialist concentration does not allow for substitutions. Substitutions cannot be made for the five core courses of the ASTL program (EDUC 612, EDUC 613, EDUC 614, EDUC 606, EDUC 615). Course work that is older than six years will not be accepted, even if the courses were taken at Mason.