Mason undergraduates are eligible to apply to this bachelor's / accelerated master's program, which allows them to obtain both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree within an accelerated time frame. The program also offers the advantage of paying undergraduate tuition rates for graduate classes taken while finishing the bachelor’s degree, with some graduate classes able to count toward both degrees.
This master's degree program provides a robust, well-rounded curriculum that includes general and content-specific teaching methods courses and leads to initial licensure in elementary education. Strong partnerships with local elementary schools ensure that teacher candidates are immersed in classroom settings with elementary students throughout the program. Graduates will be able to recognize and adapt to students’ needs, interests, and readiness levels through innovative, research-based pedagogical practices.
More Information about the Program
Graduates of this program earn their initial teaching license upon graduation, enabling them to teach grades PK–6 in the state of Virginia.
Graduates gain hands-on experience and make a difference through Mason’s local partner schools.
The Mason Elementary PDS Network is comprised of elementary schools in Fairfax County, Prince William County, Loudoun County, Arlington County, and Manassas Park. In a PDS partnership, the elementary school and the teacher preparation program take joint responsibility for:
teacher preparation
faculty development
enhanced student learning
inquiry directed at the improvement of practice
Our Cohort Model
Students in this program progress through the graduate curriculum as a cohort, completing the ELED courses in a specific sequence. Students have the option of starting in the fall, spring, or summer semester. If enrollment numbers permit, we offer both a daytime and an evening cohort option for fall admits. This Cohort Comparison Chart shows the sequencing of courses for the three different cohort start terms.
Our Courses
The majority of the ELED courses will meet once per week on Mason’s Fairfax campus or will be blended with a mix of on-campus and online instruction. Occasionally, a class may be scheduled to take place in one of our PDS Network schools. Courses will require 15 hours of observation in the field, enabling students to be immersed in a classroom setting throughout their time in the program. Students will be assigned to a specific school and classroom teacher in our PDS Network for completion of these field hours.
Internship
Elementary education students engage in a year-long (YL) or semester-long (SL) internship experience (student teaching). Students who do the SL internship must complete an additional 3-credit elective to earn the required 39 credits to graduate. Just like with field work, internship placements are made by the program in a PDS Network school.
On rare occasions, a student will obtain a job as a lead teacher prior to finishing the program. In this case, the student would complete a semester-long, on-the-job (OTJ) internship in lieu of traditional student teaching.
*Course counts for both the Bachelor’s Degree (any)/Curriculum and Instruction and MEd degree.
**Course is taken for Reserve Graduate Credit and will only apply to the MEd degree.
Application Deadlines
Fall Semester (classes starting in August)
Spring Semester (classes starting in January)
Summer Semester (classes starting in May, June, or July)
* Priority deadline ensures consideration for the intended semester as well as financial aid options for students. Programs will continue to review applications until at capacity. Some programs do not review applications past the priority deadline.
750- to 1,000-word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
Current resume
Two letters of recommendation: Applicants should follow the instructions included in the online application to submit the recommendation forms directly to their recommenders. Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
Transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the United States. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions information page for specific requirements regarding uploading unofficial transcripts.
Applicants with transcripts from institutions outside of the United States could have additional requirements. Please refer to the How To Apply page for specific requirements about submitting international transcripts, evaluations, and English language proficiency.
Admissions Requirements
Admission to graduate programs at George Mason University is competitive. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their academic backgrounds, results of standardized exams (if required by the program), work experience, and any additional evidence of potential success in the program. Faculty admissions review is a holistic review of requirements as well as the applicant’s potential academic and professional success upon completion of the program.
At a minimum all admitted students must have:
An earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts. Expectation of an earned baccalaureate prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the student is applying will also meet this requirement. See the graduate admissions policy for more information.
A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. The GPA requirement may be higher for some graduate programs. The university, at its discretion, may additionally consider the difficulty of the baccalaureate degree, relevant work experience, and/or other evidence of ability to succeed in graduate study when evaluating the GPA requirement.
BAM students can take graduate courses at the undergraduate tuition rate, depending on the program. Please meet with an admissions counselor to discuss your program options.
Undergraduate Tuition
TUITION CLASSIFICATION
COST PER CREDIT
Virginia Resident
$558.40 (includes MSF*)
Non-Virginia Resident
$1,565.25 (includes MSF*)
CEHD Course Fee
($25/credit with higher per credit or flat course fees for internship and select ATEP, PRLS, and RECR courses)
$25.00 - $250.00
Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit
$583.40 - $808.40
Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit
$1,590.25 - $1,815.25
Undergraduate New Student Fee (non-refundable, one-time fee)
$350 | $275 for transfer students
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Various course and lab fees may be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $150.25
Graduate Tuition
TUITION CLASSIFICATION
COST PER CREDIT
Virginia Resident
$709.70 (includes MSF*)
Non-Virginia Resident
$909.70 (includes MSF*; discounted from $1,624.25)
VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program**
Total cost for VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program*
$628.25 - $687.25
Graduate New Student Fee (non-refundable, one-time fee)
$60
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher course fee to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $150.25
**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. Eligible students receive 15% off the total tuition and mandatory student fee.
Financial Aid
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.
You should communicate with your academic advisor at least once per semester to ensure that you are on track to successfully complete your program and that you are aware of university resources that can aid in your success.
To make the most of your time with your advisor, please prepare for your appointment ahead of time. Here are some tips on how to do that:
Plan ahead: Schedule your appointment prior to your registration time ticket so you have a plan ready and know which courses you should take next when it’s time to register.
Make a list of questions: Review your degree evaluation in Patriot Web. Review your program plan which you received at orientation, and write down any questions you have before coming to the appointment.
Be informed: Review the program information available to you in the ELED Blackboard organization site. Read all emails from your advisor; you are responsible for knowing the information that is shared. If you are interested in doing anything outside of the ordinary (e.g. taking a class somewhere other than Mason, withdrawing from a class, repeating a course), review relevant academic policies. The best source for policy information is the University Catalog. CEHD has also created both an undergraduate and a graduate policy page that contains some of the policies most frequently encountered by students.
Schedule an Appointment
Elementary Education advising is done online via video chat by appointment only. To schedule an advising appointment, please use the Navigate Mason scheduling system.
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Click the image above, and you will be redirected to another page where you will enter your Mason NetID and password.
Follow the prompts and select the type of advising service you want.
Elementary Education
School of Education
4400 University Drive, MS 4B3
Thompson Hall, 1800
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
Phone: (703) 993-3696
Fax: (703) 993-2013
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Audra Parker
Academic Program Coordinator
Courtney Baker
Mandy Bean
Stephanie Dodman
Andrew Gilbert
Lois Groth
Jennifer Hathaway
Elizabeth Levine-Brown
Allison Parsons
Seth Parsons
Debra Sprague
Jennifer Suh
Theresa Wills