Master of Education in Special Education

For more information and to apply, visit the admissions website.

* 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.

All application materials must be submitted through George Mason’s online graduate application. In addition to meeting general university admissions requirements, applicants will need to provide the requirements below.

To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:

• Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s application
• 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. George Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
• One letter of recommendation from your George Mason undergraduate advisor

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:

The College of Education and Human Development offers a number of combined bachelor's and accelerated master's (BAM) degree programs for academically strong undergraduates with a commitment to learning advanced skills in a specialized field of study. Applicants receive a waiver of the graduate application fee, and admitted students may obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree after satisfactory completion of 144 to 150 credits (number of required credits depends on the graduate program).

Students can submit an application to a BAM program once they have earned between 75 and 100 credits. Faculty admissions review includes a holistic review of requirements as well as the applicant’s potential academic and professional success upon completion of the program.

Bachelor's to Accelerated Master's (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

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): $159.50

Graduate Tuition

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): $159.50

**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.

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.

To be successful in your program, it is important to remember that each student is responsible for knowing George Mason’s rules, regulations, requirements, administrative policies and academic policies. Every student must meet with his advisor upon admission to the program to create a program of study. Even if students know which program/s they will pursue and their sequence of coursework, it is beneficial to discuss plans for internships, testing requirements, transfer options if applicable, etc. It is highly recommended that you meet with your advisor at least once per semester to review degree progress and plan for future semesters. The University Catalog, your program advisors, and the staff in the Student and Academic Affairs Office are key resources to assist you as you work toward completion of your degree requirements.

Advisors

Schedule an Appointment

Current students may schedule or cancel appointments no less than 24 hours in advance. Advisor calendars are open two weeks in advance. If no appointments show as available with your assigned advisor, please check back in a day or two to see if new times have opened up. You can also e-mail general questions to your advisor.

Contact speced@gmu.edu if you have any questions or sschelp@gmu.edu if you have any issues with the scheduling system.

Drop-In Advising

Drop-in advising hours are available virtually through Blackboard or face-to-face in Finley 102. During these sessions, students receive one-on-one advising on a first-come, first-served basis. To access the virtual advising session please use the links below during the times listed:
Mondays: 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesdays: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Sessions are cancelled when George Mason is closed or if otherwise indicated.

Mason Life: The Learning Into Future Environments (LIFE) Program is an innovative post-secondary program at Mason. Students focusing on special education have an opportunity to work as instructors, resident advisors and mentors in the LIFE program which provides them with field experience in a supportive, supervised setting.

Forms

Current students should visit MyMason for important forms and documents.