Mason Topics
Phone: 703-993-3912
Web: masontopics.gmu.edu
Faculty
Beach, Berg, Behmand, Burns, Carroll, Cherubin, Chang, DeNys, Giandrea, Gregg, Hawkes, Kelly, Koch, Leeker, Lytton, Mattox, McPherson, McVay, Michals (director), Nadler, Nanian, Robbins, Samuelian, Taciuch, Thompson (coordinator), Tomasovic, Zawacki
Introduction
The Mason Topics Program encourages academically motivated students to make meaningful connections between classes in different disciplines by enrolling them in two "linked" popular general education classes each semester of freshman year. Faculty teaching these linked classes work together to highlight shared concepts and skills. Class discussions are not confined to the classroom. The program showcases cultural resources of the Washington, D.C., region and the university, and students enjoy films, talks, and study sessions linked to their classes on the Mason Topics Living/Learning floors in the freshman residence halls, helping academics become a focus for social life.
Course Work
The program coordinates curricular links between a variety of courses that are offered by individual academic departments. These courses satisfy university-wide general education requirements for graduation. The courses selected for linkage vary each semester.
Admission
All entering freshmen are eligible, but priority is given to those students whose high school record indicates that they are academically motivated and prepared for the program.
Requirements
The program is not an academic major. Rather, it links classes that fulfill a number of general education requirements for graduation that apply to all majors.
Transfers
Because the program links classes that are regularly offered by Mason's academic departments, it has no effect on the process of transferring to another institution.