Can I register for graduate courses at GMU before I am admitted to the M.S. program?

Any person can register for the GMU Nondegree Studies program, by filling out a brief form at the GMU Admissions Office.

Students in the Nondegree Studies program should obtain permission to take a specific class from the course instructor.  Nondegree students usually take upper-division undergraduate (BIOL 300-499) or entry-level graduate (BIOL 500-599) courses in biology.  In a few cases, more advanced students may register for higher-level graduate courses in biology (BIOL 600-799 and BIOS 700-799).  However, Nondegree students are not admitted courses in this range that list a prerequisite of admission to specific graduate program (see GMU catalog), nor to courses in which the instructor does not give permission to enroll.  Before taking an advanced course, please note that any "C" grades earned in the Nondegree program will decrease the student's chances of admission to the M.S. Biology program.

If a Nondegree student is later admitted to the graduate program, they can transfer up to 12 credits of graduate-level coursework into their graduate requirements (subject to the approval of their faculty advisor, and the M.S. Program Director, and the CAS Director of Graduate Academic Affairs, and the Registrar).