2013-2014 University Catalog 
  
2013-2014 University Catalog

BA (selected)/Middle East and Islamic Studies, Accelerated MA


Web: islamicstudiescenter.gmu.edu

Highly qualified undergraduates in pursuing a BA in select majors (listed below) may apply to the accelerated master’s degree in Middle East and Islamic studies. If accepted, and depending on their undergraduate major, students will be able to earn an undergraduate degree in their chosen major and a graduate degree in Middle East and Islamic studies after satisfactory completion of 144 credits, sometimes within five years.

This program of study is offered by the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies.

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see the Academic Policies section of the catalog.

Application Requirements


Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Admissions  section of this catalog. For information specific to the accelerated MA in Middle East and Islamic studies, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental web site.

Degree Requirements


While undergraduate students, accelerated master’s students complete the two graduate courses indicated on their Accelerated Master’s Program Application with a minimum grade of 3.00 in each course. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all coursework and in coursework applied to their major. Upon completion and conferral of the undergraduate degree in the semester indicated in the application, they submit the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition Form and are admitted to graduate status.

As graduate students, accelerated master’s students have an advanced standing. They must meet all master’s degree requirements except for the two courses (6 credits) they completed as undergraduates. Students must begin their master’s program the semester immediately following conferral of the undergraduate degree.

Recommended Courses:
Students pursuing this accelerated master’s degree can select from five of the core courses offered as part of the MA in Middle East and Islamic Studies:

 ; ;   (when content focus is the Middle East),  ; or  .

Selected Majors:
Government and international politics, global affairs, history, religious studies, sociology, and anthropology. It is preferred, though not required, that the student have a minor in Middle East studies or Islamic studies.

Reserve Graduate Credit


Students may take up to 6 additional graduate credits as reserve graduate credit. These credits do not apply to the undergraduate degree. The ability to take courses for reserve graduate credit is available to all high achieving undergraduates with the permission of the department. Permission to take a graduate course for reserve graduate credit is normally granted only to Mason seniors within 15 hours of graduation.

To apply these credits to the master’s degree, students must request that the credits be moved from the undergraduate degree to the graduate degree using the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition Form.