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Phone: 703-993-4711
Fax: 703-993-3942
Email: cisa@gmu.edu
Web: cisa.gmu.edu
The BRIDGE Program is a graduate pathway program offered through the Center for International Student Access (CISA) designed to provide a comprehensive first-year experience for international graduate students. The program includes academic credit-bearing coursework, educational acculturation, and student support services.
The BRIDGE Program offers provisional graduate admission for international students through two separate pathways:
- The Degree Enhancement (DET) pathway creates a custom “fourth year” program for international students with three-year degrees, enhancing their educational background with a customized academic program to prepare for graduate study at Mason.
- The English Enrichment (EET) pathway provides students who require a moderate amount of English language support the opportunity to strengthen their credentials and ensure academic success.
Students enrolled in the BRIDGE Program should review the BRIDGE Program student guidebook for specific details related to program requirements and expectations.
Coursework
The BRIDGE Program offers courses designated under “PROV” in the Courses section of this catalog. These classes will not count toward the graduate degree without specific permission from the graduate program’s dean or director, but are required as part of the provisional acceptance to Mason. Depending on a student’s BRIDGE pathway and individual skill, s/he will be able to take between 6-9 credits toward their intended graduate degree.
Faculty
Students in the BRIDGE Program study with highly qualified faculty members from both the university’s academic departments and the English Language Institute .
Participating Programs
Programs that elect to participate in the BRIDGE Program are determined by individual graduate units in consultation with CISA.
Admission
In order to be considered for graduate study in any program at Mason, prospective students must complete a full application with all materials required by the academic program to which they have applied. This includes submitting the online application, fee, mark sheets/transcripts, degree certificates, letters of recommendation, resume, test scores, and other required items. Applicants must also achieve a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 and demonstrate an ability to be successful at completing graduate study. To determine this, individual students are reviewed by their respective academic departments for admission to the university according to the standard admissions process.
Students with international degrees who meet most but not all admissions requirements may be considered for BRIDGE admission if they meet one set of criteria as indicated below:
- All admissions requirements (including English Proficiency for standard admission) are met, except that that the student holds a three-year bachelor’s degree as determined by a transcript evaluator. Such students may be offered BRIDGE admission to the Degree Enhancement pathway (BRIDGE-DET); OR
- All admissions requirements (including holding the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree), are met except that the English Proficiency examination scores were below that required for general admission to the graduate program but met or exceeded the following minimum passing scores:
- For the College of Science, College of Visual & Performing Arts, School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, and the Volgenau School of Engineering, a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 80 or its equivalent
- For the College of Education & Human Development, School of Management, and the School of Public Policy, a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 87 or its equivalent
- These students are offered BRIDGE admission to the English Enrichment (BRIDGE-EET) pathway.
Newly admitted BRIDGE students are notified in their admissions letter of the requirement for participation through a BRIDGE admissions contract. By signing the admissions contract, the student acknowledges that s/he must successfully complete the program before being allowed to matriculate during a third semester and beyond as a “regular” status graduate student. Once a student returns the admissions contract to the appropriate graduate unit and has confirmed enrollment according to the instructions provided, the student will then be enrolled in classes by the BRIDGE Advisor.
Degree Enhancement (DET)
Program Requirements
Prescribed courses in the BRIDGE-DET include approximately 24 credits. The intent of these courses is to prepare students for the demands of the Mason graduate curriculum. Further, the prescribed courses include six credits of graduate coursework during the BRIDGE year.
The BRIDGE advisor will consult with the graduate program academic advisor to select graduate courses that best fit the elective requirements and his/her future career goals based on their previous course history.
Curriculum
- University General Education electives with Advisor approval (6 credits)
- (2 credits)
- (2 credits)
- (4 credits)
- (4 credits)
- Appropriate courses applicable toward graduate program of study (6 credits)
University General Education electives for the BRIDGE Program are selected based on gaps in the educational background of the student as shown in the international transcript evaluation submitted for admission. Whenever possible, BRIDGE students are enrolled in upper division level courses (300-400) and courses where prerequisites have already been met.
Time to Degree for DET Students
Because of the program’s intent and structure, BRIDGE-DET adds approximately one semester to the timeline of a typical graduate program. BRIDGE-DET students are expected to review carefully the full requirements of their graduate program of interest. Beginning in the third semester (after the BRIDGE year), students will be expected to complete the remaining required coursework for the graduate degree according to the program’s published guidelines.
Program Completion Criteria
Successful completion of the BRIDGE-DET requires the student to:
- Take all prescribed courses in the Curriculum section of this guide in full-time status.
- Complete the program within two consecutive semesters with an overall GPA of 3.00 and a grade of B or better in each graduate course.
English Enrichment (EET)
Program Requirements
Prescribed courses for BRIDGE-EET includes approximately 18-22 credits, most of which are academic English language development courses. The intent of these courses is to prepare students for the demands of the Mason graduate curriculum. Further, the prescribed courses may include up to 9 credits of coursework toward the student’s graduate degree during the BRIDGE year.
The BRIDGE advisor will consult with the graduate program academic advisor to select graduate courses that best fit the elective requirements and his/her future career goals.
Curriculum
- (2 credits)
- (2 credits)
- (4 credits)
- (4 credits)
- Appropriate coursework toward graduate program of study (6-9 credits)
BRIDGE-EET students are assessed regularly to ensure that adequate progress is being made toward academic English language acquisition, and required academic English proficiency examinations are given at the end of the first and second semesters to assess academic English language progress. The mid-year assessment determines whether the student must take the following addition coursework, including:
Students for whom both PROV 503 and PROV 505 courses are waived may take a second graduate course during the second semester with BRIDGE advisor approval.
Time to Degree for EET Students
Because of the program’s intent and structure, BRIDGE-EET adds approximately one academic semester to the timeline of a typical graduate program of study. BRIDGE-EET students are expected to review carefully the full requirements of their graduate program of interest. Beginning in the third semester (after the BRIDGE year), students will be expected to complete the remaining required coursework for the graduate degree according to the program’s published guidelines.
Program Completion Criteria
Successful completion of the BRIDGE-EET requires the student to:
- Take all prescribed courses in the Curriculum section of this guide in full-time status.
- Complete the program within two consecutive semesters with an overall GPA of 3.00 and a grade of B or better in each graduate course.
- Take the required academic English proficiency examination at the end of the first semester to assess academic English language progress. This mid-year assessment will determine which courses the student must take during the second semester of study.
- Students must meet and achieve the following goal score required by their academic program by the end of the BRIDGE-EET:
- For the College of Science, College of Visual & Performing Arts, School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, and the Volgenau School of Engineering, a minimum English Proficiency score of B2 on the ELI Placement Examination in each subsection or its equivalent
- For the College of Education & Human Development, School of Management, and the School of Public Policy, a minimum English Proficiency score of B2+ on the ELI Placement Examination in each subsection or its equivalent
Continuation at Mason
After successful completion of the program, all BRIDGE participants are reviewed by CISA and then, if appropriate, promoted to “regular” degree status to complete the remaining coursework in the graduate degree program. BRIDGE students are provisionally admitted to Mason. Students who do not meet the program requirements will be reviewed by the Associate Provost for Graduate Education together with the dean or director of the academic department for termination from the graduate program. It is possible that students who are terminated during the BRIDGE year may not be eligible for admission to another graduate program at Mason based on their academic credentials. University regulations for appeals and extensions for graduate students apply.
Dismissal/Termination Appeals Process
Students may appeal academic dismissals in writing to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. |
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