2014-2015 University Catalog 
  
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2014-2015 University Catalog

Bachelor's Degree (any)/Political Science, Accelerated MA

Web: pia.gmu.edu

Highly qualified undergraduates in any major may apply to the accelerated master’s degree in political science. If accepted, and depending on their undergraduate major, students will be able to earn a bachelor’s degree in their chosen major and a master’s degree in political science  after satisfactory completion of 144 credits, sometimes within five years. See the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degrees section of the catalog for policies related to this program.

This program of study is offered by the Department of Public and International Affairs .

Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master’s degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see Academic Policies .

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 master’s in political science, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental web site.

Accelerated Option Requirements

Applicants accepted to the accelerated MA program must have completed a minimum of 75 credits, completed 12 GOVT credits, and have a minimum GPA of 3.50 in GOVT coursework and in all coursework applied to the degree.

While undergraduate students, accelerated master’s students complete two graduate courses (chosen from GOVT 500 , GOVT 510 , GOVT 520 , GOVT 530 , GOVT 540 ) as 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. On 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.

Reserve Graduate Credit

Students may take up to 6 additional graduate credits as reserve graduate credit (chosen from GOVT 500 , GOVT 510 , GOVT 520 , GOVT 530 , GOVT 540 ). These credits do not apply to the undergraduate degree. To apply these credits to the master’s degree, students should use the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition Form.

The ability to take courses, including ones not listed above, for reserve graduate credit is available to all high achieving undergraduates with the permission of the department.  Permission is normally granted only to qualified Mason seniors within 15 hours of graduation. See the Graduate Course Enrollment by Undergraduates  section of the catalog.