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Non-degree Undergraduate & Graduate RequirementsNon-degree status enables students who have no immediate degree objective at George Mason University to enroll in courses for which they are qualified without seeking degree program admission. Enrollment in specific courses is based on eligibility criteria and availability of space in courses. In high-demand fields, enrollment may be restricted or prohibited. Admission to Mason as a non-degree student is competitive and also based on space availability. Non-degree admission is not automatically granted, and non-degree admission does not guarantee enrollment in any specific course. Non-degree applicants must meet the standards for admission that would apply to the equivalent degree seeking status. International students seeking F-1 or J-1 visas or those holding F-1 or J-1 visas are not eligible to apply for nondegree admission. Note: Undergraduate non-degree students are not eligible to take graduate courses or receive graduate advising. Undergraduate Non-degree StudiesHigh School Guest MatriculantsHigh School juniors and seniors who are currently enrolled in good standing in high school may be considered for admission as high school guest matriculants. These applicants will be evaluated based on their academic performance in high school and recent test scores. Only students who have excelled in high school and demonstrate exceptional preparation and maturity indicative of the potential to succeed in Mason’s competitive course work will be admitted. High School Guest Matriculants are typically admitted for one semester only. Students who have graduated from high school and earned fewer than 24 college credits are not eligible for high school guest matriculant admission. UndergraduatesTo be considered for undergraduate non-degree admission, applicants must have earned 24 or more semester hours of college credit and meet the same admission criteria as degree seeking transfer applicants. Official transcripts from each college/university attended, as well as a minimum internet based TOEFL score of 88 for non-native English speaking applicants, are required. High school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores may be requested for applicants with less than 30 earned semester hours of college credit. For students who plan to transfer credit back to another institution, it is recommended that consultation with the home college/university take place before applying to Mason. The responsibility for determining the transferability of course work to the home institution lies with the student. Post-BaccalaureatesApplicants with a bachelor’s degree, seeking to take undergraduate courses towards a second bachelor’s degree or for personal development, must meet the standards for admission for a second bachelor’s degree. These students will be considered undergraduate students and are not eligible to take graduate courses or receive graduate advising. Students who later seek to enroll in graduate courses or who wish to receive graduate advising must submit a new nondegree graduate application and be reconsidered for admission. Application ProcessAll undergraduate non-degree applicants must complete a non-degree online application for admission and supply official transcripts from any and all postsecondary institutions they have attended. High school guest matriculants and high school graduates who have earned less than 30 semester hours of college credit must provide a high school transcript and standardized (SAT or ACT) test scores. RegistrationUndergraduate non-degree students are allowed to register for up to 10 credits per semester. Undergraduate non-degree students are expected to achieve a semester average of at least a C (2.00) in all undergraduate courses. Students who do not meet these criteria during two consecutive periods of enrollment are not permitted to register again through non-degree studies. Visiting students who are in a degree-seeking program at another college or university will be classified as visiting students and admitted to one term only. Certificate Program in Accounting ApplicantsThis program provides an opportunity for students with a bachelor's degree to earn the academic credit necessary to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination for Virginia. Interested applicants MUST submit a degree-seeking transfer admission application. Do not submit a non-degree application. For additional program information, contact the School of Management. Senior Citizen Higher Education Act of 1974Click here for more information on the Senior Citizen Higher Education Act of 1974. 
Graduate Non-degree StudiesApplication Procedure
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree who wish to take graduate-level courses or graduate prerequisite courses must meet graduate admission standards. These students will be considered and charged at the graduate level, even if taking undergraduate courses. Individual academic units and majors may have additional requirements for non-degree graduate status. A student cannot graduate or receive a degree in non-degree status. All master’s programs require at least 18 credits to be completed at Mason to be considered for graduation, and some graduate programs allow a maximum of 6 credits to be transferred from non-degree status. It is strongly recommended that students who plan to seek a degree from Mason apply for degree status admission well before published deadlines. Non-degree graduate students are expected to achieve a semester average of at least a B (3.00) in all courses. Students who do not meet these criteria during two consecutive periods of enrollment are not permitted to register again through nondegree studies. RegistrationGraduate nondegree students are allowed to register for a maximum of 10 hours per semester. Restricted ProgramsNote: Before submitting ANY graduate nondegree application please review the following restricted programs. Visiting students who are in a degree-seeking program at another college or university will be classified as visiting students and admitted to one term only. Graduate Certificate ProgramsIf you are interested in enrolling in a graduate certificate program, you must apply for degree-seeking admission. Do not apply to non-degree status. Contact the graduate admissions office offering the program of interest. College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)Non-degree status is available for professionals who are interested in taking a limited number of courses without committing to a certificate (with or without licensure) or degree program. Please note that graduate CEHD programs allow a maximum of 12 credits to be transferred from non-degree status. Prospective students interested in enrolling in a graduate certificate (with or without licensure) or degree program, must apply for graduate, degree-seeking admission. Do not apply to non-degree status. Contact the CEHD graduate admissions office before submitting an application if you are unsure of which application to pursue. Please note that admission application fees are non-refundable. The Volgenau School of Information Technology & EngineeringAdmission for nondegree graduate study is suitable for those who do not want to pursue a degree but are interested in taking graduate level School of Information Technology and Engineering (IT&E) courses. The following application materials should be submitted for consideration:
Students with a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit the following additional materials:
Approval for non-degree status does not guarantee admission for a degree program at a later date. Up to 12 credit hours taken in nondegree status may be transferred to an IT&E degree or certificate program, subject to the general rules for transfer of graduate credit. Students who do not register for the term for which they are accepted may have their enrollment postponed for one semester upon written request to the IT&E Graduate Admissions Office, itegadm@gmu.edu. College of Science, (COS)Non-degree status is available for professionals who are interested in taking a limited number of courses without committing to a degree or certificate program. Up to 12 credit hours taken in non-degree status may be transferred to one of the College Of Science (COS) academic programs at a later date. Approval for non-degree status does not guarantee admission into an academic program. For admission into non-degree status, the student should have a 3.00 GPA and a BS degree in mathematics, computer science, engineering, natural science, or a related field. Exceptions are reviewed on an individual basis. The following materials should be submitted for consideration:
The COS nondegree application can be downloaded from the College Of Science website. School of Management (SOM)The M.B.A. Plus program allows holders of an M.B.A. from an AACSB International – accredited program to enroll in graduate business courses. Non-degree graduate enrollment is restricted to participants in the M.B.A. Plus Program. For additional information, contact the School of Management Graduate Admissions Office at 703-993-2136 or visit the School of Management website. School of Nursing, College of Health & Human Services (HHS)Students interested in taking undergraduate or graduate nursing courses in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences MUST obtain permission from the dean’s Office in Robinson Hall - Room A-385. Additional information is available on the School of Nursing, College of Health & Human Services website. School of Public Policy (SPP)The School of Public Policy (SPP) considers non-degree graduate applicatons for the Fall and Spring terms only. Please contact the School of Public Policy Graduate Admissions Office at 703-993-8099 if you have any questions. College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS)Non-Degree students are not elligible to take any graduate level psychology classes in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
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