Welcome to graduate school at George Mason University!
As a new graduate student at Mason, you will have the opportunity to learn about your graduate academic program and the University through orientations.
You should begin with the Graduate Online Orientation for all Mason graduate students.
You should then plan to participate in any orientations offered by your graduate academic program and/or college/school. Additional orientations and trainings are offered for specific populations and interests, including international graduate students and graduate teaching assistants. Below is a list of orientation and welcome activities offered by academic units and university offices for new graduate students; contact your graduate program if it is not listed or if you have questions.
Graduate Online Orientation for All Graduate Students
All Mason graduate students should begin with the Graduate Online Orientation. This interactive platform will provide an overview of how to succeed as a graduate student and acquaint you with all that Mason has to offer to support you along the way.
Gradstravaganza: Mason's Annual Graduate Student Welcome Event
Gradstravaganza, Mason’s annual graduate student welcome event, is a multi-day event held at the beginning of the each academic year and includes a fully virtual line-up of orientation and educational sessions and an in-person picnic. Brought to you by Graduate Student Life, the Graduate Division, the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA), Office of International Programs and Services, University Life Mason Square, Mason Recreation, and University Life.
Gradstravaganza is held once year at the beginning of the fall semester. The 2025 Gradstravaganza Success Sessions and Picnic information and registration will be live July 16, 2025.
Recordings and materials from 2024 Success Sessions can be accessed 2024 Gradstravaganza Success Sessions.
Graduate Orientations by College and School
Below you will find the information for academic program, college and school level orientations and welcome events for graduate and professional students.
Programs and colleges are finalizing their orientations and welcome events and submitting them to be posted. Graduate Student Life will be posting the program and college events as they are shared. All orientation information updated and live on July 16, 2025.
Antonin Scalia Law School
Graduate Law Orientation
08/11/2025, 10:00 am, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)
Location: Room 215 Hazel Hall. For questions or additional information, please contact: lawgradm@gmu.edu.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
College of Education and Human Development
ASTL Welcome Social and Orientation
06/5/2025, 5:30pm -7:00pm, Virtual synchronous
Location: Please use Zoom link sent to registered participants. Register here: https://forms.gle/XJKfzWHH6dpjU8Lg7. For questions or additional information, please contact: astl@gmu.edu.
New Students Orientation Autism Spectrum Disorders Program
08/19/2025, 6:00pm, Virtual synchronous
Students will receive an email invitation with Zoom link prior to the event. For questions or additional information, please contact: online2@s.masononline.gmu.edu.
Counseling Program Orientation for Fall 2025 Students
08/14/2025, 5:00-6:00pm, In-Person
Location: Horizon Hall, Room 1014, Fairfax Campus. For questions or additional information, please contact: counsel@gmu.edu.
EDLE Online Asynchronous Cohort New Student Orientation or EDLE Regional Cohort New Student Orientation
Virtual asynchronous: Newly admitted students will be assigned to a Canvas course they can access by logging into Canvas and completing the self-paced modules online. For questions or additional information, please contact: edleprog@gmu.edu.
Educational Psychology Orientation II Fall 2025
09/3/2025, 7:30pm, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)
Location: Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/98273268220?pwd=jebVqZTyqaUYzbe83axOpnYJ3x5ZsJ.1
In person: TBD (Students will receive an email invitation with the event details prior to the event.). For questions or additional information, please contact: khowe1@gmu.edu.
Elementary Education program Orientation
Virtual asynchronous: Please email Valerie Bartush at vbartush@gmu.edu for the video of the program orientation. For questions or additional information, please contact: vbartush@gmu.edu.
ESOL and Foreign/World Language Education Orientation
8/12/2025, 5:00 - 6:00pm, Virtual synchronous
Location: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/2578034906. For questions or additional information, please contact: mchampa4@gmu.edu.
MS in Educational Psychology New Student Orientation
7/28/2025, 7pm - 8 pm, Virtual synchronous
Location: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/96124683434?pwd=Tjz3bOtdUGhsQBBnveaojT8aTrBZTQ.1. For questions or additional information, please contact: Kim Howe, khowe1@gmu.edu.
PhD in Education Orientation and Welcome Event
8/23/2025, 9:00am - 3:00pm, In-person
Location: Merten 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, Merten Lobby. For questions or additional information, please contact: cehdphd@gmu.edu.
Ready, Set, PHorwarD!
8/23/2025, 11am- 4pm, In-person
Location: Merten Hall. For questions contact: Sheri Berkeley, PhD Director: sberkele@gmu.edu.
FCPS Special Education Cohort Program Overview and Advising Session
10/02/2025, 5:00pm - 6:00pm, Virtual synchronous
Students in the cohort will join their online class link. For questions or additional information, please contact: cgolden3@gmu.edu.
Inclusive Early Childhood Education Graduate Orientation
Virtual asynchronous: Please watch the Orientation video, found here: https://youtu.be/pW3hMV6gEKA. For questions or additional information, please contact: kturne4@gmu.edu.
MS Kinesiology Orientation
8/26/2025, 9:00-11:00am, In-Person
Location: Life Sciences and Engineering Building, Room# 3402, Sci Tech Campus. For questions or additional information, please contact: dstroine@gmu.edu.
Literacy Program Fall Orientation
8/12/2025, 6:30-7:30pm, Virtual synchronous
This event is open to any new graduate students in the Literacy Program. However, if you are participating in a division-sponsored cohort, there will be a specific orientation held for your cohort. Please check your Welcome Letter from the program and email for details as well as log in or location information. For questions or additional information, please contact: jhathaw2@gmu.edu.
LCPS Special Education Cohort Program Overview and Advising Session
10/01/2025, 4:45pm - 5:45pm, Virtual synchronous
Cohort students will receive an invite by email with the link prior to the event. For questions or additional information, please contact: jtemple1@gmu.edu.
New Student Orientation-LDT (Learning, Design, Technology) Program
8/14/2025, 6pm - 7pm, Virtual synchronous
Location: Microsoft Teams
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 298 984 431 041 8
Passcode: nS3i4Bs2
For questions or additional information, please contact: dwilso31@gmu.edu, Doug Wilson APC
Mathematics Specialist Leadership Orientation
8/11/2025, 5:00 - 6:00pm, Virtual synchronous
Location: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/2578034906. For questions or additional information, please contact: mchampa4@gmu.edu.
School Psychology Program Orientation
8/22/2025, 10am-3pm, In-person
Location: Thompson Hall, Room L028 & L003. For questions or additional information, please contact: erowe@gmu.edu.
SEED New Student Orientation
8/20/2025, 6:00 - 7:00pm, Virtual synchronous
Zoom Room: https://gmu.zoom.us/my/kzenkov. For questions or additional information, please contact: mspeier@gmu.edu.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
College of Engineering and Computing
New Graduate Student Orientation: Computer Science Programs
08/22/25, 1pm - 3pm, In-person
Location: Johnson Center Cinema, Fairfax Campus. For questions or additional information, please contact: csgrad@gmu.edu
New Graduate Student Orientation: Cyber Security Engineering Program
08/13/2025, 4:00pm - 5:00pm, Virtual synchronous
Location: Join Zoom Meeting
https://gmu.zoom.us/j/94043235129?pwd=mRnMjFF3Ul6XMJdVGqVTewc68tW08j.1
Meeting ID: 940 4323 5129
Passcode: 663672
For questions or additional information, please contact: cysegrad@gmu.edu .
PhD Information Technology - New Student Orientation
08/27/2025, 3 PM - 4 PM EDT, Virtual synchronous
Location: Zoom: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/94163820306. For questions or additional information, please contact: cecgs@gmu.edu.
New Graduate Student Orientation: Statistics Programs
08/22/2025, 2:00pm - 4:30pm, In-person
Location: Jajodia Auditorium, Engineering Building, Fairfax Campus. For questions or additional information, please contact: statgrad@gmu.edu.
New Graduate Student Orientation: Systems Engineering and Operations Research Programs
08/21/2025, 4pm - 5:30pm, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)
Location: Engineering Building Room 2901; join Zoom Meeting: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/95552112639?pwd=WaWOBQMBKg2CKRMVXaGuqaSzRkXhsV.1. For questions or additional information, please contact: seor@gmu.edu.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Art History MA student meet and greet and orientation
08/25/2025, 2pm-4pm, In-person
Location: 2pm-3pm meet and greet: 3rd floor kitchen, Horizon Hall
3pm-4pm orientation: small conference room, History and Art History Department, Horizon Hall. For questions or additional information, please contact: mgreet@gmu.edu.
Cultural Studies PhD Program August orientation; September welcome reception
08/21/2025, 1:00pm to 4:00pm, In-person
Location: Fenwick Library Main Reading Room.
For questions or additional information, please contact: lrabin@gmu.edu, sdixon@gmu.edu.
COMM Grad Student Welcome Back
08/26/2025, 6:00-7:30pm, JC Bistro. For questions or additional information, please contact: commgrad@gmu.edu.
Department of Communication PhD Student Orientation
06/18/2025, 11-12am, Virtual synchronous
COMM PhDs will receive and email with instructions from the director. For questions or additional information, please contact: commgrad@gmu.edu.
Department of Sociology and Anthropology – New Graduate Student Orientation & Welcome Reception
08/21/2025, 4:30pm - 8:00pm, In-person
Location: We hold both the orientations and reception on the 6th floor of Horizon Hall. In rooms 6323 and 6325 and in the 6th floor kitchen. For questions or additional information, please contact: kfoarde@gmu.edu.
English, Writing and Rhetoric PhD Orientation
08/21/2025, 6pm, In-person
Location: Horizon Hall, 4th floor. For questions or additional information, please contact: English Graduate Admissions, rsilva8@gmu.edu.
GLOA MA orientation
08/26/2025, 4:30pm to 5:30pm, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)
Location: Horizon Hall large conference room by kitchen. For questions or additional information, please contact: globalma@gmu.edu.
Higher Education Program Fall Orientation
08/18/2025, 6:30pm-7:00pm, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)
Location: 6325 Horizon Hall and https://gmu.zoom.us/j/99633305316?from=addon. For questions or additional information, please contact: Higher Education Program, hepadmin@gmu.edu.
Linguistics Program Graduate Orientation
08/19/2025, 3pm-4pm, Virtual synchronous
Location: Zoom: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/96474038529?pwd=Ar6IcpASyLrsDvNprgt980AKQOCoOJ.1.. For questions or additional information, please contact: Prof. Schreiner with questions sschrei2@gmu.edu.
MAIS Fall 2025 Orientation Module
Virtual Asynchronous: You can find the module by logging into your Canvas account with your netid and password. Once logged in, click the "Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Students" course on your dashboard. If you log in to Canvas and do not see the "Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Student" course on your dashboard, please email mais@gmu.edu.
For questions or additional information, please contact: mais@gmu.edu.
SIS Graduate Programs Fall Kick Off
08/18/2025, 5:30-7:00, In-person
Location: Merten Hall 1202, Fairfax Campus. For questions or additional information, please contact: SIS Graduate Programs, sisgrad@gmu.edu.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
College of Public Health
Graduate Student Orientation
08/19/2025, 4:30pm-7:00pm, In-person
Location: Peterson Hall, Lobby, Fairfax Campus.
For more information visit: https://publichealth.gmu.edu/students/newly-admitted-students/graduate-student-orientation. For questions, please contact: CPH Graduate Admissions, cphgrad@gmu.edu.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
College of Science
Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences Graduate Orientation
08/20/2025, 9am-2pm, In-person
Location: Exploratory Hall, Room 3301, Fairfax Campus. For questions or additional information, please contact: Barry Klinger - bklinger@gmu.edu.
New Student Orientation Advanced Biomedical Sciences Graduate Certificate - GeorgeSquared
08/21/2025, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person),
Location: Science and Technology Campus - More information to come. For questions contact: Kristen DeVito is the POC for this 2 day event - 8/21-8/22, E-mail: gsquared@gmu.edu.
Admitted students will receive an email with instructions from the department.
ScienceConnect
09/4/2025, 12:30 - 4:30 pm, In-person
Location: Exploratory Hall, Fairfax Campus.
For more information visit: https://science.gmu.edu/scienceconnect. For questions, please contact: cosevent@gmu.edu.
ScienceConnect Welcome Event
09/9/2025, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, In-person
Location: Katherine G. Johnson Hall, Fairfax Campus.
For more information visit: https://science.gmu.edu/scienceconnect. For questions, please contact: cosevent@gmu.edu.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Off to a Great stART: New Student Welcome
08/19/2025, 10-11am, Virtual synchronous
Virtual Information Session for Newly Admitted Students
Click Here to Register
https://masongrad.my.salesforce-sites.com/events/targetX_eventsb__events#/esr?eid=a1BVr000002IrSvMAK
For questions or additional information, please contact: artsgrad@gmu.edu.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
Costello College of Business
MRED Orientation and Ground Breaking
08/7/2025, 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, In-person
Location: Mason Square Campus -- exact room TBD (we may be in the FUSE)
For more information visit: https://gmuedu.sharepoint.com/sites/CCB-GRAD-ORIENTATION-GRP/SitePages/Employee-onboarding-team-home.aspx. For questions, please contact: May Abou Ghazaleh, mabough2@gmu.edu.
MBA Program Immersion
08/23/2025, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, In-person
Location: FUSE, Mason Square Campus.
For more information visit: https://gmuedu.sharepoint.com/sites/CCB-GRAD-ORIENTATION-GRP/SitePages/Employee-onboarding-team-home.aspx. For questions, please contact: mba@gmu.edu.
Specialized Master's Program Immersion
08/22/2025, 1:00 pm to 7:30 pm, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)
Location: Merten Hall, Room 1201, Fairfax Campus.
For more information visit: https://gmuedu.sharepoint.com/sites/CCB-GRAD-ORIENTATION-GRP/SitePages/Employee-onboarding-team-home.aspx. For questions, please contact: ccbgrad@gmu.edu.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
Schar School of Policy and Government
Fall New Student Orientation
08/23/25, 9am-3pm, In-Person
Location: Rooms 125/126/134, Van Metre Hall, Mason Square Campus.
For more information visit: https://schar.gmu.edu/new-schar-school-student_orientation For questions, please contact: schargss@gmu.edu.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
Campus Wide Orientations and Welcome Events
Below you will find orientations and welcome events that are for new graduate and professional students.
LGBTQ+ Resources Center
Lavender Orientation, Wednesday, August 28, 2025, 5pm - 6:30pm
In-person, JC BistroFor more information, click here. For questions, please contact: LGBTQ+ Resources Center, lgbtq@gmu.edu.
Office of Fellowships
Fellowships Info Session, Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Virtual synchronous, Register on Mason360: https://cglink.me/2d7/r2283984. For more information, click here. For questions, please contact: fllwshps@gmu.edu.
Office of International Programs and Services
International Graduate Student Orientation, Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 9:00am - 2:00pm
In-person, Johnson Center Dewberry Hall, Fairfax Campus. For more information, click here. Register here
Other events of OIPS:
Summer 2025 -Pre-Arrival Webinars
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On and Off-Campus Housing for New International Students Webinar
Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 9:00 AM EST, Webinar Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/98009141197 -
Immunization and Health Insurance for New International Students Webinar
Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 9:00 AM EST, Webinar Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/92640785131 -
On-Campus Employment for New International Students Webinar
Thrusday, July 24, 2025, 9:00 AM EST, Webinar Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/96923368313
F-1 Immigration and Compliance Presentations - Week of August 11, 2025
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F-1 Master's Immigration and Compliance Webinar (Master's, INTO Mason GPW, Law, Certificate)
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 / 9:00-10:30 AM, Webinar Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/95454907926 -
F-1 Doctoral Immigration and Compliance Webinar
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 / 9:00-10:30 AM, Webinar Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/93370994739
Office of Military Services
Veteran Education Benefits Orientation, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 3pm
Virtual synchronous, Register in advance and select date for this meeting:
https://gmu.zoom.us/meeting/register/TALiSj7MSdevdIMis9i_kg
The registration Link offers 6 sessions, every Tuesday between 7/15-8/19. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more information, click here. For questions, please contact: military@gmu.edu.
University Life at Mason Square
Mason Square Welcome Fair 2025, Thursday, August 28, 2025, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
In-person, Mason Square Campus: 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington VA, 22201. Van Metre Hall, 125/126. For more information, click here. For questions, please contact: ularl@gmu.edu.
University Life at SciTech
Scitech Fall Welcome Expo, Thursday, August 28, 2025, 11:00am - 2:30pm
In-person, Katherine Johnson Hall Atrium, Science and Technology Campus. For more information, click here. For questions, please contact: ulscitec@gmu.edu.
Also don't forget to checkout the full list of events and activities for Welcome2Mason. Welcome2Mason events span the first few weeks of the fall semester and provide countless opportunities for students to get involved, meet new people, and learn more about our campus. For a complete list of scheduled events, visit welcome2mason.gmu.edu. Signature events include academic department receptions, Involvement Fair and on-campus job fairs, “Ask Me” tents across campus, and other welcome activities. These events are open to all Mason students: graduate, professional, and undergraduate.