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. You can access video recordings and materials from the online Success Sessions held in August 2023.
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 15, 2024.
Antonin Scalia Law School
LLM/JM students should contact the Graduate Admissions and Advising Office at the Antonin Scalia Law School for all inquiries around orientation and welcome events: lawgradm@gmu.edu.
JD students should contact the Admissions Office at the Antonin Scalia Law School for all inquiries around JD orientation and welcome events: lawadmit@gmu.edu.
Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
Director Welcome with DGP, Dr. Susan Allen, and Advisors
Virtual synchronous; Tuesday, August 20, 2024; 2:00-4:00pm
Registration Link: Registration Link
For questions, email Carter School Admissions at tcsinfo@gmu.edu
University Library Services Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Tuesday, August 20, 2024; 4:15-5:00pm
Registration Link: Library Services Registration
For questions, email Carter School Admissions at tcsinfo@gmu.edu.
Career Planning: Conflict and Peacebuilding Careers Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Wednesday, August 21, 2024; 3:00-3:45pm
Registration Link: Career Planning Registration
For questions, email Carter School Admissions at tcsinfo@gmu.edu.
Meet the Faculty Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Wednesday, August 21, 2024; 4:00-5:00pm
Registration Link: Meet the Faculty Registration
For questions, email Carter School Admissions at tcsinfo@gmu.edu.
Meet Your Cohort Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Wednesday, August 21, 2024; 5:00-6:00pm
Registration Link: Meet Your Cohort Registration
For questions, email Carter School Admissions at tcsinfo@gmu.edu.
Fall 2024 Orientation Day at Mason Square
In person; Thursday, August 22, 2024; 1:30-6:00pm
Carter School Graduate Office, 3434 Washington Blvd., Rm 5183, Arlington, VA 22201
Registration Link: Orientation Day Registration
For questions, email Carter School Admissions at tcsinfo@gmu.edu.
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
CEHD Graduate Orientation
College of Education and Human Development Graduate Orientation
All incoming graduate students in the College of Education and Human Development are added to the CEHD Graduate Orientation course through Blackboard in early August and are sent instructions to their Mason emails. In addition to the CEHD Graduate Orientation, some programs may have their own required sessions.
Look for your program below:
Counseling Program
Counseling New Student Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Tuesday, August 13, 2024, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, and Thursday, August 15, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Orientation will be a virtual event, and there are two date options. For the August 13 option, please register for the Zoom meeting. For the August 15 option, please register for the Zoom meeting.
For questions, email Cathy Gabbay, Academic Advisor.
Division of Educational Psychology and Research Methods
Educational Psychology & Research Methods Welcome and Open House
In-person; Friday, August 9, 2024, from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm, West Building, Suite 2100 (upstairs).
For questions, email khowe1@gmu.edu.
Elementary Education Program (MEd)
ELED Program Orientation
Virtual asynchronous; Zoom link (Email vbartush@gmu.edu for passcode to access the video.)
Students will be added as a user to the Orientation Blackboard site and will be emailed a reminder close to the semester start.
ELED Open House (for current Mason students)
In-person; Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at Thompson Hall, Suite 1800.
For questions, email Valerie Bartush, ELED Academic Advisor.
Education Leadership Program
EDLE Campus & Online Orientation and EDLE Cohort Orientation
Virtual asynchronous; Students will be added to a Blackboard/Canvas site that allows them to directly access the self-paced orientation modules. Students will be added as users to the Orientation Blackboard site and will be emailed a reminder close to the semester start.
For questions, email edleprog@gmu.edu.
ESOL and World Languages Education
ESOL and World Languages Education Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Zoom. For questions, email mchampa4@gmu.edu.
Inclusive Early Childhood Education (Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education)
Graduate Orientation 2024-2025
Virtual asynchronous; PowerPoint. For questions, email Kayla Turner or CEHD Student and Academic Affairs.
Literacy Program
Literacy Program New Student Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Tuesday, August 13, 2024, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Check your email in early August for an invitation with log-in information.
For questions, email literacy@gmu.edu.
Mathematics Specialist Leadership MEd Program
Mathematics Specialist Leadership MEd Program Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Monday, August 12, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Zoom link.
For questions, email mchampa4@gmu.edu.
MS, Sport and Recreation Studies Program
SRST Graduate Orientation
In-person; Tuesday, August 27, 2024, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm, Krug Hall 112 at the Fairfax Campus.
For questions, email Melissa Busillo.
PhD in Education Program
PhD in Education, Education Leadership Concentration, PhD Academic and Networking Event
Ready, Set, PHorwarD! Annual Academic Welcome & Networking Event
In-person; Saturday, August 24, 2024, from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at Merten Hall 1201.
For questions, email jstahle@gmu.edu.
Secondary Education (SEED) Program
New Student Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Wednesday, August 14, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Zoom link.
Internship Orientation
In-person; Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Horizon Hall 1014.
For questions, email mspeier@gmu.edu.
Special Education & Assistive Technology Programs
Graduate Orientation for Special Education & Assistive Technology Programs (non-cohort)
Virtual synchronous; Tuesday, August 20, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Zoom link. For questions, email speced@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
Data Analytics Engineering Program
Fall 2024 DAEN Graduate Orientation
In person; Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 4:00pm - 6:00pm at Engineering Building, Jajodia Auditorium, Fairfax Campus. For questions, email datamine@gmu.edu
Department of Statistics
Fall 2024 Statistics Graduate Orientation
In-person; Friday, August 23, 2024, from 2:00pm - 3:30pm at Engineering Building, Room 4201, Fairfax Campus. For questions, email statgrad@gmu.edu
Information Technology PhD Program
PhD INFT Fall 2024 Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Wednesday, August 28, 2024, from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Zoom link. For questions, email cecgs@gmu.edu.
Systems Engineering and Operations Research Department
Fall 2024 SEOR Graduate Orientation
Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person); Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Engineering Building Room 2901. Zoom option. For questions, email SEOR Department at 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
Anthropology MA Program
Anthropology MA Program Orientation
In-person; Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 4:30 pm at Horizon Hall 6323.
For questions, email the Director of Graduate Studies in Anthropology at hliu27@gmu.edu.
Art History MA Program
MA Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Friday, August 23, 2024, from 12:00 pm. A Zoom link will be sent to all incoming students.
For questions, email rdecarol@gmu.edu.
Communication MA&PHD
Communication MA Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Friday, May 17, 2024, at 1:00 pm. A Zoom link was provided,
Email commgrad@gmu.edu for the link to the recording.
Communication PhD Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Friday, June 14, 2024, at 12:00 pm. A Zoom link was provided,
Email commgrad@gmu.edu for the link to the recording.
Cultural Studies PhD Program
Cultural Studies PhD Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Zoom link. For questions, email Sean Dixon.
Department of Criminology, Law and Society; PhD in Criminology, Law and Society Program
PhD in Criminology, Law and Society New Graduate Student Orientation
In-person; Tuesday, August 20, 2024, from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm at Enterprise Hall, Room 318. For questions, email CLS Graduate Programs.
Department of Economics Graduate Programs
New Graduate Student Orientation
Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person); Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Buchanan Hall Room D023 and Atrium (1st Floor), Fairfax Campus. Event link. For questions, email the Economics Department Graduate Studies Office.
Department of Psychology
Fall 2024 Psychology New Graduate Student Orientation
In-person; Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 11:00am - 3:30pm at David King Hall, Room 1006, Fairfax Campus. For questions, email tboeddeka@gmu.edu
Global Affairs MA program
Global Affairs MA Orientation
Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person); Wednesday, August 28, 2024, from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm at Horizon Hall 4016 / Zoom link. (It will be posted here.) For questions, email globalma@gmu.edu.
Higher Education Program
HEP New Student Orientation
Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person); Monday, August 19, 2024, from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at Enterprise Hall, Room 318. For questions, email hepadmin@gmu.edu.
Linguistics PhD Program and MA Concentration
Graduate Orientation
Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person); Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Horizon Hall 4225 and Zoom. For questions, email Sylvia Schreiner at sschrei2@gmu.edu.
Modern and Classical Languages Graduate Programs
Fall 2024 Modern and Classical Languages Graduate Welcome Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Friday, August 23, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Registration link.
For questions, email mclgrad@gmu.edu.
Master of Professional Studies in Applied Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Fall 2024 New Student Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Tuesday, August 20, 2024, from 7:00pm - 8:30pm. Zoom link will be sent to all new students. For questions, email aahmad14@gmu.edu
MS in Criminal Justice Program
MS/BAM in Criminal Justice New Student Orientation
In-person; Tuesday, August 20, 2024, from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm in Fenwick Library, Room 1014B (Fairfax campus).
For questions, email CLS Graduate Programs.
Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
MAIS New-Student Drop-in Session
Virtual synchronous; Tuesday, August 13, 2024, from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. Zoom link will be sent to new students to their Mason email in August.
For questions, email mais@gmu.edu.
Fall 2024 MAIS Blackboard Orientation Module
Virtual asynchronous; You can find this module by logging into your Blackboard. Once logged in, click the "Organizations" tab on the left side of the screen. Once clicked, you will see an organization labeled "Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Students." Click this organization, and it will take you to the orientation module. The tabs "GMU Information" and "MAIS Information" are not a part of the required module but are there as helpful links to help with any questions you may have during your time as a student at Mason.
For questions, email mais@gmu.edu.
Sociology PhD and MA Program
Orientation and Welcome Reception
You will be invited via email. For questions, email kfoarde@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
College of Public Health (CPH)
CPH Graduate Student Orientation
In-person; Thursday, September 22, 2024, from 4:30 – 7:00 pm at Peterson Family Health Sciences Hall, Lobby, Fairfax Campus. For more information: CPH Graduate Student Orientation. For questions, email: College of Public Health Graduate Admissions.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
College of Science
College of Science
ScienceConnect: Fairfax Campus
In person; September 5, 2024, from 12:30-4:30pm; Fairfax Campus. Questions, contact cosgrad@gmu.edu.
ScienceConnect: SciTech Campus
In person; September 10, 2024, from 11:30am-1:30pm; SciTech Campus. Questions, contact cosgrad@gmu.edu.
Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2)
EMDP2 Orientation
Event is for students enrolled in EMDP2 ONLY. In-person; July 2, 2024, from 8-11:30am; Exploratory Hall 1450, Fairfax campus. Questions, contact cosgrad@gmu.edu.
Environmental Science & Policy
ESP Grad Meet & Greet
In person; September 06, 2024, from 2-4pm; 3rd Floor, David King Hall, Fairfax campus. Register here. Questions, contact espgrad@gmu.edu.
ESP Grad Orientation GSA
Virtual synchronous; August 23, 2024, from 4-5pm; Zoom link, Questions, contact espgrad@gmu.edu.
Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic & Earth Sciences
Fall 2024 AOES Graduate Orientation
In-person; Thursday, August 15, 2024, from 9:00am - 2:00 pm at Exploratory Hall, Room 3301, Fairfax Campus. For questions, email ggilleau@gmu.edu
Mathematics
Math Department Open House
In person; September 04, 2024, from 2-3:30pm; 4th Floor, Exploratory Hall, Fairfax campus. For information, click here. Questions, contact gradmath@gmu.edu.
Physics and Astronomy
Welcome and New Students Orientation
In person; August 23, 2024, from 12-5pm; 112 and 228 Planetary Hall, Fairfax campus. Questions, contact Brooke Vaughn.
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
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Off to a Great StART: Virtual Graduate Student Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 3:00pm. Registration Link
For additional resources, visit:
https://cvpa.calendar.gmu.edu/
https://cvpa.gmu.edu/academics/graduate-student-resources
For questions, email 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
MBA
MBA Orientation
In-person; Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm in Van Metre Hall 125 and 126 (Mason Square campus).
For questions, email mba@gmu.edu.
MS in Real Estate Development
MRED Orientation & Ground Breaking
In-person; Orientation on Thursday, August 8, 2024, from 4:00-5:00 pm in Van Metre Hall room 416 (located within the Costello College of Business suite, Van Metre Hall room 402) -- Mason Square campus. Groundbreaking to follow orientation: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in Van Metre Hall 125 and 126 (Mason Square campus). For questions, email mabough2@gmu.edu.
MS in Accounting, MS in Business Analytics, MS in Finance, and MS in Management
Program Immersion
In-person; Friday, August 23, 2024, from 1:00-5:30 pm in Merten Hall 1201 (Fairfax campus). A networking reception will follow program immersion beginning at 5:30 pm in the Corner Pocket (located in the HUB at the Fairfax campus).
For questions:
MS in Accounting students should contact msa@gmu.edu.
MS in Business Analytics students should contact msba@gmu.edu.
MS in Finance students should contact busmsf@gmu.edu.
MS in Management students should contact sgarci3@gmu.edu.
PhD in Business
PhD in Business Orientation
In-person; Thursday, August 22, and Friday, August 23, 2024, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. To be held at 9900 Main Street.
For questions, email sgarci3@gmu.edu.
Graduate Certificates in Business
Business Certificates Orientation
Virtual synchronous; Saturday, August 24, 2024, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm on Zoom.
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
Schar School of Policy and Government, Masters and PhD Programs
Schar School of Policy and Government, Master and PhD New Student Orientations
Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in person); 08/24/2024; 8am-2pm. Our website will list this information by the end of the month.
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
University Life Orientations and Welcome Events
Below you will find orientations and welcome events that are for new graduate and professional students.
International Programs and Services & Graduate Student Life
International Graduate Student Orientation
In-person; 8/21/2024; 9am-2pm; Johnson Center Dewberry Hall, Fairfax Campus. Check out our webpage for all you need to know: https://oips.gmu.edu/attend-orientation/. Registration: http://go.gmu.edu/IGSORegistration. For questions, email oipsprog@gmu.edu or gradlife@gmu.edu.
University Life Mason Square
Mason Square Arlington Welcome Fair
In-person; 8/29/2024; 4:00pm - 7:00pm; The Plaza at Mason Square, Mason Square Arlington. For more information, visit ulmasonsquare.gmu.edu. For questions, email ularl@gmu.edu
Cinema on the Plaza - "My Cousin Vinny"
In-person; Friday, August 16, 2024. Event starts at 7:00pm, movie starts at 8:00pm. Plaza at Mason Square, Mason Square Arlington. For more information, visit ulmasonsquare.gmu.edu. For questions, email ularl@gmu.edu
University Life at SciTech
SciTech Fall Welcome Fair
In-person; 8/27/2024; 11:00am - 2:30pm; Katherine Johnson Hall, Katherine Johnson Atrium, SciTech Campus. For questions, email 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.