Graduate Policies

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• Student Classification 
• Full-time Classification
• Academic Advising 
• Student Status 
  (Change from nondegree status, removing provisional qualifier, permission to re-enroll, voluntary resignation from graduate academic program)
• Credit by Exam, Reduction or Transfer 
  (Credit by external exam, reduction of credit, transfer of credit, permission to study elsewhere)
• Graduate Grading 
• Graduate Academic Standing 
  (Academic warning, academic termination, academic dismissal)
• Combined Bachelor’s and Accelerated Master’s Degrees 
• Requirements for Graduate Certificates 
• Requirements for Master’s Degrees 
• Requirements for Doctoral Degrees

At the graduate level, Mason offers certificates and master’s and doctoral degrees. There are also a number of combined bachelor’s and accelerated master’s degree programs for academically strong undergraduates with a commitment to research. 

Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is the governing body for all graduate academic policies and procedures. The council approves all new graduate programs; authorizes all graduate course work, policies, and degrees conferred by the university; and sets minimum standards for admission to and graduation from any graduate program. These are minimum standards that all programs must meet; individual programs may set and enforce higher standards. The Office of the Provost administers university graduate policies for the Graduate Council.

Graduate Faculty

The graduate faculty consists of all George Mason University tenured and tenure-track faculty. Other Mason faculty members, as well as individuals from outside the university, may be appointed to the graduate faculty by the Provost for a specified duration of time.

Student Classification

Students may access graduate classes and programs according to their status as nondegree or enrolled degree students. For more information, see the Admission  chapter of this catalog.

Full-Time Classification

Graduate students are considered full time if they are enrolled in at least 9 graduate credits per semester or hold a full-time assistantship (total 20 hours a week) and are enrolled in at least 6 graduate credits per semester.

Master’s students may enroll in 1 credit of 799 and be considered full time only if they have completed 3 credits of 799 and the student along with their advisor and department chair certify each semester that the student is working full time on the thesis. See the Master’s Thesis section for more information regarding 799.

Doctoral students who are enrolled in dissertation credits (either 998 or 999) are considered full time if they are enrolled in at least 6 credits per semester, regardless of whether they hold an assistantship. Doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy and have completed the minimum number of credits required by the university and their degree program, including the minimum number of credits of 998 and 999, are considered full time if they are registered for at least 1 credit of 999 and the student along with their advisor and department chair certify each semester that they are working full time on the dissertation. See the Dissertation Registration section for more information regarding 998 and 999.

To be considered as full time under the aforementioned clauses, a student must complete and submit the appropriate forms to the Office of the University Registrar prior to the first day of classes for the semester.

Different requirements for full-time status may apply for tuition, verification, loan deferral, and financial aid. Contact Student Accounts, the Office of the University Registrar, and Student Financial Aid, respectively, for more information. Note that the official designation of time status for all students is determined by the Office of the University Registrar.

Academic Advising

When a student is admitted to graduate study, the student is assigned a faculty advisor by the academic program responsible for the student’s program of study. Registration for newly admitted graduate students, as well as continuing students, begins with a visit to the student’s academic advisor. There, the student can obtain information about specific courses and degree requirements and develop an individual program of study. Progress in an approved program of study is the shared responsibility of the student and the advisor. The graduate student is responsible for compliance with the policies and procedures of the college, school, or institute, and all applicable departmental requirements that govern the individual program of study. Students should consult with their advisors before registration each semester.

Student Status

Change from Nondegree Status

A student admitted for graduate study in nondegree status may apply to obtain degree status within the same program. All admission requirements (as defined by the student’s program for degree status) must be met, including official transcripts and letters of recommendation. If the student intends to use credits earned in nondegree status toward a degree, the credits must be approved on the Graduate Transfer of Credit Request form. The credit must have been earned within six years prior to first enrollment as an admitted student in the specific certificate or degree program, and a minimum grade of B (3.00) must have been earned. There is a limit on the number of credits that can be transferred when changing from nondegree to degree status; please see the applicable degree program for specific information.

Removing Provisional Qualifier

For policies concerning students admitted provisionally, see the Graduate Admission Policies section in the Admission  chapter of this catalog.

Permission to Re-Enroll

Permission to re-enroll in a program must be obtained by all master’s and doctoral degree students who have failed to enroll in at least 1 credit of course work for two or more consecutive semesters at Mason. A program may allow a student to petition to graduate under any catalog in effect while the student was enrolled. All program components, including concentrations, must appear in the catalog for the year selected. The final decision as to catalog year rests with the unit dean or director. The Graduate Reenrollment form is available at registrar.gmu.edu.

Voluntary Resignation from Graduate Academic Program

Degree-seeking students may officially resign from their academic program with the approval of their department or program chair and their dean. The Voluntary Resignation form must be approved by the student’s program and Student Accounts, then submitted to the Office of the University Registrar for notation on the transcript. Resignations after the drop period will result in grades of W on the student’s transcript for that semester, and removal from any future registered courses. Program resignation is final. Students who have been granted a resignation will not be able to register for any courses unless admitted to another degree program or nondegree status in a different program.

Credit by Exam, Reduction or Transfer

Credit by External Exam

Degree credit for satisfactory completion of an external exam is limited to those exams and achievement levels specifically approved by the Graduate Council.

Reduction of Credit

The number of credits required by a doctoral, master of fine arts, or master’s program of more than 39 credits may be reduced on the basis of a previously earned master’s degree. Reduction of credit requires the approval of the program director and the dean or director of the school, college, or institute. They determine whether the credits are eligible for reduction of credit and applicable to the degree program and the number of credits to be reduced. Reduction of credit is limited to a maximum of 30 credits in a doctoral program, 20 in an MFA program, and 18 in the MA in psychology concentration in school psychology, and derive from the degree requirements given below.

Students requesting a reduction of credit must supply official transcripts.  For transcripts from outside the United States, students must supply an official transcript evaluation and an official translation for transcripts not in English if these documents were not supplied in the admission process. Reduction-of-credit requests from students who are admitted provisionally are not considered until the students have fulfilled the conditions of their admission and had the provisional qualifier removed from their records.

Credits used in reduction of credit are not subject to time limits, and the credits must have been applied to a previous degree. All the other conditions given above for eligibility of transfer of credit apply also to reduction of credits.

Transfer of Credit

Graduate credit earned prior to admission to a certificate, master’s, or doctoral program may be eligible to be transferred into the program and applied to the certificate or degree. Transfer of credit requires the approval of the program director and dean or director of the school, college, or institute. They will determine whether the credit is eligible for transfer and applicable to the specific certificate or degree program. Note that credits accepted for transfer do not compute into any Mason GPA. Limits on the number of credits that can be transferred derive from the degree requirements given below.

Credit is usually considered for transfer at the student’s request at the time of initial registration as a degree-seeking student. Students must supply official transcripts.  For transcripts from outside the United States, students must supply an official transcript evaluation and an official translation for transcripts not in English if these documents were not supplied in the admission process. Credit transfer requests from students who are admitted provisionally are not considered until they have fulfilled the conditions of their admission and the provisional qualifier has been removed from their records.

To be eligible for transfer credit, the credit must be graduate credit earned at another accredited university, earned at another institution and recommended for graduate credit in the American Council on Education guidebook, or earned at Mason while in a nondegree status or enrolled through extended studies. The credit must have been earned within six years prior to first enrollment as an admitted student in the specific certificate or degree program, and a minimum grade of B (3.00) must have been earned. The course must be applicable toward a degree at the institution offering the course. Extension and in-service courses that are not intended by the institution offering the courses to be applied to a degree program are not eligible for transfer credit to Mason. The credits cannot have been previously applied toward a degree at another institution or Mason; however, up to 3 credits previously applied to a degree program at another institution may be transferred into a certificate program at Mason.

Permission to Study Elsewhere

Students enrolled in a degree program may take graduate courses at another accredited institution and apply these credits to a master’s or doctoral degree with prior approval. Approval must be secured in writing from the director of the graduate program and the dean or director of the school, college, or institute, and submitted to Mason’s Office of the University Registrar before registering at the other institution. Upon completion of the course, students must arrange for an official transcript to be submitted to Mason so that the credits may be transferred into their Mason degree program. These credits are subject to all the other conditions given above for transfer credit, including limits on numbers of credits that can be taken elsewhere. Note that credits accepted for transfer do not compute into any Mason GPA. Permission to take a course elsewhere does not exempt a graduate student from satisfying the degree requirements given below.

Enrolled, degree-seeking graduate students may be eligible to take a limited number of courses through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. See the University Consortium section in the Registration, Attendance, and Grading  chapter of this catalog. Credits earned through the consortium are considered resident, not transfer, credits, and are therefore not subject to transfer of credit conditions or limitations.

Graduate Grading

The university-wide system for grading graduate courses is as follows:

* Although a B- is a satisfactory grade for a course, students must maintain a 3.00 average in their degree program and present a 3.00 GPA on the courses listed on the graduation application.

Information about additional grade notations that apply to graduate students as well as undergraduates may be found in the Academic Policies section of the catalog under Grading System .

Graduate Academic Standing

Academic Warning

A notation of academic warning is entered on the transcript of a graduate student who receives a grade of C or F in a graduate course or while a grade of IN is in effect.

Academic Termination

Although the university will make every effort to notify students when their performance reaches the threshold for termination, each student is responsible for knowing the termination criteria, for knowing when their grades have met the standard and for initiating any appeal to their dean. Once the appeal period has expired, or the student’s appeal has been denied, a letter of termination is sent by the dean or director of the school, college, or institute, and notification of academic termination is affixed to the graduate student’s official record. Students who are terminated are no longer eligible to take courses in the program, but may apply to another degree program or may apply to take courses in other programs through non-degree studies.

Academic Dismissal

A degree-seeking graduate student is dismissed after accumulating grades of F in two courses or a total of 9 credits of unsatisfactory grades (C or below) in graduate courses. These are minimum standards of academic performance; some programs have higher standards. Although the university will make every effort to notify students when their performance reaches the threshold for dismissal, each student is responsible for knowing the dismissal criteria for degree-seeking graduate students at Mason, for knowing when their grades have met the standard, and for initiating any appeal to their dean. A student may also be dismissed for failure to meet other program requirements such as doctoral competence exams. Note that the university reserves the right to dismiss any student based on cancellation (by the testing administrator) of any test score required for admission. The notation of academic dismissal is affixed to the graduate student’s official record. A student who is dismissed may not take additional course work at Mason.

Combined Bachelor’s and Accelerated Master’s Degrees

The university offers a number of combined bachelor’s and accelerated master’s degree programs for academically strong Mason undergraduates with a commitment to research or graduate or professional studies. Students admitted into these programs may take a number of graduate courses in their field of study (with permission from their undergraduate and graduate advisors) after achieving 90 undergraduate credits and fulfilling all prerequisites. A maximum of 6 graduate credits completed with a 3.00 GPA or better in each course will apply to the undergraduate degree and give the student advanced standing in the related Mason master’s program. A maximum of 6 graduate credits may also be taken as reserve graduate credit and only applied to the master’s. See Graduate Course Enrollment by Undergraduates section in the Registration, Attendance, and Grading  chapter of this catalog.

Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master’s degree, including a minimum of 18 applicable graduate credits taken after the bachelor’s degree has been completed and posted to the student’s academic record. More information is available in the various schools and institutes. Admission is competitive; undergraduates are advised to inquire early in their undergraduate careers. Applications must be approved by the undergraduate coordinator in the student’s major program, the graduate coordinator in the graduate school or department, and the relevant graduate associate dean. The university waives the graduate application fee for Mason undergraduates.

Requirements for Graduate Certificates

Candidates must satisfy all applicable university requirements and all requirements established by the graduate certificate program faculty. Individual departmental graduate certificate requirements are listed under their academic departments in this catalog. Note that the following are university minimum requirements; individual programs may have higher standards and/or more restrictive requirements.

• Graduate certificate programs require a minimum of 12 graduate credits.
• Only graduate courses may apply toward the graduate certificate.
• A maximum of 3 graduate credits taken at another institution can be transferred into a graduate certificate program. See Credit by Exam or From Other Institutions section.
• Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in course work presented on the certificate application, which may include no more than 3 credits of C. (Grades of C+, C-, and D do not apply to graduate courses.) The GPA calculation excludes transfer credits.
• Certificate students are subject to graduate termination and dismissal policies.

Students in Master’s or Doctoral Programs also Pursuing Graduate Certificates

Admission
Students must be admitted to the master’s or doctoral program in degree status. They must also be admitted to the graduate certificate program at least one semester before completion of certificate requirements.

Course Work in Degree Status
More than half of the credits required for the certificate program must be taken in degree status for the master’s or doctoral degree.

Time Limits
The time limits coincide with the six-year time limit for master’s degrees or the six-year time limit for advancement to candidacy in a doctoral degree. Master’s and doctoral time limit rules apply.

Multiple Programs
Students may be enrolled in one graduate certificate program while they pursue a master’s or doctoral degree. Students who have completed a graduate certificate may subsequently be approved to apply many of the credit hours for that one certificate to a graduate degree, as long as they were taken within six years of official enrollment into the degree program. There is no limitation on the sharing of credits between the graduate degree and one certificate.

Students in Graduate Certificate Programs Only

Admission
Students pursuing graduate certificates must be admitted to Mason in degree-seeking status. Failure to make satisfactory progress (as determined by the academic unit) toward certificate requirements may result in termination from the certificate program.

Course Work After Admission
More than half of the credits required for the graduate certificate program must be taken after admission to that program.

Time Limits
The time limit for completion is six years from the date of admission to the graduate certificate program. International students attending in F-1 or J-1 status have more restrictive time limits; contact the Office of International Programs and Services for information. The time limit is not extended because of an absence and subsequent re-enrollment into the graduate certificate program. Failure to meet the time limit or to secure an extension request may result in termination from the program.

Multiple Programs
Students not admitted to any graduate degree program (master’s or doctoral) may be admitted to two graduate certificate programs at the same time. The graduation application for each graduate certificate must include a minimum of 12 credits that apply only to that certificate and not to another. (Credits from only one certificate may be subsequently applied to a future degree program, subject to program approval and time limit.)

Financial Aid for Students in Certificate Programs Only

Not all certificate programs are eligible for Federal financial aid.

Requirements for Master’s Degrees

Candidates must satisfy all applicable university degree requirements and all requirements established by the master’s program faculty. Individual departmental degree requirements are listed under the respective master’s programs in this catalog. Programs may impose more stringent requirements.

• Admission. Candidates must have been officially admitted into degree status.
• Credit Hours. Candidates must earn a minimum of 30 graduate credits.
• Credit Level. Only graduate courses may apply toward the degree.
• Institutional Credit. The majority of the credits applied to the degree must be earned at Mason or, in the case of programs offered through joint, cooperative, or consortial arrangements, at the participating institutions.
• Residency. A minimum of 18 credits must be taken in degree status, after admission to the degree program.
• Thesis/Project Limits. A maximum of 6 credits of master’s thesis research (799) or master’s project may be applied to the degree.
• Quality. Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in course work presented on the degree application, which may include no more than 6 credits of C. (Grades of C+, C-, or D do not apply to graduate courses. The GPA calculation excludes all transfer courses and Mason nondegree studies credits not formally approved for the degree.)

Thesis Options

Requirements regarding a thesis vary with the degree program. A number of master’s programs offer both thesis and nonthesis options. The same quality of work is expected of students regardless of their chosen option. For more information, consult the section on degree requirements under each degree program.

Time Limit

Master’s degree students have six years from the time of first enrollment as a degree-seeking student to complete their degrees. Individual master’s programs may have stricter time limits, which are published in this catalog. International students attending in F-1 or J-1 status also have more restrictive time limits; contact the Office of International Programs and Services for information.  Students who are given permission to re-enroll following an absence from Mason may not count the six-year time limit as beginning on the date of re-enrollment. Students who will not meet published time limits because of circumstances beyond their control may petition for an extension. Failure to meet the time limits or to secure approval of an extension request may result in termination from the program.

Master’s Thesis

When a thesis proposal has been approved by the appropriate department, the department chair sends the collegiate dean or director a copy of the thesis proposal, including the approval signatures of the master’s thesis committee members. Students may enroll in thesis research (799) at the beginning of the next semester. Students must register for a minimum of three credit hours in their first semester of 799.  After that semester, students may enroll for one credit of 799 per semester and be considered full time, if the following requirement is met: the student, advisor and department chair must certify each semester that the student is working full time on the thesis. Please note: Master’s students must maintain continuous enrollment in 799 while writing and submitting a thesis. Students registered in 799 are graded IP until work is complete; at that time they are graded S/NC, and previous IP grades are updated by the Office of the University Registrar to reflect the final S or NC grade. Graduation candidates who miss the library deadline for thesis submission, but do submit officially before the next semester begins, do not have to register for 799 in that next semester, but must stay active to graduate.

The master’s thesis committee is composed of at least three members of the graduate faculty, at least two of whom must be from the student’s department or program. Faculty who are not members of the graduate faculty or other appropriate persons not affiliated with the university may serve as additional members. Committee members are appointed by the chair or director of the academic unit or program, or designee, after consultation with the student’s adviser and the student.

The thesis committee chair is primarily responsible for directing the candidate’s research and writing activities. The student is responsible for keeping all committee members informed of the scope, plan, and progress of the research as well as the writing of the thesis.

Students selecting the thesis option should obtain a copy of Mason’s Thesis, Dissertation, or Project Guide, which is available at thesis.gmu.edu. Students may register in 799 only after their thesis proposal has been submitted and approved as prescribed in the guide. Any student not in attendance at Mason who is preparing a thesis under the active supervision of a member of the faculty or wishes to take an exam must maintain continuous registration in 799 for at least 1 credit per semester.

Thesis Submission

The university has a policy on the dissemination of scholarly works created by graduate students. The Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETDs) program encourages masters-level graduate students to submit an electronic copy of their thesis for broad scholarly dissemination through the Mason Archival Repository Service (MARS). Student participation in the ETDs program is strongly encouraged, but not mandatory. All students choosing to participate in this program will be required to sign the MARS Author/Contributor Permission Agreement.

On or before the thesis deadline for any semester, the student will submit a complete (signed Signature Sheet through Curriculum Vitae) 100% cotton copy of his or her thesis to the University Libraries along with a transmittal sheet. The student may also opt to submit an electronic copy of his/her thesis. These submissions can be in Word, WordPerfect, or in portable document format (PDF). Media formats (tiff, jpeg, png, wav, avi, mpeg, mov, rm, wmv, wma, etc.) for supporting materials will also be accepted. Datasets may be accepted at the discretion of the libraries. The files may be submitted on CD, DVD, or USB memory device. Please note that those students opting out of the ETDs program are required to submit two 100% cotton copies of their thesis.

For degree conferral in a particular semester, the above materials must be submitted to the library by 5 p.m. on the last Friday of classes in that semester. For specific deadlines and other information, go to registrar.gmu.edu.

Doctoral Students Also Pursuing a First Master’s Degree

Requirements for master’s degrees apply with the following exceptions. Residency derives from the doctoral degree requirements. Time limit may derive from the doctoral requirements, although programs may reject course work that is not sufficiently current. Students must be officially admitted to degree status in the master’s program a full semester before the one in which they will complete master’s degree requirements, i.e. admitted in fall for graduation the following spring.

Requirements for Doctoral Degrees

Candidates must satisfy all applicable university degree requirements and all requirements established by the doctoral program faculty. Departmental degree requirements are listed under the respective doctoral programs in this catalog. Programs may impose more stringent requirements.

• Admission. Students must have been fully admitted into degree status.
• Credit Hours. Candidates must earn a minimum of 72 graduate credits, which may be reduced by a maximum of 30 credits from a completed master’s degree or other suitable, approved transfer work. (see Credit by Exam, Reduction or Transfer )
• Degree Credit. The remaining 42 credits for students with a master’s degree may apply only to the doctoral degree and not to a second master’s degree.
• Credit Level. Only graduate courses may apply toward the degree.
• Institutional Credit. More than half of all credits applied to the doctoral degree (minimum 72) must be earned at Mason or in the case of programs offered through joint, cooperative, or consortium arrangements, at the participating institutions.
• Residency. More than half of all credits (minimum 72) must be taken in doctoral degree status, after admission to the degree program.
• Candidacy. Candidates must pass a written or oral doctoral candidacy (qualifying) exam, or both.
• Dissertation. Candidates must complete a minimum of 12 credits of doctoral proposal (998) and doctoral dissertation research (999), including at least three credits of 999. A maximum of 24 credits of 998 and 999 may be applied to the degree.
• Defense. Candidates must pass a final public defense of the doctoral dissertation.
• Quality. Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in course work presented on the degree application, which may include no more than 6 credits of C. (Grades of C+, C-, or D do not apply to graduate courses. The GPA calculation excludes all transfer courses and Mason extended studies or nondegree credits not formally approved for the degree.)

Time Limit

Total time to degree will not exceed eleven (11) calendar years from the time of first enrollment as a doctoral degree-seeking student. Doctoral students are expected to advance to candidacy in no more than six years and to complete all other degree requirements for graduation in no more than five years from the time of advancement to candidacy. Students who will not meet published time limits because of circumstances beyond their control may petition for an extension. Extensions to the time limit for advancement to candidacy may be granted for a maximum period of one calendar year. The one year extension granted to advance to candidacy will run concurrently with the five years provided to complete the dissertation. The total time limit to degree will not exceed eleven (11) years even for those students granted a time extension for advancement to candidacy. Students who are given permission to re-enroll following an absence from Mason may not count the time limits as beginning on the date of re-enrollment. Failure to meet the time limits or to secure approval of an extension request may result in termination from the program. International students attending in F-1 or J-1 status also have more restrictive limits to advance to candidacy and to complete the degree, and cannot expect the maximum 11 year deadline to apply to them. Students should contact the Office of International Programs and Services for information.

Doctoral Research Skill Requirements

Some doctoral degree programs require demonstration of proficiency in a research skill, including knowledge of the research literature in a foreign language, computer language, statistical methods, or a research tool specific to the discipline. Research skill requirements are included with the degree requirements for the specific doctoral degree. Where demonstration of research skills is required, certification that this requirement has been met must be completed for advancement to candidacy.

Program of Study

Usually before the end of the second year of graduate study but no later than consideration for advancement to candidacy, doctoral students must submit a program of study for approval by the dean or director of the college, school, or institute. The program of study must include major courses and supporting courses to be completed, research skills required, subject areas to be covered by the candidacy exam, and a proposed date for the candidacy exam. Program of Study Forms are available from each program’s doctoral coordinator. Any changes in the programs of study must be documented with an amended Program of Study Form.

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to candidacy implies that a doctoral student has demonstrated both a breadth and a depth of knowledge in the field of study and is capable of exploring problems on the boundaries of knowledge, and has identified a research area that is likely to lead to a successful dissertation. The candidacy exam includes a written part and may include an oral part, depending on the particular doctoral program. Doctoral students should consult the degree requirements for each doctoral program to determine whether an oral portion is required, whether it is judged separately or with the written portion, the number of times a failed candidacy exam may be repeated and any associated time limits, and any time limits for attempting the candidacy exam.

Before doctoral students may be advanced to candidacy by the unit dean or director, they must have completed all course work as indicated on the approved program of study, been certified in all doctoral research skills required, passed the candidacy exam, and been recommended by the doctoral supervisory committee or program coordinator. Students advanced to candidacy after the add period for a given semester must wait until the following semester to register for 999 Dissertation Research.

Dissertation Committee

Before a doctoral student is advanced to candidacy, the dean or director of the school, college, or institute or its designee (as specified by the school/college/institute) appoints a dissertation committee upon recommendation of the student’s dissertation chair. Students work collaboratively with the program director and faculty to form the dissertation committee, with the understanding that some areas of research may be impossible to support due to available faculty expertise. Program personnel will facilitate the formation of the dissertation committee to the extent possible, but there can be no guarantee of successful formation.

All dissertation committees must consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty, at least two of whom must be from the student’s academic unit or program faculty. The committee consists of a dissertation chair, typically a graduate faculty member from the department or program of the student’s field of study and at least two other members of the graduate faculty. Only a graduate faculty member with a full-time appointment at George Mason University may serve as dissertation chair. Other Mason faculty, as well as individuals from outside the university, may be appointed as additional members to the committee. Such appointments are made where the additional member’s expertise and contribution add value to the dissertation, but appointment does not require graduate faculty status.

Student-initiated changes in the composition of the dissertation committee may occur only with the approval of the dean or director of the school, college, or institute or its designee in consultation with the committee. Faculty may resign from a dissertation committee with appropriate notice by submitting a written resignation.

Dissertation Registration (998, 999)

Students working on dissertation research (999) must register for a minimum of 3 credits of 999 per semester (excluding summers) until they have completed the minimum number of credits of 998 and 999 required by the university and their degree program. Then, they must register for 1 credit of 999 until the dissertation is complete and has been officially submitted to the library. See the Full-time classification section for more information. Students registered in 998 or 999 are graded IP until work in 998 or 999, respectively, is complete; at that time they are graded S/NC, and previous IP grades are updated by the Office of the University Registrar to reflect the final S or NC grade.

All registration for doctoral dissertation research (999) must be planned with the dissertation director and approved by the dean or director of the school, college, or institute. Dissertation research (999) is open only to doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy. Once enrolled in 999, students must maintain continuous registration in 999 each semester until graduation, excluding summers. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least 1 credit of 999 in the summer. Individual doctoral programs may require continuous registration beginning with 998. Graduation candidates who miss the library deadline for dissertation submission, but do submit officially before the next semester begins, do not have to register for 999 in that next semester, but must stay active to graduate.

It is the student’s responsibility to complete registration for dissertation proposal (998) or research (999) prior to the first day of classes for the semester. If this date is missed, students must still enroll in these courses via Add or Late Schedule Adjustment procedures and are subject to Late Registration fees. Failing to register on time in a particular semester does not alter the requirement for continuous registration in 999.

Doctoral Dissertation

A dissertation is required for the doctor of philosophy degree and most professional doctoral degrees. The dissertation is a written piece of original thinking that demonstrates doctoral candidates’ mastery of subject matter, methodologies, and conceptual foundations in their chosen field of study. This is generally achieved through consideration of a problem on the boundaries of knowledge in the discipline.

The director of the dissertation committee is primarily responsible for directing the doctoral candidate’s research and guiding the preparation of the written dissertation. After the dissertation committee is appointed, the student should begin discussions with the director to define a suitable problem for the dissertation. Before the student may enroll in doctoral dissertation research (999), the dissertation proposal must be approved by the dissertation committee and evidence of approval sent to the unit dean or director for approval. Before that time, the student may enroll in proposal research (998).

Guidelines for the content and general format of doctoral dissertations are in the Thesis, Dissertation, or Project Guide, which is available at thesis.gmu.edu. Consult a doctoral coordinator to determine which additional reference manuals are suitable.

Doctoral Defense

As soon as all degree requirements have been satisfied, including completion of the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral candidate may request a doctoral defense. Approval for the defense is given by the doctoral dissertation committee, department or program chair, and relevant dean or director of the school, college, or institute. Notice of a defense must be circulated to the university community two weeks before the defense date. The public defense should demonstrate the candidate’s maturity of judgment and intellectual command of the chosen branches of the field of study.

At the close of the final defense, the dissertation committee makes final judgments for approving the dissertation. The doctoral candidate is responsible for making all required changes promptly, submitting the original and required copies, and obtaining signatures. Final approval for the dissertation is given by the doctoral dissertation committee, department or program chair, and the relevant dean or director of the school, college, or institute, all of whom must sign the final copy.

For a dissertation to be approved, all members of the committee must sign. If a committee member refuses to do so, the student or any member of the committee may petition the unit dean or director for a review and ruling. The dean or director may seek the advice of outside reviewers to provide an assessment of the work. The final decision is that of the dean or director, and is not subject to appeal.

Dissertation Submission and Fees

The university has a policy on the dissemination of scholarly works created by graduate students. The Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETDs) program encourages doctoral-level graduate students to submit an electronic copy of their dissertation for broad scholarly dissemination through the Mason Archival Repository Service (MARS). Student participation in the ETDs program is strongly encouraged, but not mandatory. All students choosing to participate in this program will be required to sign the MARS Author/Contributor Permission Agreement.

On or before the dissertation deadline for any semester, the student will submit a complete (signed Signature Sheet through Curriculum Vitae) 100% cotton copy of his or her dissertation to the University Libraries along with a transmittal sheet. The student will also submit an electronic copy of his or her dissertation. These submissions can be in Word, WordPerfect, or in portable document format (PDF). Media formats (tiff, jpeg, png, wav, avi, mpeg, mov, rm, wmv, wma, etc.) will be accepted. Datasets may be accepted at the discretion of the libraries. The files may be turned in on CD, DVD, or USB memory device. Please note that those students opting out of the ETDs program are required to submit two 100% cotton copies of their dissertation.

Submission of an additional PDF on CD of the dissertation to University Microfilms International (ProQuest) is required; a fee of either $55 or $150 (depending on publishing option chosen) is paid by the student for this process. Submission of a completed Survey of Earned Doctorates is also required. All copies of the dissertation must be submitted and all fees paid before the doctoral degree is awarded.

For degree conferral in a particular semester, the above materials must be submitted to the library by 5 p.m. on the last Friday of classes in that semester. (For specific deadlines and more information, go to registrar.gmu.edu). To be included in Mason’s published commencement program, doctoral students must submit materials to the library by the commencement program deadline.

University Dissertation and Thesis Services

University Dissertation and Thesis Services (UDTS) facilitates completion and submission of dissertations, theses, and graduate-level projects. The program assists Mason students in all stages of production. The UDTS web site, thesis.gmu.edu, provides students with useful tools, including downloadable templates of necessary elements, forms required for the submission process, and links to related web sites. Students completing a thesis or dissertation are required to complete a format review. UDTS is located in Fenwick Library, Special Collections and Archives, Wing 2C. For more information, contact the university dissertation and thesis coordinator at 703-993-2222.