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                                                               Web:  cornerstones.gmu.edu/ 
  
New Century College offers an interdisciplinary first-year program  known as Mason Cornerstones. This competitive admissions program is designed for students in eligible majors to fulfill core academic requirements. Cornerstones students benefit from small class sizes, experiential learning opportunities, exceptional academic advising, and access to the Cornerstones Living-Learning Community, a residence hall with other Cornerstones students where academic and social events are offered. 
Admissions
Freshmen may be  invited to participate based on academic record and other criteria considered during the university admissions review process. Only select majors at Mason can complete the general education requirements through the Cornerstones program. Please check the eligible majors list for those participating. Also note that some majors have specific general education requirements which would not be satisfied through Cornerstones. Confer with an advisor regarding specific course requirements. 
Curriculum
Cornerstones provides students with a foundation for education through a 24-credit program consisting of a sequence of four courses: 
NCLC 101, 102, and 203 are writing-intensive courses that emphasize  written communication as a way of thinking, discovering, and expressing  ideas. Students who complete these three courses with a minimum GPA of  2.0 have fulfilled 3 credits of the general education requirement in  written communication (equivalent to ENGH 101). Students who  successfully complete all of Mason Cornerstones with a minimum GPA of  2.00 will have also met the university general education requirements in  oral communication, information technology, literature, arts,  non-laboratory natural science, global understanding, Western  civilization, and social and behavioral science. 
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