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Archives: Programs

Computational Social Science (Graduate Certificate)

Program Description

The Computational Social Science Graduate Certificate equips students with in‑demand skills at the intersection of social science, data science, and computational analysis.

Designed for professionals and graduate students, the program focuses on applying computational methods, data analytics, modeling, and programming to understand complex social, economic, and political phenomena.

Students gain practical experience analyzing large‑scale social data and computational models relevant to fields such as public policy, government, business, research, and technology‑driven organizations.

The program is open to all students with graduate standing at George Mason University and all students who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university.

Biology (MS)

Program Description

This online master’s Biology program delivers rigorous, hands‑on training for college graduates and professionals preparing for careers in biomedical research, biotechnology, neuroscience, biodefense, evolutionary biology, animal biology, and biology education.

Students can specialize in high‑demand fields such as Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics, Evolutionary Biology, or Translational and Clinical Research.

For those seeking maximum flexibility, the General Biological Sciences option allows students to design a personalized course of study aligned with specific research interests or career goals. The program culminates in a thesis or project track, preparing graduates for doctoral study, industry roles, government laboratories, or education.

Geoinformatics & Geospatial Intelligence (MS)

Program Description

The Geoinformatics & Geospatial Intelligence (MS) program prepares students to meet the growing demand for professionals skilled in the collection, analysis, and visualization of geospatial data.

Offered 100% online, this master’s degree emphasizes computational and data‑driven approaches for analyzing geo‑referenced information related to physical environments, built infrastructure, human activity, and dynamic events over space and time.

Students gain advanced expertise in geospatial analytics, spatial modeling, and geoinformation science, positioning graduates for high‑impact careers in the federal workforce, intelligence community, research, and technology‑driven organizations.

Banner code: SC-MS-GEOI

Geography (BA/BS)

Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics prepare students to analyze complex economic issues and make data‑driven decisions in a global economy.

Offered 100% online through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University, this flexible undergraduate degree develops strong foundations in economic theory, quantitative analysis, and critical thinking.

Students can choose the BS track, with its emphasis on quantitative and analytical skills, or the BA track, which integrates economics with a broad liberal arts education preparing graduates for careers in government, business, consulting, and finance, as well as for graduate study in economics, law, public policy, or business.

The Geography BA and BS programs at Mason offer students the opportunity to study the integrated social and environmental processes that continuously shape and reshape the world we live in. Both degrees provide broad training across the core subdisciplines of geography—human, physical, and GIScience—preparing students to address complex local, regional, and global challenges. The BS program emphasizes application and technique-driven coursework, along with a strong foundation in science and mathematics, while the BA offers greater flexibility for students seeking a multidisciplinary educational experience. Graduates of either program will find a range of opportunities in the public and private sectors, as well as in academia, where geographers’ interdisciplinary approach and spatial perspective are in high demand.

The Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science fosters a supportive, active learning environment in which students are encouraged to work closely with both faculty and peers. The curriculum in this major provides students with the synthesis skills and broad base of knowledge that prepares them to be successful in an ever-evolving job market.

Banner code: SC‑BA‑GEOG / SC‑BS‑GEOG

Actuarial Sciences (Graduate Certificate)

Program Description

The Actuarial Sciences Graduate Certificate is designed to serve students and professionals who are interested in pursuing careers as actuaries. The course content provides students with specific training related to the following exams administered by the Society of Actuaries (SOA):

  • Financial Mathematics Exam
  • Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics Exam
  • Short-Term Actuarial Mathematics Exam
  • Statistics for Risk Modeling Exam
  • Investment and Financial Markets Exam

College Teaching (Graduate Certificate Offered by Higher Education Program)

Program Description

The certificate in College Teaching is designed for graduate students who are planning a career in undergraduate education. The program offers courses that enhance pedagogical skills and explore pedagogical assessment or scholarship with the use of technology in instruction.

Upon completion of the program, students will:

  • Understand and employ effective pedagogical approaches.
  • Become socialized members of a community of higher education professionals.
  • Examine current issues related to existing and emerging technologies for teaching and learning in theory and practice.

Higher Education Administration (Graduate Certificate)

Program Description

The Higher Education Administration Graduate Certificate is designed for individuals who are planning or enhancing a career in a broad range of administrative positions in higher education institutions. The certificate will provide core knowledge for administrative processes in the context of higher education institutions.

The graduate certificate in higher education administration may be pursued on a part-time or full-time basis.

Upon completion of the program, students will:

  • Understand and apply concepts of leadership, administration, and assessment through an interdisciplinary lens within the context of the complex higher education enterprise.
  • Become socialized members of a community of higher education professionals.
  • Understand and employ effective organizational and administrative approaches.
  • Examine current issues related to existing and emerging technologies in theory and practice.
  • Reflect on themselves as cultural beings and analyze how culture and history influence their work in higher education.
  • Value diversity, equity, and inclusion and meet multicultural competencies.
  • Use theory as a base from which to ground the practice of effective and ethical leadership, teaching, and administration.
  • Be prepared to implement programs and services that support institutional mission while adhering to oversight and accountability requirements.

Higher Education and Student Development (MA)

Program Description

The Higher Education and Student Development Program at George Mason University prepares individuals for positions of leadership in teaching, research, and administration at community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities around the globe. The interdisciplinary, graduate-level curriculum focuses on leadership, the scholarship of teaching and learning, administration, and assessment.

This 36 credit hour master’s degree prepares students for positions in academic and student affairs as well as in associations, government agencies, and industries whose activities relate to or impact higher education. Students in the Higher Education Program come from varied professional backgrounds in college teaching, university administration, business, the performing arts, and government, and bring a vast spectrum of experience to their studies.

The degree’s core coursework provides essential knowledge about the higher education enterprise. This includes the evolving nature of higher education and its foundational characteristics, students and their development, the management and administration of programs and services, and data driven practices; all in the context of the digital age. The current digital age provides extensive opportunities to communicate, teach, and learn through digital sources. Core courses provide a foundation in social sciences, quantitative reasoning, history, and digital media (e.g., pre and post refereed web writing, wikis, social media, open source learning, data visualization, digital textbooks, Google resources) with an emphasis on graduates’ capacity to apply course content and build skills to enhance educational opportunities in a budgetary constrained environment.

Women and Gender Studies (Graduate Certificate)

Program Description

The Women and Gender Studies Graduate Certificate provides interdisciplinary training in gender theory, feminist scholarship, and critical approaches to identity, power, and social justice.

Offered 100% online but also includes hybrid and on campus course offering through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University, this graduate certificate equips students with advanced research, analytical, and applied skills to address gender‑related issues in academic, professional, domestic, and global contexts. With coursework grounded in feminist theory, transnational feminisms, critical race theory, and queer theory, the program offers a valuable specialization that strengthens graduate study and enhances career readiness across fields.

This 15-credit graduate certificate in women and gender studies enables students interested in an academic career to enrich their research and analytical skills. Students interested in a professional career are prepared to address gender-related challenges in both domestic and global settings. The certificate adds an area of specialization to any graduate degree, giving students a competitive edge in the professional world. The core courses provide students a groundwork in transnational feminisms, feminist theory, critical race theory, and queer theory. Electives allow students to select from a range of interdisciplinary classes across the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Banner code: LA-CERG-WGST

Foreign Languages (MA)

Program Description

The MA in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Spanish offers students an opportunity to study a wide variety of topics from multiple disciplinary perspectives.

Coursework includes the academic study of the language, literature, and the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world (including the US) as well as applied linguistics, cultural studies, critical pedagogy, film studies, and Latinx studies.

Students can choose to simultaneously earn the graduate certificate in Spanish Heritage Language Education, which provides expertise on the linguistic, sociolinguistic, and cultural characteristics of Spanish-speakers in the US; heritage language educational policy; and social justice-oriented, antiracist approaches to teaching Spanish. Coursework can count for BOTH the MA and the certificate.

Banner code: LA-MA-FRLN

Concentrations

  • Spanish