Students who wish to take a course at a different institution must get pre-approval from their major college and the college that offers the equivalent of the course requested. Generally, students who have transferred over 45 hours to Mason are ineligible for additional credit elsewhere. Students with less than 45 transfer hours can take up to 8 hours of CHSS credit elsewhere in certain circumstances. Please see below for specific policies and the process for requesting a course elsewhere.
Once enrolled in degree status at Mason, students with fewer than 45 hours of transfer coursework (not including registration through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area or coursework completed through the Global Education Office) may take up to 8 hours of coursework at another institution of higher education accredited by a Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency or international equivalent, if the course is not being offered by Mason in the semester requested. Students with 45 or more hours of transfer coursework are not permitted to take additional coursework at another institution. A student may seek permission for additional hours beyond these limits for summer registration if their permanent residence is more than 50 miles from the George Mason University Fairfax campus, and is requesting a required course not offered online at Mason.
In order to have an exception considered, students must have completed the immediately preceding semester with a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher and not be in danger of academic suspension or dismissal. Freshmen and new transfer students are not allowed to take courses elsewhere as they have yet to establish an academic record at George Mason. Please keep in mind that the CHSS requirement for the immediately preceding semester is an additional requirement that may be different from other colleges or schools at Mason.
Courses elsewhere that have been pre-approved by our office must be taken for a grade and be passed with a GPA of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) or higher in order to be transferred to George Mason. Although credit for the course will be transferred, the grade for the course will not.
Students must make arrangements with the visited institution to have an official transcript mailed directly to the George Mason University Registrar's Office, Records Section, MSN 3D1, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 immediately after the course work is completed. Credit will not be transferred until an official transcript is received. Non-receipt of official transcripts within six weeks of conferral date will delay a student's pending graduation.
Students should keep in mind that courses requested outside of his or her college or school will need additional approval from the college or school that offers the equivalent course at Mason. Each school or college may have different policies regarding course elsewhere requests, so major dean permission does not guarantee approval for a student to take a particular course equivalent to one offered by a different college or school.
Students should follow the links below and review all policies regarding taking a course elsewhere before submitting a request.
*BIS students: please refer to the BIS Transfer Credit Policy page for degree specific credit transfer and course elsewhere policies*
Students have the right to appeal denial of a request. Information on submitting an appeal can be found at the bottom of the page