George Mason University Admissions Requirements
Admission to the program is competitive, and meeting the minimum application criteria does not guarantee admission. Selection criteria differ by program and are established by the faculty of that program. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their academic background, results of standardized exams (if required by the program), work experience, and any additional evidence of potential success in the program.The faculty determines the number of admission offers to extend based on the resources available to the program. Late applications will be considered on a space-available basis.
The general university graduate admission standards include the following:
- An earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or international equivalent. Applicants with a degree from an international institution must submit a transcript evaluation showing that the degree is equivalent to a four-year bachelor’s degree in the United States.
- A 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale or better in baccalaureate study. The GPA requirement may be higher for some graduate programs. For applicants with postbaccalaureate credits, a separate GPA is calculated for each institution. The difficulty of the baccalaureate degree and professional work experience may be considered in assessing the application for admission.
Individual Program Standards
Nursing, DNP, BSN to DNP Pathway
Criteria considered in addition to the standard university admissions criteria include on-site interview (if required), the GRE (if requested), professional and/or volunteer experience, and evidence of the ability to write and conduct research at the graduate level.
Applicants must be licensed registered nurses in the U.S. with a minimum of one year of experience as an RN prior to admission. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better within the last five years.
Applicants to the BSN to DNP program must hold a BSN degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum of 3.0 GPA and a strong record in science and nursing coursework.
Nursing, DNP, MSN to DNP Pathway
Criteria considered in addition to the standard university admissions criteria include on-site interview (if required), the GRE (if requested), professional and/or volunteer experience, and evidence of the ability to write and conduct research at the graduate level.
Applicants must be licensed registered nurses in the U.S. with a minimum of one year of experience as an RN prior to admission. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better within the last five years.
Applicants to the MSN to DNP program must hold an MSN degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or better in their graduate program and show evidence they have met coursework requirements consistent with Mason’s MSN core curriculum. Applicants must showproof of MSN precepted practice hours (pdf).
Nursing, PhD
Applicants for admission to the PhD program will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- A master's degree in nursing from an accredited program equivalent to at least 30 credits or a master's degree in a related health field with a baccalaureate degree in nursing;
- A valid, current nursing license in a U.S. state or territory (waivers for international applicants will be determined by the PhD program director);
- Completion of a graduate-level course in statistics with a final grade of 3.00 or higher;
- A written statement describing 1) goals for pursuing a PhD in Nursing, 2) research interest(s), and 3) how the research interests coincide with School of Nursing or the College of Public Healthresearch program;
- An interview with two or more persons on the PhD Committee; and
- Evidence of the ability to write and conduct research at the graduate level.
Nursing, MSN
Criteria considered in addition to the standard university admissions criteria include professional and/or volunteer experience and evidence of the ability to write and conduct research at the graduate level.
All MSN Programs require the following:
- BSN degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Active state-based/U.S. license as a registered nurse (RN)
- A current CPR card
- Work experience as an RN
- Completion of an undergraduate statistics course
The Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration is available in an on-campus format or a fully online coursework format with in-person practicum experiences.
Learn more about thefully online coursework format. Admissions standards for the online program are the same as those for the on-campus program. The admissions process, deadlines, and contact information are different.Request additional informationfor the online program.
The Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration has the following additional requirements:
- GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Successful completion of an undergraduate health assessment course
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE), only upon request
- A minimum of one year of work experience as a nurse
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate
Applicants must hold a master's degree in nursing and meet the admission standards and application requirements specified by the University, the College of Public Health, and the School of Nursing and apply using theonlineApplication for Graduate Admission. The application process is competitive.
Nursing Education Graduate Certificate
Applicants must hold a master's degree in nursing and meet the admission standards and application requirements specified by the University, the College of Public Health, and the School of Nursing and apply using the onlineApplication for Graduate Admission. The application process is competitive.
