INTO Mason

George Mason University Gateway (formerly INTO George Mason University) and the Ángel Cabrera Global Center

^{The information below reflects the transition of INTO George Mason University to George Mason University Gateway. INTO Mason programs will end on January 1, 2027 and the George Mason Gateway programs will begin enrolling students at that time.} 

Our Mission

George Mason University Gateway creates transformative learning experiences for international students, tailored to their academic, language, and cultural needs.

Overview

Located in the Ángel Cabrera Global Center, George Mason University Gateway supports the outstanding academic programs offered by the university with

• a welcoming, globally diverse student community;
• comprehensive student support programs; and
• modern facilities with technology-enhanced learning.

Gateway offers International Year One (IYO), International Direct (ID), Graduate Pathways (GWP), and Academic English (AE) programs, all taught by George Mason faculty. The program also provides academic preparation and support services tailored to international students.

Academic Programs and Services

George Mason University offers academic International Year One (undergraduate) and Pathways programs at the Fairfax, Mason Square, Science and Technology, and Songdo, Korea campuses as well as English Language programs based in Fairfax. All programs are administered through the Academic Division of George Mason University Gateway, which functions as the academic home for English Language studies and related services—reporting directly to the University Provost. 

Academic Programs

There are five academic programs administered through the Academic Division of George Mason University Gateway (formerly the INTO Mason joint venture):

• Academic English Program (AE)
• Undergraduate International Year One Program (IYO)
• Undergraduate Transfer Program (UTP)
• International Direct Program (ID)
• Graduate International Pathways Program (GPW)

Each program has a specific curriculum and guidelines as indicated in the special sections for each program in the catalog.

Academic Advising and Services

Students receive personalized support tailored to their academic, social, and cultural needs, helping them transition successfully into degree programs. Programs at the US-based campuses also provide learning experiences and services that support academic, professional, and personal success.

Faculty

Highly qualified, full-time, George Mason University faculty regularly teach in the International Year One (IYO), Graduate Pathways and English Language Programs.

Center Facilities 

Academic English and Pathway students may live in the Ángel Cabrera Global Center (ACGC). 

The ACGC, opened in August 2014, serves as the primary home for George Mason University Gateway. The center brings together domestic and international students for academic, cultural, and social exchange.  The facility includes:

• Housing for up to 270 international and domestic students
•  24 classrooms
• Wireless Internet throughout the center
•  A learning resource center with study materials, books, DVDs, periodicals, and computer resources
• A dining facility and lounge areas for study and collaboration 

Student Services & Orientation

Student Services

George Mason University Gateway Student Services works with university offices to provide co-curricular programs and services that support students’ social and personal well-being. Upon arrival at George Mason, the team helps students settle into life in Fairfax and provides social opportunities and a variety of resources tailored to the specific needs of international students.

International Student Orientation

Orientation includes a variety of important events that prepare students to be successful at George Mason, including information about maintaining visa status, registering for George Mason classes, health requirements, and insurance coverage. All students must attend the George Mason Gateway Student Orientation, and the OIPS Student Orientation, in order to enroll in classes.

Admission

Admission to the Undergraduate International Year One (INYO) Program is offered to international and multilingual students by two methods:

• Students may apply directly through the Gateway (formerly INTO Mason) admissions process
• By referral from the University Admissions Office due to not having met the grade point average, English language proficiency, or other requirements for direct admission.

The Undergraduate International Year One Program entry requirements are as follows:

• High school diploma
• 2.5 minimum high school GPA equivalent based on the applicant's country/institutional scale
• Documentation demonstrating the minimum English language proficiency levels:
  • One Term (Accelerated) International Year One Program:
    • TOEFL iBT 70 (15 minimum subscores in all skills)
    • IELTS 6.0 (5.5 minimum subscores in all skills)
    • PTE Academic 53
    • Duolingo 100
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 5
  • Two Term (Standard) International Year One Program:
    • TOEFL iBT 60 (13 minimum subscores in all skills)
    • IELTS 5.5 (5.0 minimum subscores in all skills)
    • PTE Academic 45
    • Duolingo 90
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 4
  • Three Term (Comprehensive) International Year One Program:
    • TOEFL iBT 50 (10 subscores)
    • IELTS 5.0 (4.5 subscores)
    • PTE Academic 41
    • Duolingo 80
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 3

Students should review the specific requirements by International Year One Program online for details.

Progression into Degree Status

Each Undergraduate International Year One (INYO) program has specific progression requirements for completion. These typically include a minimum grade point average and minimum individual course grades (no grades of W, NC, or I are permitted). Students should refer to the website for specific INYO program requirements. Students admitted to the university through an Undergraduate INYO program are required to complete all program requirements in order to maintain continuous enrollment.

Dismissal/Termination Appeals Process for Gateway (Formerly INTO Mason) Students

Undergraduate International Year One

Students who earn a pathway GPA of less than 2.0 at the end of their program are subject to academic termination. Terminated students may initiate an academic action request in order to appeal the termination decision.

Academic action requests must be submitted in writing to the academic advising staff located in the Mason Global Center by the deadline stated in the termination notice. Requests should provide an explanation and supplementary documentation. Students who are granted an appeal are eligible for a one-semester pathway extension.

Decisions on these requests are reviewed and approved at the discretion of the Executive Director. In some cases, additional reviews by the Associate Provost may be required.

Students who do not meet all requirements for matriculation to their desired degree program at the end of their final term will be reviewed for termination from their Undergraduate International Year One program. Terminated students may initiate one of the following an academic action requests in writing:

1. request an exception to the program policy,
2. request to change to an alternate International Year One program, and/or
3. request an extension to continue studying as an Undergraduate International Year One Extender student for one additional term.

All terminated student academic action requests (appeals) must be submitted in writing to the academic advising staff located in the Mason Global Center by the deadline specified in the termination notification. Requests should provide an explanation and supplementary documentation. Students who earn two unsatisfactory grades of C or lower will be ineligible to continue as Extenders. Students who fail to meet the program requirements after an extension will be reviewed for dismissal from the university.

Decisions on these requests are reviewed and approved at the discretion of the Executive Director. In some cases, additional reviews by the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education or Academic Initiatives and Services may be required.

Reenrollment and Readmission

Due to the nature of the Undergraduate International Year One Program as both English language development and academic coursework, students are subject to a limited reenrollment policy. Students who do not enroll after the first term or withdraw for reasons other than poor academic performance may request to reenroll in an International Year One program the following term (e.g., spring) to continue making progress toward meeting program requirements, with advance permission from the Executive Director. Students who do not enroll for two consecutive terms (e.g., spring and fall) must apply for readmission to the program and be re-assessed for language proficiency. Summer terms are counted for students whose initial enrollment begins in Spring semester.

Available Year One Programs & Majors

There are six Undergraduate International Year One programs available:

• Business, leading to 5 undergraduate concentrations in the School of Business
• Engineering, Computing & Statistics, leading to 10 undergraduate majors in the College of Engineering and Computing
• Humanities and Social Sciences, leading to 55 undergraduate majors and concentrations in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Visual and Performing Art's School of Music
• Human and Social Development, leading to 6 undergraduate majors in the College of Public Health, the College of Education and Human Development's School of Recreation and Tourism, and the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
• Science, leading to 12 undergraduate majors in the College of Science
• General Exploratory, for students who enter the university with an 'undeclared' major

Each program allows students to progress to preapproved undergraduate degree programs. For a full listing of specific academic programs associated with a specific International Year One Program, students should refer to the website for specific requirements.

Business

One Term Program Curriculum (Accelerated): Required Courses

Two Term Program Curriculum (Standard): Required Courses

Three Term Program Curriculum (Comprehensive): Required Courses

Engineering, Computer Science, and Statistics

One Term Program Curriculum (Accelerated): Required and Major Courses

Two Term Program Curriculum (Standard): Required and Major Courses

¹

Students pursuing IT degrees should take MATH 108 Introductory Calculus with Business Applications (Mason Core) for 3 credits instead of MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core).

Three Term Program Curriculum (Comprehensive): Required and Major Courses

Humanities and Social Sciences

One Term Program Curriculum (Accelerated): Required Courses

¹

Depending on intended major and math placement, students may take a more advanced math class.

²

Course to be selected with advisor approval.

Two Term Program Curriculum (Standard): Required Courses

¹

Depending on intended major and math placement, students may take a more advanced math class.

²

These course options are offered to students beginning in the Fall term only.

Three Term Program Curriculum (Comprehensive): Required Courses

Human and Social Development

One Term Program Curriculum (Accelerated): Required Courses

¹

Programs in the areas of community health, health administration, health, fitness and recreation resources and tourism and events management require STAT 250.

Two Term Program Curriculum (Standard): Required Courses

Three Term Program Curriculum (Comprehensive): Required Courses

¹

Programs in the areas of community health; health administration; health, fitness and recreation resources; and tourism and events management require STAT 250; other CEDH majors may require EDRS 220.

Science

One Term Program Curriculum (Accelerated): Required Courses

Two Term Program Curriculum (Standard): Required and Major Courses

Three Term Program Curriculum (Comprehensive): Required Courses

General Exploratory 

One Term Program Curriculum (Accelerated): Required Courses

¹

Course to be selected with advisor approval.

Two Term Program Curriculum (Standard): Required Courses

¹

Course(s) to be selected with advisor approval

Three Term Program Curriculum (Comprehensive): Required Courses

Graduate International Pathways

The Graduate International Pathways are pre-master's programs that provide international students paths to various graduate degrees at George Mason University. The pathways give students the academic foundation, essential language skills, and cultural knowledge to successfully move on to their master's degree programs. There are one and two term options available for most pathways along with "Bridge" options for students with certain 3-year bachelor's degrees for many of the pathways. For most students, enrolling in a Graduate International Pathway will add one semester to their overall master's degree program.

There are currently 48 Graduate International Pathways available to graduate students. Each pathway allows students to progress to pre-approved graduate degree programs at GMU. The pathways are administered in partnership with the following ten Schools and Colleges at George Mason University. For more information on the specific pathways to degrees in each School or College, click on the links below:

Graduate International Pathways are designed for international students who:

• Need further English language development
• Require a fourth year of undergraduate study
• Fall short of meeting the minimum GPA or admission test score requirements
• Need to improve study skills for success in their chosen field of study
• Any or all of the above

Administered through George Mason University Gateway (formerly INTO Mason) in partnership with the academic units across the university, the courses in each Graduate International Pathway are taught by highly qualified George Mason instructional faculty members and supported by International Pathways academic advisors.

Admission

Admission to Graduate International Pathways are offered to international and multilingual students by two methods:

• Students may apply directly through the INTO Mason admissions process
• By referral from graduate admissions due to not having met the grade point average, English language proficiency, or other requirements for direct admission (cascade).

The minimum documentation required for admission include: application, mark sheets/transcripts (in English and the original language), degree certificates (in English and the original language) and other required items as stated in the program catalog supplement.

Graduate International Pathway entry requirements for are as follows (except Engineering & Computing):

• An undergraduate degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in a relevant field as specified by the particular International Pathways program;
• 2.75 minimum high school GPA equivalent based on the applicant's country/institutional scale; and
• Documentation demonstrating the minimum English proficiency levels as specified by the particular pathway. The general minimum scores are as follows:
  • One Term (Accelerated) and Bridge International Pathways:
    • TOEFL iBT: 80 overall (subscores of 17 required)
    • IELTS: 6.5 overall (subscores of 6.0 required)
    • Duolingo: 110 overall
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 6
  • Two Term (Standard) International Pathways:
    • TOEFL iBT: 70 overall (subscores of 15 required)
    • IELTS: 6.0 overall (subscores of 5.5 required)
    • Duolingo: 100 overall
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 5
  • Three Term (Comprehensive) International Pathway in Accounting:
    • TOEFL iBT: 60 overall (subscores of 13 required)
    • IELTS: 5.5 overall (subscores of 5.5 required)
    • Duolingo: 90 overall
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 4

Graduate International Pathway entry requirements for all CEC (College of Engineering and Computing) Pathways:

• An undergraduate degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in a relevant field as specified by the particular International Pathways program;
• 2.75 minimum high school GPA equivalent based on the applicant's country/institutional scale; and
• Documentation demonstrating the minimum English proficiency levels as specified by the particular pathway. The general minimum scores are as follows:
  • One Term (Accelerated) and Bridge International Pathways:
    • TOEFL iBT: 75 overall 
    • IELTS: 6.0 overall 
    • Duolingo: 110 overall
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 6
  • Two Term (Standard) International Pathways:
    • TOEFL iBT: 65 overall 
    • IELTS: 5.5 overall 
    • Duolingo: 100 overall
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 5
  • Three Term (Comprehensive) International Pathway in Accounting:
    • TOEFL iBT: 50 overall (subscores of 10 required)
    • IELTS: 5.0 overall (subscores of 4.5 required)
    • Duolingo: 80 overall
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 4

Students who hold three year baccalaureate degrees may be eligible for select Graduate International Pathways Bridge programs. Students should review the specific requirements for each pathway at the INTO Study website.

Curriculum

Prescribed courses for the Graduate International Pathways programs include approximately 10 - 14 credits for One-Term pathways and 20 - 25 credits for Two-Term pathways. The intent of these courses is to prepare students for the demands of the Mason graduate curriculum. Further, the prescribed courses may include up to 12 credits of coursework toward the student's graduate degree during their International Pathways term(s) of study.

One Term (Accelerated) pathways include the following courses:

Two Term (Standard) pathways include the following courses:

Three Term (Comprehensive) Accounting pathway includes the following courses:

Progression into Degree Status

Each Graduate International Pathway has specific progression requirements for completion. These typically include a minimum grade point average and minimum individual course grades (no grades of NC or I are permitted). Students should refer to the INTO Study website for specific requirements. Students admitted to the university through a Graduate International Pathway program are required to complete all program requirements in order to maintain continuous enrollment.

Dismissal/Termination Appeals Process for INTO Mason Students

Graduate pathway students who earn two or more grades of C or lower by the end of their program are subject to academic termination. Terminated students may initiate an academic action request in order to appeal the termination decision.

Academic action requests must be submitted in writing to the academic advising staff located in the Mason Global Center by the deadline stated in the termination notice. Requests should provide an explanation and supplementary documentation. Students who are granted an appeal are eligible for a one-semester pathway extension.

Decisions on these requests are reviewed and approved at the discretion of the Academic Director. In some cases, additional reviews by the Senior Associate Provost may be required. Appeal decisions made by George Mason Gateway (formerly INTO Mason) are subject to a final approval by the Senior Associate Provost for Graduate Education. Students who do not meet all requirements for matriculation to their desired degree program at the end of their final term will be reviewed for termination from their Graduate International Pathway. Terminated students may initiate one of the following academic action requests in writing:

1. request an exception to the program policy,
2. request to change to an alternate Graduate International Pathway, and/or
3. request an extension to continue studying as a Graduate International Pathways Extender student for one additional term.

All terminated student academic action requests must be submitted in writing to the academic advising staff located in the Mason Global Center within 14 days of notification. Requests should provide an explanation and supplementary documentation. Students who earn two unsatisfactory grades of C or lower will be ineligible to continue as an Extender. Students who fail to meet the program requirements after an extension will be reviewed for dismissal from the university.

Decisions on these requests are reviewed and approved at the discretion of the Executive Director. In some cases, additional reviews by the Senior Associate Provost for Graduate Education or from a College Dean may also be required.

Re-enrollment and Re-admission

Due to the nature of the Graduate International Pathways as both English language development and academic coursework, students are subject to a limited re-enrollment policy. Students who do not enroll after the first term or withdraw for reasons other than poor academic performance may request to re-enroll in a Graduate International Pathway program the following term (e.g., spring) to continue making progress toward meeting program requirements, with advance permission from the Academic Director. Students who do not enroll for two consecutive terms (e.g., spring and fall) must apply for readmission to the program and be re-assessed for language proficiency. Summer terms are counted for students whose initial enrollment begins in Spring semester.

Academic English Program

Administered by George Mason University Gateway (formerly INTO Mason), the Academic English (AE) program prepares international students for university study in the United States. AE is a non-credit program designed to develop the English skills needed for successful communication, cultural integration, and participation in the academic environment of the university.

Admission

Students who apply to the AE program must submit an application, application fee, and required documents. In order to qualify for admission to the AE Program, students must demonstrate that they have earned at least a high school diploma.

Students have the option to apply for AE or a pathway program. Students who apply to a pathway program but do not demonstrate entry language requirements are given an individual pre-arrival study plan that provides an estimate of the number of Academic English terms to complete in order to fulfill pathway entry requirements. This pre-arrival study plan is only an estimate—an updated study plan will be provided to students after taking an English-language placement test.

For more information about admission requirements, see Undergraduate International Year One Program or Graduate International Pathways.

Program Outcomes

After successfully completing the upper levels of the Academic English program, students will be able to do the following:

• Interact comfortably in the U.S. classroom with professors and fellow students
• Understand U.S. values in an academic setting
• Present their spoken and written ideas accurately and effectively in English
• Write research papers with proper use of citations and references
• Use the Internet and George Mason library databases to conduct academic research
• Read, understand, and critically evaluate academic texts
• Understand and use vocabulary common to academic disciplines
• Take useful and accurate notes in academic lectures and presentations
• Develop and deliver oral presentations

Program Structure

The Academic English program is offered three terms per year: Fall (15 weeks of instruction), Spring (15 weeks of instruction), and Summer (10 weeks of instruction). Upon arrival, all Academic English students are given a language proficiency assessment to determine their AE level placement. In order to be eligible for full-time status, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 18 hours of non-credit AE coursework per week.

AE faculty are highly qualified with significant teaching experience and master's or doctoral degrees in TESOL or related fields. The program is also supported by academic advisors experienced in working with multilingual speakers of English.

Curriculum

The Academic English curriculum is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference scales (CEFR), American Council on The Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines 2012, and the Pearson Global Scale of English (GSE) Learning Objectives for Academic English. Curricular objectives and learning outcomes for each of the eight AE levels are geared toward an exit goal that is one level higher than the entrance level.

All students, regardless of level, take one Core, one Oral Communication Skills (OCS), and one or two elective courses for a minimum of 18 classroom hours per week. Core courses focus on reading and writing with additional attention to written grammar and vocabulary. OCS courses focus on listening and speaking with additional attention to pronunciation and oral grammar and vocabulary. Elective courses offer students a variety of content- and skills-based instruction and can be selected by students enrolled in co-requisite Core or OCS courses.

Please note that course offerings are subject to change, and specific levels may not be available every semester.

Grading System for Academic English

Throughout the semester, students are assessed on how well they have met curricular learning outcomes. Midterm and final grades for all Academic English courses are submitted to the University as letter grades.

Grade point average (GPA) is an important factor in determining program-to-program progression and evaluating academic standing.  

In-Program Level Progression

In Core and OCS courses, students must receive a final grade of at least 80% in order to advance to the next level of Core/OCS. If a student has performed exceptionally well in Core/OCS, the instructor may submit an AE Level Skip Form requesting that the student skip a Core/OCS level in the subsequent semester.

Program-to-Program Progression

In order to progress to a pathway program, AE students must earn a 2.5 or higher term GPA and a final passing grade (A+, A, A-, B+, B, or B-) of specified levels of Core and OCS. AE-only students must meet the same language requirements for progression and submit other documentation as required by the prospective program.

AE students applying for direct admission to George Mason University must earn a passing final grade (A+, A, A-, B+, B, or B-) in specified levels of Core and OCS to meet entry language proficiency requirements.

AE English Language Requirements for Pathway Programs and Direct Admission

* Information in the chart above only shows program eligibility based on language proficiency requirements met.

Academic English students may not level skip directly into a pathway program or direct admission the following semester. Even if a student is approved to skip into an Academic English level beyond what is required for the desired pathway program or direct admission, the student must complete the subsequent semester in the AE Program first. Students also have the option of submitting official TOEFL/IELTS/PTE Academic scores to George Mason University in lieu of meeting the AE program-to-program progression requirements, but must still maintain good standing in the AE Program.

Please note that course offerings are subject to change depending on enrollment numbers, and specific Academic English levels may not be available every semester. We encourage students to adjust their study plans accordingly in consultation with their academic advisor.

Attendance and Academic Probation

In order to make progress in developing academic language skills, students are expected to attend classes regularly and remain in good academic standing.

Attendance

An AE student who exceeds 15% absences in any course will be placed on attendance probation. If the student exceeds 15% absences in any course the following semester, the student is subject to termination for non-attendance from the AE program and George Mason University. Subsequently, the student will be terminated in the Student and Exchange Information System (SEVIS) and will no longer have valid F-1 visa status.  

Academic Progress

Students are expected to make satisfactory progress in developing their language skills and may not attempt the same Core or OCS course more than three times. Academic progress is determined primarily through term GPA. Students whose GPAs fall below 2.5 will be given a warning, placed on probation, and/or terminated from the AE Program and George Mason University:

Termination Appeals Process for George Mason Gateway (formerly INTO Mason) Students

All termination appeals must be submitted in writing to the George Mason Gateway (formerly INTO Mason) Academic Services office located in the Mason Global Center within 14 days of notification. Requests should provide an explanation and supplementary documentation. Students who fail to meet the program requirements after an additional semester will be reviewed for termination from the university.

Decisions on these requests are reviewed and approved at the discretion of the Academic Director. In some cases, additional reviews by the Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives and Services may also be required.

Reenrollment and Readmission

Academic English students who do not enroll after the first term or withdraw for reasons other than poor academic performance (e.g., spring and fall) must apply for readmission to the program and be reassessed for language proficiency upon return.

Academic English

English for Academic Purposes

International Year One

English Language Faculty

Term Faculty: Esther Kim, Thomas Kozumplik, Timothy Lilley, Laura Miller, Bonny Paez, Mary Richardson, Lori Rottenberg, Michael Smith

Administrative Faculty Instructors: Christina Brady, Benjamin Elwood

Humanities Faculty

Term Assistant Professor: Amy Lewis

Administrative Faculty Instructors: Christina Brady, James Jones, Todd Rose 

Affiliated Faculty by Area: 

Business: Shora Moteaabed
English: Sharon Doestch-Kidder, Anna Habib, M. Mack 
Mathematics: Scott Carson, Michael Coleson