Welcome to graduate school at George Mason University!
As a new graduate student at Mason, you will have the opportunity to learn about your graduate academic program and the University through orientations.
You should begin with the Graduate Online Orientation for all Mason graduate students.
You should then plan to participate in any orientations offered by your graduate academic program and/or college/school. Additional orientations and trainings are offered for specific populations and interests, including international graduate students and graduate teaching assistants. Below is a list of orientation and welcome activities offered by academic units and university offices for new graduate students; contact your graduate program if it is not listed or if you have questions.
Graduate Online Orientation for All Graduate Students
All Mason graduate students should begin with the Graduate Online Orientation. This interactive platform will provide an overview of how to succeed as a graduate student and acquaint you with all that Mason has to offer to support you along the way.
Gradstravaganza: Mason's Annual Graduate Student Welcome Event
Gradstravaganza, Mason’s annual graduate student welcome event, is a multi-day event held at the beginning of the each academic year and includes a fully virtual line-up of orientation and educational sessions and an in-person picnic. Brought to you by Graduate Student Life, the Graduate Division, the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA), Office of International Programs and Services, University Life Mason Square, Mason Recreation, and University Life.
Gradstravaganza is held once year at the beginning of the fall semester. Recordings and materials from 2024 Success Sessions will be available at the end of August on the Gradstravaganza webpage. In the meantime, you can access video recordings and materials from the online Success Sessions held in August 2023.
Graduate Orientations by College and School
Below you will find the information for academic program, college and school level orientations and welcome events for graduate and professional students.
Programs and colleges are finalizing their orientations and welcome events and submitting them to be posted. Graduate Student Life will be posting the program and college events as they are shared. All orientation information updated and live on December 16, 2024.
Antonin Scalia Law School
Spring 2025 Orientation
1/9/2025, 10:00am-4:00pm, Hybrid
Room 215 (Manne Room), Hazel Hall, Mason Square Campus
OR
https://gmu.zoom.us/j/96649950278
Meeting ID: 966 4995 0278
For questions contact: lawgradm@gmu.edu
Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
College of Education and Human Development
CEHD Graduate Student Orientation
Virtual Asynchronous:
Incoming students pursuing a master’s degree, PhD, or graduate certificate in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) will be invited to complete a series of asynchronous modules in Blackboard.
These modules will also contain information about all CEHD program onboarding and welcome events for the semester. View this webpage for more information: https://cehd.gmu.edu/current-students/orientation/.
For questions contact: CEHD Student and Academic Affairs (cehdsaa@gmu.edu)
College of Engineering and Computing
SEOR Graduate Orientation
1/16/2025, 4:00-5:00pm, Hybrid
Engineering Room 2901
OR
https://gmu.zoom.us/j/93936172774?pwd=OgBJkXFW6gfbqzUzsw33N6ycySh4rY.1
Meeting ID: 939 3617 2774
Passcode: 232507
For questions contact: seor@gmu.edu
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
MPS in Applied Industrial and Organizational Psychology New Student Orientation
1/8/2025, 7:00-8:30 pm, Virtual
Zoom link will be sent to all new students
For questions contact: aahmad14@gmu.edu
Global Affairs MA Orientation
1/22/2025, 4:30pm to 5:30pm (new only) (5:30pm to 6pm open to all students), Hybrid
Horizon Hall (6th floor conference room and kitchen)
For more information: https://globalaffairs.gmu.edu/events/16422
For questions contact: globalma@gmu.edu
Higher Education Program Orientation
1/14/2025, 5:30-6:30pm, Virtual
https://gmu.zoom.us/j/91014140282
For questions contact: hepadmin@gmu.edu
MAIS Blackboard Orientation Module
Virtual Asynchronous: You can find this module by logging into your Blackboard. Once logged in, click the "Organizations" tab on the left side of the screen. Once clicked, you will see an organization labeled "Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Students." Click this organization, and it will take you to the orientation module.
For questions contact: mais@gmu.edu
MS/BAM in Criminal Justice New Student Orientation
1/14/2025, 12:30-4:15pm, In-Person
Fenwick Library, Room 1014B, Fairfax Campus
For questions contact: CLS Graduate Programs (clsgrad@gmu.edu)
College of Public Health
Spring 2025 New Student Orientation
1/16/2025, 4:30-7:00pm, In-Person
1st Floor Lobby, Peterson Hall, Fairfax Campus
For questions contact: cphgrad@gmu.edu
College of Science
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information.
Costello College of Business
MBA Orientation
1/11/2025, 1:00-7:00pm, In-Person
Van Metre Hall (room to be confirmed), Mason Square campus
For questions contact: mba@gmu.edu
MS in Management Orientation
1/11/2025, 1:00-4:00pm, In-Person
Van Metre Hall (room to be confirmed), Mason Square Campus
For questions contact: Saul Garcia (sgarci3@gmu.edu)
Business Certificates Orientation
1/11/2025, 10:00-11:30am, Virtual
Zoom (link to be created)
For questions contact: Saul Garcia (sgarci3@gmu.edu)
MS in Real Estate Development Orientation
1/16/2025, 3:00-7:00 pm, In-Person
Conference Room 416, Van Metre Hall, Mason Square Campus
For questions contact: May Abou Ghazaleh (mabough2@gmu.edu)
Schar School of Policy and Government
Spring New Student Orientation
1/18/2025, 9am-3pm, Hybrid
Rooms 125/126/134, Van Metre Hall, Mason Square Campus
For more information visit: https://schar.gmu.edu/new-schar-school-student_orientation
For questions contact: schargss@gmu.edu
Provost's Office/Academic Affairs
Office of Fellowships: General Info Session
2/3/2025, 12:00 -12:30pm, Virtual
Registration will be on the Office of Fellowships Mason360 site
For questions contact: fllwshps@gmu.edu
VA Education Benefits Virtual Information Session
11/27/2024, 6:00pm, Virtual
https://gmu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEpcumqqTkoHdS3IBYzbsXa5lpPstPoAN3y#/registration
For more information: https://military.gmu.edu/benefits-orientation
For questions contact: military@gmu.edu
University Life Orientations and Welcome Events
Below you will find orientations and welcome events that are for new graduate and professional students.
International Programs and Services & Graduate Student Life
International Graduate Student Orientation
1/16/2025, 9:00am-2:00pm, in-person
Johnson Center Dewberry Hall, Fairfax Campus
To register: http://go.gmu.edu/IGSORegistration
For questions contact: oipsprog@gmu.edu or gradlife@gmu.edu.
University Life Mason Square
Mason Square Arlington Welcome Fair
TBD
University Life at SciTech
SciTech Spring Welcome Fair
TBD
Also don't forget to checkout the full list of events and activities for Welcome2Mason. Welcome2Mason events span the first few weeks of the fall semester and provide countless opportunities for students to get involved, meet new people, and learn more about our campus. For a complete list of scheduled events, visit welcome2mason.gmu.edu. Signature events include academic department receptions, Involvement Fair and on-campus job fairs, “Ask Me” tents across campus, and other welcome activities. These events are open to all Mason students: graduate, professional, and undergraduate.