Orientations and Welcome Events

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 SquareMason Recreation, and University Life.

Gradstravaganza is held once year at the beginning of the fall semester. The 2025 Gradstravaganza Success Sessions and Picnic information and registration will be live July 16, 2025. 

Recordings and materials from 2024 Success Sessions can be accessed 2024 Gradstravaganza Success Sessions

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 July 16, 2025.

Antonin Scalia Law School

Graduate Law Orientation

8/11/2025, 10:00 am, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)

Location: Room 215 Hazel Hall. For questions contact: lawgradm@gmu.edu

Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information. 

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

ASTL Welcome Social and Orientation

6/5/2025, 5:30pm -7:00pm, Virtual synchronous

Location: Please use Zoom link sent to registered participants. Register here: https://forms.gle/XJKfzWHH6dpjU8Lg7. For questions contact: astl@gmu.edu

New Students Orientation Autism Spectrum Disorders Program

8/19/2025, 6:00pm, Virtual synchronous

Students will receive an email invitation with Zoom link prior to the event. For questions contact: online2@s.masononline.gmu.edu.

Counseling Program Orientation for Fall 2025 Students

8/14/2025, 5:00-6:00pm, In-Person

Location: Horizon Hall, Room 1014, Fairfax Campus. For questions contact: counsel@gmu.edu.

EDLE Online Asynchronous Cohort New Student Orientation or EDLE Regional Cohort New Student Orientation 

Virtual asynchronous: Newly admitted students will be assigned to a Canvas course they can access by logging into Canvas and completing the self-paced modules online. For questions contact: edleprog@gmu.edu.

Educational Psychology Orientation II Fall 2025

9/3/2025, 7:30pm, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)

Location: Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/98273268220?pwd=jebVqZTyqaUYzbe83axOpnYJ3x5ZsJ.1 
In person: TBD (Students will receive an email invitation with the event details prior to the event.). For questions contact: khowe1@gmu.edu

Elementary Education program Orientation

Virtual asynchronous: Please email Valerie Bartush at vbartush@gmu.edu for the video of the program orientation. For questions contact: vbartush@gmu.edu

ESOL and Foreign/World Language Education Orientation

8/12/2025, 5:00 - 6:00pm, Virtual synchronous

Location: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/2578034906. For questions contact: mchampa4@gmu.edu.

MS in Educational Psychology New Student Orientation

7/28/2025, 7pm - 8 pm, Virtual synchronous

Location: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/96124683434?pwd=Tjz3bOtdUGhsQBBnveaojT8aTrBZTQ.1. For questions contact: Kim Howe, khowe1@gmu.edu.  

PhD in Education Orientation and Welcome Event

8/23/2025, 9:00am - 3:00pm, In-person

Location: Merten 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, Merten Lobby. For questions contact: cehdphd@gmu.edu

Ready, Set, PHorwarD!

8/23/2025, 11am- 4pm, In-person

Location: Merten Hall. For questions contact: Sheri Berkeley, PhD Director: sberkele@gmu.edu.

FCPS Special Education Cohort Program Overview and Advising Session 

10/02/2025, 5:00pm - 6:00pm, Virtual synchronous

Students in the cohort will join their online class link. For questions: cgolden3@gmu.edu.

Inclusive Early Childhood Education Graduate Orientation 

Virtual asynchronous: Please watch the Orientation video, found here: https://youtu.be/pW3hMV6gEKA. For questions contact: kturne4@gmu.edu

MS Kinesiology Orientation

8/26/2025, 9:00-11:00am, In-Person

Location: Life Sciences and Engineering Building, Room# 3402, Sci Tech Campus. For questions contact: dstroine@gmu.edu

Literacy Program Fall Orientation

8/12/2025, 6:30-7:30pm, Virtual synchronous

This event is open to any new graduate students in the Literacy Program. However, if you are participating in a division-sponsored cohort, there will be a specific orientation held for your cohort. Please check your Welcome Letter from the program and email for details as well as log in or location information. For questions contact: jhathaw2@gmu.edu

LCPS Special Education Cohort Program Overview and Advising Session 

10/01/2025, 4:45pm - 5:45pm, Virtual synchronous

Cohort students will receive an invite by email with the link prior to the event. For questions contact: jtemple1@gmu.edu.  

New Student Orientation-LDT (Learning, Design, Technology) Program

8/14/2025, 6pm - 7pm, Virtual synchronous

Location: Microsoft Teams 
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 298 984 431 041 8 
Passcode: nS3i4Bs2
For questions contact: dwilso31@gmu.edu, Doug Wilson APC

Mathematics Specialist Leadership Orientation 

8/11/2025, 5:00 - 6:00pm, Virtual synchronous

Location: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/2578034906. For questions contact: mchampa4@gmu.edu.

School Psychology Program Orientation

8/22/2025, 10am-3pm, In-person

Location: Thompson Hall, Room L028 & L003. For questions contact: erowe@gmu.edu. 

SEED New Student Orientation

8/20/2025, 6:00 - 7:00pm, Virtual synchronous

Zoom Room: https://gmu.zoom.us/my/kzenkov. For questions contact: mspeier@gmu.edu

Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information. 

College of Engineering and Computing

New Graduate Student Orientation: Cyber Security Engineering Program

8/21/2025, 4:30pm - 5:30pm, Virtual synchronous
Location: Join Zoom Meeting
https://gmu.zoom.us/j/94043235129?pwd=mRnMjFF3Ul6XMJdVGqVTewc68tW08j.1 
Meeting ID: 940 4323 5129
Passcode: 663672

For questions contact: cysegrad@gmu.edu  .

PhD Information Technology - New Student Orientation

8/27/2025, 3 PM - 4 PM EDT, Virtual synchronous

Location: Zoom: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/94163820306. For questions: cecgs@gmu.edu 

New Graduate Student Orientation: Statistics Programs

8/22/2025, 2:00pm - 4:30pm, In-person 
Location: Jajodia Auditorium, Engineering Building, Fairfax Campus. Foe questions contact: statgrad@gmu.edu

New Graduate Student Orientation: Systems Engineering and Operations Research Programs

8/21/2025, 4pm - 5:30pm, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)
Location: Engineering Building Room 2901; join Zoom Meeting: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/95552112639?pwd=WaWOBQMBKg2CKRMVXaGuqaSzRkXhsV.1. For questions contact: seor@gmu.edu

Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information. 

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Art History MA student meet and greet and orientation

8/25/2025, 2pm-4pm, In-person

Location: 2pm-3pm meet and greet: 3rd floor kitchen, Horizon Hall
3pm-4pm orientation: small conference room, History and Art History Department, Horizon Hall. For questions contact: mgreet@gmu.edu

Cultural Studies PhD Program August orientation; September welcome reception

8/21/2025, 12:00pm to 2:00pm, virtual synchronous

Location: Dr. Rabin's Zoom room: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/2866915999. For questions contact: lrabin@gmu.edu, sdixon@gmu.edu

COMM Grad Student Welcome Back 

8/26/2025, 6:00-7:30pm, JC Bistro. For questions contact: commgrad@gmu.edu

Department of Communication PhD Student Orientation

6/18/2025, 11-12am, Virtual synchronous
COMM PhDs will receive and email with instructions from the director. For questions contact: commgrad@gmu.edu.

Department of Sociology and Anthropology – New Graduate Student Orientation & Welcome Reception

8/21/2025, 4:30pm - 8:00pm, In-person

Location: We hold both the orientations and reception on the 6th floor of Horizon Hall. In rooms 6323 and 6325 and in the 6th floor kitchen. For questions contact: kfoarde@gmu.edu

English, Writing and Rhetoric PhD Orientation

8/21/2025, 6pm, In-person

Location: Horizon Hall, 4th floor. For questions contact: English Graduate Admissions, rsilva8@gmu.edu.

GLOA MA orientation

8/26/2025, 4:30pm to 5:30pm, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)

Location: Horizon Hall large conference room by kitchen. For questions contact: globalma@gmu.edu

Higher Education Program Fall Orientation

8/18/2025, 6:30pm-7:00pm, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)

Location: 6325 Horizon Hall and https://gmu.zoom.us/j/99633305316?from=addon. For questions contact: Higher Education Program, hepadmin@gmu.edu.

Linguistics Program Graduate Orientation

8/20/2025, 3pm-4pm, Virtual synchronous

Location: Zoom information will be sent to incoming and current students via email. For questions contact Prof. Schreiner with questions sschrei2@gmu.edu.

MAIS Fall 2025 Orientation Module

Virtual Asynchronous: You can find the module by logging into your Canvas account with your netid and password. Once logged in, click the "Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Students" course on your dashboard. If you log in to Canvas and do not see the "Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Student" course on your dashboard, please email mais@gmu.edu

For questions contact: mais@gmu.edu.

SIS Graduate Programs Fall Kick Off

8/18/2025, 5:30-7:00, In-person

Location: 6325 Horizon Hall, Fairfax Campus. For questions contact: SIS Graduate Programs, sisgrad@gmu.edu.    

Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information. 

College of Public Health

Graduate Student Orientation

8/19/2025, 4:30pm-7:00pm, In-person

Location: Peterson Hall, Lobby, Fairfax Campus.  
For more information visit: https://publichealth.gmu.edu/students/newly-admitted-students/graduate-student-orientation. For questions contact: CPH Graduate Admissions, cphgrad@gmu.edu

Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information. 

College of Science

Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences Graduate Orientation

8/20/2025, 9am-2pm, In-person

Location: Exploratory Hall, Room 3301, Fairfax Campus. For questions contact: Barry Klinger - bklinger@gmu.edu

New Student Orientation Advanced Biomedical Sciences Graduate Certificate - GeorgeSquared

8/21/2025, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person), 

Location: Science and Technology Campus - More information to come. For questions contact: Kristen DeVito is the POC for this 2 day event - 8/21-8/22, E-mail: gsquared@gmu.edu
Admitted students will receive an email with instructions from the department. 

ScienceConnect

9/4/2025, 12:30 - 4:30 pm, In-person

Location: Exploratory Hall, Fairfax Campus.  
For more information visit: https://science.gmu.edu/scienceconnect. For questions contact: cosevent@gmu.edu

ScienceConnect Welcome Event

9/9/2025, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, In-person

Location: Katherine G. Johnson Hall, Fairfax Campus.  
For more information visit: https://science.gmu.edu/scienceconnect. For questions contact: cosevent@gmu.edu

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

Off to a Great stART: New Student Welcome

8/19/2025, 10-11am, Virtual synchronous

Virtual Information Session for Newly Admitted Students
Click Here to Register
https://masongrad.my.salesforce-sites.com/events/targetX_eventsb__events#/esr?eid=a1BVr000002IrSvMAK 

For questions contact: artsgrad@gmu.edu

Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information. 

Costello College of Business

MRED Orientation and Ground Breaking

8/7/2025, 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, In-person

Location: Mason Square Campus -- exact room TBD (we may be in the FUSE)  
For more information visit: https://gmuedu.sharepoint.com/sites/CCB-GRAD-ORIENTATION-GRP/SitePages/Employee-onboarding-team-home.aspx. For questions contact: May Abou Ghazaleh, mabough2@gmu.edu   

MBA Program Immersion 

8/23/2025, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, In-person

Location: FUSE, Mason Square Campus.  
For more information visit: https://gmuedu.sharepoint.com/sites/CCB-GRAD-ORIENTATION-GRP/SitePages/Employee-onboarding-team-home.aspx. For questions contact: mba@gmu.edu.

Specialized Master's Program Immersion

8/22/2025, 1:00 pm to 7:30 pm, Hybrid (virtual synchronous and in-person)

Location: Merten Hall, Room 1201, Fairfax Campus.  
For more information visit: https://gmuedu.sharepoint.com/sites/CCB-GRAD-ORIENTATION-GRP/SitePages/Employee-onboarding-team-home.aspx. For questions contact: ccbgrad@gmu.edu

Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information. 

Schar School of Policy and Government

Fall New Student Orientation 

08/23/25, 9am-3pm, In-Person

Location: 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. 

Students who do not see their departments' orientation/welcome events are encouraged to contact their program/department for more information. 

Campus Wide Orientations and Welcome Events

Below you will find orientations and welcome events that are for new graduate and professional students.

LGBTQ+ Resources Center
Lavender Orientation, Wednesday, August 28, 2025, 5pm - 6:30pm
In-person, JC BistroFor more information, click here. For questions contact: LGBTQ+ Resources Center, lgbtq@gmu.edu.

Office of Fellowships
Fellowships Info Session, Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Virtual synchronous, Register on Mason360: https://cglink.me/2d7/r2283984. For more information, click here. For questions contact: fllwshps@gmu.edu

Office of International Programs and Services
International  Graduate Student Orientation, Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 9:00am - 2:00pm
In-person, Johnson Center Dewberry Hall, Fairfax Campus. For more information, click here. Register here

Other events of OIPS: 

Summer 2025 -Pre-Arrival Webinars 

  1. On and Off-Campus Housing for New International Students Webinar
    Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 9:00 AM EST, Webinar Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/98009141197

  2. Immunization and Health Insurance for New International Students Webinar
    Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 9:00 AM EST, Webinar Link:  https://gmu.zoom.us/j/92640785131

  3. On-Campus Employment for New International Students Webinar
    Thrusday, July 24, 2025, 9:00 AM EST, Webinar Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/96923368313

F-1 Immigration and Compliance Presentations - Week of August 11, 2025

  1. F-1 Master's Immigration and Compliance Webinar (Master's, INTO Mason GPW, Law, Certificate)
    Tuesday, August 12, 2025 /  9:00-10:30 AM, Webinar Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/95454907926

  2. F-1 Doctoral Immigration and Compliance Webinar 
    Wednesday, August 13, 2025 / 9:00-10:30 AM, Webinar Link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/93370994739

Office of Military Services
Veteran Education Benefits Orientation, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 3pm
Virtual synchronous, Register in advance and select date for this meeting:
https://gmu.zoom.us/meeting/register/TALiSj7MSdevdIMis9i_kg 

The registration Link offers 6 sessions, every Tuesday between 7/15-8/19. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more information, click here. For questions contact: military@gmu.edu

University Life at Mason Square
Mason Square Welcome Fair 2025, Thursday, August 28, 2025, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
In-person, Mason Square Campus: 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington VA, 22201. Van Metre Hall, 125/126. For more information, click here. For questions contact: ularl@gmu.edu.  

University Life at SciTech
Scitech Fall Welcome Expo, Thursday, August 28, 2025, 11:00am - 2:30pm
In-person, Katherine Johnson Hall Atrium, Science and Technology Campus. For more information, click here. For questions contact: ulscitec@gmu.edu

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.