Program Description

Application Requirements

Program-Specific Instructions

Additional Information

The Computing Foundations Graduate Certificate offers opportunities for admitted students to directly matriculate into the Computer Science, MS or Software Engineering, MS upon certificate conferral and without a new graduate admission application.

Certificate to Master's Bridge Program Policies can be found in AP.6. To be considered for a Bridge Pathway, students must elect the specific option on their Computing Foundations Graduate Certificate admission application. Students who do not choose a bridge pathway option on their admission application, but later wish to continue in a Master's program must submit a new Graduate Admission application in accordance with University deadlines. 

The Graduate Certificate in Computing Foundations is offered in the fall term only.

Fall Space-available deadlines: https://cec.gmu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/application-requirements-and-deadlines

English Proficiency Requirements

All Mason students must have a full command of academic English to be successful in their studies. For this reason, Mason requires applicants to demonstrate English proficiency for admission consideration, regardless of citizenship. Click here to view the requirements.

International Transcript Requirements

All transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be translated into English, if applicable, and submitted for evaluation to the Mason Office of Admissions. Mason will provide evaluation service free of charge for all international transcripts, however, some programs may request an outside evaluation be completed. Because of volume, more time may be needed to process applications requiring a Mason evaluation. You should submit your application 6 weeks prior to the deadline if you plan to utilize Mason’s free evaluation service. For expedited service, students may submit their documents to any NACES member organization at their own expense. If you decide to use an external evaluation service or if your program requires an outside evaluation, GPA and Degree equivalences must be included with your course-by-course evaluation. Mason evaluations are used for internal purposes and are not released to applicants. For information on international transcript requirements, go here.