Standards, Requirements, and Deadlines

Interested in Applying? Learn More Today

Selection criteria differ by program and are established by the faculty of that program. Applicants are evaluated on past academic performance, rigor of the course selection, standardized test scores (if required), letters of recommendation, goals statement, writing sample (if required), professional experience, applicant's "match" with the program, and any additional evidence of potential success. The faculty determines the number of admission offers to extend based on the resources available to the program.

The general university graduate admission standards include the following:

  • An earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or international equivalent (both verified through official transcripts)
  • 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 post baccalaureate 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

Please see the information below for on-campus program application deadlines. To request additional information about your program of interest, please complete the Graduate Program Interest Form

If you are interested in an online program within the college, please locate your program details here.

Department of Global and Community Health

Program Fall Spring
Public Health, PhD (1) 12/1 None
Public Health, MPH (1, 2, 3) 3/1  12/1
Global Health, MS (1, 4) 3/1 None
Public Health Graduate Certificate (1) 3/1 11/1
Epidemiology Graduate Certificate (1) 3/1 None
Global Health Graduate Certificate (1) 3/1 None

(1) For non-accelerated MPH, the MS, PhD, and Certificate programs, apply using SOPHAS.

(2) Current Mason students interested in the bachelors to accelerated masters (BAM) MPH program may apply at any date after they complete 60 credits. Current undergraduate students may continue to apply as long as they have at least one or more terms left to transition.

(3) Only the online MPH with a Public Health Practice concentration is available for spring admission.

(3) The priority deadline for the MS in Global Health is 3/1, with a final deadline of 4/1.

Visit the Department of Global and Community Health Graduate Admissions page for more information about application requirements.

Department of Health Administration and Policy

Program Fall Spring
Health Services Research, PhD 4/1 None
Health Informatics, MS 4/1 11/1
Health Systems Management, MHA 4/1 11/1
Health Informatics and Data Analytics Graduate Certificate 4/1 11/1
Healthcare Quality Graduate Certificate 4/1 11/1

Admissions Standards and Application Materials

School of Nursing

Program Fall Deadline Spring Deadline
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate (1) 4/1 None
Nursing Education Graduate Certificate 4/1 None
Nursing, DNP, BSN to DNP Pathway (1) 7/1 11/1
Nursing, DNP, MSN to DNP Pathway (1) 7/1 11/1
Nursing, MSN (1)
(On-campus program)
7/1 None
Nursing, PhD 7/1 None

(1) The deadline for Fall 2024 applications has been extended to July 1, 2024.

Visit the School of Nursing Graduate Admissions page for more information about application requirements.

Admissions Standards and Application Materials

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Program Fall Spring
Nutrition Graduate Certificate 4/1 11/1
Nutrition, MS (1) 4/1 11/1

(1) Visit the Department of Nutrition MS in Nutrition, Dietetics concentration page for additional admission and pre-requisite information.

Admissions Standards and Application Materials

Department of Social Work

Program Fall Spring
Social Work, MSW 1/15 None
Social Work, MSW and Conflict Analysis, MS Dual Degree 1/15 None
Gerontology Graduate Certificate (1) 4/1 11/1

(1) Applications are not currently being accepted for the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology.

Visit the Department of Social Work page for more information about application requirements.

Admissions Standards and Application Materials