Graduate Admissions and Aid

Application Instructions

For an overview of the graduate application process and required materials, please visit Mason's Office of Graduate Admissions and view the program specific requirements below.

To apply for our Master’s, Graduate Certificate, or PhD programs, please complete the online graduate application form through the George Mason University Office of Admissions.

The Carter School does not require the GRE.

Application Requirements

Master's Degree Application Requirements

•    Complete the online graduate application.
•    A non-refundable application fee.
•    The application will require you to upload unofficial transcripts. Two official copies of transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended will be required if admitted to the program.
•    Résumé/CV.
•    A Goals Statement. The goals statement should answer the question: "How has your past experienced prepared you to engage in conflict, and how will this program equip you for your future?" There is no length requirement.
•    Two Letters of Recommendation. These letters can be from faculty, colleagues, or supervisors who can attest to your ability to perform well in this professional program.

Graduate Certificate Application Requirements

•    Complete the online graduate application. Graduate Certificate options can be found under the Degree Programs tab.
•    A non-refundable application fee.
•    The application will require you to upload unofficial transcripts. Two official copies of transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended will be required if admitted to the program.
•    Résumé/CV.
•    A Goals Statement. The goals statement should answer the question: "How has your past experienced prepared you to engage in conflict, and how will this program equip you for your future?" There is no length requirement.
•    One Letter of Recommendation. This letter can be from a faculty, colleague, or supervisor who can attest to your ability to perform well in this professional program.

PhD Application Requirements

•    Complete the online graduate application
•    A non-refundable application fee.
•    The application will require you to upload unofficial transcripts. Two official copies of transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended will be required if admitted to the program.
•    Résumé/CV.
•    A Goals Statement. The goals statement should answer the question: "How has your past experienced prepared you to engage in conflict, and how will this program equip you for your future?" There is no length requirement.
•    Three Letters of Recommendation. These letters can be from faculty, colleagues, or supervisors who can attest to your ability to perform well in this professional program.

Requirements for International Students

International Transcript Evaluation

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, during peak application times, more time may be needed to process applications requiring a Mason evaluation. If you are concerned that Mason will take too long with your evaluation, you can use an outside agency to conduct your evaluation.  Any outside agency must be a NACES recognized U.S. evaluation service at their own expense.  For more information, please visit https://www.naces.org/members.  If you decide to use an external evaluation service, GPA and Degree equivalences must be included with your course-by-course evaluation. The Office of Admissions has final authority on all evaluations. Evaluations are used for internal purposes and are not released to applicants.  

English Language Proficiency

George Mason University requires all applicants to provide proof of English proficiency through a standardized test. It is required of all applicants unless they have earned a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (excluding Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe. If you have earned your degree from outside of this list of countries, you will be required to submit scores from an English proficiency test. This requirement is a George Mason University-wide policy, and we are not able to waive it. Students have four options for submitting scores: a TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson, or Duolingo.  For additional information, please visit https://www2.gmu.edu/admissions-aid/apply-now/how-apply/international/english-proficiency-requirements

Minimum scores required for each exam:
•    TOEFL: 88 points, minimum of 20 points in each section
•    IELTS: 6.5 total band score
•    Pearson: minimum score of 59
•    Duolingo: 120 minimum score
*Applications without English proficiency scores will not be reviewed.

For all other international application questions, please visit the Catalog.
 

 

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Admitted Students
Next Steps for Newly-Admitted Students

Master’s and PhD Students

Congratulations on your offer of admission to the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution!  This step-by-step guide will help you confirm your acceptance, activate your Mason email account, register for classes and more! 

It is very important that you visit the link above to complete these steps.
 

Graduate Certificate Students

Congratulations on your offer of admission to the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution!  This step-by-step guide will help you confirm your acceptance, activate your Mason email account, register for classes and more! 

It is very important that you visit the link above to complete these steps.
 

Have a Question?

If you are a prospective master’s, graduate certificate, or PhD student, please complete the George Mason inquiry form to receive information about prospective student events, admissions updates, tips for applying, and more.

Physical Address

3434 N. Washington Blvd.
Vernon Smith Hall, 5th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201

Get to know the Carter School 

Set-up an informational appointment with Monique C. Norton, Assistant Director for Graduate Recruitment and Admissions
Email: tcsinfo@gmu.edu
Phone: 703-993-1300

Mailing Address

3351 Fairfax Dr. MS 4D3
Arlington, VA 22201