Important Transfer Update: Mason Core/Gen. Ed. Waiver Policy

August 16, 2023 / Our Nighthawks

Please review the following information regarding important changes to George Mason University’s lower division general education waiver policy for students earning the VCCS Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) or a VCCS associate degree.

Effective Date: For students entering Mason fall 2023 forward

General Education Policy for Virginia Transfer Students

Students who complete the VCCS Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) or a VCCS or Richard Bland College transfer associate degree, including all VCCS General Studies A.S. degrees, will receive a waiver of the Foundation and Exploration (lower division) Mason Core general education categories. VCCS and Richard Bland transfer associate degrees include: the Associate of Science (A.S.), the Associate of Arts (A.A.), the Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A&S.) and the Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.).

Requirements for All Students:

  • Students must complete ENGH-100 or ENGH-101, or an equivalent, with a C or higher.
  • College, major and integration (upper level) Mason Core requirements are not waived under this policy.
  • Students may still be required to meet any prerequisite requirements to enroll in future coursework at Mason, as required by the department offering the course.

Clarifications:

  • Criteria needed to receive the lower division, general education waiver include only:
    • Students must successfully complete one of the credentials listed in the policy.
    • Students must be admitted to Mason and submit a final transcript with the degree or UCGS conferral noted on the transcript.
  • Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or Associate of Applied Arts (AAA) degrees are not eligible for the general education waiver.
  • Completion of ENGH-100 or ENGH-101, or an equivalent, with a C or higher is required as a prerequisite for ENGH 302, which is a graduation requirement for all Mason students.
    • Students typically earn Mason ENGH-101 through the completion of VCCS ENG-111 and ENG-112 or RBC ENGL-101 and ENGL-102.
    • Students may also fulfill the ENGH-101 requirement through credit by exam (AP, IB, etc.). See “Academic Credit by Exam” section here: Academic Credit by Exam
  • The same general education waiver applies to students with completed transfer associate degrees, or UCGS, admitted via regular transfer admission or the Guaranteed Admission Agreement (GAA).

New Policy Language: Mason Catalog, Undergraduate Admissions Policies – Transfer

For questions regarding this transfer policy update, please email academics@nvcc.edu 

Submitted by:
Jennifer Nelson, Transfer Coordinator, JLNelson@nvcc.edu