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 two-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)Mason Recreation, and University Life.

Gradstravaganza is held once year at the beginning of the fall semester. You can access video recordings and materials from the online Success Sessions held in August 2023

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. 

Antonin Scalia Law School

LLM/JM students should contact the Graduate Admissions and Advising Office at the Antonin Scalia Law School for all inquiries around orientation and welcome events: lawgradm@gmu.edu.

JD students should contact the Admissions Office at the Antonin Scalia Law School for all inquiries around JD orientation and welcome events: lawadmit@gmu.edu.

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Please contact the graduate advising office at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution for all inquiries around orientation and welcome events: tcsadvi@gmu.edu.

College of Education and Human Development

College of Education and Human Development Graduate Orientation 
Beginning in January 2024, students will have access to asynchronous orientation modules; further information: https://cehd.gmu.edu/students/orientation/graduate; for questions, email Anna Hornberger ahornber@gmu.edu.  

To receive information about potential program-specific orientation sessions, please email your program contact directly. 

College of Engineering and Computing

Systems Engineering and Operations Research
Systems Engineering and Operations Research Spring 2024 Graduate Orientation
Hybrid (in-person/virtual), Thursday, January 11 4:00pm. For more information: contact seor@gmu.edu 

Information Sciences and Technology
MS in Applied Information Technology and MS in Information Systems Spring Graduate Orientation
Virtual
synchronous; 
Wednesday, January 10, 2024, 6:00pm. For more information: contact: msait@gmu.edu for AIT program and msinfs@gmu.edu for Information Systems program

Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering
Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering Graduate Orientation
Pre-recorded, asynchronous video on Blackboard. Please email ceie@gmu.edu for questions. 

Please contact your graduate program or department of admission for information on whether they are hosting an orientation or welcome event. Visit https://cec.gmu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/new-graduate-students for additional information for new students. 

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

MS and Accelerated Master's in Criminal Justice
MS/BAM in Criminal Justice Spring 2024 Orientation
In-person; 1/11/2024; 9am-1:15pm; Fenwick Library, Room 1014B; Fairfax Campus. For questions, email clsgrad@gmu.edu 

MA in Global Affairs 
Global Affairs Orientation for All New Incoming Students to the MA Program
In-person; 1/17/2024; 4:30-5:45pm; Horizon Hall, Room 1007; Fairfax Campus. Visit https://globalaffairs.gmu.edu/events/15301 for more information. For questions, email globalma@gmu.edu.  

If you do not see your program listed above, please email chssgrad@gmu.edu to get more information on your orientation and welcome events.

College of Public Health

College of Public Health Graduate Student Orientation will be held in person on Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 4pm to 7pm in Peterson Hall. After arriving at the lobby for check-in, students will receive a folder with a copy of the schedule and resources before programming begins.

Registration is required and links will be sent via email. For more information, check out Public Health's Graduate Orientation page. If you have questions, please email cphgrad@gmu.edu

College of Science

To receive information about your program’s orientation, please email your programs directly.

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Arts Management
Arts Management New Graduate Student Orientation
Virtual synchronous; 1/8/2024; 6-8PM; information will be on the https://artsmanagement.gmu.edu website. For questions, email amgtgmu@gmu.edu

Arts Management Program host Dance Works Chicago's Co-founder and Artistic Director Julie Nakagawa for a panel discussion with dance leaders
Virtual synchronous; 1/22/2024, 5:30-8PM; registration forthcoming on the https://artsmanagement.gmu.edu website. For questions, email amgtgmu@gmu.edu

School of Theater
School of Theater Convocation
In-person; 1/16/2024; 5:30-7:30PM; Harris Theater, Fairfax Campus; For questions, email sot@gmu.edu.

If you don't see your program and have questions, please email cvpagrad@gmu.edu

Costello College of Business

Costello College of Business Spring 2024 Program Immersions

MS in Accounting Program Immersion
Virtual synchronous; 12/5/2023; 12:30pm-1:30pm; Zoom: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/94624883981?pwd=eEtWa25uOW93b3hYSlBXZFFlelYwZz09. For questions, email msa@gmu.edu 

Online MBA Program Immersion
Virtual synchronous; 1/4/2024; 6-8pm; Zoom link forthcoming. For questions, email mba@gmu.edu

MS in Real Estate Development Program Immersion
In-person; 1/11/2024; 4-7:30pm; College of Business 4th floor conference room (orientation 4-5pm) and Multipurpose Room (groundbreaking 5:30-7:30pm); Fairfax Campus. For questions, email mabough2@gmu.edu

Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics and Graduate Certificate in Business Fundamentals 
Virtual synchronous; 1/6/2024; 11am-12pm; Zoom: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/92183763499?pwd=MFpld3NLNFg1Qks5akRDL0ZNU1JGZz09. For questions, email sgarci3@gmu.edu

If you do not see your program listed or if you have questions, please contact your program. The list of contacts for graduate programs is available here

Schar School of Policy and Government

Schar School of Policy and Government 

In Person Master’s and Graduate Certificate Orientation 
In-person; 1/13/2024, 9:30am-3pm; Van Metre Hall, Mason Square (Arlington Campus). To register and learn more, check out our webpage: https://schar.gmu.edu/new-schar-school-student_orientation. For questions, email schargss@gmu.edu.

Online Master’s and Graduate Certificate Orientation 
Virtual synchronous; beginning 1/9/2024; online (multiple sessions), link: https://schar.gmu.edu/new-schar-school-student_orientation. For questions, email schargss@gmu.edu.  

Graduate Non-Degree Orientation 
Hybrid; beginning 1/10/2024, online and in person (multiple sessions), link: https://schar.gmu.edu/new-schar-school-student_orientation. For questions, email schargss@gmu.edu.  

University Life Orientations and Welcome Events

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

International Programs and Services & Graduate Student Life 
International Graduate Student Orientation
In-person; 1/11/2024; 9am-2pm; Johnson Center Dewberry Hall, Fairfax Campus. Check out our webpage for all you need to know: https://oips.gmu.edu/attend-orientation/. Registration: http://go.gmu.edu/IGSORegistration. For questions, email oipsprog@gmu.edu or gradlife@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.