CHHS Admissions
Non-Degree
Non-Degree status enables students who have no immediate degree objective or may need to satisfy prerequisites for admission to a degree program to enroll in courses for which they are qualified without seeking formal admission to a degree program. Applicants should be aware of the fact that Non-Degree admission does not guarantee enrollment in any specific course or future degree program. Enrollment in specific courses is based on eligibility criteria and availability of space in courses. In some areas of study, enrollment may be restricted or prohibited. Please see below for important information regarding program-specific restrictions.
All Non-Degree applicants must complete a Non-Degree online application for admission and supply official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions they have attended. High school guest matriculant applicants must submit an official high school transcript, as well as SAT or ACT scores.
International students are typically not admitted in Non-Degree status. The only exception is for those students who attend George Mason University pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement or memorandum of understanding between Mason and their home university. Those students are required to process their applications and all documentation through the Center for Global Education, and to pay the associated fee.
Non-Degree applications and their established deadlines are available online through the Office of Admissions website. For detailed information regarding Non-Degree admission policies and procedures, please see Mason's course catalog.
The Department of Global and Community Health, the Department of Health Administration and Policy, and the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies welcome Non-Degree students in their classes on a space available basis. Please contact the graduate program coordinators for course advising. Programs in the College of Health and Human Services which have course restrictions are listed below.
Graduate Non-Degree Restrictions
All Graduate Programs:
Students may take a maximum of 9 credit hours in Non-Degree studies. A student cannot graduate or receive a degree while in Non-Degree status. Non-Degree graduate students may not register for classes numbered 800 or higher.
Social Work, MSW:
The MSW program has a once-a-year, fall admissions cycle, and each year receives many more applications than spaces available in the class. Thus, graduate MSW Social Work courses are restricted to students who have been admitted to the program and are not open to Non-Degree students. For admissions requirements and application deadline, please refer to CHHS Graduate Admissions. All prospective students are invited to attend one of the MSW Information Sessions. Students must RSVP online for one of the information sessions. For additional questions, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator or Administrative Coordinator for the program.
Nursing, MSN:
A student may be eligible to enroll in approved Non-Degree MSN courses if the student:
- Has not applied for the MSN program and has not been previously denied admission to the MSN program
- Holds a BSN from an accredited college and achieved a cumulative degree GPA of 3.0
- Holds a current RN license
It's important to note that MSN Non-Degree students may not take classes numbered 800 or higher. In addition, they may only take a maximum of 9 credit hours in Non-Degree studies.
Currently, the only available classes that MSN Non-degree students may take on a "space-available basis" with permission from the Assistant Dean, School of Nursing, Master's Division, are:
- NURS 665: Theory and Ethical Foundations Related to Nursing
- NURS 688: Organization of Nursing Health Delivery System
- NURS 715: Nursing Informatics Inquiry
- NURS 757: Nursing Research and Biostatistics I
- NURS 714: Health Assessment Clinical Practice
- NURS 761: Pharmacotherapeutics
- NURS 769: Physiology and Pathophysiology in Advanced Practice
Undergraduate Non-Degree Restrictions
Nursing, BSN:
Students must be admitted into the BSN program in order to register for nursing (NURS) courses.