Evaluation of Transfer Credit
The Office of Admissions is responsible for awarding undergraduate transfer credit and completes course-by-course transfer credit evaluations for all new transfer students and freshman who intend to enroll. Evaluations are available to new transfers approximately one-week after the release of the admission decision.
Admission to Mason is contingent upon receipt of all official, final transcripts. Official transcripts from prior institutions and credit-by-exam scores such as AP must be transmitted directly from the Registrar at your previous institution(s) or the appropriate exam agency to:
George Mason University
Office of Admissions
4400 University Drive, MSN 3A4
Fairfax VA 22030
or electronically to ugtrans@gmu.edu.
Re-admitted students receive an updated transfer credit evaluation based upon the current transfer credit policy and their updated catalog year. The university reserves the right to revise a transfer credit evaluation at any time. Transfer credit is not evaluated for non-degree-seeking students.
Applicants to the University who have attempted college courses at other institutions are required to disclose their complete academic enrollment history in the admission application. George Mason University reserves the right to revoke admission or disenroll students who fail to indicate all previous institutions attended on the admission application.
Students planning to take courses after they apply but before matriculating to Mason should inform the University at admissions@gmu.edu.
Students planning to take courses at another institution AFTER they matriculate require prior authorization through the Office of the Registrar's Study Elsewhere form: https://registrar.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/SE-UG-1216.pdf
Accessing Your Credit Transfer Evaluation
Completed transfer credit evaluations are viewable in Patriot Web. To access your evaluations:
- Log in to Patriot Web*
- Select "Student Services"
- Select "Student Records"
- Select "View Your Unofficial Transcript"
*Haven't logged into Patriot Web before? Learn how to set up your Patriot Pass here.
Criteria for Assessing Transfer Credits
The following criteria will assist you in understanding your transfer credit evaluation:
- All coursework must be earned at institutions accredited by a Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency or international equivalent.
- A maximum of 90 total undergraduate transfer credits will be accepted. No more than 75 credits may be transferred in from 2-year institutions or credit-by-exam programs which will be awarded lower-level credit (typically 100 and 200-level courses and credit-by-exam such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Joint Service Transcript).
- Each college-level course must be graded with a "C" or better to be considered for transfer. Courses graded on a Pass/Satisfactory basis will not be considered for transfer. Developmental coursework, college algebra, and career and technical courses do not transfer. NOTE: The University amended the transfer policy to accept courses graded on a Pass/Fail system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pass courses completed in the Spring and Summer 2020 terms, that are equivalent to a C (2.0) grade or higher, will be considered for transfer. Pass courses completed in the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, that are equivalent to a C (2.0) grade or higher and designated as a pandemic-specific grade will be considered for transfer. No passing grades are accepted for transfer from Fall 2021 forward.
- Regardless of course content, courses completed as lower-level (typically designated as 100 and 200) will transfer to Mason as lower-level. Courses completed as upper-level (typically designated as 300 and 400 level courses) will transfer to Mason as upper-level. All Mason students must complete 45 hours of upper-level coursework to fulfill bachelor's degree requirements.
- Transfer credit is not awarded for any School of Business courses completed more than ten years prior to enrollment at Mason. Elective credit will be awarded for any computer science, engineering, information technology, or statistics courses completed more than ten years prior to Mason enrollment. The individual program makes the final determination if the coursework is still relevant and can be applied to degree requirements.
- Virginia Community College System (VCCS) courses completed to satisfy the requirements for an associate degree generally can be applied toward Mason bachelor's degree programs A few exceptions exist, such as MTH 161/163.
- No transfer credit will be awarded for courses taken during terms while suspended from Mason.
- Associate of Applied Science coursework generally does not transfer to Mason to apply to BA, BS, or BFA degrees. Select courses in AAS programs do apply toward the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) programs.
- Credit from institutions operating on a quarter system calendar are transferred by multiplying the quarter credit hours by two-thirds.
- Transfer credit is not awarded for any English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.
Patriot Transfer Explorer
Patriot Transfer Explorer is a convenient self-service tool that allows you to self-articulate your coursework. The Patriot Transfer Explorer shows you how your transfer coursework will meet course and degree requirements at Mason. Please note: only previously evaluated courses are listed in the Patriot Transfer Explorer. Courses coming in as electives may be appealed to the appropriate academic department.
Transfer Credit Matrix
This database contains courses that have been evaluated to offer transfer equivalency at the University, including all courses that transfer in from the Virginia Community College System. Use this to look-up course equivalencies for transfer credit. If you do not see your course listed, you may appeal for credit directly to the appropriate academic department at Mason using the form at the bottom of this page.
Academic Credit by Exam
Students may accelerate their graduation by the award of transfer credit from any of the following exams. Official transcripts from the testing agency should be sent to the Office of Admissions during the application process.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
The following list of Advanced Placement (AP) exams and corresponding Mason transfer credit is effective for students matriculating to Mason during the 2022-2023 catalog year. Official AP transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions using Mason's AP school code: 5827
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| AP Exam | Minimum Score | Mason Equivalent | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Arts | |||
| Art History | 3 | ARTH 200 | 3 |
| 4 or 5 | ARTH 200, 201 | 6 | |
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 or 5 | AVT 104 | 4 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 or 5 | AVT 105 | 4 |
| Drawing | 4 or 5 | AVT 222 | 4 |
| Music Theory | 5 | MUSI 115 | 3 |
| AP English | |||
| English Language & Composition | 4 | ENGH 101 | 3 |
| 5 | ENGH 101, 201 | 6 | |
| English Literature & Composition | 4 | ENGH 101 | 3 |
| 5 | ENGH 101, 201 | 6 | |
| AP History/SocSci | |||
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3, 4 or 5 | GOVT 133 | 3 |
| European History* | 3 | HIST 100 | 3 |
| 4 or 5 | HIST 100, L388 | 6 | |
| Human Geography | 3 | GGS 103 | 3 |
| 4 or 5 | GGS 101, 103 | 6 | |
| Macroeconomics | 3, 4 or 5 | ECON 104 | 3 |
| Microeconomics | 3, 4, or 5 | ECON 103 | 3 |
| Psychology | 3, 4 or 5 | PSYC 100 | 3 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3,4 or 5 | GOVT 103 | 3 |
| United States History | 3 | HIST 121 | 3 |
| 4 or 5 | HIST 121, 122 | 6 | |
| World History: Modern | 3 | HIST 125 | 3 |
| 4 or 5 | HIST 125, L387 | 6 | |
| AP Math/CompSci | |||
| Calculus AB | 3 | MATH 123 | 3 |
| 4 or 5 | MATH 113 | 4 | |
| Calculus AB Subscore | 3 | MATH 123 | 3 |
| 4 or 5 | MATH 113 | 4 | |
| Calculus BC | 3 | MATH 123 | 3 |
| 4 or 5 | MATH 113, 114 | 8 | |
| Computer Science A | 3 | CS Elective | 4 |
| 4 or 5 | CS 112 | 4 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | CS Elective | 3 |
| 4 or 5 | CS 100 | 3 | |
| Statistics | 3 | STAT 105T | 3 |
| 4 | STAT 250 | 3 | |
| 5 | STAT 250 for nonmajors; 260 for majors | 3 | |
| AP Sciences | |||
| Biology | 3 | BIOL 103 | 3 |
| 4 | BIOL 103, 105 | 4 | |
| 5 | BIOL 103, 105, 102 | 8 | |
| Chemistry | 3 | CHEM 103 | 4 |
| 4 or 5 | CHEM 211, 213 | 4 | |
| Environmental Science | 3 | EVPP 108, 109 | 4 |
| 4 or 5 | EVPP 108, 109, 112, 113 | 8 | |
| Physics 1: Algebra-Based | 3 | PHYS 103 | 4 |
| 4 or 5 | PHYS 243, 244, 245, 246 | 8 | |
| Physics 2: Algebra-Based | 3 | PHYS 104 | 4 |
| 4 or 5 | PHYS 243, 244, 245, 246 | 8 | |
| Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism | 3 | PHYS 245, 246 | 4 |
| 4 or 5 | PHYS 260, 261 | 4 | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | PHYS 243, 244 | 4 |
| 4 or 5 | PHYS 160, 161 | 4 | |
| AP World Lang/Culture | |||
| Chinese Language & Culture | 3 | CHIN 110 | 6 |
| 4 | CHIN 110, 201 | 9 | |
| 5 | CHIN 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | FREN 110 | 6 |
| 4 | FREN 110, 201 | 9 | |
| 5 | FREN 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | GERM 110 | 6 |
| 4 | GERM 110, 201 | 9 | |
| 5 | GERM 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | ITAL 110 | 6 |
| 4 | ITAL 110, 201 | 9 | |
| 5 | ITAL 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | JAPA 110 | 6 |
| 4 | JAPA 110, 201 | 9 | |
| 5 | JAPA 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Latin | 3 | LATN 101, 102 | 6 |
| 4 | LATN 101,102, 201 | 9 | |
| 5 | LATN 101,102, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | SPAN 110 | 6 |
| 4 | SPAN 110, 201 | 9 | |
| 5 | SPAN 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3, 4 or 5 | SPAN L488 | 3 |
| AP Capstone Diploma | |||
| Research | 3, 4 or 5 | General Elective | 3 |
| Seminar | 3, 4 or 5 | General Elective | 3 |
* New/updated equivalencies for 2022-2023 catalog year
International Baccalaureate Higher Level (HL) Exams
The following list of International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IB HL) exams and corresponding Mason transfer credit is effective for students matriculating to Mason during the 2022-2023 catalog year. Official IB transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions from the International Baccalaureate Organization: www.ibo.org.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| IB HL Exams | Minimum Score | Mason Equivalent | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic B: Language | 4 | ARAB 110, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | ARAB 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Biology | 4 | BIOL 103 | 3 |
| 5 | BIOL 103,105 | 4 | |
| 6, 7 | BIOL 103,105,102 | 8 | |
| Business Management* | 4,5 | BUS elective | 3 |
| 6,7 | BUS 100, elective | 6 | |
| Chemistry | 4 | CHEM 103 | 4 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | CHEM 211, 213 | 4 | |
| Chinese Cantonese B: Lang | 4 | CHIN 110, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | CHIN 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Chinese Mandarin B: Lang | 4 | CHIN 110, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | CHIN 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Computer Science | 4 | CS 112 | 4 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | CS 112, 211 | 7 | |
| Economics | 4, 5, 6 or 7 | ECON 100 | 3 |
| English A: Language and Literature | 5 | ENGH 101 | 3 |
| 6 or 7 | ENGH 101, 201 | 6 | |
| English A: Literature | 5 | ENGH 101 | 3 |
| 6 or 7 | ENGH 101, 201 | 6 | |
| English B: Language | 5, 6 or 7 | ENGH 100 | 4 |
| Film* | 4, 5, 6 or 7 | FAVS elective | 3 |
| French B: Language | 4 | FREN 110, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | FREN 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Geography | 4 | GGS 101 | 3 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | GGS 101, 102 | 6 | |
| German B: Language | 4 | GERM 110, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | GERM 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Global Politics* | 4, 5, 6 or 7 | CONF elective | 3 |
| Greek: Classical Language* | 4 | GREE 150, 160, elective | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | GREE 150, 160, elective | 12 | |
| History: Africa and Middle East | 4 | HIST 125 | 3 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | HIST 125, 262 | 6 | |
| History: The Americas | 4 | HIST 122 | 3 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | HIST 122, 125 | 6 | |
| History: Asia and Oceania | 4 | HIST 125 | 3 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | HIST 125, 252 | 6 | |
| History: Europe* | 4 | HIST 100 | 3 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | HIST 100, 125 | 6 | |
| History: Islamic History (last 2009) | 4 | HIST 281 | 3 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | HIST 101, 282 | 6 | |
| Italian B: Language | 4 | ITAL 110, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | ITAL 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Japanese B: Language | 4 | JAPA 110, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | JAPA 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Korean B: Language | 4 | KORE 110, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | KORE 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Latin: Classical Language | 4 | LATN 101, 102, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6, 7 | LATN 101, 102, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches | 4 | MATH 110, 123 | 6 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | MATH 110, 113 | 7 | |
| Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation | 5, 6, 7 | MATH 108, 110 | 6 |
| Mathematics: Further | 4 | MATH 110, 123 | 6 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | MATH 110, 113 | 7 | |
| Music, all curricula | 5, 6 or 7 | MUSI 100 | 3 |
| Philosophy | 4, 5, 6 or 7 | PHIL 100 | 3 |
| Physics | 4 | PHYS 103 | 4 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | PHYS 243, 244, 245, 246 | 8 | |
| Psychology | 4, 5, 6 or 7 | PSYC 100 | 3 |
| Russian B: Language | 4 | RUSS 110, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | RUSS 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Social and Cultural Anthropology | 4, 5, 6 or 7 | ANTH 114 | 3 |
| Spanish B: Language | 4 | SPAN 110, 201 | 9 |
| 5, 6 or 7 | SPAN 110, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Theatre | 5, 6 or 7 | THR 101 | 3 |
| Visual Arts | 4 or 5 | AVT 104 | 4 |
| 6 or 7 | AVT 104, 105 | 8 |
*New/updated equivalency effective 2022-2023 catalog year
International Baccalaureate Standard Level (SL) Exams
The following list of International Baccalaureate Standard Level (IB SL) exams and corresponding Mason transfer credit is effective for students matriculating to Mason during the 2022-2023 catalog year. Official IB transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions from the International Baccalaureate Organization: www.ibo.org.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| IB SL Exams | Minimum Score | Mason Equivalent | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Systems & Societies | 5 | EVPP 108, 109 | 4 |
| 6 or 7 | EVVPP 108, 109, 112, 113 | 8 | |
| Film* | 5, 6 or 7 | FAVS elective | 3 |
| Global Politics* | 5, 6 or 7 | CONF elective | 3 |
| Mathematics (taken on or before Nov. 2020) | 5, 6 or 7 | MATH 108 | 3 |
| Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches | 5, 6 or 7 | MATH 108 | 3 |
| Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation | 5, 6 or 7 | MATH 110 | 3 |
| Music* | 5, 6 or 7 | MUSI 100 | 3 |
| Physics | 5, 6 or 7 | PHYS 243, 244 | 4 |
* New/updated equivalency effective for 2022-2023 catalog year
International A-Level Exams
The University awards credit for certain A-Level exams based upon receipt of an official Certifying Statement of Results from Edexcel, www.edexcel.com Cambridge International Examinations, www.cie.org.uk. or Oxford International AQA https://www.aqa.org.uk/. Credit is not award for AS- or O-Level exams.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| Subject Exam | Grade(Mark) | George Mason Course(s) | Semester Hours Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting | A*,A,B,C | ACCT 203 | 3 |
| Arabic | A*,A,B | ARB 110, 201, 202 | 12 |
| C | ARAB 110, 201 | 9 | |
| Biology | A*,A | BIOL 103, 105,102 | 8 |
| B,C | BIOL 103 | 3 | |
| Business* | A*,A, B | BUS 100, elective | 6 |
| C | BUS elective | 3 | |
| Chemistry | A*,A | CHEM 211, 212, 213, 214 | 8 |
| B | CHEM 211, 213 | 4 | |
| Chinese | A*,A,B | CHIN 110, 201, 202 | 12 |
| C | CHIN 110, 201 | 9 | |
| Economics | A*,A,B,C | ECON 103, 104 | 6 |
| English Language | A*,A,B,C | ENGH 101, 202 | 6 |
| English Literature | A*,A,B,C | ENGH 202 | 3 |
| French | A*,A,B | FREN 110, 201, 202 | 12 |
| C | FREN 110, 201 | 9 | |
| German | A*,A,B | GERM 110, 201, 202 | 12 |
| C | GERM 110, 201 | 9 | |
| Mathematics* | A*,A,B | MATH 105, 113 | 8 |
| Mathematics-Further | A*,A,B | MATH 105, 113 | 8 |
| Physics | A*,A,B,C | PHYS 160, 161 | 4 |
| Portuguese | A*,A,B | PORT 110, 201, 202 | 12 |
| C | PORT 110, 201 | 9 | |
| Psychology | A*,A,B,C | PSYC 100 | 3 |
| Sociology | A*,A,B,C | SOCI 101 | 3 |
| Spanish | A*,A,B | SPAN 110, 201, 202 | 12 |
| C | SPAN 110, 201 | 9 |
*New or updated for the 2022-2023 catalog
ACT Global Assessment Certificate
The following list of ACT Global Assessment Certificate exams and corresponding Mason transfer credit is effective for students matriculating to Mason during the 2022-2023 catalog year.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| Code | Module | Mason Equivalency | Credits Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAC 003 | Study Skills for Independent Learning | UNIV 110 | 3 |
| GAC 005 | Computing I: Intro to Computing for Academic Study | IT elective | 3 |
| GAC 006 | Business, Science & Social Science I: Communications Skills | COMM elective | 3 |
| GAC 011 | Computing II: Data Management | IT elective | 3 |
| GAC 012 | Business II: Business Studies | BUS elective | 3 |
| GAC 013 | Science II: Scientific Principles | COS elective | 3 |
| GAC 016 | Mathematics III: Calculus & Advanced Applications | MATH 108 | 3 |
| GAC 017 | Computing III: Digital Communications | IT elective | 3 |
| GAC 022 | Business III: International Business | BUS elective | 3 |
| GAC 023 | Science III: General Science | COS L301 | 3 |
| GAC 024 | Discrete Mathematics | MATH elective | 3 |
| GAC 027 | Social Science II: Identity & Interaction in Society | SOCI 101 | 3 |
| GAC 028 | Social Science III: Research Skills & Global Issues | SOCI 120 or GLOA 101 | 3 |
| GAC 029 | Psychology II: Intro to Psychology | PSYC 100 | 3 |
| GAC 030 | Psychology III: Research Skills in Psychology | PSYC 260 | 3 |
* New/updated equivalency effective for 2022-2023 catalog year
BTEC Higher National
The following BTEC Higher National courses and corresponding Mason transfer credit are effective for students matriculating to Mason during the 2022-2023 catalog year. Mason accepts BTEC Higher National Level 4 or 5 exams for transfer credit evaluation with scores of Merit (M) or Distinction (D or D*). Scores of Pass (P) are not accepted for transfer credit. Official BTEC transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions directly from Pearson.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| Subject/Unit Name | GMU Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Business | ||
| Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 2: Marketing Essentials | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 3: Human Resource Management | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 4: Management and Operations | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 5: Management Accounting | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 6: Managing a Successful Business Project | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 9: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 10: Financial Accounting | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 12: Organisational Behaviour | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 22: Product and Service Development | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 23: Integrated Marketing Communications | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 24: Digital Marketing | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 32: Business Strategy | BUS elective | 3 |
| Unit 41: Brand Management | BUS elective | 3 |
CLEP Exams
The University awards credit for select CLEP exams. New students should request that their official CLEP exam results be sent to the Office of Admissions after submitting the admission application. George Mason University’s CLEP school code is 5827. Questions regarding CLEP exams may be directed to the College Board at: www.collegeboard.com.
All CLEP exams listed below will be evaluated for students pursuing any major (including exploratory) at Mason when taken prior to matriculation. Current Mason students are required to submit a Study Elsewhere form to their academic advisor for approval prior to taking exams after matriculation to Mason.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| CLEP Examination | Credit-Granting Score | Course | Credits Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Government* | 50 | GOVT 103 | 3 |
| Biology* | 50 | BIOL 103* | 3 |
| Chemistry | 50 | CHEM 101, 102 | 6 |
| Educational Psychology, Intro to | 50 | PSYC elective | 3 |
| French Language | 50 | FREN 110 | 6 |
| 60 | FREN 110, 201 | 9 | |
| 66 | FREN 110,201, 202 | 12 | |
| German Language | 50 | GERM 110 | 6 |
| 60 | GERM 110, 201 | 9 | |
| 66 | GERM 110,201, 202 | 12 | |
| History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 |
50 | HIST 121 | 3 |
| History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present |
50 | HIST 122 | 3 |
| Human Growth and Development | 50 | PSYC 211 | 3 |
| Information Systems | 60 | IT 104 | 3 |
| Macroeconomics, Principles of | 50 | ECON 104 | 3 |
| Microeconomics, Principles of | 50 | ECON 103 | 3 |
| Psychology, Introductory | 50 | PSYC 100 | 3 |
| Sociology, Introductory | 50 | SOCI 101 | 3 |
| Spanish Language* | 50 | SPAN 101 | 3 |
| 56 | SPAN 101, 102 | 6 | |
| 60 | SPAN 101, 102, 201 | 9 | |
| 66 | SPAN 101, 102, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Spanish Language w/Writing | 50 | SPAN 101, 102 | 6 |
| 65 | SPAN 101, 102, 201, 202 | 12 | |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 |
50 | HIST 100 | 3 |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present* |
50 | HIST 100 or L388* | 3 |
*New/updated equivalency effective 2022-2023 catalog
Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE)*
The following list of Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE) exams and corresponding Mason transfer credit is effective for new students. Official CAPE transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions from the institution at which the exams were taken.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| Subject Test | Score | George Mason Course Equivalence | Credit Hours Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting: Cost Mgmt. | I-III | ACCT elective | 3 |
| Accounting: Financial Acct | I-III | ACCT elective | 3 |
| Business: Application in Mgmt. | I-III | BUS elective | 3 |
| Business: Concept Issues | I-III | BUS elective | 3 |
| Business: Mgmt. Principles & Processes | I-III | BUS elective | 3 |
| Chemistry | I-III | CHEM elective | 3 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technology | I-III | ECE elective | 3 |
| Geography | I-III | GGS elective | 3 |
| Physics Unit I | I-III | PHYS 243 | 3 |
| Physics Unit II | I-III | PHYS 245 | 3 |
| Physics Unit I & II | I-III | PHYS 243, 245 | 6 |
| Tourism | I-III | TOUR elective | 3 |
*New or updated equivalency for the 2022-2023 catalog year
French Baccalaureate
The University has reviewed transfer credit equivalencies for the following subjects of the French Baccalaureate exam. The French Bac “total score" is not used to determine credit eligibility; credit is based on examination subject scores alone.
Mason awards credit for some French Baccalaureate subject exams based on the area of specialization (Language & Literature, Economics & Social Sciences or Sciences) and the grade received. Official score report must be sent from directly from your school or national registry. Additional subjects may be appealed for credit.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| Subject Exam | Specialization (Serie) | Grade | GMU Course(s) | Semester Hours Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology/Geology | S (Science) | 16-20 | BIOL 103, BIOL 102T | 6 |
| Biology/Geology | S (Science) | 14-15 | BIOL 103 | 3 |
| History/Geography | ES (Econ/SocSci) | 12-20 | GGS 101 | 3 |
| History/Geography | L (Lang/Lit) | 12-20 | GGS 101 | 3 |
| Philosophy | ES (Econ/Soc Sci) | 12-20 | PHIL 100 | 3 |
| Philosophy | L (Lang/Lit) | 12-20 | PHIL 100 | 3 |
German Abitur
The University will consider transfer credit for the written exam subjects of the Abiturpurfungen (final examination) portion of the Abitur. Each subject requires a minimum score of 10 on the 15-point scale. The Abitur total score is not used to determine credit eligibility.
An official Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur) transcript must be sent to the Office of Admissions.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| Abitur Subject | Score | Credit | Mason Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 10-15 | 8 | BIOL 103, 105, 102 |
| Chemistry | 10-15 | 8 | CHEM 211, 212, 213, 214 |
| Economics* | 10-15 | 3 | ECON elective |
| English* | 10-15 | 3 | ENGH elective |
| French | 10-15 | 6 | FREN 201, 202 |
| German | 10-15 | 6 | GERM 201, 202 |
| History | 10-15 | 3 | HIST L314 |
| Physics | 10-15 | 8 | PHYS 103, 104 |
| Religion* | 10-15 | 3 | RELI 100 |
| Social Studies | 10-15 | 3 | HIST 100 |
| Spanish | 10-15 | 6 | SPAN 201, 202 |
*New or updated equivalency for the 2022-2023 catalog year
Lebanese General Secondary Education Certificate (aka Lebanese Baccalaureate)
The University has reviewed transfer credit equivalencies for the following subjects of the Lebanese Baccalaureate exam. The Lebanese Bacc “total score" is not used to determine credit eligibility; credit is based on examination subject scores alone.
Official score report must be sent from directly from your school or national registry. Additional subjects may be appealed for credit.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded
| Subject Exam | Course | Minimum Grade | GMU Course(s) | Credit Hours Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | Reading in Arab Heritage II | C (70%) | ARAB L300 | 3 |
| Biology | Contemporary Issues in Biology | C (70%) | BIOL 102T | 3 |
| Math | Calculus and Analytic Geometry | C (70%) | MATH 113 | 3 |
| Physics | Physics for Life Sciences | C (70%) | PHYS 243 | 3 |
Mason Departmental Credit/Course Waiver Exams
Some academic departments offer credit by exam or course exemption. Consult individual departments for testing information and your academic advisor for applicability to your degree program.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason Universit y course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| Course | Contact |
|---|---|
| Department of Communication | |
| COMM 100 - Public Speaking *COMM test provides a WAIVER for the Core requirement. Course credit is NOT applied. |
Contact the Department of Communication Phone: 703.993.1090 |
| Department of English | |
| ENGH 101 - Composition ENGH 302 - Advanced Composition |
Contact the Department of English Phone: 703.993.1160 english@gmu.edu |
| Department of Modern & Classical Languages | |
| Intermediate language placement testing *MCL language testing provides a WAIVER for the foreign language requirement. Course credit is NOT applied. |
Contact the Department of Modern and Classical Languages Phone: 703.993.1220 language@gmu.edu |
| School of Music | |
| The School of Music offers credit by exam for some courses. | Contact the School of Music Phone: 703.993.1380 music@gmu.edu |
| DEPARTMENT OF SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH | |
| SYST 462 - Flight Training Lab I SYST 463 - Flight training Lab II |
Contact the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research Phone: 703.993.5689 seor@gmu.edu |
SAT Subject Tests
SAT Subject Tests were last offered in the US in 2020 and internationally in June 2021. George Mason University will continue to review exam scores taken before this time.
NOTE: Students may only receive advanced standing once for a particular George Mason University course. Duplicate transfer credit will not be awarded.
| Subject Test | Minimum Score | George Mason Course Equivalence | Credit Hours Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese w/Listening | 620 | CHIN 201 | 3 |
| 670 | CHIN 201, 202 | 6 | |
| French | 620 | FREN 201 | 3 |
| 670 | FREN 201, 202 | 6 | |
| French w/Listening | 620 | FREN 201 | 3 |
| 670 | FREN 201, 202 | 6 | |
| German | 620 | GERM 201 | 3 |
| 670 | GERM 201, 202 | 6 | |
| German w/Listening | 620 | GERM 201 | 3 |
| 670 | GERM 201, 202 | 6 | |
| Hebrew, Modern | 620 | HEBR 201 | 3 |
| 670 | HEBR 201, 202 | 6 | |
| Italian | 620 | ITAL 201 | 3 |
| 670 | ITAL 201, 202 | 6 | |
| Japanese w/Listening | 620 | JAPA 201 | 3 |
| 670 | JAPA 201, 202 | 6 | |
| Korean w/Listening | 620 | KORE 201 | 3 |
| 670 | KORE 201, 202 | 6 | |
| Latin | 620 | LATN 201 | 3 |
| 670 | LATN 201, 202 | 6 | |
| Spanish | 620 | SPAN 201 | 3 |
| 670 | SPAN 201, 202 | 6 | |
| Spanish w/Listening | 620 | SPAN 201 | 3 |
| 670 | SPAN 201, 202 | 6 |
Additional Information
Evaluation of Military Transfer Credit
Coursework from the Air University, the Defense Language Institute, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Military Academy, the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy will be considered for transfer if a comparable course is offered at Mason.
Military Science or ROTC credit earned at other regionally accredited colleges and universities may be considered for transfer into the Department of Military Science.
Other credit earned for training or military service (as documented on an official ACE transcript) may be considered for transfer into the Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) program and is subject to the Credit for Nontraditional Modes of Learning policy within BIS. If an enrolled BIS student decides to change majors, nontraditional transfer credit will not apply toward any other major.
Effective Fall 2014, new and current Mason students who have completed U.S. military service may be eligible for the award of elective credit. To request credit, military applicants are required to provide the Office of Admissions an official Joint Services transcript or DD-214 showing other than dishonorable discharge.
International Transfer Credit
George Mason University will consider transfer credit earned at institutions of higher education outside of the United States that are fully recognized by the Ministry of Education or equivalent authorizing agency, provided that such credits have been earned through university-level coursework and are presented with equivalent grades of "A", "B", or "C". The Office of Admissions will make the final determination of the award and applicability of any international credit.
Transfer Credit Inquiry and Appeal
- Transfer Credit Inquiry Form (PDF). Use this form if you are missing any transfer credit from your evaluation. This includes credit by exam such as AP, IB or CLEP. Before submitting this form be sure you have requested official final transcripts to be sent from the Registrar at your previous institution to Mason’s Office of Admissions or electronically to ugtrans@gmu.edu and have read and understood the criteria for credit acceptance policies.
- Transfer Credit Re-Evaluation Appeal Form (PDF). Use this form if you were awarded elective credit for a course and wish to have it re-evaluated by the academic unit as equivalent to a specific Mason course. Courses from the Virginia Community College System are established on an annual basis. Appeals for VCCS courses are rarely successful. For courses denied any equivalency, including elective credit, contact your advisor to determine if your course meets criteria for a substitution or waiver through the Office of the Registrar.
Questions?
Contact the transfer credit team at credeval@gmu.edu
Policies marked with an asterisk are new or updated for the 2022-2023 catalog year.