Bachelor of Arts in English

Catalog Year 2025-2026

Based on VCCS Curriculum for ENGLISH

Transfer Guidance

Transfer Admission Requirements

• Transfer applicants must present a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.

• Prior to applying, VCCS applicants must complete an English composition equivalent to ENGH 101 (ENG 112). Students may provide secondary school coursework or test scores demonstrating English language proficiency.

• Prior to applying, VCCS applicants must complete a college-level math course.

• GAA applicants must present a minimum 2.85 cumulative GPA. For more information about Guaranteed Admission Agreement Requirements, visit: https://www.vccs.edu/transfer-programs/

Important Links & Dates

• Office of Transfer Services: https://www.gmu.edu/admissions-aid/apply-now/how-apply/transfer/office-transfer-services

• Admission Application: By Oct 1 or March 1 at https://www.gmu.edu/admissions-aid/apply-now

• Financial Aid: https://www.gmu.edu/financial-aid

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: March 15 for Fall admission and November 1 for Spring admission at studentaid.gov

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Students interested in George Mason are encouraged to focus on completing courses that meet general education requirements. BA degree programs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences have additional requirements in: philosophy or religion, social and behavioral science, foreign language through the intermediate level, and non-western culture.

• For the BA in English, three credits of 100-level or 200-level coursework in ENGH, LING, or FOLK may be applied to the English major and may be completed prior to transferring to Mason. We advise students to take ENGH 302 and ENGH 305, plus a few more English courses in their first year as a transfer student at Mason.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and George Mason within your first year. College Connect available in your account at www.TransferVirginia.org

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• The English BA is for storytellers, analytical thinkers, writers, editors, and for anyone who believes that making and understanding culture is at the heart of creating a more just society. Students transferring to George Mason will get to select courses from across our concentrations, which include screen cultures, folklore, literature, creative writing, cultural studies, linguistics, and writing and rhetoric. If you are interested in a career that involves creativity, writing, social justice, research, and/or analysis, this is a major you should consider. At only 36 credit hours, the English major also makes it easy to double major and expand your personal and professional horizons.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: Students who complete a transfer associate degree (AS, AA, AA&S, or AFA) from a Virginia Community College will receive a waiver of the Foundation and Exploration (lower division) Mason Core general education categories. To be eligible for the waiver, students must provide the George Mason Office of Admissions with a final, official transcript reflecting the degree conferral date. As a prerequisite for ENGH 302, ENGH 101 is not waived. Students must transfer in or complete ENGH 100 or ENGH 101 at George Mason with a C or higher.

• Dual Enrollment - Completion of Associate Degree in HS: Applicants are required to apply as freshmen.

• Credit for Prior Learning: Credit by exam may be used to fulfill General Education and/or major requirements. See: https://www.gmu.edu/admissions-aid/apply-now/how-apply/transfer/transfer-credit-policy

• Catalog Year: Catalog year is determined by first term of attendance at George Mason.

Is This College Right For Me?

• Located in Fairfax, Virginia, within the Washington metropolitan area, George Mason enrolls more than 28,000 undergraduate students from all 50 states and more than 130 countries in 78 in-demand majors.

• More than 4,500 new transfer students choose George Mason each year, and the university has been recognized as the most diverse in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report.

• Transfer students are welcome to live among our 7700-student residential community or off campus. The Office of Contemporary Student Services is dedicated to the support of off-campus transfers.

• 65% of George Mason students receive financial aid.

• 22 Division I men's and women's sports teams, plus club and intramural leagues, and more than 400 student organizations.

• For more information, visit: https://www.gmu.edu/transfer

• Learn more about our college at www.TransferVirginia.org

Did You Know That…

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at George Mason University?

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• Explore possible careers, salaries, and job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org

Program Successes & Highlights

• The English Department at George Mason provides a learning environment that stresses the importance of writing and reading in both creative and scholarly pursuits. Our programs offer unparalleled opportunities and prepare students for a variety of careers. In an ever-changing job market, your English degree will give you the flexibility to pursue any number of careers, from teaching to social media management.

• Thanks to small, discussion-based classes taught by veteran teachers, George Mason English majors have a competitive edge. Employers throughout the Washington DC area know that George Mason English graduates possess strong writing and critical thinking skills that separate them from the rest.

• As a George Mason English major you receive a highly personalized education while reaping the benefits of being at a large public research university.

Do More With Your Degree!

• English majors have opportunities to conduct original research, study abroad, and hold internships here at George Mason (e.g., Stillhouse Press or Poetry Daily) or at companies, non-for-profits, or federal offices in the DC metro region.

• English offers two accelerated Master's programs: one in folklore and one in linguistics. We have a range of minors available to students, including a new minor in community and public writing.

• Highly motivated transfers may elect to apply for the English Honors program, which offers advanced, topic-driven seminars taught by research faculty. English Honors is a stepping stone toward post-graduate study or a variety of research and writing-intensive careers.