Program Overview

Program Overview

The Graduate Pathway in Software Engineering is designed for international students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in Software Engineering at George Mason University. The program provides academic, language, and cultural support to help students succeed at a US university. Upon successful completion of the program, students are guaranteed progression to a Mason graduate degree program.

Key Information

• A Pathway program provides academic, language, and cultural support in order to succeed at a US university.
• Students are guaranteed progression to a graduate degree program through a curriculum consisting of credit-earning courses.
• Students will benefit from fully integrated classes with both domestic and other international students on campus while learning from highly trained university instructors and tutors.

Entry Requirements

Age Requirement

• 17 years old

Academic Requirements

• 4-year undergraduate degree or equivalent in Computer Science or a related field.
• Degree must include Data Structures & Algorithms, Automata Theory & Formal Languages, and Computer Architecture, including Assembly Language.
• Completion of Calculus I & II and a discrete mathematics course.
• 2.75 undergraduate GPA.

English Language Requirements

• TOEFL iBT 75, IELTS 6.0, PTEA 52, Duolingo 110, TOEFL Essentials 7.5, or completion of AE Core and OCS Level 6.

Class Size

• 15 students

Important Dates

2025 Fall Start (August)

• Program start date: August 18, 2025
• Program end date: December 17, 2025

2026 Spring Start (January)

• Program start date: January 12, 2026
• Program end date: May 13, 2026

Fees and Pricing

Estimated Cost of Attendance

• Tuition fee: $21,130.00
• Approximate cost: $21,130.00

Sample Classes

Semester 1

• EAP 401: Advanced English Grammar for Multilingual Students (1 credit unit)
• EAP 507: Advanced Graduate Communication Across the Disciplines (4 credit units)
• SWE 621: Software Design and Architecture (3 credit units)
• CS 530: Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science (3 credit units)
• INYO 504: Graduate Transitions for International Students (3 credit units)

Total credit units: 14

Progression

• Software Engineering-M.S.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA. B or better in all courses. No grades of NC, W, or IN permitted.