Degree Programs

This category relates to the academic aspects of the program, including program requirements, selecting courses, or graduate certificates.

Dismissal Appeal

If a student receives an academic dismissal notice, he/she has the right to appeal the decision.  Should he/she want to appeal this further, he/she will need to write a letter of appeal and address it to the following:
 
George Mason University
Faculty Academic Appeal Committee
Attn:  Rick Davis, Associate Provost
4400 University Dr., MS 3A2
Fairfax, VA  22030
 

Graduate Certificates

Graduate certificates are offered to provide students the opportunity to demonstrate advanced competence in an area of telecommunications. All graduate certificates in Telecommunications require 15 credit hours of advanced course work in he respective area of specialization.
Most students earn certificates as part of their MS in Telecommunications, however, it is possible to earn a graduate certificate without also pursuing a Master's degree.
Currently certificates in the following specialization areas are available:

Degree and Certificate Programs

The graduate degree programs in Telecommunications and their requirements are described in detail in another section of this site. This introduction to our programs provides an overview for prospective students.

Visa

Because the TCOM program is a graduate program, students are required to take and complete a full-time course load as follows:
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  • Graduate students: 9 credits (graduate level) per semester
  • Graduate students with 20-hour per week internships/assistantships: 6 credits (graduate level) per semester

 
If a student changes his/her program, or/and address, he/she has to report it to the OIPS immediately and ask to update his/her I-20.
 

OIPS and You

The Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) provides guidance to international students and scholars studying and working at George Mason University in immigration, employment and taxation, assists with adjustment issues, and fosters cross-cultural understanding through programs highlighting global themes.  The OIPS oversees all visa issues for international students.  From admissions to graduation of the TCOM program and beyond (because of OPT and CPT programs), an international student will receive many instructions and guidance from the OIPS.  Please make sure

International Students

An international student must maintain his/her visa “in status” while he/she is in the TCOM program at George Mason University.  The term "in status" means complying with the regulations governing your visa status.  Maintaining a status is each student’s  responsibility. Look at immigration documents and know what they represent and when they expire.  Please read more details
 

Diploma

Diplomas are ordered six to eight weeks after the conferral date.  You will receive an email from the Registrar's Office when your diploma has been ordered.  If you have any questions regarding diplomas for the M.S. in Telecommunications degree, please contact the Registrar office.

Graduation Conferral Process

We strongly encourage students to meet with an academic advisor during the semester prior to graduation.  Your “Plan of Study” follows your degree requirement and it will help ensure a smoother degree conferral process. If a student has any problems, the TCOM office and/or the Registrar office will notify him/her immediately.

Filing Intent of Graduation Form(GIF)

A student has to notify the university as to the dates of graduation.  A Graduation Intent Form (GIF) must be submitted, which is located on Patriot Web by clicking on "Student Services" link and then the "Graduation Intent" link.  Please read the instruction carefully in the Registrar’s web site.  If a student has both a degree program and a certificate program, he/she needs to fill in both GIF on Patriot Web at the same time. 

Graduation

Once the student has earned about 24 or more credits, he/she is only a few simple steps away from graduation.  As this stage or even before, he/she should meet his/her advisor to discuss his/her plan of study again and make sure earned credits are eligible to earn the degree or/and certificate degree.  The TCOM office has had some students who did not meet their degree requirements and had to extend their graduation in the past.  Student needs to fill in Graduation Intent Form (please see the section below) to notify the university for the intent to graduate.  Complete i