The MS in Telecommunications degree was specifically designed for students who do not have an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering with a GPA above 3.0, but who would like to enter the information technology business in government, commerce, or industry positions, with a broad based understanding of telecommunications allied to specific skills in elected areas such as network, wireless, or systems engineering. As such, it concentrates on the practical aspects of telecommunications rather than on the theoretical. You would need to determine whether the broad based approach to telecommunications provided by this program fits your interests and career plans better than a traditional Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering master's degree.

Every student is different, and we try to see the whole person rather than just considering their undergraduate degree and GPA. We like students to have taken mathematics up to the Calculus I level but this is not a pre-requisite. Applicable work experience in the telecommunications industry is also valuable; prospective students are encouraged to talk with the Program Director for specific advice. Some students may have to take TCOM 575, a foundation course for the TCOM program. TCOM 575 is a graduate course, but it does not count for credit in the TCOM program.

A non-degree student need only submit a copy of their transcript(s) rather than have an official transcript sent to Graduate Admissions under seal. Registering as a non-degree student is also cheaper and the results of the admissions process are known much more quickly. You will need, however, to apply as a degree-seeking student once you have accumulated no more than 12 credit hours as a non-degree student, if you wish to enter into the MS in Telecommunications Program as an admitted master's student.

Up to four (4) graduate-level courses from universities offering ABET accredited programs may be transferred, depending on where they were taken, the grade earned in the course to be transferred, the course syllabi, and the status of the student. However, a course may only be transferred in if it will fit within the student's program of study for the MS in Telecommunications.
Given that courses to be transferred will be applicable within the MS in Telecommunications program, and that the grade earned in the course to be transferred is at least a B, the following rules apply: (1) Up to two (2) courses taken from out-of-(Virginia)state universities may be transferred in; (2) Up to four (4) courses taken from UVA, VT, ODU, and VCU may be transferred in; (3) Up to four (4) courses taken from Virginia State Universities, other than those in (2) above, may be transferred in.
NOTE: If a student wishes to transfer in fourthey must enter the program as regular master's students. Non-degree applicants may transfer in courses provided the total number of course credits (course(s) being taken as a non-degree student and the courses being transferred in from an outside institution) does not exceed 12. Remember that only 12 credits worth of courses may be transferred into regular status from non-degree status.

No, you must be an admitted student before you can register for a course.

Yes. However, each student's situation tends to be different so all such inquiries should first be made to the International Student Service in the International Programs & Services here at George Mason University ((703) 993-3964). Once the general transfer situation of the student has been clarified, they should then make application to transfer credits in the normal way (see above).