Frequently Asked Questions

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students in the College of Public Health are not assigned advisors - students can meet with any advisor. Undergraduate Students are advised in the College of Public Health's Office of Student Affairs. Visit our Academic Advising page to learn more about scheduling an appointment.

Graduate Students

Graduate students in the College of Public Health are assigned faculty advisors. Visit our Academic Advising page to identify and contact the administrative coordinator for your respective program. 

Walk-in hours for current Mason students

The College of Public Health's Office of Student Affairs offers walk-ins for currently enrolled undergraduate students. Walk-ins are available during the fall and spring semesters on Mondays from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm at Peterson Family Health Sciences Hall, Suite 1000 (on the Fairfax campus). Please arrive no later than 3:30 pm to speak to an advisor. Keep in mind walk-ins are first-come, first-serve, therefore, students may have to wait for an advisor to become available. 

To speak with an advisor outside of walk-in hours, please schedule an appointment through Patriot Connect or call the Office of Student Affairs at 703-993-1901 or send us an email at advcph@gmu.edu.

Walk-in hours for prospective Mason students

If you have not yet been admitted to Mason, we offer virtual advising for perspective students every Wednesday from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm via Zoom Meetings. To receive the Zoom Meetings link, send an email to cph@gmu.edu.

Yes, we offer virtual prospective student hours via Zoom Meetings every Wednesday from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.  To request the Zoom Meetings link for the virtual prospective student hours, send an email to cph@gmu.edu. Please review the information and resources on the College of Public Health website and come prepared to the meeting with your specific questions. 

Keep in mind the prospective student hours are first-come, first-serve and wait times will depend on the number of participants.

You should plan ahead and request an appointment with an advisor well in advance of the day you are eligible to register for the next semester. Please prepare for the advising meeting by reviewing your degree audit and writing down what you would like to discuss. Additionally, please check out the Prepare for a Successful Advising Session on our academic advising page. 

Mason’s academic calendar contains useful information for each semester such as registration time tickets, add/drop deadlines, tuition payment due dates, selective withdrawal dates, and other important dates. The academic calendar can be found on the Registrar's website.

Mason’s University Catalog is online and contains the curriculum requirements for each program at the university. Program requirements sometimes change, so it’s important to look at the requirements for your catalog year (usually the semester in which you started at Mason). The "ARCHIVE" link at the top right of the online university catalog allows you to choose a previous catalog year.

During an advising appointment, your advisor will fill out a program planning and advising sheet with you that includes a list of all the courses you are required to complete for your degree. You will receive a copy of this sheet for your records.

If you need to withdraw from a course or courses, you should familiarize yourself with Mason’s policies and procedures regarding withdrawals. If you are withdrawing from a course prior to the semester's final drop deadline, you should web-drop the course through Patriot Web. After the deadline, undergraduates can take advantage of the selective withdrawal period. Once the selective withdrawal period has passed, withdrawal requests can be made through your academic advisor. You can find detailed information on our Course Withdrawal page.

Log into your Patriot Web account and view your Transfer Credit Evaluation. In the Student Services menu, click on “Student Records" then choose the “View your Unofficial Transcript" link, then click on "Display Transfer Credit Evaluation". If you have any questions or if there are classes not listed that you think should have transferred into Mason, you have one year from the time you start at Mason to work with the admissions office to fix any issues with your transfer credits. After reviewing the policies regarding the evaluation of transfer credits, contact your academic advisor for help determining the remaining credits and requirements to finish your degree.

Mason students are expected to complete their courses at Mason, but there are some circumstances that allow a student to request permission to take a course at another college or university. Students who wish to take a course elsewhere will need to make an appointment with their academic advisor in order to complete a Permission to Study Elsewhere form and submit it by the deadline. Approval is not guaranteed and is based on multiple factors. Please review the Study Elsewhere page for more information. If you take the course elsewhere without an approved Study Elsewhere request, the credits will not transfer to Mason.

We strive to review all academic action requests (substitutions, study elsewhere, etc.) in a timely manner, and most requests submitted to the College of Public Health's Office of Student Affairs take an average of 1-2 weeks to be reviewed. The beginning and end of the semester are the busiest times for our office, and requests we receive during those time periods usually take longer.

There are many resources a student can utilize in order to be successful while at Mason and after graduation. Here are some things you can do:

• Meet with your academic advisor at least once a semester. Your academic advisor can help you plan your courses, understand academic policies and procedures, connect you to helpful resources, and much more.
• Monitor your Mason email account carefully. George Mason University, the College of Public Health and it's departments, instructors, and other university offices and resources send important information to your university email account. 
• Be mindful of academic policies and procedures and review the semester calendar often.
• Get involved! There are a variety of student groups and activities that can enrich your time here at Mason and if you do not see a group or activity that interests you, you can create one. Check out Mason360 for student involvement opportunities.
• Utilize University Career Services for career counseling and industry-specific advising. Career Services can prepare you for post-graduate success by helping you develop your resume and cover letters, guide you through the job and internship process, and connect you with a global network of employers in a variety of industries. 

Being a college student can be exciting but challenging, so, it is normal for students to feel overwhelmed and stressed, especially if you have responsibilities outside of school. When you feel overwhelmed, please make an appointment with your academic advisor who can help you think through stressors and connect you with resources for support. Whether you need help with time management, tutoring, financial or other supports, your academic advisor can help get you to the right resources. 

Mason’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers a multitude of services to help students manage both academic or personal stress. CAPS offers individual and group counseling, academic counseling, a Peer Empowerment Program, depression screening, and how to cope with stress during times of crisis. These services are free to students, and we strongly encourage you to take advantage of them.

Additionally, Learning Services helps Mason students thrive academically by offering personalized support and skill-building resources—completely free of charge. Whether you’re looking to improve your time management, strengthen study strategies, or prepare more effectively for exams, Learning Services is there to guide you every step of the way. Every student has the potential to succeed, and sometimes, a little extra support can make all the difference. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed—reach out early and often. 

The Office of Disability Services (ODS) at George Mason University offers a variety of services and accommodations to students with both learning and physical disabilities. Please contact them to start the official process of requesting accommodations.

The Registrar’s Office provides official verification of enrollment for things such as employment, insurance, etc. Please visit the enrollment certifications page on their website.

The first place you need to go to for information is the Registrar’s page on graduation where you will find complete instructions on how to file your intent to graduate, tips for a smooth degree conferral process, and critical timelines.

For information about commencement, convocation, and nursing pinning ceremonies, visit the College of Public Health graduation page.