Master of Education in Secondary Education, Concentration in Computer Science (Licensure)

Students enrolled in the licensure concentration (SECO) must successfully complete the following licensure requirements to complete the program. Unless noted, all requirements must be satisfied prior to applying for internship:

• Emergency First Aid, CPR and AED certification or training (prior to graduation
• Praxis subject area test for Computer Science (5652)
• Content area coursework (completed and approved Content Area Review form)

Licensure testing and statutory requirements are determined by the Commonwealth of Virginia and may change at any time. If changes to these requirements occur, students must meet the current testing, statutory, and licensure requirements as set forth in the legal Code of Virginia. 

For more information and to apply, visit the admissions website.

* Priority deadline ensures consideration for the intended semester as well as financial aid options for students. Programs will continue to review applications until at capacity. Some programs do not review applications past the priority deadline.

All application materials must be submitted through George Mason’s online graduate application. In addition to meeting general university admissions requirements, applicants will need to provide the requirements below.

To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:

• Graduate application and fee
• 750- to 1,000-word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
• Current resume
• Completed Content Area Review worksheet. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) requires academic prerequisite coursework for licensure programs. The content area advisor will certify that you have met the requirements to start in one of our state-approved teacher preparation programs.
• Two letters of recommendation. Applicants should follow the instructions included in the online application to submit the recommendation forms directly to their recommenders. George Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
• Transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the United States. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions information page for specific requirements regarding uploading unofficial transcripts. Applicants with transcripts from institutions outside of the United States could have additional requirements. Please refer to the How To Apply page for specific requirements about submitting international transcripts, evaluations, and documentation of English language proficiency.

Admission to graduate programs at George Mason University is competitive. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their academic backgrounds, results of standardized exams (if required by the program), work experience, and any additional evidence of potential success in the program. Faculty admissions review is a holistic review of requirements as well as the applicant’s potential academic and professional success upon completion of the program.

At a minimum all admitted students must have:

• An earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts. Expectation of an earned baccalaureate prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the student is applying will also meet this requirement. See the graduate admissions policy for more information.
• A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA are encouraged to apply, addressing previous academic challenges and highlighting evidence for future success in their goal statement.
• International students should reference Admission of International Students for additional requirements.

Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher course fee to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.

*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $169.00

**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. Eligible students receive 15% off the total tuition and mandatory student fee.

For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.

Visa Sponsorship

Our program does not provide visa sponsorship for employment for international students. Visa arrangements must be managed independently. Additionally, international students are required to demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover tuition costs in order to obtain a student visa.

Clinical Experiences

Only a limited number of our partner school divisions permit students without a U.S. Social Security Number to complete the required clinical experiences onsite. Access to reliable transportation is essential to complete these placements in the designated divisions. Please note that successful completion of field experiences and internships is mandatory to fulfill degree requirements.

Licensure Eligibility

Virginia state regulations require a valid U.S. Social Security Number to obtain a teaching license and to be employed by Virginia schools. Currently, George Mason University does not offer support services for obtaining a Social Security Number.

We encourage you to consider these factors carefully as you pursue your licensure goals. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or wish to discuss other program options.

The secondary education (SEED) program includes multiple members of our advising team, including the SEED Academic Advisor and a subject area advisor for subject area track (English, history/social science, biology, chemistry, Earth science, and computer science). You should meet with the academic advisor and your subject area advisor at least once per semester to ensure that you are on track to complete your program successfully. Your advisors can do more than simply help you understand your program requirements; they can connect you to university resources that can aid in your success and can help you find ways to become engaged in learning outside of the classroom.

Secondary Education (SEED) Academic Advisor
Keyana Pugh
Thompson Hall, Suite 1400/1800

Secondary Education (SEED) Subject Area Advisors
English: Dr. Kristien Zenkov
History/Social Science: Lynda Herrera
Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics): Dr. Erin Peters-Burton
Math: Dr. Theresa Wills
Computer Science: Lynda Herrera

Links and Resources from the Office of Teacher Preparation:

• Field placement information and application
• Internship/Student teaching application and resources
• Content Area Review – how to start the CAR process and add updates to your CAR
• CPR/AED/First Aid - resources
• Licensure application and information