George Mason University Courses & FeesFairfax, USA

This degree prepares the next generation of world leaders through a rigorous, stimulating business and management curriculum based on a global perspective, industry demand and leadership.

The MBA core curriculum effectively integrates functional areas with the use of IT, oral and written communication, and teamwork.  The MBA program requires 48 credits: 30 credits of core courses, 3 credits of Global coursework and 15 credits of elective courses.  The MBA program operates on an 8 week module structure and can be pursued either as a face to face or an online format.

JD/MBA Dual Degree students can apply 15 credits of Law elective coursework toward the MBA elective degree requirement. See the Antonin Scalia Law School for more details.

The purpose of the Finance, MS program is to prepare students for successful careers in financial industries and private sectors with finance-related job functions.

This degree will provide the opportunity for prospective students to further their education by offering a specialized program that helps them develop technical financial skills to fill the projected market demand and have a successful career in a global economy.

Overall, the Finance, MS program is ideal for students who have limited work experience or have decided to pursue a finance-related career path after receiving their undergraduate degrees.  The program is designed to equip students with advanced knowledge and abilities essential for the highly skilled financial work environment.       

The program prepares recent graduates of non-business majors for success in business fields. The Master of Science in Management offers the fundamentals of business management in a global environment and is composed of the core discipline areas common to all business graduate programs that are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). It is a full time, daytime program. Students will enter as a cohort and complete all degree requirements within 11 months.

The field of computer engineering can be described as an amalgam of hardware and software design. Computer engineers are involved in research, design, development, production, and operation of a wide variety of digital systems, from integrated circuits through microcontrollers, multi-core processors, FPGA-based accelerators, to big-data and cloud computing platforms. Reflecting the industry trend to integrate hardware and software development, the computer engineering program is built around computer-aided design tools that can simulate and assist in the design of new digital systems, such as those found in smartphones, tablets, robots, autonomous vehicles, drones, spacecraft, computer networks, smart factories, defense systems, and the internet-of-things. Advanced languages, such as VHDL and Python, and software tools, such as those used for FPGA- and ASIC-design and simulation, can be used to model hardware and software functionality from the system and architecture level down to the gate and transistor levels. Design, optimization, verification, and testing methodology involving these tools are taught in the program. Hands-on design experiences and simulation are emphasized throughout the curriculum through labs and projects integrated into various courses. The program culminates in a year-long senior design project effort which provides each student with the opportunity to apply concepts to designing, innovating and building a functional hardware system in a team environment.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is staffed by 33 full-time professors and several part-time professors.

Cyber Security Engineering is concerned with the development of cyber-resilient systems which include the protection of physical as well as computer and network systems. It requires a proactive approach in engineering design of physical systems with cyber security incorporated from the beginning of system development. Cyber security engineering is an important quantitative methodology to be used in all industries including transportation, energy, healthcare, infrastructure, finance, government (federal, state, and local), and defense. The program is focused on the cyber security engineering of integrated cyber-physical systems. This degree provides a foundation in cyber security engineering and is most appropriate for students with a strong mathematics and science background.

The Information Technology, BS prepares students to apply IT to support business processes. The degree produces graduates with strong problem-solving, writing, and communication skills who successfully compete for technical employment and are prepared for advanced study. The objectives of the B.S. program in Information Technology relate to the expected abilities of the graduates three to five years after graduation.  

The objectives include: 

1. Be employed in a position in which they have successfully used their information technology skills as evidenced by achieving improved organizational objectives  
2. Progress through increasing levels of responsibility in the workplace  
3. Demonstrate ethical, social and professional responsibility consistent with organizational values  
4. Work effectively in teams, whether as a participant or as a leader 
5. Grow through self-study, continuing education and professional development relevant to their profession 

The program can be successfully completed in eight full-time semesters with an average of 15 credits each semester. It is also possible for students to complete the degree on a part-time basis. The 120-credit degree requirement consists of Mason Core requirements, IT foundation and core courses, and courses required for the chosen IT concentration. At least 30 credits toward the BS degree must be earned at Mason, and at least 45 credits must be at or above the 300 level. Upper division courses in the program are taught at the Science and Technology campus, where many Department of Information Sciences and Technology faculty offices are located.

Computer Engineering involves knowledge of hardware and software development. The students learn how to design new generations of computers, as well as embedded computing systems, such as those found in smartphones, cars, appliances, computer networks, smart factories, and the internet-of-things. The program covers the entire digital integrated circuit design process targeting Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), using various optimization criteria, such as speed, cost, power, energy, reliability, and security. It also encompasses the complete software development process targeting microcontrollers, microprocessors, multi-cores, and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). It teaches students how to efficiently partition the system into software and hardware components, and develop high-performance interfaces between these two parts. Project-oriented courses and labs expose students to modern computer-aided design tools for hardware and software design. The students master the art of writing comprehensive technical reports and giving successful oral presentations. The computer engineering program offers the following concentrations: computer architecture and embedded systems, computer networks, digital signal processing, digital system design, hardware security and cryptographic engineering, internet of things and network security, machine learning and brain-inspired computing, and space-based systems.

The field of cyber security engineering is concerned with the development of cyber-resilient systems that include the protection of physical as well as computer and network systems. It requires a proactive approach in engineering the design of systems, with cybersecurity incorporated from the beginning of system development. The purpose of the MS in Cyber Security Engineering is to provide students with the currently rare combination of highly technical knowledge and skills, cyber security expertise, and a holistic systems engineering perspective. The program provides instruction on the design, planning, and management of systems and procedures for protecting critical physical and cyber infrastructure from external threats, including terrorism. The program provides students with the deep technical foundations of cyber security in the form of software, hardware, networking, and cryptography, as well as systems engineering tools and methods to design and secure complex cyber physical systems. Students learn homeland security policy, critical infrastructure policy, information security, matrix vulnerability assessment, threat assessment, physical security, personnel security, operational security, contingency planning, case analyses of specific industries and systems, redundancy planning, emergency and disaster planning, security systems, and intelligence operations. Graduates are prepared to design and implement secure complex and cyber-physical systems consisting of software, hardware, and networking components; respond to, investigate, and remediate incidents involving these systems; and develop offensive and defensive tools and techniques to attack and secure these systems.

The Master of Science in Technology Management is designed to provide students with a graduate management education that will help them further their leadership careers in technology and technology-oriented businesses and organizations. With technology innovation and commercialization occurring at an increasing pace and industries becoming more networked and global, business success depends on the successful management of technology. Companies are succeeding with rapid innovation, insightful technology integration, creation of focused technology organizations, and skillful management of complexity. The program addresses how to succeed in this marketplace and emphasizes leadership and management; special considerations of technology innovation, commercialization, introduction, and integration; and methods and approaches of systems thinking.

The program, designed for working professionals, starts in January and lasts for 16 months. Classes are held on the Arlington Campus on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program is 36 credits and includes a capstone project and an international residency. The international residency is approximately 8 days abroad focusing on global topics in technology management.

Bioengineering, also referred to as biomedical engineering, is the application of engineering tools and approaches to solve problems in biology and medicine. It is a broad and growing field that draws upon rapid advances in technology and computation, as well as on unprecedented growth in basic biological understanding.

This program provides i) a scientific foundation in math, physics, biology, chemistry and physiology; ii) broad introductions to bioengineering technology platforms of medical imaging, devices, computational biomedical engineering, computational neuroscience and neurotechnology, biomaterials and nanomedicine, and health care informatics followed by a deepening of knowledge in at least one of these areas through a chosen concentration; and iii) translational courses showing how new technologies can be implemented in clinical medicine and be commercialized by industry partners. 

Engineering design experiences are built into each year of the curriculum culminating in a senior design project. The impact of engineering, technologies and computer science on biomedicine is immense, and can only be harnessed through integrative multidisciplinary training in Bioengineering. With the growing demand for better health care, the need for bioengineers is expected to be high.

The multidisciplinary training in this field makes graduates competitive for positions in government and in biomedical industry. The BS in Bioengineering also enables students to continue their education in graduate school or medical school.

Electrical engineering is a major field of modern technology and has transformed every facet of our lives. Electrical engineers are involved in research, development, design, production, and operation of a wide variety of devices and systems, including reliable, secure, and high-speed communication networks, autonomous vehicles, robots, multi-agent systems, nanoscale integrated circuits as well as sensors that are essential to the internet-of-things. Other technologies in electrical engineering include smartphones, tablets and other modern computing platforms, as well as wearable technology such as health-monitoring wristbands, biomedical systems such as prosthetic devices, and brain-machine interfaces. The electrical engineering program offers a broad variety of courses and prepares students for a diverse array of careers in the field. Hands-on design experiences and simulation are emphasized throughout the curriculum through labs and projects integrated into various courses. The program culminates in a year-long senior design project effort which provides each student with the opportunity to apply concepts to designing, innovating and building a functional hardware system in a team environment.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is staffed by 33 full-time professors and several part-time professors.

Today, the role of mechanical engineer is ever expanding in order to find innovative solutions for contemporary problems, and to address problems yet to be identified. To meet the growing demands of worldwide energy needs spurred by population growth and dwindling supplies of fossil fuels, for instance, mechanical engineers seek innovations in nuclear energy, bio-fuels, wind, and tidal energies to build an energy portfolio that exploits these seemingly limitless resources. From product design, which spans from biomedical devices to turbo-machinery, to manufacturing, which develops machines and systems needed to process raw materials into these products, an awareness of the benefits of advanced materials for sensing and monitoring the health of these systems and an awareness of the stealth threats to manufacturing brought on by an ever present cyber threat are in the minds of the mechanical engineers. Now more mechanical engineers oversee the operations and management of large systems along with the fiscal and human resources needed to run them.

James Michener once said, "Scientists dream about doing great things. Engineers do them." Mechanical engineers use science to advance technologies and to develop products for the benefit of society, in a discipline which dates back to the earliest of times in civilization. The major in mechanical engineering has three program education objectives, namely:

• Graduates have demonstrated success as a mechanical engineer or their chosen career field;
• Graduates have advanced their educational pursuits through graduate education, professional registration, or similar means;
• Graduates have advanced their careers by engaging in professional society participation and community service outreach. 

The program leading to the BS in Systems Engineering prepares students for a professional career in systems engineering. The program reflects the systems engineer's unique perspective, which considers all aspects of a system throughout its lifetime. Mason's systems engineering program is interdisciplinary, drawing from engineering, computer science, operations research, psychology, and economics. The core systems engineering courses tie these diverse threads to provide a global understanding of how individual engineering disciplines fit into the development of complex, large-scale systems. Students gain depth in a technical area by selecting a sequence of technical electives that constitute an emphasis. Students choose their own emphasis with the help of their advisor. A year-long senior design project provides hands-on experience in applying various systems engineering methods and tools. In the first two years, students obtain a basic foundation in mathematics, natural sciences, computing, writing, humanities, arts, and social sciences. The systems engineering program builds on this foundation, teaching theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and the ability to apply systems thinking to problems. Teamwork, collaborative learning, analytical skills, practical problem solving, and oral and written communication are strongly stressed.

This degree contains elements of traditional physics programs and the application of physics to a diversity of critical societal problems. The program is divided into concentrations; see the Requirements tab for details.

Many courses are offered during late afternoon or evening hours to allow students with full-time employment to easily attend. Students employed at area high-technology organizations may take up to 6 credits (out of 30) for work done on the job under the guidance of a faculty member. This employment-related research may be conducted under an optional 3-credit research project or an optional 6-credit master's thesis. Master's students who are not employed full time may apply for financial aid or a limited number of research assistantships.

The MS in Bioengineering prepares students for research and professional practice in bioengineering and related fields. The program includes both fundamentals and advanced work to apply engineering techniques to solve problems in biology and medicine. A major distinguishing feature of the curriculum is that it is designed to educate leaders who understand and appreciate how biomedical technology is translated from bench to bedside. Graduates from this program will eventually work in universities, industry or government in a variety of roles due to the breadth of this program and its content specific clinical translation of new technologies.

This MS is designed for students who have completed a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, although domestic students with related undergraduate degrees may be considered for provisional admission. The MS educates students in the theory and practice of civil engineering science and design, with a technical concentration. The master's degree is increasingly expected for high level practice in civil engineering, and prepares graduates to practice in civil engineering for: federal, state, or local government; engineering design firms; construction firms; public utilities; non-governmental organizations; and local and regional planning firms, among others. The MS degree serves as a foundation for subsequent study in a doctoral program in civil engineering, as well as for graduate studies in architecture, law, business, economics, finance, and public policy and administration.

Both part-time and full-time study is available. Full-time students typically complete the degree in one and a half, to two years.

Electrical Engineering is the discipline that drives our increasingly-connected society. Electrical engineers design systems, devices, and algorithms that contribute innovative solutions across a broad spectrum of applications. The Electrical Engineering program offers the following concentrations: bioengineering, communications and networking, control and robotics, electronics, signal processing, and space-based systems. The graduates of our program develop reliable, secure, and high-speed communication networks and systems; apply modern signal processing algorithms to extract information from images, audio, video, sonar, and radio signals; apply control theory and robotics foundations to applications such as autonomous vehicles, humanoid robots, and multi-agent systems; design nanoscale devices for the highly integrated circuits that drive the Internet of Things, health-monitoring devices, smartphones, tablets, and modern-day computer systems; develop prosthetic devices, brain-machine interfaces, and systems to ameliorate neurological disorders. Students in this program will develop theoretical foundations, analytical capabilities, and practical hands-on skills in their chosen field of specialization. They will also develop the oral and written communication skills necessary to articulate their ideas and succeed as entrepreneurs, practicing engineers, or technical managers in high-tech companies.

Systems engineers are the visionaries who take a global perspective of the system.  Whereas discipline-specific engineers deal with system components, the systems engineer is concerned with the integration of these components and the overall success of the system throughout its life cycle. Systems engineers focus on needs and requirements, design, production, deployment, operation, maintenance, refinement, and retirement of systems, considering multiple objectives and constraints from different stakeholder groups. Systems engineering comprises product, process, and resource management and focuses on architecture, human factors, decision support, performance and evaluation, and management. Our educational and research program reflects the systems engineer's unique perspective on the system life cycle.

Mason's graduate program in Systems Engineering recognizes the importance of balancing an education in quantitative models and engineering tools with a proper understanding of the systems perspective. Concentration areas include Advanced Transportation Systems (ATS), Architecture-Based Systems Integration (ABSI), Command, Control, Communications, Computing, and Intelligence (C4I), Energy Systems (NRGS), Financial Systems Engineering (FNSE), Systems Engineering and Data Analytics (SEDA), Systems Engineering of Software-Intensive Systems (SESI) and Systems Management (SMG).   

The graduate program leading to the Master of Science in Systems Engineering emphasizes both analytical and practical aspects of engineering complex systems.  Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in using qualitative and quantitative tools relevant to systems engineering practice.  The program also prepares students for careers in research and development and for pursuing advanced graduate study leading to the PhD degree in Systems Engineering and Operations Research.

This program presents an innovative approach to the integration of computer science with other disciplines that require expertise in computing techniques. These disciplines do not merely use computing but create new and interesting problems for computer scientists.

The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) is an undergraduate liberal arts degree program for adult learners. It is designed primarily to deepen student knowledge in an academic area and foster critical thinking, analytic reasoning, and an ability to synthesize information.

The BAS articulates well with specialized Applied Associate Science (AAS) degree programs, providing a streamlined path to completion of traditional academic requirements leading to the baccalaureate degree. It meets students' professional and personal goals while developing a depth of knowledge and proficiency of skill that translates well to the workplace. However, it is not organized in the same way as a traditional baccalaureate degree. Students planning graduate study should consult with an academic advisor prior to undertaking this degree program.