Accelerated MA in Middle East and Islamic Studies

Program Specific Requirements

College Transcripts Goals Statement Advising Form GRE Portfolio Recommendation Letters Resume Writing Sample
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Application Process

Preparing to Apply

Prior to submitting your application, schedule an advising appointment with your undergraduate advisor and the Middle East and Islamic Studies Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s (BAM) Coordinator.

  • Applicants to the accelerated MA must also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 and a minimum of 75 earned credits.
  • Applicants must be enrolled in or have completed a foreign language course 202 or higher with a minimum grade of C- prior to graduation (or other evidence of competency in foreign language). Applicants must demonstrate language competency in one of five major languages of the Middle East and Muslim World prior to graduation. Those languages include:
    • Arabic
    • Persian
    • Turkish
    • Hebrew
    • Urdu
  • Applicants must submit:
    • Transcript
    • One recommendation letter from an individual familiar with the applicant's qualifications for graduate study
    • Resume
    • Goals statement should explain:
      • interest in the program
      • how the applicant will connect graduate work with career aspirations
    • Writing sample should be a five-seven page paper or excerpt from an upper level course
  • Go over schedule for completion of the undergraduate degree
  • Plan appropriate graduate course work
  • Be familiar with the policies for accelerated master's programs 

When to Apply

Mason undergraduate students who have completed 60 credits toward the bachelor’s degree are invited to apply.

Eligible students should contact their advisor to initiate the application process. Access the Accelerated Master’s Application Guide for more information.

Post Application

The application is processed by the Office of Graduate Admissions. If approved, students will receive a notification from the Office of Graduate Admissions. During the final semester of the undergraduate program, students must submit their completed Transition Form to their undergraduate advisor, graduate advisor, and the CHSS Graduate Admissions Office. Upon undergraduate degree conferral and successful transition from the accelerated master’s program, students will receive an official decision letter from the Office of Graduate Admissions for the term they officially begin the master’s program.

The official date for the start of your master’s degree is the semester immediately following your undergraduate graduation. Upon transition to your master’s degree you will be subject to all graduate academic policies.

Accelerated master’s students must graduate from their undergraduate program in the semester specified on their application to the accelerated degree program. Changes to the timeline for conferral of the undergraduate degree should be approved by the graduate program director. Students must meet the University’s accelerated master’s program policies.

Failure to meet the terms of admission will result in termination from the accelerated master’s program.

Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Applications