George Mason University Reviews of Master's in Curriculum & Instruction

"George Mason has a great ed program that is focused on very important parts of the ed world. We focused a lot in culturally responsive teaching and connecting with student's families. A lot of the projects were very practicum based and a lot of our assignments were connected to work we would do or were already doing for the classroom. They also gave us a strong grounding in education theory which helped us to continue developing our own vision of what a good education was to us. It was an overall great program."

"As a graduate student at George Mason, I feel fortunate to be surrounded by others committed to equity in education. In the Multilingual/Multicultural program, I am expanding my experiences beyond the classroom (I taught bilingual education for six years and am now a coach). I am thinking about and having discussions around issues that most educators do not discuss. I love the program. The downfall is that I am paying quite a bit out of pocket since I am still paying off undergrad loans (and will be for some time). I would not leave the program because I feel so fortunate to be in it. The commute to Fairfax from DC schools and the price are the only downfalls to my graduate program overall at GMU."

"The program is reasonable, but there are times when the work can be a little much. I understand that the coursework is supposed to prepare students for their careers, but possibly splitting some of the courses into different subjects may beneficial."

"I really enjoy my masters program, and I have leaned so much thus far. I just wish they had a little more guidance as to advising what classes to take during each semester. Apart from that, I love how this graduate program lets me have an area of specialization, and the professors here are very knowledgable!!"

"Pros: Faculty was helpful and encouraging Cons: Need to provide scholarships or financial aid for international students"

"I'm pursuing a Master's in interdisciplinary studies. That program allows me to combine multiple fields into one degree. I didn't see a program like this one with the fields that I wanted anywhere else in the country. It is unique and allows me to combine my current undergraduate studies with new fields of interest. The cons are that it can be confusing figuring out which person in each department has the right to authorize or override certain restrictions. Registering for classes can be difficult as the system doesn't recognize students in our program to be able to take certain courses because we aren't actually considered students in that field."

"I've only just started this program but from experience I feel that the professors, advisors, and other staff actually care about helping us meet our goals, get certified, and graduate on time. Everything is really structured and easy to follow, and at least for my program, you have a choice to accelerate it. The cohorts are small so you get to know the people you're taking classes with as well as your professors. It's nice that GMU offers a masters program for career switchers like me."

"George Mason has exceptional faculty and staff within the Graduate School of Education who are dedicated to furthering the education and careers of their students. The tuition is reasonably priced, although the department scholarships are hard to come by."

"The set up of the program is geared toward working professionals. I am only able to take 6 credits a semester, due to availability of classes, therefore, I encountered some financial aid issues. I am happy with my classes so far. The application process was a hassle and I did not receive adequate support to take an exam necessary for admission."

"Unlike professors with whom I've worked in other graduate programs, the CEHD professors provide immense support and guidance to students."

"I just began this program, but the staff and advisors have already been very helpful in getting me started. I like the specialization of this degree and the fact that there are so many other options offered at GMU for students interested in teaching elementary school."

"Pros: -quality of education (professional and knowledgeable professor) -practicality and usefulness of what I have learned in my program to my career (I have been able to take several of the skills and strategies I learned in my program and instantly implement them in my job) -meaningful assignments (like the above pro, the assignments have benefited me in my career and have deepened my understanding and knowledge of my field) -student and staff diversity (opportunity to learn from my peers and professors) Cons: -affordability of living (although I do not live on campus, the housing in the Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. area is fairly expensive) -transportation (parking is often difficult to find with so many commuter students)"