Graduate Certificate in Professional and Technical Writing

Become a Mason Graduate Student

All applicants for graduate study at George Mason University must meet the admission standards specified in the Admission chapter of the University Catalog.

You are responsible for submitting all required application materials by the posted deadline. Review your program's Admissions Requirements and Deadlines before you begin your application. You can also visit our Grad Admissions page for helpful hints on how best to prepare your transcripts and other Admissions materials.

Step 1: Complete and submit the online Graduate Admissions application. George Mason University requires all graduate applicants to upload all possible required supplementary materials, such as unofficial transcripts, goals statement and writing sample, at the same time you submit your application. Online applications require a non-refundable $75 application processing fee.

Step 2: Within a few days of submitting your online application, you will receive an email with your Mason G number (G#). This is a tracking number provided to all applicants that allows us to match your supporting documentation to your completed application.

Step 3: Check your application status and requirements checklist in your application portal. Initial processing takes 3 to 5 business days from the date of submission. You can use your application log-in and password to access your information throughout the application process. Graduate Admissions may send updates or notify you of issues with your application through your admissions portal, so it is best to log in periodically to monitor your application status.

Step 4: For newly admitted students, refer to the CHSS New Graduate Student webpage for tips on confirming enrollment, submitting official transcripts, registering for class and more.

The fall graduate degree seeking application opens September 15.

The spring graduate degree seeking application opens April 15.

The summer graduate degree seeking application opens September 15.

Program Specific Requirements

College Transcripts Goals Statement GRE Portfolio Recommendation Letters Resume Writing Sample
2

Additional Information

Application to Certificate Program Only

The submitted goals statement should be 750 - 1000 words and describe particular areas of interest within a chosen concentration. Read More

Applicants are required to send in the names and email addresses (via the online application) of the two individuals who will be submitting the required letters of recommendation. The recommendations should be academic, rather than professional or personal Read More

Applicants should submit a 1,500 to 2,000-word writing sample (uploaded online) of literary analysis.  Read More.

Applicants to the certificate in professional and technical writing are encouraged to submit a portfolio (uploaded online) that showcases nonacademic/workplace writing. Applicants should submit a 10-15 page portfolio of their nonfiction work such as technical or business reports, editing projects, or any other materials reflecting interests and skills in nonfiction writing. The portfolio should include 2-3 samples of writing oriented to the applicant's professional or educational interests. The admissions committee would prefer to see at least one sample of professional or technical writing (newswriting, report, feature article, instructions, web design, etc.) but any piece that has a clear audience and rhetorical purpose is acceptable. On a cover sheet, discuss the audience and purpose of the writing sample. The cover sheet should be uploaded with the portfolio.

Application to Certificate Program as a Secondary Program

Applicants to the graduate certificate in professional and technical writing who are already accepted or enrolled in a degree program in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences must submit:

All students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university are eligible to apply.

International students with F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant status are advised to refer to the University Catalog's Admission of International Students to learn more about policies relating to full-time status and time limits.

Application Deadlines

Fall Deadline: March 15

Spring Deadline: October 15

Summer Deadline: February 1

Fall admission: Application review will begin on March 15. 

  • Applications for Fall 2024 will be accepted until August 1, 2024.  Applications missing supplementary materials after August 1 will be considered until August 15, 2024.

Spring admission: Application review will begin on October 15.

  • Applications for Spring 2025 will be accepted until December 15, 2024. Applications missing supplementary materials after December 15 will be considered until January 1, 2025.

Additional Requirements for