FAQ's for Newly Admitted History PHD Students
How do I accept my admission offer and prepare for my first semester of doctoral study?
1. Complete all of the Next Steps for Admitted Graduate Students.
2. Update your Mason and non-Mason email contact preferences in Patriotweb to ensure ease of communication.
3. Insert your G number into your email signature for university related correspondence. GMU offices are required to conduct official university correspondence with you using the GMU email only.
Check your Mason email regularly in the weeks leading up to your first semester. Full time students who are admitted with funding should set up their GMU email no later than early July prior to your first fall semester.
4. Schedule an initial advising meeting with the PhD director to discuss classes for the fall semester. Most first year students will need to enroll in HIST 610, and HIST 696. If you have previously earned relevant graduate coursework credit, bring the official transcripts to this advising meeting to assist with course planning.
5. Register for classes for fall semester prior to the first day of classes. Review the How to Register for Courses webpage within this "Graduate Advising" > "PhD History" web menu.
Bookmark the GMU registrar calendar webpage and make note of the last day to add courses for the semester.
6. Plan to attend the History PhD Orientation on the First Day of Classes. Once you have confirmed your intent to enroll, you will receive details on the Orientation event via GMU email.
Assistantships, Funding, Tuition Waivers
What is the contracted date range for my assistantship?
Two full semesters beginning in August (fall semester) and ending in May (spring semester). Assistantships do not run over the summer semester.
Who am I assisting?
You will be assigned to a professor prior to the start of each semester by the Chair of the Department. They will contact you via GMU email with details on your assignment for the academic year.
Can I have outside employment while working as a graduate assistant?
No, unless given permission by the director and chair.
How do I renew my assistantship?
Doctoral students are given an assistantship for up to five years based on performance and good academic standing.
Are there certain fees that tuition waivers do not cover?
They do not cover books.
How do I know if my tuition waiver has been applied?
Students should check their account balance in Patriot Web.
How many credits are covered by tuition waivers?
The number of tuition waiver credits provided can vary from year to year. That said, the current College standard for the past five year has been 17 credits of tuition waiver per student for fall and spring semesters.
Who can I contact regarding GA (graduate assistantship) pay (scheduling, pay checks, etc.)?
The Accounts Payable portion of the Office of Fiscal Services office handles all graduate student employment pay matters.
https://fiscal.gmu.edu/accountspayable/pay-students/
What employment benefits do full time graduate assistantships cover?
Full time GA positions provide stipend, subsidized graduate student health insurance, payroll deduction for campus parking, and tuition waiver up to 17 credits per academic year (fall and spring only). Health insurance and payroll deduction for campus parking are optional and must be renewed by the student each year in August. Stipend renewal and tuition waiver require no action taken by the student for processing and disbursement.
Advising
Who will be my advisor?
The PhD Director is the initial advisor for all PhD students. Within your first year of PhD study, the PhD director will assign you a research mentor to assist with finding your research specializations that will determine which full professors in the department may serve on your dissertation committee.
Who can I ask about non-academic university questions?
The Graduate Coordinator: Lea Burgess lburges5@gmu.edu.
The grad coordinator coordinates all graduate assistantships, student employee benefits, and special registration matters (general registration is handled by the Mason Student Services Center).
Which office do I contact for issues pertaining to...
Student employee pay checks:
Registration Issues and Student Accounts Information:
MSSC Mason Student Services Center
In person service available in Sub I Building, Suite 1003
Email contact: mssc@gmu.edu
International Student Services: