zoo and aquarium leadership
resources & information for currently enrolled students

I'm admitted, now what?

MAIS e-mail and ZAL List-Serve

Recent university-wide changes in administrative polices and procedures have made it imperative that all GMU students use GMU e-mail. E-mail is now the primary means of communication; the University and the MAIS department regularly send important information to all graduate students via e-mail listservs. Therefore, we ask that all students activate their GMU e-mail account and read their e-mail regularly.

The e-mail address on your application will be added to the MAIS-ZAL e-mail listserve upon admission to the program. This is the primary means of communication for the program. Please notify the MAIS office of any change in your e-mail address.

Transfer Credits

Students in the MAIS-ZAL program may include up to fifteen transfer credits in their degree. Transfer credits include any credits taken prior to admission to the program and credits taken at another institution after admission.

If you have taken courses for graduate credit within the past six years, you may request to apply these credits toward your MAIS-ZAL Degree. To do this, submit an official transcript along with the Graduate Transfer of Credit Form to the MAIS office.

If you wish to take a course at your local university, prior approval by GMU is required. Before registering, please submit a description of the course along with the Study Elsewhere form to the MAIS office. These courses are counted as transfer credits.

Course Registration

ZAL Core Courses with the NCLC prefix are taught at AZA conferences at various locations throughout the year; registration is conducted through the AZA Professional Training Program. Early registration is encouraged as these courses often fill early.

Public Administration courses (PUAD), and PRLS courses are offered periodically to ZAL students as online, distance-learning classes through George Mason University. Registration procedures are included in course announcements.

Education/Instructional Technology courses (EDIT) are offered online through GMU's Integration of Technology Certificate Program. These courses self-paced and available to ZAL students continuously. An overview of the courses is available at the Integration of Technology website. To register for these courses, contact Priscilla Norton at pnorton@gmu.edu.

Elective Course Suggestions

In addition to the electives suggested on the ZAL main web page, many ZAL students are currently enrolled in distance learning courses around the country. We are currently evaluating these courses and experiences for future recommendation.

As a George Mason University student, you are also eligible to take courses (up to six credits) through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area (the site contains a list of participating universities and registration procedures). These courses are at GMU tuition rates.

Project or Thesis

MAIS-ZAL students will complete their degrees with a final 3 to 6 credit project (MAIS 798) or 6 credit thesis (MAIS 799). The MAIS Executive Committee encourages students to keep this project or thesis in mind from the onset of their studies, formulating and refining ideas, and reserving academic sources for this culminating work.

In an effort to provide our students with a rich academic experience, the MAIS Executive Committee has set high standards for this culminating work in our students' master's studies. We urge early planning and availing of the university's many resources while working toward this goal. The link below contains a variety of guidelines and resources, as well as proposal examples.

MAIS project/thesis guidelines