Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an Information Flyer I can print to share with colleagues who may be interested in this grant?
Yes. We would really appreciate your assistance in recruiting! Click here for the Information Flyer.
How do I know if this doctoral grant program is a good match for me?
Review ASPIRE's purpose and the timeline for program completion. If the grant's purposes directly coincide with your career goals and interests and experiences, this doctoral grant may be a good match for you. If the timeline for program completion is a pace and rigor you can commit to and be successful with, this doctoral grant may be a good match for you.
If I know I am interested in working with elementary and secondary students with low-incidence disabilities or low-functioning autism, is this doctoral grant a good match for me?
No. Our focus is on elementary and secondary students with high-incidence disabilities.
Should I apply for this doctoral grant program if I'm not positive it is a good match for me?
Given all the information you've read on this web site, and after having an individual discussion with one of the doctoral grant's Co-PIs, if you think this doctoral grant may be a good match for you, apply for it. If you are selected, that is when you will really need to make a decision. For those applicants whom we select, we will be providing individualized and specific guidance prior to your acceptance so that both of us are as sure as we can be that we are good matches for each other!
Can I complete the program on a full-time or a part-time basis?
No. ASPIRE scholars must commit to full-time doctoral studies. In select circumstances, ASPIRE scholars may start doctoral studies part-time, but must be full-time by Fall 2021.
Can I complete the program at a pace that is a better match for me (e.g., one or two courses per semester)?
No. We have received grant funding based on what we are obligated to accomplish with doctoral students within a specific timeline. If this timeline is not a good match for you, do not apply for this grant. However, you may still apply for our PhD program, which we encourage you to do if pursuing a special education doctorate is your next career goal! https://education.gmu.edu/phd-in-education/information-session
Must I complete the program within a specific time period?
Yes. The program must be completed within four years.
If I am selected for the doctoral grant, accept it, and then decide it is not a match for me, what are my financial obligations for the federal dollars I have received?
If you have accepted and agreed to complete this grant's doctoral program, you will be obligated to either complete the entire program and the service (e.g., employment in higher education for a specific period of time) obligation, or you will need to pay back the federal dollars you received. This is a federal requirement for students who receive grant funds.
More details will be explained about your service obligation commitment before you accept the grant (if it is offered to you), because we also want to make sure you are very clear about what you are agreeing to and what the consequences are if you decide later (for whatever reasons) that you are not able to fulfill a portion or the entirety of your financial and service obligation.
What are the likely times and locations for PhD courses?
Doctoral courses are offered late afternoon and evening times (4:30 pm to 7:10 pm; 7:20 pm to 10:00 pm) on Monday through Thursday evenings at GMU’s Fairfax campus. Internships require daytime obligations.
Will there be any online courses?
The program is not developed as an online program. Some hybrid and online components may be developed in response to COVID-19. However, you should not count on online coursework.
If selected, I'd be moving from out-of-state. Does Mason have housing options?
Yes. For details, check out Masonvale: https://www.masonvale.com/masonvale-fairfax-virginia/