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George Mason University
2002-03 University Catalog

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School of Computational Sciences

Admission Requirements

To apply, prospective students should forward a completed George Mason graduate application, two transcripts from each college and graduate institution attended, a current resume, and an expanded goals statement to the SCS Graduate Admissions Processing Center. Each doctoral or master's program applicant should also include three letters of recommendation, and an official report of scores obtained on the GRE-GEN exam. The GRE-SUB is recommended if it is given in the student's undergraduate major. The GRE requirement for admission to the doctoral programs will be waived if the student holds a master's degree from a U.S. institution. TOEFL scores are also required for all foreign applicants. Note that transcripts originating from foreign countries must be evaluated by a U.S.-recognized agency. Specific additional admission requirements for the various SCS programs are listed below:

  • Applicants to either the doctoral program in computational sciences and informatics, the master's program in computational science, or the certificate program in computational techniques and applications should have academic backgrounds in physical or biological sciences, engineering, mathematics, or computer science. They should have undergraduate degrees from accredited institutions, with GPAs of at least 3.000 in their last 60 credits of study. Additionally, each applicant should have taken at least one course in differential equations and should have facility in using a high-level computer programming language.

  • Applicants to the doctoral program in bioinformatics should have a B.A. or B.S. degree in biology or a related field, including undergraduate courses in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, differential equations, data structures, and probability and statistics. They should also have experience using a high-level programming language. Admission to the program requires a minimum GPA of 3.250 in undergraduate work and a combined GRE score of 1100 (quantitative plus analytical).

  • Applicants to the Earth systems science M.S. program should have a B.S. degree in Earth, environmental, or physical science. Previous course work should include two semesters each of calculus, chemistry, and physics, and one semester of statistics. They should have a minimum GPA of 3.000 in their undergraduate degree.

  • Applicants to the new professional studies master's program should have undergraduate or advanced science degrees in areas such as biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, or molecular biology, with GPAs of at least 3.000 in their last 60 credits of study.

Fellowships and assistantships are generally available beginning in the fall semester. Those applying for fellowships and assistantships must submit completed applications by February 1 for fall admission; all other applications for fall admission are due by March 1. Applications for spring admission should be received by November 1 of the preceding year.