 |
Catalog Index Search the 1999-2000 Catalog: |
||||||
University Academic Programs and Resources
University LibrariesAdministration
Administrative Faculty Abrahamson, Breivold, Burns, Burright, Bushallow, Chandhoke, Connors, Edelman, Gibson, Grotophorst, Halford, Hannan, Hardesty, Kelso, Keys, Kifer, Killian, Koda, Kowal, Mao, O'Hair, Perry, Posner, Sheehan-Harris, Simons, Suh, Taylor, van Schaik, Walsh, Wang, Young Resources and Services Resources and services of the George Mason University Libraries are housed in Fenwick Library and the George W. Johnson Center Library on the Fairfax Campus, the Arlington Campus Library, and the Prince William Library. (The School of Law Library at Arlington is administered separately.) The combined holdings of George Mason's libraries, including the law library, comprise approximately 800,000 books and bound journal volumes, 10,000 current serial subscriptions, 2.3 million microform units, 330,000 government documents, 215,000 maps, 20,000 media materials, 3,300 electronic databases (including online journals), and significant holdings of manuscripts and archives. All of the libraries support faculty and student research. George Mason's integrated library information system provides a public access catalog, online access to a variety of electronic resources (increasingly many with full text), the online catalog of the Washington Research Libraries Consortium (WRLC), automated circulation, electronic reserves, and library processing services. The library information system can be used in the libraries, from campus locations on the network, or through the World Wide Web from off-campus locations. The libraries also provide a wealth of bibliographic databases through a libraries-wide CD-ROM network as well as on individual computer workstations, in addition to maintaining a strong presence on the World Wide Web. University Libraries' websites offer nearly all their information systems components for use with web browsers, as well as a large number of full-text database resources made available through the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) initiative. The library liaison program to academic departments
and programs supports a variety of cooperative and
collaborative activities, including library resources development
and development of user education programs. The libraries
provide an intercampus delivery service for students and
faculty requesting materials held at another George
Mason campus library. Materials not held in the George
Mason libraries can be obtained by direct borrowing from
WRLC institution libraries, interlibrary loan through the
international Online Computer Library Center network, or
through commercial document services when required.
The Johnson Center Library, as part of the George W. Johnson Center, is an integrated learning environment. The primary service point spaces of the Johnson Center Library have been conceived as a prototype of an electronic "gateway" library that supports information access and research activities through the libraries' information technology systems and the Internet/World Wide Web. Electronic access to scholarly information is complemented by a print reference collection, media collections, and a growing circulating book collection composed of core texts and readings supporting the interdisciplinary and multicultural emphases in the university's undergraduate curriculum. The Johnson Center Library especially supports interdisciplinary programs such as the Honors Program and New Century College through its collections and outreach programs. The library also holds designated discipline-based circulating book collections. The Johnson Center Library is the center for media collections and services for the university library system. These materials are available for viewing and/or listening in the library; some are available for external circulation to George Mason students, faculty, and staff. The Johnson Center Library also provides course reserve materials for students on the Fairfax Campus. The libraries-wide electronic reserves service is also managed at this library. A collection of periodicals (foreign newspapers and general interest magazines and journals) and a leisure reading collection round out the Johnson Center Library's collections and services. The Arlington Campus Library is a full-service research facility supporting the teaching and research needs of George Mason faculty, staff, and students on this campus. The library's collection emphasizes international relations and commercial transactions, business, finance, trade, and related policy issues. The Arlington Campus Library also holds a core of reference materials, and is a depository of European Union documents. Library staff provide assistance and instruction for faculty, staff, and students in identifying and using various resources. A critical component of the Arlington Campus Library service is an emphasis on being a "virtual" library, with many of its resources and services available online. The Prince William Library, a rapidly growing library, supports faculty and students in the programs and courses offered at the Prince William Campus, including education; biotechnology; computer science; health, fitness, and recreation resources; and administration of justice. The library provides access to all George Mason University library information technology systems and electronic resources. The library emphasis is on instruction and assistance with the use of electronic resources and computing applications. In 1998, the library integrated into its collection the American Type Culture Collection, consisting primarily of scientific journals in bioscience and biomedicine. The library is fostering partnerships to provide information services to the rapidly expanding corporate and technology presence in Prince William County. University Scholars ProgramAdministration
University Scholars Each year George Mason University awards four-year scholarships to top high school graduates who have shown superior academic achievement, leadership ability, and an exemplary record of school and community service. The University Scholars reside in a common residence hall their first year and share the University Scholars Center. Together the scholars form a dynamic learning community within the university known as the University Scholars Program. The program draws to George Mason a special caliber of student who is actively involved in all facets of academic and student life. In addition to excelling in their respective academic areas, the scholars have repeatedly emerged in a variety of student leadership positions and service-related activities. Intellectual dialogue is fostered between scholars, professors, and George Mason administrators through stimulating seminars, discussion groups, cultural activities, service projects, internships, campus events, and participation in organizations that complement the scholars' academic experiences. The peer interaction, faculty guidance, and academic focus of the University Scholars Program reflect George Mason's commitment to providing a stimulating and supportive environment that encourages academic excellence and personal growth. University CoursesUniversity (UNIV) courses are special academic seminars that appeal to a wide range of majors among undergraduate students. University courses are designated as transitional, interdisciplinary honors, and special topics courses. They are limited in size to encourage interaction between students and specialized faculty. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the courses, they sometimes can be applied toward the satisfaction of general education requirements. University Transitions CoursesThe University Transitions course series assists students with their transition through the various stages of college. University 100 (UNIV 100) focuses on academic skills, campus resources, and personal adjustment issues for the first year student. Many UNIV 100 sections relate to specific academic majors. UNIV 200 is a select topics course focusing on transition issues for sophomore students. UNIV 400, for senior students, focuses on the transition from college to "life after college" with an emphasis on professional development, graduate school preparation, and life management issues.
University Interdisciplinary Honors SeminarsThe University Interdisciplinary Honors Seminars are offered exclusively to students who have demonstrated strong academic performance. They are developed to give high-ability freshmen and advanced-standing students the opportunity to study with a senior professor in a small classroom setting. The Freshman Seminars (UNIV 190) are open to eligible first-year students and are taught exclusively by the Robinson Professors. Qualified students with 30 or more credits are invited to participate in the UNIV 390 seminars, which are taught by Robinson Professors and other distinguished faculty scholars. UNIV 498 and UNIV 499 are required for the B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies degree and can be taken only by those students. University Special Topics CoursesUpper-level university courses are open to all students unless specific prerequisites are indicated. They are usually repeated offerings. The following are regularly offered university courses:
Office of Continuing Professional EducationAdministration
The Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE) serves as George Mason University's initial point of contact and referral for the business and professional community to respond to all professional development and continuing education inquiries, requests, and needs. Supported program activities include the following:
Courses are typically delivered through classroom settings, but increasingly through electronic modes such as video conferencing and the Internet. OCPE offices are strategically located at the Fairfax Campus in Krug Hall, at the Prince William Campus, and at the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) in Herndon. A fourth office is planned for the Arlington Campus. The Krug Hall office serves as the primary point of inquiry and referral. It facilitates, promotes, and administers the delivery of contract credit courses and other specialized professional programs. This office also administers the award of CEUs, which are nationally recognized standard units of measurement earned for satisfactory completion of qualified programs of continuing education. OCPE provides this service to all George Mason academic groups that deliver noncredit professional development programs. Call (703) 993-2109. The Prince William Campus Professional Development Office facilitates a variety of open enrollment and contract programs (both noncredit and credit) that support the strengths of the programs at the Prince William Campus and are targeted to meet the professional development needs of the business community of the Prince William area, as well as Northern Virginia local and state government communities. Call (703) 993-8335. The Herndon office, located in Northern Virginia's high-tech corridor in the Center for Innovative Technology building, facilitates a variety of professional development programs targeted to the area's business and federal government organizations. This office reaches out to the business community by designing, marketing, and delivering short noncredit training courses and certificate programs. Both public seminars and customized contract training programs are targeted to respond to the needs and interests of managerial, technical, and professional employees in private, nonprofit, and public organizations located in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Call (703) 733-2800.
New Professional Studies, M.A./M.S.Administration
The Master of New Professional Studies program was established in 1996 to provide graduate education for working professionals. The highlights of this innovative interdisciplinary degree are as follows: Meeting the needs of the working professional. The course activities are designed to adapt to the demands of working professionals with a variety of obligations. Through innovative use of information technologies and flexible course scheduling, participants are able to balance the demands of work with an intensive learning experience. Linking theory and practice. The degree incorporates action-oriented group learning as a way to integrate theory and practice. Grouped into teams, candidates are immersed in the practical problems of organizations and at the same time engage each other through collaborative technologies. By dealing with practical organizational issues, participants gain deeper insight into how complex organizations work and how to affect them. Building a learning community. The program produces a tightly integrated learning experience and focuses on building a learning community. Participants will work on projects as teams and will gain an understanding of how to develop team-based organizations. Integrating collaborative technologies. Collaborative technology skills developed early on are used throughout the degree program. They enable a high degree of collaboration and interaction between students. The New Professional Studies program is an umbrella degree program with six tracks:
Four core courses (12 credits) are common to all tracks: MNPS 700 The New Professionalism: Theory and Practice MNPS 702 The New Professional as Reflective Practitioner MNPS 703 Technology and Learning in the New Professions MNPS 704 Research Methodologies in the New Professions The remaining elective courses (21 credits) are selected from participating disciplines. For information about the organizational learning track, see the College of Arts and Sciences; for the teaching track, see the Graduate School of Education; for the technology management track, see the School of Management; for the forensic biosciences, biotechnology, and bioinformatics tracks, see the Institute for Biosciences, Bioinformatics, and Biotechnology.
George Mason University:1999-2000 University Catalog: Catalog Index: University Academic Programs and Resources |
|||||||