University Catalog 2004-2005 George Mason University

Course Descriptions

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Glossary

This section lists undergraduate and graduate courses offered by the university and available for credit. Courses are listed in alphabetical order. The subject code for courses and the programs offering the courses are listed below:

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Program Code
Accounting ACCT
Administration of Justice ADJ
Adult Education EDAL
African American Studies AFAM
Alternative Education EDAE
Anthropology ANTH
Arabic ARAB
Art History ARTH
Art and Visual Technology AVT
Arts Management MAM
Astronomy ASTR
Bachelor of Individualized Study BIS
Biodefense BIOD
Bioinformatics BINF
Biology BIOL
Bioscience Management MSBM
Biosciences BIOS
Business Legal Studies BULE
Business, Minor in MSOM
Character Education EDCE
Chemistry CHEM
Chinese CHIN
Civil and Infrastructure Engineering CEIE
Classical Studies CLAS
Climate Dynamics CLIM
College of Arts and Sciences CAS
College Teaching CTCH
College of Visual and Performing Arts CVPA
Communication COMM
Comparative Literature CL
Computational Sciences and Informatics CSI
Computer Science CS
Computational Social Science CSS
Conflict Analysis and Resolution CONF
Counseling and Development EDCD
Cultural Studies CULT
Dance DANC
Decision Sciences DESC
Early Childhood Education EDUT
Earth Observing and Systems EOS
E-commerce EC
Economics ECON
Education EDUC
Education Leadership EDLE
Education Research EDRS
Educational Psychology EDEP
Electrical and Computer Engineering ECE
Elementary/Secondary Education EDCI
Engineering ENGR
English ENGL
Enterprise Engineering Policy EEP
Environmental Science and Public Policy EVPP
Executive Master of Business Administration EMBA
Exercise, Fitness, and Health Promotion EFHP
Finance FNAN
Foreign Languages FRLN
French FREN
Geography GEOG
Geology GEOL
German GERM
Global Affairs GLOA
Government and International Politics GOVT
Health Education HEAL
Health Science HSCI
Hebrew HEBR
History HIST
Honors Program in General Education HNRS
Information Security and Assurance ISA
Information Systems INFS
Information Technology IT
Initiatives in Educational Transformation—Teaching IETT
Instructional Technology EDIT
Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS
International Commerce and Policy ITRN
Italian ITAL
Japanese JAPA
Latin LATN
Law LAW
Learning, Social and Organizational LRNG
Liberal Studies LS
Linguistics LING
Management MGMT
Management Information Systems MIS
Marketing MKTG
Master of Business Administration MBA
Master of New Professional Studies MNPS
Master of New Professional Studies—Teaching MNPE
Mathematical Sciences MATH
Medical Technology MTCH
Military Science MLSC
Music MUSI
Neuroscience NEUR
New Century College NCLC
Nursing NURS
Operations Research OR
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies PRLS
Philosophy PHIL
Physical Education PHED
Physical Sciences PSCI
Physics PHYS
Psychology PSYC
Public Administration PUAD
Public Affairs PUAF
Public Policy PUBP
Reading Education EDRD
Religious Studies RELI
Russian RUSS
School of Management SOM
Social Work SOCW
Sociology SOCI
Sociology and Anthropology SOAN
Software Engineering SWE
Spanish SPAN
Special Education EDSE
Sport Management SPMT
Statistics STAT
Systems Engineering SYST
Technology Management TECM
Telecommunications TELE
Telecommunications TCOM
Theater THR
Tourism and Events Management TOUR
University/Interdisciplinary Studies UNIV
University Transition UNIV
Urban and Suburban Studies USST
Women's Studies WMST

Semester Notation

At the end of some course descriptions, a semester notation informs the reader of the semester in which the course is usually taught. For example, fall (f) means that the course is usually only taught in the fall semester; fall, summer (f,sum) means the course is taught fall and summer only; a fall, spring, summer designation (f,s,sum) means that the course is usually available every semester. A course offered only in alternate fall or spring semesters would be designated with af or as. A course offered only alternate years would be designated with ay. If the course is offered on an irregular basis at the discretion of the department or school, irregular (ir) follows the description. Although circumstances may cause a unit to deviate occasionally from these notations, students should use this information to plan their programs of study.

Course Numbering

General

1. Course titles are followed by numbers in parentheses (0:0:0), separated by colons. The numbers have the following significance:

  • First number: credits for the course
  • Second number: hours of lecture/seminar per week for the course
  • Third number: hours of laboratory/studio per week for the course

2. For independent study, readings, topics, or similar courses, individual instructors set hours.

Undergraduate

Courses numbered 499 and below are undergraduate courses. Course numbers in the 100 series are customarily taken by freshmen, the 200 series by sophomores, the 300 series by juniors, and the 400 series by seniors.

The number designations of the course descriptions below have the following significance:

1. A single number (as HIST 301) indicates that the course is complete within a single semester, and that the semester course may be taken separately with credit toward a degree.

2. A double number separated by a comma indicates that the subject matter or content of the course extends through two semesters but that either semester may be taken by itself. Unless otherwise specified, the first semester is not prerequisite to the second semester.

Graduate

Graduate courses are divided into the following categories:

500-699 Open only to graduate students admitted to master's or doctoral programs, to other bachelor's degree holders, and to approved, advanced undergraduate students. Advanced undergraduate students who have secured the permission of the department offering the course may select from these courses to accumulate the hours necessary for completion of an undergraduate degree. With the written permission of the dean of their college, they may take these courses for reserve graduate credit.

700-799 Open only to students admitted to graduate degree or certificate programs.

800-999 Primarily doctoral courses open only to students admitted to graduate degree programs.

Degree programs may extend permission to enroll bachelor's degree holders.

Courses with the following numbers are reserved for the uses designated:

600-609 Limited applicability, graduate-credit courses. Courses normally intended for in-service professional development and not directly leading to a graduate degree. A limited number of hours from these courses may be applied to a graduate degree.

798 Master's research

799 Master's thesis

800 Studies for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education program

998 Doctoral dissertation proposal

999 Doctoral dissertation research

790, 890 Supervised practicum

794, 894 Internship

796, 896 Directed reading and research courses for master's and doctoral students