University Catalog 2005-2006

University Catalog > University Academic Programs and Resources

University Academic Programs and Resources

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University Libraries

703-993-2250
Web: library.gmu.edu

Administration

Professional Faculty

Ascencio, Brannon, Bushallow, Cachero, Coniglio, Connors, Cowan, Euliano, Fleming, Hannan, Hillson, Jordan, Lockaby, Kerr, Khater, Killian, Koda, LaFleur, Lee, Miller, Nalen, Oberle, Palmer, Sheehan, Shelton, Simons, Stevens, Suh, Terry

Administrative Faculty

Chase, Ercolano, Kelso, Perry, Stockwell, Vay

Resources and Services

Resources and services of the George Mason University Libraries are housed on the Fairfax Campus at the Charles Rogers Fenwick Library and the George W. Johnson Center Library; on the Arlington Campus at the Arlington Campus Library; and on the Prince William Campus at the Mercer Library. (The School of Law Library, on the Arlington Campus, is administered separately.) Combined holdings, including the law library, total 1.08 million books and bound journal volumes; more than 11,000 current print serial subscriptions; 2.84 million microform units; more than 350,000 government documents; 212,000 maps; 31,000 multimedia materials; 479 electronic databases, including access to 20,000 electronic journals as well as 44,000 electronic books and proceedings; and significant holdings of manuscripts, special collections, and archives.

Mason’s integrated library information system provides an online, public-access catalog; circulation; electronic reserves; and library-processing services. The information system can be used in any of the libraries, from campus locations on the network, or via the web. The web site library.gmu.edu offers access to a variety of networked digital resources and electronically mediated services, including virtual reference service.

The library liaison program to academic departments and programs supports a variety of cooperative and collaborative activities. Liaison librarians work with academic departments and programs to develop print collections and electronic resources. They also offer introductory and advanced information literacy instruction sessions as well as advanced reference and research consultation services to students and faculty.

Through membership and active participation in local, regional, and national library consortia, the George Mason University Libraries are able to better respond and meet the needs of the university’s growing and diverse academic and research programs. Current affiliations include the following:

The Virtual Library of Virginia Program (VIVA), a Virginia-funded electronic resources and resource sharing program for public higher-education institutions

Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC), whose membership also includes American, Catholic, Georgetown, and George Washington universities

Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, which includes the 36 largest university libraries in a 10-state region

Center for Research Libraries, the Chicago-based “research library” for research libraries whose multimillion volume holdings are comprised of specialized and uniquely held materials in North America

The international Online Computer Library Center, whose extensive computerized system and network facilitate national and international library resource-sharing activities

An intercampus delivery service is available for students and faculty requesting materials held at any Mason campus library. Materials not held by Mason can be obtained by direct borrowing from WRLC institution libraries via the Consortium Loan Service, interlibrary loan, or commercial delivery services when required.

Expanded academic support services of the University Libraries also include the following:

Ask A Librarian Virtual Reference Service

Web: library.gmu.edu/research/

This service enables users and a reference staff member to chat online in real-time. The service also allows the reference staff to share web pages and other helpful materials to assist students and faculty with their research, collaboratively and interactively.

University Copyright Assistance Office

Johnson Center, Rooms 120, 121
Phone: 703-993-2562, 3158, or 2427
Fax: 703-993-4116
Web: library.gmu.edu

This office provides guidance and assistance on copyright and fair use issues, including copyright use in classroom teaching and technology, online courses, distance education, university publications, university web sites, networked library collections and related services, electronic course reserves, and course readers. Workshops are offered on a regular basis.

University Dissertation and Thesis Services (UDTS)

Web: gmu.edu.library/specialcollections/dtwebguide

The University Dissertation and Thesis Services (UDTS) assists students and academic units in the dissertation, thesis, and graduate-level project process by helping students meet all university requirements and deadlines for submission of work. The UDTS web site provides useful tools such as the university’s Thesis, Dissertation, or Project Guide, which contains downloadable templates of necessary elements, forms required for the submission process, and links to related web sites. UDTS also assists graduate students through individual consultation and informational workshops.

Statistical Support Services

Fenwick Library Government Documents Microfiche Room
Phone: 703-993-3417
Web: library.gmu.edu/srs

This office provides expert consultation services for students and faculty who need assistance with statistics-based research projects, including quantitative and qualitative research design analysis, and help with myriad statistical-analysis software.

Fenwick Library

Phone: 703-993-2240

Fenwick is the main research library in the university’s library system. It holds most of the book collections across disciplines, as well as current and bound journals, microforms, special collections and archives materials, federal and Virginia government documents, and maps. Instruction and reference classes are available in search strategies, information sources, and information technology. Additionally, publicly accessible computer workstations and data ports for laptop use enable access to the entire system’s electronic resources and associated services.

Johnson Center Library

Phone: 703-993-9060

This library is part of the George W. Johnson Center integrated learning environment. Electronic access to scholarly information is complemented by a print-reference collection, multimedia collections, and a growing circulating book collection comprised of core texts and readings supporting the university’s undergraduate curriculum. This library, in particular, 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. It is the center for multimedia collections and services for the entire university library system. This library also provides course support through reserve materials (electronic, print, and media) for students and faculty on the Fairfax Campus, and manages the entire electronic reserves service. A collection of international newspapers rounds out the collections and services. The Johnson Center has a wireless network for students to use anywhere in the building. Assistive technologies include screen-reading software, text-enlargement software, and special hardware for individuals with disabilities.

Arlington Campus Library

Phone: 703-993-8818

This library is a full-service research facility supporting the teaching and research needs of Mason faculty, students, and staff on the Arlington Campus. Consistent with this campus’s distinct areas of academic specialization at the graduate level, the library’s collection emphasizes public policy, international commerce, economics, education, management of nonprofit organizations, and conflict resolution. The library holds a core of reference materials and is a depository of European Union documents. Intercampus delivery of circulating materials from other library sites is also available. Library staff can provide reference assistance and instruction for students, faculty, and staff in identifying and using resources. Physical library holdings continue to grow, and a critical component of the library is an emphasis on providing many of its resources and services online. This library supports a wireless network, and assistive technologies are available for people with disabilities.

Prince William Library

Phone: 703-993-8340

This 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; administration of justice; and biotechnology and biodefense. The library provides access to university-wide electronic resources, with an emphasis on instruction and assistance with information resources and research. Notable holdings include 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. This library has a wireless network as well as assistive technologies for people with disabilities.

School of Law Library (Arlington Campus)
Administration

Deborah M. Keene, Director
Phone: 703-993-8106

This library supports the School of Law and has holdings in law and economics, including specialized academic tracks in intellectual property, litigation, corporate and securities law, international business, regulatory law, and technology and law. The library also provides access to electronic law resources including Lexis, Westlaw, and LegalTrac. This library is open to all members of the university community, and its collections are available for checkout to all faculty, students, and staff.

University Scholars Community

Administration

Student Academic Affairs
Johnson Center, Room 245
703-993-9082

University Scholars

The university awards four-year scholarships annually to top high school graduates who have demonstrated  superior academic achievement, outstanding leadership, and exemplary 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 that provides opportunities for intellectual, cultural, and social engagements.

The program draws to Mason a special caliber of student, one who is actively involved in all facets of academic and student life. In addition to excelling in their respective academic areas, the scholars have historically emerged in a variety of student leadership positions and service-related activities.

Intellectual dialogue is fostered among scholars, professors, and administrators through stimulating seminars, discussion groups, cultural activities, service projects, internships, campus events, and participation in organizations that complement the scholars’ academic exper-iences. The peer interaction, faculty guidance, and academic focus of the University Scholars community reflect the university’s commitment to providing a stimulating and supportive environment that encourages academic excellence and personal growth.

University Courses

University (UNIV) courses are special academic seminars that appeal to a wide range of majors among undergraduate students. They 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 their interdisciplinary nature, the courses sometimes can be applied toward the satisfaction of general education requirements.

University Transitions Courses

The University Transitions courses series focuses on transition through the various stages of college. UNIV 100 helps freshmen adjust academically, develop decision- making skills, and learn about the services and opportunities to get involved on campus. UNIV 200 topics focus on choosing a major or career. UNIV 300 has two tracks. The first is for new transfer students making the transition to a new university, and the second focuses on career readiness for internships and research assistantships. UNIV 400 emphasizes helping future graduates prepare for the workplace, graduate school, and life responsibilities.

University Interdisciplinary Honors Seminars

The 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.

University Special Topics Courses

Upper-level university courses are open to all students unless specific prerequisites are indicated. They are usually repeated offerings. UNIV 301 Great Ideas in Science and UNIV 441 AIDS: Its Impact in Our Society are regularly offered university courses and are each 3 credits.

International Programs and Resources

Global Connections (International Degrees)

Web: www.gmu.edu/global

Academic programs focused specifically on international and global issues include the following:

BA in anthropology

BA in communication, with a concentration in international and intercultural communication (Communication Department)

BA, BS in geography (geography and Earth science)

BA in global affairs

BA in government and international politics, with a concentration in international and comparative politics (Public and International Affairs Department)

BA in Russian studies (Modern and Classical Languages)

BA in foreign languages, with concentrations in French and Spanish (Modern and Classical Languages)

BA, BS, MA, PhD in conflict analysis and resolution (Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution)

MEd in curriculum and instruction, with concentrations in multilingual and multicultural education, foreign language education, and teaching English as a second language

MA in foreign languages, with concentrations in French or Spanish, or in Spanish and bilingual-multicultural education (Modern and Classical Languages)

MA in history, with concentrations in comparative world history and modern European history (History and Art History)

MA in international commerce and policy (School of Public Policy)

MA in political science with specialization in international politics and comparative government

MS in professional studies: peace operations

MA in telecommunications with a concentration in international telecommunications

Interdisciplinary minors in ancient Mediterranean art and archaeology, Asia-Pacific studies, global systems, Islamic studies, Latin American studies, linguistics, the New Europe

Minors in Chinese, French, German, global affairs, international comparative studies, Latin, Russian, and Spanish

Undergraduate certificate in teaching English as a second language

Graduate certificates in global trade management; international business planning; international e-commerce and telecommunications policy, international governance and institutions, international health; international market analysis; managing international commerce; science, technology, and the global economy; and teaching English as a second language.

For new developments, go to the Global Connections web site: www.gmu.edu/global.

Study Abroad: Center for Global Education (CGE)

Phone: 703-993-2154
Web: www.gmu.edu/departments/cge/

The Center for Global Education (CGE) functions as the university’s hub for international educational activities. The CGE offers short-term intersession, semester- and year-long exchange and honors programs, and intensive language courses for all members of the academic community and public. CGE hosts international visitors to the university and is the depository of all memoranda of understanding concerning educational exchange between the university and institutions abroad.

Center for Field Studies

Phone: 703-993-1740
Web: www.ncc.gmu.edu/Ncc2000/courses/cfs/welcome.html

This center was created to oversee and coordinate field projects, and to promote and facilitate teaching, research, and study outside of the campus community. Its primary site for outreach activities is the Bahamas Environmental Research Center.

Resources for International Students and Scholars

English Language Institute (ELI)

Krug Hall, Room 202
Phone: 703-993-3660
Fax: 703-993-3664
Web: eli.gmu.edu
E-mail: ELI@gmu.edu

Administration

The English Language Institute (ELI) provides quality instruction in English as a second language that is aimed at developing language and academic skills as well as cultural awareness necessary for academic, personal, and professional success. ELI offers two programs: the Intensive English Program, which serves international students who have come to the United States to study English in preparation for academic study at an American college or university; and the Support Services Program, which provides programs for non-native English speaking students newly admitted to Mason, and for other international members of the campus community. ELI also provides contract services to private corporations, embassies, and government agencies.

Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS)

Phone: 703-993-2970
Web: oips.gmu.edu

The Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) provides immigration assistance to international students, visiting scholars, faculty, and staff, and offers programs and activities that focus on intercultural themes for the entire university community.

International Student Umbrella (ISU)

Phone: 703-993-2898
Web: sa.gmu.edu/umbrellas.html
E-mail: isu@gmu.edu

The International Student Umbrella (ISU) consists of a variety of international student organizations that coordinate educational and social activities to promote cross- cultural understanding and international awareness.

Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE)

Fairfax Campus
Krug Hall, Room 211
Phone: 703-993-2109
Web: www.ocpe.gmu.edu

Prince William Campus Professional Development Office
Phone: 703- 993-8335
Herndon Office and Training Center

Center for Innovative Technology (CIT)
2214 Rock Hill Road
Phone: 703-993-4800

Administration

The Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE) serves as Mason’s initial point of contact and referral for the business and professional community, and responds to all professional development and continuing education inquiries, requests, and needs. Supported program activities include contracted academic credit programs; noncredit public programs and seminars; professional certificate programs; continuing education units (CEUs); onsite contract training programs; special professional development events and programs; special workforce development programs; and training center facilities. 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, Prince William Campus, and the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) in Herndon. Current continuing education program information, offerings, and capabilities can be reviewed at www.ocpe.gmu.edu.

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 Mason academic groups that deliver noncredit professional development programs.

The Prince William Campus Professional Development Office facilitates a variety of open enrollment and contract programs (both noncredit and credit) supporting the strengths of the programs on campus. Programs 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.

The Herndon Office and Training Center, located in the CIT in Northern Virginia’s high-tech corridor, 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 noncredit training courses and in-depth certificate programs. 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.

New Professional Studies, MA/MS

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:

Collaborative technology skills developed early on are used throughout the degree program. They enable a high degree of collaboration and interaction between students.

New Professional Studies is an umbrella degree program with four tracks: knowledge management, organizational learning, peace operations, and teaching. 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; and MNPS 704 Research Methodologies in the New Professions. The remaining elective courses (21 credits) are selected from participating disciplines. For information about the tracks on knowledge management, organizational learning, and peace operations, see the School of Public Policy chapter of this catalog. For information about the teaching track, see the Graduate School of Education chapter.

Training Corps (ROTC)

Phone: 703-993-2707
Fax: 703-993-2708

Administration

James S. Overbye
Director, Military Science Department
South P.E. Module, Room F27

The U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program is an elective program that offers qualified students the opportunity to earn a commission as an officer in the active U.S. Army, Army National Guard, or U.S. Army Reserve while pursuing a baccalaureate degree as a full-time student. The program emphasizes student learning and participation in applied leadership, leadership theory and assessment, decision making, management skills, time management, ethics and military law, logistics, military roles and national objectives, strategic and tactical planning and principles, and basic military knowledge and skills.

Enrollment

Enrollment in military science (MLSC) courses is open to all students. Freshmen (MLSC 100 and 101), sophomore (MLSC 200 and 201), and junior (MLSC 300 and 301) classes are awarded 1 credit each. Senior classes (MLSC 400 and 401) are 3 credits each. Credit earned in all military science courses count toward degree completion as elective credit. No service obligation is incurred by enrolling in Army ROTC. Courses can be dropped or added, just as with any elective course at Mason.

The four-year program is organized into two successive phases: the basic course and the advanced course. For students seeking the opportunity to earn a commission as an officer, several entry methods and participation strategies can be used. A minimum of four semesters must remain in the student’s academic curriculum to complete commissioning requirements; these semesters may be part of either an undergraduate- or graduate-level degree. Course descriptions appear under Military Science (MLSC) in the “Course Descriptions” chapter of this catalog.

Basic Course Curriculum

The basic course curriculum is a four-course series (MLSC 100, 101, 200, 201), usually taken in the freshman and sophomore years. Each class awards 1 academic credit. The basic course trains students in the topics listed above as well as in applied topics including map reading, land navigation, first aid, physical fitness and health, writing, and briefings. Each lecture class meets once a week for 75 minutes. Textbooks are provided free of charge to all enrolled students. Uniforms and equipment are also issued to students at no cost, but students must return them when finished. While only one section is listed for most MLSC classes, small sections or individual tutorials are offered when scheduling conflicts exist.

Mason’s Army ROTC program has numerous experiential aspects. MLSC LAB 201 Leadership Laboratory encompasses several different activities. Students enrolling in any ROTC lecture class must enroll in the required, nongraded lab section. Only the ROTC director can dismiss LAB 201 enrollment in certain circumstances, such as scheduling conflicts.

All LAB 201 sections meet as a combined unit on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. During this time, the unit trains in a variety of hands-on, practical leadership skills and military tasks ranging from drills and ceremonies to squad and platoon tactics. Other experiential aspects of LAB 201 include field training exercises (FTXs) and physical training (PT). PT classes are conducted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Field House, but they are voluntary for noncontracted students. During the four-year program, there are progressive requirements for meeting physical fitness standards, weight limits, and leadership positions. Much emphasis is placed on cadets to meet established academic standards. A student must maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.00 to participate in and complete ROTC.

Army ROTC also organizes numerous optional events including rappelling, orienteering, and helicopter orientations. A battlefield visit is offered every year, and a formal military ball is held during the spring semester. The unit has an organized Color Guard and a Ranger Challenge Club. Airborne and air assault training, among other Army formal schools, is available to enrolled cadets. Enrolled students typically become progressively more involved to enhance their training, develop esprit de corps, and take part in social aspects of the program.

Advanced Course Curriculum

The advanced course consists of a four-course series (MLSC 300, 301, 400, 401) taken during the junior and senior years. MLSC 300 and 301 are each 1 credit, while MLSC 400 and 401 are 3 credits each. Normally, advanced-course cadets contract to become commissioned officers, and thus incur a service obligation upon graduation and commissioning. An active-duty tour is not guaranteed, although most cadets request and receive active-duty tours upon graduation. ROTC also offers guarantees of entering either the Army Reserve or Army National Guard to students so inclined.

The 300-level courses emphasize squad and platoon leadership, tactics, and preparation for the Leadership Development Assessment Course (LDAC). LDAC is a five-week training and evaluation activity required for contracted students. Cadets attend LDAC in the summer between their junior and senior years. Salary, travel expenses, and room and board are all provided during camp. LDAC is a critical part of the ROTC program that students must pass to receive a commission.

There are also professional military education requirements. Contracted cadets must take and pass courses in written communications, computer literacy, and military history. These courses come from the general course offerings of the university and may also simultaneously fulfill the student’s general education or academic major requirements.

Because all students may enroll in ROTC classes, students who want to take an upper-level course have to declare their intentions when seeking enrollment approval from the ROTC director or instructor. Prerequisites exist for upper-level courses. For more information, see the “Course Descriptions” chapter of this catalog.

Noncontract students who want to take MLSC 400 and 401 courses must have junior or senior standing in their majors and meet the appropriate prerequisites. Course requirements will be established between the ROTC director and students to tailor the class to the students’ interests and needs.

The 400-level courses are considered to be the “transition to officer” phase. These courses focus on leadership, staff operations, logistics, military law, and ethics. Seniors are expected to organize and attend an additional one-hour staff and training meeting per week as part of their leadership experience and duties. Planning and implementation of training becomes the primary focus for seniors in LAB 201.

Earning a Commission

There are several methods by which students may enter Army ROTC to earn a commission as a second lieutenant upon graduation.

A special four-semester program is available to nursing majors in which LTC is not required.

Students who complete the ROTC program may take up to two years to complete their baccalaureate studies; education delays for graduate study also may be approved for graduating cadets before commissioning. Graduate students and resident aliens who become U.S. citizens by a certain time may become commissioned officers.

Scholarship Programs

Two- and three-year ROTC scholarships are available to freshmen and sophomores in all majors on a competitive basis. The requirements are a minimum 2.50 GPA to apply and under age 27 when graduating, unless the students are also active-duty veterans. Scholarships pay 100 percent of tuition, an annual book allowance of $900, and a stipend of at least $300 per month during the school year, all tax free. A student does not have to be enrolled to apply, and there is no service obligation incurred when applying.

A two-year Reserve Forces Duty scholarship is available that guarantees reserve duty upon graduation and commissioning (no active duty tour). Students should contact the ROTC director to determine eligibility. Four-year scholarships are available for high school students, but they should apply by December 15 of their senior year in high school for a scholarship that would start in the fall semester of their freshman year at Mason. Call the ROTC director for details.

Many students participate in ROTC as nonscholarship cadets. A nonscholarship cadet cannot contract to receive a commission until the junior year. For the junior and senior years, nonscholarship contracted students receive the monthly stipend for the school year.

The George Mason Army ROTC Patriot Battalion began in 1981, achieved independent status in 2000, and frequently conducts training with Georgetown University and the University of Maryland Army ROTC.

Air Force ROTC

Two programs are available for college men and women to earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force while completing their university degree requirements. To enter, students should contact 301-314-3242 or www.afrotc.umd.edu/. Mason students can register for the appropriate courses through the Consortium Office on the fourth floor of Enterprise Hall, but mandatory courses are held at the University of Maryland. Car pools among Mason students are usually available.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)

Phone: 865-576-3306
Web: www.orau.org

Administration

Since 1993, Mason students and faculty have benefited from membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), a consortium of 91 colleges and universities and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORAU works with member institutions to help students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities throughout the country; keep its members informed about opportunities for fellowship, scholarship, and research appointments; and organize research alliances among members.

Undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, and faculty members enjoy access to myriad opportunities for study and research through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), the DOE facility that ORAU operates. Students can participate in programs covering a wide variety of disciplines including business, earth sciences, epidemiology, engineering, physics, geological sciences, pharmacology, ocean sciences, biomedical sciences, nuclear chemistry, and mathematics. Appointments and program lengths range from one month to four years. Many of these programs are especially designed to increase the numbers of underrepresented minority students pursuing degrees in science- and engineering-related disciplines. For more information about these programs, go to www.orau.gov/orise/educ.htm.

ORAU’s Office of Partnership Development seeks opportunities for partnerships and alliances among ORAU’s members, private industry, and major federal facilities. Activities include faculty development programs such as the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards, the Visiting Industrial Scholars Program, consortium research funding initiatives, faculty research, and support programs as well as services to chief research officers.

Global Affairs

Phone: 703-993-8778
Web: www.gmu.edu/departments/provost/global.html
E-mail: jbockman@gmu.edu

Administration

Course Work

The Global Affairs Program offers all course work designated GLOA in the “Course Descriptions” chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Program

Global forces are changing people’s lives in dramatic ways, with the intensification of global intercon-nectedness, rapid capital and trade flows, large-scale social movements, international military actions, and global media markets. The global affairs major provides the tools to understand these processes.

Global affairs is an interdisciplinary major that introduces students to the global processes affecting all societies. Drawing on the broad international expertise of Mason faculty, the BA in global affairs incorporates courses from across the university. Global affairs majors examine transnational and international processes in a wide range of areas: politics, economics, culture, peace and conflict, the environment, and more. Majors also study specific regions and languages, and investigate the ways particular parts of the world experience global processes. Study abroad and internships are strongly encouraged; the major advisor will help students work these experiences and academic credits into the program of study. Since the major includes many electives, students can also complement their major with a second major or a minor. With a truly interdisciplinary understanding of global trends, advanced foreign language skills, and possible study abroad, global affairs majors will be strong candidates for international careers and advanced graduate study.

Degree Requirements

In addition to satisfying the university general education requirements, students majoring in global affairs must complete the following:

6 credits of language courses beyond intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language. Intermediate-level proficiency is demonstrated by completion of one foreign language course at the 202 level, or by a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test. After obtaining intermediate-level proficiency in a foreign language, global affairs majors must complete either two 300-level courses conducted in that foreign language, or any two courses conducted in another foreign language, for a total of 6 credits.

A total of 120 credits are required for the BA, 45 of which must have been at the 300- and 400-levels. Students who major in global affairs are not eligible to earn the global systems minor.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as writing intensive in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in global affairs may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing GOVT 322.

Advising

The director of the Global Affairs Program is also the major advisor. Global affairs majors are urged to discuss their programs periodically with the major advisor.

Global Affairs in a Double Major

Students interested in designing a double major are encouraged to discuss their plans with the advisor.

Minor in Global Affairs

This interdisciplinary minor provides students with a global perspective that can enhance many different majors. The minor is not available to students majoring in global affairs. To receive a minor in global affairs, students must complete the following 15 credits of course work:

GLOA 101 Introduction to Global Affairs; CULT 320 Globalization and Culture; ECON 385 International Economic Policy; GOVT 322 International Relations Theory; and one of the following: CONF 336 Globalization, Peace, and Conflict; or EVPP 337 Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries.

Center for Global Studies

Phone: 703-993-4625
Web: cgs.gmu.edu

Administration

The Center for Global Studies is dedicated to the promotion of multidisciplinary research on globalization. The center coordinates outreach efforts in global affairs, facilitating access for external communities to the university’s full range of global expertise. Ongoing activities include guest speakers, an annual conference, electronic and paper publications, and the award of small grants to support faculty and student research. The center also manages multiacademic unit research projects on an ad-hoc basis.

Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study

Phone: 703-993-4333
Web: krasnow.gmu.edu/

The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study seeks to expand the understanding of mind, brain, and intelligence by conducting research at the intersection of the separate fields of cognitive psychology, neurobiology, and the computer-driven study of artificial intelligence and complex adaptive systems. These separate disciplines increasingly overlap and promise progressively deeper insight into human thought processes. The institute also examines how new insights from cognitive science research can be applied for human benefit in the areas of mental health, neurological disease, education, and computer design.

Krasnow was chartered in 1990 as a private nonprofit Virginia corporation and merged with Mason in 2002, becoming a chartered institute under the Office of the Provost. With an annual budget of $2.4 million, the institute is home to a scientific staff of 50. Cognitive research at the institute spans from molecules to mind. Krasnow scientists have published extensively in the most prestigious scholarly journals, and collectively have brought in more than $17.2 million in sponsored research from federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, and private sources such as the Whitaker Foundation.

Center for Social Complexity

Phone: 703-993-1402
Web: socialcomplexity.gmu.edu

Administration

Faculty

Axtell, Beach, Cioffi-Revilla, De Jong, Gentle, Grefenstette, Guillory, Luke, McCabe, Palkovich, Parker, Schintler, Snead, Wagner, Wong

Course Work

The Center for Social Complexity offers all course work designated CSS in the Courses chapter of this catalog. CSS courses are intended for students who are interested in taking individual CSS courses, students seeking a concentration in CSS, and those pursuing a graduate degree in CSS.

Computational Social Science (CSS) is an interdisciplinary field that combines the application of computer simulation and other computer-based methods to the analysis of social systems and processes at all levels or scales of complexity: cognitive, individual, group, society, national, and world systems. Examples of complex social dynamics include the evolution of civilization and technology, warfare and terrorism, economic market dynamics, human organizations, intelligence and early warning, and emergence of language and symbol systems. Every social science includes a computational field: anthropology, ecology, economics, geography, history, linguistics, political science, and sociology. CSS also includes the interaction between artificial human and natural systems.

Graduate Program

A student must maintain a minimum average in the program of 3.00. The Center for Social Complexity offers a graduate certificate in computational social science and a PhD in computational social sciences.

Certificate in Computational Social Sciences

This 15-credit program is for students seeking to receive training in computer simulation and related computational methods for analyzing social systems and processes. The program is open to all students with graduate standing at Mason, and to all students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Interested students not already in a Mason degree program must apply for admission to nondegree status. The CSS certificate allows students with social science or computational backgrounds to acquire new knowledge and modeling skills to improve their qualifications and attractiveness to employers in government, academia, or industry. The core courses provide a common foundation; additional elective courses allow for a variety of student interests across diverse social domains.

Core courses: CSS 600 Introduction to Computational Social Science and CSS 610 Computational Analysis of Social Complexity. Both courses are required.

Electives (three of the following): Students are required to take a minimum of 9 credit hours in elective or other core courses (CSS 605, 620, 692). Students may include a maximum of 3 credit hours of programming courses to meet the requirements. Programming courses such as procedural, object-oriented languages, or other approved programming approaches (such as CSI 603 or 604 Introduction to Scientific Programming I and II) may be used with the approval of the director. Some courses on computational techniques, modeling, or statistics such as visualization, graphics, and statistical and database packages (such as CSI 606 and 607) may also be used to meet the requirements with prior approval of the director. Since programming and computational technique courses are generally offered for 1 credit hour, students gain flexibility in tailoring the requirements, balancing specific computational methods courses with current programming skills.

Students intending to obtain the CSS certificate must contact the director no later than two semesters prior to completing the required credit hours.

Computational Social Sciences, PhD

The core objective of the PhD program is to train graduate students to be professional computational social scientists in academia, government, or business. The program offers a unique and innovative interdisciplinary academic environment for systematically exploring, discovering, and developing skills to successfully follow careers in one of the areas of computational social science.

Admission Requirements

The application deadline is February 1 of each year for students seeking financial aid, or April 1 for all other students. Only students who need to take prerequisites in areas of deficiency will be admitted in the spring semester (October 15 deadline), and they are expected to join the regular schedule in the fall semester.

Applicants should have as background a bachelor’s degree in one of the social sciences; computer science, engineering, or a relevant discipline; and undergraduate courses in these and related areas. Bachelor’s degrees in the physical or biological sciences are also eligible, but applicants may be advised to take additional courses in social science or computer science as prerequisites to admission. Minimal requirements also include one undergraduate course in calculus, and knowledge of a computer programming language—preferably object-based.

During the program, students are expected to develop significant expertise in the utilization of computational social science resources such as agent-based simulations or other computational tools. The program maintains a simulation environment, the Multi-Agent Simulator of Neighborhoods and Networks (MASON), in collaboration with the Evolutionary Computation Laboratory (EC Lab) of the Department of Computer Science. Mathematics training beyond basic calculus is not required, but it may be useful in some areas of specialization.

Application materials must include the following:

The above items must be submitted jointly, as a package. Other mandatory application materials include the following:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as per Mason policies

Additionally, but not as a requirement, applicants may submit prior work in computational social science, such as simulation models or publications.

Each application package is reviewed by the program director, who shares them with the faculty members listed by the applicant. The admissions decision is determined by an applicant’s credentials and matching faculty interests. The program may recommend that an applicant delay a year, pending completion of additional coursework. In some cases, an interview may be required. No specific set of qualifications guarantees admission to the program.

Degree Requirements

The degree requires 72 credit hours, with the following functional distribution and learning objectives:

18 credit hours of required CSS courses to provide a shared knowledge core regardless of prior background:

Two other core courses from among the following:

CSS 692 Social Network Analysis

15 credit hours of discipline-based social science courses in a specific area such as anthropology, economics, geography, history, linguistics, political science, or sociology, as approved by the student’s advisor, to provide domain-specific knowledge.

15 credit hours of elective courses or independent research, as approved by the student's advisor, to provide further substantive or methodological specialization as needed. Students with a strong background in computing (for example, an MS in computer science) but weaker social science training will be required to use all or most of these electives in a substantive social science. Conversely, students with a strong background in social science (for example, a BS in economics) will be required to use most or all of these electives in computing courses.

24 credit hours of dissertation research to demonstrate doctoral-level originality and research excellence.

The 18 credit hours of required CSS courses include several courses (CSS 605, 610, 645, 692) where computational projects are required. Thus, experience in developing computational models is developed early in the program.

The 30 credit hours consisting of discipline-based social science courses, elective courses, independent research, and directed readings must be approved by the student’s advisor and the graduate program director. The director maintains a list of recommended elective courses by discipline. Elective courses may also originate from the cross-registration mechanism offered by the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area (CUWMA) if a specifically necessary course is required for a student’s specialization. As with all non-core courses, CUWMA courses must be approved by the student’s advisor and the CSS graduate studies director.

Up to 30 of the required 48 credit hours may be waived based on prior master's level training and the specific courses taken. A maximum of 24 credit hours of prior graduate course work may be credited, provided such credits have not been used for another degree. The combined 30 credit hours of disciplinary and elective courses compensate for the diverse prior backgrounds of students.

The following professional extracurricular activities are also encouraged for advanced students: attending professional lectures and colloquia on campus and in the capital area; writing research grant proposals individually or with faculty or other students, especially proposals addressed to the National Science Foundation; writing and publishing in peer-refereed journals, including the most competitive disciplinary journals in the social sciences as well as the more specialized computational social science journals; learning the art and science of excellent teaching; presenting papers at professional conferences; and attending summer training opportunities such as those at Santa Fe Institute and the ICPSR (Inter-University Consortium for Social and Political Research) at the University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon University. Students with a writing deficiency are required to take one or more courses in English as a second language or in technical and scientific writing. The program director maintains a set of resources for writing and publishing in computational social science.

The length of time required to complete the program varies, depending on a student's time commitment, resources, and academic progress in the course of study. Assuming a student enters the program with proper undergraduate background, has focused research motivation, and full-time enrollment, the PhD could be earned in four years, if all academic requirements are met. Some students arriving with either a master’s degree or with prior course work in computational social science could take less than four years. Most students will require five or more years, depending on academic progress, funding, and other factors that are unpredictable. The next section provides an example based on a full-time “normal load.” A “light load” would take longer, up to the statutory limit allowed by Mason (11 years). Students with the strongest research capabilities and professional potential will usually be eligible for funding through extramural grants.

First Year Evaluation, Candidacy Examination, Doctoral Dissertation Proposal

During the first year, every student will form a graduate studies committee, called the First Year Committee, consisting of the student’s advisor plus two or three appropriately qualified individuals. At least three committee members, including the advisor, must be tenure-line faculty in the School of Computational Sciences (SCS), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), School of Information Technology and Engineering (IT&E) or Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study. The committee will assist the student in designing a specific plan of study for core and elective courses, evaluate the student’s progress by the end of the first year, and issue a recommendation. The plan of study will become part of the student’s file and will be reviewed periodically. A student with strong social science background upon entry will be advised to take a prevalence of computational courses as electives. Conversely, a student with strong computational background (such as excellent programming skills in Java or C++) will be advised to focus the elective courses on substantive social science content. The first-year evaluation will be based on a comprehensive assessment of course work including grades, papers, and any other materials the student wishes to submit, including computational modeling projects from CSS 605, 610 or other. Based on the evaluation, the First Year Committee will encourage or discourage further continuation in the program. If continuation is recommended, the student’s next goal is to pass candidacy exams. The First Year Committee must be approved by the CSS program director.

Assuming normal progress and continuation, during the second year every student will form a Doctoral Dissertation Committee consisting of the student’s dissertation advisor, who serves as chair, plus three or four appropriately qualified individuals. The dissertation committee may simply be an enlarged First Year committee, or it may be a different committee, depending on the evolution of a student’s interests. At least three committee members, including the advisor, must be tenure-line faculty in the SCS, CAS, IT&E or Krasnow Institute. The committee must be approved by the CSS program director. The committee will advise the student on preparing for the doctoral candidacy exams; and preparing, developing, and defending the doctoral dissertation.

The candidacy exam is taken after a student has completed all core requirements and a majority of additional course work (18 plus 15 credit hours). In the “normal load” example above, this corresponds to roughly the fifth semester into the program, or fall semester of the third year. The purpose of the candidacy exam is to assess the student’s substantive and methodological knowledge in computational social science as a whole and in the chosen area of concentration; the ability to integrate materials from different courses; and the potential for a successful dissertation.

Examples of areas of concentrations and potential specializations include but are not limited to the following:

Agent-based computational economics: trade, finance, decision-making under risk

Computational political economy: voting, institutions, norms, inequality

Computational linguistics: generative grammars, parsing, classifiers, inference

Social network analysis: connectivity, structure, evolution of the WWW, cyberwarfare

Computational anthropology: emergence of hierarchy, settlement patterns

Computational political science: systems of government, conflict and war, cooperation

Computational sociology: segregation, collective action, leadership, trust

Complexity theory: power laws, potential theory, criticality, bifurcation

Computational methodology: multi-agent systems, evolutionary computation, UML, GIS, visualization, sonification, computational epistemology

The candidacy exam will consist of written and oral parts. The written part will contain general as well as specialized questions. It will be prepared by the program director and the student’s advisor, who will solicit questions from the faculty. Each question in the written exam will be evaluated in terms of A (high pass), B (pass), or C (fail). A grade of B+ or higher is necessary for proceeding to the oral exam. The oral exam will cover the same or related material as the written exam, for the purpose of assessing the student’s ability to respond with knowledge and professionalism to questions of substance or method. The oral exam is public and may be attended by fellow students and interested faculty. Each portion of the candidacy exam may be retaken only one time.

After passing the candidacy exam, each student will prepare and within a year defend a dissertation proposal, written in the form of an extramural research grant proposal. The student will develop this proposal in consultation with the Dissertation Committee. The main criteria of evaluation will be threefold: originality, importance, and feasibility. If successfully defended, the Dissertation Committee may recommend submission to an appropriate funding agency. The committee may also recommend different or additional course work to improve the dissertation project, as well as specific benchmarks that the project must attain. A student becomes a PhD candidate (so-called ABD status) after passing the candidacy exam and successfully defending the dissertation proposal. An ABD PhD candidate student may apply for a position that accepts applicants with an expected date for degree conferral.

Doctoral Dissertation

The PhD dissertation is the detailed written report of an original and significant research contribution to computational social science. The essence of any dissertation in computational social science—as distinct from a dissertation in traditional social science or in computational science—is given by the unique combination of an original and significant substantive research question drawn from one or more of the social sciences; and an approach that is fundamentally computational or based on a complexity-theoretic analysis that involves a computational logic. Another set of examples may be found in the articles published in peer-refereed periodicals such as the Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, many of the working papers of the Santa Fe Institute, or proceedings of national or international professional conferences where advanced graduate students often present their dissertation research.

Parts of the dissertation should be publishable as refereed articles or refereed conference proceedings. Previously published content may be included in the dissertation, except when the work in question was not produced in a significant way by the student. Since computational social science research is frequently collaborative in nature, it is acceptable for a student to include in the dissertation the products of such collaboration, including work produced in conjunction with the advisor or other members of the Dissertation Committee. A collection of published papers with a common theme may constitute the dissertation. If a doubt arises, the Dissertation Committee will determine the status of any given item.

The dissertation defense will take place upon recommendation of the student's Dissertation Committee, at a time and place agreeable to all, with a minimum advance notice of two weeks. The defense is open to the public, and fellow students and interested faculty and staff are encouraged to attend. However, only members of the Dissertation Committee may ask questions or make comments following a presentation by the student candidate. The Dissertation Committee recommends that the graduate faculty of Mason accept the student candidate for the PhD after a successful defense and completion of any final revisions. The committee chair will ensure the implementation of any final revisions, if any are requested and agreed upon by the members of the Dissertation Committee. Additionally, the Dissertation Committee may also recommend publication of the dissertation in revised form.