Course Descriptions
Glossary
This section lists George Mason University’s undergraduate and graduate courses that are available for credit. Courses are listed in alphabetical order. The subject code for courses and the programs offering the courses are as follows:
Semester Notation
Some course descriptions include one of the following semester notations. Although circumstances may cause a unit to deviate occasionally from these notations, students should use this information to plan their programs of study.
f: usually available only in the fall semester
f,sum: available only in fall and summer
f,s, sum: usually available every semester
af, as: offered only in alternate fall or spring semesters
ay: offered only in alternate years
ir: offered on an irregular basis at the discretion of the department or school
Course Numbering
General Information
Course titles are followed by numbers in parentheses (0:0:0), separated by colons. The first number refers to the number of credits; the second number, hours of lecture or seminar per week; and the third number, hours of laboratory or studio per week. 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 in this chapter have the following significance:
- A single number (HIST 301) indicates the course is complete within a single semester, and the semester course may be taken separately with credit toward a degree.
- 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; other bachelor’s degree holders; and 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 to complete 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, normally intended for in-service professional development and not directly leading to a graduate degree. A limited number of credits 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