2011-2012 University Catalog
Volgenau School of Engineering
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Graduate Admissions: 703-993-1512
Graduate Student Services: 703-993-1505
Undergraduate Student Services: 703-993-1511
Web: volgenau.gmu.edu
College Code: VS
Administrative Units
Applied Information Technology (AIT)
Bioengineering (BENG)
Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering (CEIE)
Computer Science (CS)
Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
Statistics (STAT)
Systems Engineering and Operations Research (SEOR)
School Mission, Goals
The mission of the Volgenau School of Engineering is to provide our students with a high-quality education that emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior, integrity, and entrepreneurship. In addition, the School seeks to develop and disseminate leading-edge research that significantly advances the field of knowledge.
The Volgenau School of Engineering is concerned primarily with study areas that involve integrating the information basis for modern engineering with the more conventional physical and materials science approach. The careful integration of these areas results in a unique academic experience for highly motivated students.
The Volgenau School offers several degree programs that concentrate on important contemporary technological issues and needs. Bachelor’s degree programs are offered in the areas of applied computer science, bioengineering, civil and infrastructure engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, and systems engineering. Minors in information technology, computer science, software engineering, data analysis, and systems engineering and operations research are also available.
Master’s degree programs are available in the following areas: applied information technology, civil and infrastructure engineering, computer engineering, computer forensics, computer science, electrical engineering, information security and assurance, information systems, operations research, software engineering, statistical science, systems engineering, and telecommunications. Several doctoral programs are offered, including a cross-disciplinary program in information technology and more focused programs in civil and infrastructure engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, systems engineering and operations research, and statistical science. In addition, the engineer degree in information technology provides post-master’s training in an application area.
Undergraduate certificates are offered in applied statistics, information technology, and computer science. For graduate students, certificate programs are offered in advanced network protocols for telecommunications; architecture-based systems engineering; biometrics; e-commerce; command, control, communications, computing, and intelligence; intelligent agents; communications and networking; computational modeling; systems engineering of software intensive systems; federal statistics; biostatistics; information engineering; information security and assurance; leading technical enterprises; military operations research; signal processing; software engineering; telecommunications forensics and security; networks, systems integration and testing; very-large-scale-integration (VLSI) design and manufacturing; civil infrastructure and security engineering; discovery, design, and innovation; computer networking; network technologies and applications; wireless communications; telecommunications systems modeling; data mining; database management; water resources engineering; and web-based software engineering.
The undergraduate degree programs prepare students to enter directly into professional employment or continue studies at the graduate level. The requirements for the bachelor’s degrees include required and elective courses in mathematics, humanities, and general education, and specialty courses in applied computer science, bioengineering, civil and infrastructure engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, and systems engineering. Each program strongly emphasizes English composition and communication.
Students also have opportunities to develop interest areas in other fields within the Volgenau School that offer undergraduate courses but do not have undergraduate majors. The bachelor of individualized study (BIS) degree program may appeal to adult students who have completed a substantial portion of their studies at other institutions.
The Bioengineering program at the Volgenau School continues to expand and develop. New faculty have been added during the past year and this trend will continue. Program faculty are actively engaged with other departments, schools, and institutes at Mason as well as with Washington-area organizations dedicated to health oriented research or clinical service. Our goal is to provide a quality education to students interested in this rapidly growing field.
Administration
Lloyd Griffiths, Dean
Daniel A. Menascé, Senior Associate Dean
E. Bernard White, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
Sharon Caraballo, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Jennifer Lamb, Associate Dean for Development
Melinda Barnhart, Executive Director, Finance and Administration
Pete Farrell, Director, Alumni Relations
Jonathan Goldman, Director, Computing Resources
Linda Kovac, Director, Corporate Relations
Terri Mancini, Director, Sponsored Research Administration
Lisa Nolder, Director, Graduate Student Services
Jade Perez, Director, Graduate Admissions and Enrollment Management
Bachelor of Science Programs
The Volgenau School offers seven programs in its academic units. Policies regarding admission and degree requirements are provided in the department sections that follow.
BS Degree Department
Undergraduate Mission, Goals
The undergraduate mission is to provide a quality education to support the needs of Virginia and the nation. The goal is to graduate students who are technically competent; prepared for ethical professional practice and a lifetime of learning; communicate effectively and work as members or leaders of technical teams; and understand the global nature and effect of information technology and engineering.
Degree Requirements
The following general requirements must be completed by all undergraduate students:
- At least 120 credits of academic work including at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above)
- At least 6 credits of English composition, 3 credits of literature, and 3 credits of oral communication (university general education electives)
- At least 3 credits of arts, 3 credits of Western civilization, 3 credits of social and behavioral science, and 3 credits of global understanding issues (university general education electives)
- At least 24 credits of social science and humanities course work, which is normally satisfied by the 24 credits of university general education courses described above
- All requirements listed in the following sections for specific Volgenau School majors, including university requirements for mathematics, natural science, information technology competency and ethics, and synthesis
Freshmen who are undecided about their specific majors may select Volgenau School undeclared as their major. Sample schedules that fulfill degree requirements for individual programs within the Volgenau School are available from the departments. With approval of department advisors, some courses may be taken out of the indicated sequences, particularly English, literature and social science courses.
The requirements for the BIS degree can be found in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences chapter. Requirements for the applied computer science, bioengineering, civil and infrastructure engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, IT, and systems engineering undergraduate degree programs are provided in the academic departments sections of this chapter.
Academic Policies
Students should become familiar with the University’s general academic policies in addition to those specific to each academic unit. Please see the Academic Policies section of the catalog. That chapter also lists additional university requirements for minor programs and additional (double) majors.
Academic Appeal of Policies, Grades and Actions
In most instances, the student’s instructor, academic advisor, and/or department can resolve any academic related issues that arise from time to time in a manner that student, instructor, academic advisor, and/or department find acceptable. If, however, the student disagrees with a decision at the department level and feels that there may be reasonable grounds for appealing the decision, the student should contact the Volgenau School Student Services Offices at 703-993-1505 for graduate students and 703-993-1511 for undergraduate students. This office is staffed with student services professionals who can provide guidance in preparing a request to the appropriate dean and the the next levels if necessary.
Academic Progression, Course Repeat
Students majoring in the Volgenau School programs are expected to have an acceptable plan of study formulated with assistance from the department advisor on file. They are expected to make reasonable progress toward their degree during each semester they are enrolled. Undergraduate students may be required to obtain permission from the Volgenau School Student Services Office to repeat some courses required for the major in which they have previously received a grade of D or F. Individual Volgenau School programs may disallow students from retaking certain high-demand courses in which they have already earned a grade of C or better if they want to retake the course to improve their GPA.
Restricted Courses
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the many excellent courses available to broaden their educational experience or strengthen their background; however, some credits earned may not satisfy any degree requirements. Degree requirements for the Volgenau School undergraduate programs may not include credits earned in activity courses in any department. Examples are many of the courses listed under the catalog designations of art, dance, music, or theater; individual sports, physical education, or team sports; and recreational activities. Exceptions in these categories are courses that meet the university general education requirements for the major, including global understanding or Arts. Whenever there is uncertainty, students must consult with an academic advisor in their department. Generally, degree requirements for computer science and engineering majors may not be met by 100- to 400-level courses designated “IT” (and any associated cross-listed courses) in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog. The respective computer science or engineering student’s department might approve requests for some IT courses, such as IT 350, 362, 462, and 466, to satisfy degree requirements. For more information, contact the department or the Volgenau School Student Services Office at 703-993-1511.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all undergraduate students to successfully complete a course, or combination of courses, designated “writing-intensive” in their majors at the 300 level or above. To determine the writing-intensive course requirements for specific degrees, refer to the major program descriptions in the following department sections.
BS/Accelerated MS Programs
Many of the BS degree programs offered within the Volgenau School may be packaged with some of the MS degree programs in ways that reduce the total number of credits required. Details may be found in the individual department sections.
Master of Science Programs
Degree Requirements
The Volgenau School offers 14 Master of Science programs in its academic units and one Interdisciplinary Master of Science. Policies regarding admission and degree requirements are provided in the department sections that follow.
Doctor of Philosophy Programs
The Volgenau School offers six PhD programs in its academic units. Policies regarding admission and degree requirements are provided in the department sections that follow with the exception of the Information Technology PhD program. The PhD in information technology is a program that builds on a fundamental core and emphasizes cross-disciplinary efforts among the 14 master’s programs in the Volgenau School, as well as with related units at Mason. Specific entrance and degree requirements for this doctoral program are found in the Interdisciplinary Programs section of this chapter.
Engineer Degree in Information Technology
The engineer degree is a post-master’s degree, but it does not confer a doctorate. Students pursuing the engineer degree can take advanced PhD courses and complete a project of an applied nature to fulfill program requirements. Details about the engineer degree can be found in the Interdisciplinary Programs section of this chapter.
Distance Education Programs
In order to increase access to Volgenau School education and to meet the needs of the School’s student population, a number of individual courses and select degree programs can be completed via distance education. Please contact the individual departments for details. All academic policies and procedures apply to distance education programs and courses; see the appropriate sections of this catalog. Some instructors may require students to come to campus or make alternate arrangements for exams and/or other meetings. Students should contact the instructor directly to resolve any questions. For distance education courses which involve live online transmission of simultaneous classroom instruction, students in the distance section may also be permitted to join the campus-based section in the classroom; PatriotWeb will state if this option is available for a particular distance education section.
Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program
The Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program (CGEP) is a cooperative program of Mason, the University of Virginia (UVA), Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University (ODU), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) designed to make graduate engineering education available in locations throughout Virginia through distance learning. CGEP offers graduate degree programs in engineering and information technology. Instruction takes place through a mix of videoconferencing and web-based courses available at educational and corporate receive sites around the state.
Each degree program is taught by one of the five participating universities, and prospective students should apply directly to the university offering the degree of interest. Mason’s Master of Science in computer science degree is available through CGEP. This program follows all policies stated in this catalog for the MS in computer science, with the exception that, with faculty advisor approval, up to 50% of the required credits may be completed at other CGEP institutions. Courses from the other institutions may be offered at Mason’s Fairfax or Prince William campuses.
Policies for other universities’ programs are determined by those institutions; please consult with the university offering the program of interest for details.
For more information about CGEP, go to volgenau.gmu.edu/graduates/commonwealth_graduate_engineering.php.
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