2012-2013 University Catalog 
  
2012-2013 University Catalog

College of Science


Phone: 703-993-3622
Web: cos.gmu.edu
College Code:  SC

Departments

Schools

Additional Academic Units

Interdisciplinary and Joint Programs

The College of Science (COS) serves as the nexus for research and education in the natural, mathematical, and computational sciences at Mason. The central mission of COS is to create and disseminate scientific knowledge, provide outstanding scholarship in concert with excellent teaching, and develop the human and technical resources required to address the current and future needs of society. Through its innovative and multifaceted educational and research mission, COS offers exciting opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, scientists, educators, and other professionals in Northern Virginia and the national capital region.

In addition to the wide variety of undergraduate degree programs offered by its 10 academic units, COS also offers many innovative graduate degrees and interdisciplinary minors. The research strength of COS provides an essential resource to graduate students and to undergraduates whose involvement in research is strongly encouraged. Many undergraduates go on to graduate school and to pursue careers in public service, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. Graduate students engage in more specialized study at the master’s and doctoral levels, preparing them for first or second careers or job advancement and providing personal enrichment.

Faculty members are committed to teaching grounded in scholarship and research. They strive to make students rigorous thinkers and clear communicators while encouraging experimentation with new approaches and ideas. Students are thus prepared for their role as informed citizens in a complex, global society and able to adapt to an ever-changing world.

Administration

Vikas Chandhoke, Dean
Evans J. Mandes, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Matters
Timothy L. Born, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs
Martha Westcoat-Andes, Associate Dean for Administration
Gregory D. Foster, Acting Associate Dean for Research
Vita M. Vock, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Accommodations for Disabled Students

Students with documented disabilities should contact the Office of Disability Services (Student Union I, Room 222; 703-993-2474) to open a file and learn more about accommodations that may be available to them.

Graduate Degree Programs

COS offers 13 master’s degrees and 10 doctoral degrees. The requirements for each degree can be found in the departmental and degree sections and a complete listing of the graduate programs administered by the College of Science is available on the college web site: http://cos.gmu.edu/academics/degree_programs/graduate.

Graduate Admission

Admission decisions are made by the faculty committee of the respective graduate program. Denial of admission is not subject to appeal.  

Provisional Admission

Students provisionally admitted to their graduate degree program are not eligible to enroll in consortium course work or study at another institution until the conditions of the provisional contract have been met. Provisionally admitted students are also not eligible to participate in any study abroad programs until the conditions of the provisional contract have been met. Transfer of credit requests for course work taken in non-degree status at Mason or from another institution prior to admission will not be considered until the provisional contract has been fulfilled.

Non-degree Enrollment

Admission to non-degree graduate study at Mason is highly competitive. Among the factors which may be considered in the admissions process are previous academic performance, professional experience, academic fit, and other standards, at the discretion of the College of Science.  All non-degree applicants must complete a non-degree online application for admission and supply official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions they have attended.  Once admitted to graduate non-degree status, students are considered graduate students and tuition charges are calculated as such, regardless of the level of course(s) in which they are enrolled.  Up to twelve (12) credits of graduate coursework earned in non-degree status can be considered for transfer into a graduate program within the College of Science.

Non-degree students are expected to maintain the same academic standards as degree-seeking students. See Academic Termination in the Graduate Policies section of this catalog.

Reduction of Credit

Students accepted into a Doctoral program who have earned a Master’s degree in a relevant field from a regionally accredited institution may be eligible for a credit reduction of up to 30 credits.  Students must request a reduction from the Graduate Program Director of the graduate program and reductions must be approved by both the Graduate Program Director of the graduate program and by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.   Reduction of credit requests from students who are admitted provisionally are not considered until the student has fulfilled the conditions of their admission and had the provisional qualifier removed from their record.  Credits used in reduction of credit are not subject to time limits, and the credits must have been applied to a previous degree.

Transfer of Credit

To be eligible for transfer, credits must have been earned at a regionally accredited graduate degree-granting institution (and applicable to a graduate degree at that institution) or at Mason while in non-degree status. Courses accepted for transfer credit must have been completed within six years of the admission term and with a minimum grade of 3.00. Courses with grades of P or S are not accepted for transfer unless the official transcript indicates that the grade is equivalent to a 3.00 (B) or better. Some programs have more stringent standards on transfer of credit; students should contact their graduate program for specific information.

Credit from Other Institutions (Study Elsewhere)

Students enrolled in a degree program may take graduate courses at another regionally accredited institution and apply these credits to a master’s or doctoral degree with prior approval. Approval must be secured in writing from the Graduate Program Director of the graduate program and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the college. Students enrolling in courses at other institutions with different drop/add timetables must still abide by Mason’s drop/add deadlines in terms of acquiring necessary approvals.

Academic Load

Graduate students can enroll in up to 12 credits of course work each semester. Non-degree students can enroll in up to 10 credits of course work each semester.

University Consortium

Students should review university policies regarding the University Consortium under Special Registration Procedures in the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog.

Eligible students may enroll in courses at any of the institutions in the Consortium of Universities in the Washington Metropolitan area.  Students are limited to one consortium course per semester, with a career maximum of 6 credits. To register for a consortium course, students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.00 and be in good academic standing. Students with grades of IN on their record or who earned grades of C or F in the most recent semester are not eligible to register for a consortium course. Students who have received a grade less than 3.00 in a consortium course are not permitted to enroll in additional consortium courses. Newly admitted graduate students are not permitted to enroll in consortium courses during their first semester of graduate study. Students who wish to enroll in consortium courses during their second semester of study must wait until the grades for the previous semester have been posted.   Credit earned through the consortium is considered resident credit and these grades will count toward the student’s GPA.

Dissertation Committee

The college follows university policies regarding dissertation committees. See Dissertation Committee in the Requirements for Doctoral Degrees section of the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog.  Please note that some programs within the College of Science may have a more stringent policy.

Dissertation (998/999) Registration

It is the student’s responsibility to complete registration for dissertation proposal (998) or dissertation research (999) prior to the first day of classes for the semester. If this date is missed, students must still enroll in these courses via Add or Late Schedule Adjustment procedures and are subject to Late Registration fees. Failing to register on time in a particular semester does not alter the requirement for continuous registration in 999.

All registration for doctoral dissertation research (999) must be planned with the dissertation director and approved by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Dissertation research  is open only to doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy, and students must register for a minimum of 3 credits of 999 per semester (excluding summers) until they have completed the minimum number of credits of 998 and 999 required by the university and their degree program. Once enrolled in 999, students must maintain continuous registration in 999 each semester until graduation, excluding summers. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least 1 credit of 999 in the summer. Students registered in 998 or 999 are graded IP until work in 998 or 999, respectively, is complete; at that time they are graded S/NC.  Graduation candidates who miss the library deadline for dissertation submission, but do submit officially before the next semester begins, do not have to register for 999 in that next semester, but must stay active to graduate. Please see section on Special Registration for Non-enrolled Students in the University Catalog.

Time Limit for Doctoral Students

Total time to degree for doctoral students will not exceed eleven (11) calendar years from the time of first enrollment as a doctoral degree-seeking student in a program of the University. Doctoral students are expected to advance to candidacy in no more than six years and to complete all other degree requirements for graduation in no more than five years from the time of advancement to candidacy.

Students who will not meet published time limits because of circumstances beyond their control may petition for an extension. Extensions to the time limit for advancement to candidacy may be granted for a maximum period of one calendar year The one-year extension granted to advance to candidacy will run concurrently with the five years provided to complete the dissertation so that the total time limit to degree will not exceed eleven (11) years even for those students granted a time extension for advancement to candidacy.

Students who are given permission to re-enroll following an absence from Mason remain subject to their original time limits. Failure to meet the time limits or to secure approval of an extension request may result in termination from the program. International students attending in F-1 or J-1 status have more restrictive limits. Such students should contact the Office of International Programs and Services for further information.

Requests for extension of time limits must be submitted to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in writing. They should explain the extenuating circumstances that prevented a timely completion of the degree, corrective action that has been taken to address those circumstances, and a timeline for completing the work within the limits of the extension. The request should include a letter from the student’s graduate program director indicating program support for the extension and confirmation that the work can be completed within the limits of the extension.

Graduate Appeals of Dismissal or Termination

All graduate students should be familiar with the university polices on dismissal and termination as stated in Graduate Academic Standing section of the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog. Students who meet the criteria for dismissal or termination may submit a written appeal to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Appeals should include all relevant information on the basis for appeal, as well as any appropriate documentation and a letter of support from the graduate program.  Appeals of termination are reviewed by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs with input from appropriate faculty within the student’s academic unit. The ruling represents the final decision of the college.                           

Undergraduate Degree Programs

COS offers six bachelor of arts degrees and 12 bachelor of science degrees. These undergraduate degrees consist of course work in university-wide general education, a major area of study, and electives. To earn a bachelor’s degree, students must complete 120 credits, of which at least 45 must be in upper-level courses (numbered 300 and above). At least one course at the 300 or 400 level must be designated “writing intensive.” All entering students who have not yet satisfied the university-wide general education requirement in quantitative reasoning are required to take the math placement test prior to enrollment.

Students should consult the University General Education  chapter for information concerning university-wide general education requirements for undergraduate degrees.

All students are responsible for meeting with their academic advisor, and reviewing their transcripts and degree audits regularly to ensure that they are correct and meet all their requirements. Transfer students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor prior to registering for classes to review their transcripts and course equivalencies. In some cases, students may need to earn more than 120 credits to complete all of their requirements.

A complete listing of the undergraduate programs administered by the College of Science is available on the college web site:  http://cos.gmu.edu/academics/undergraduate/degree_programs.

College-Level Degree Requirements

The baccalaureate degree is designed to provide a broad knowledge of the world, develop in students the ability to think conceptually and critically, acquaint them with many different methods of inquiry, and provide skills to continue intellectual growth throughout life.

Bachelor of Arts

The BA degree provides students with a breadth of knowledge, as well as the necessary skills to make in-depth study of a major truly meaningful. In addition to the university-wide general education program  , students pursuing a BA degree must complete the course work below, and the courses listed in the departmental sections that follow. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college-level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements, such as university-wide general education requirements, college-level requirements, or requirements for the major. In some cases, the COS requirements below may be superseded by requirements of the major degree program.

  • Philosophy or religious studies: 3 credits, fulfilled by any course in philosophy or religious studies (PHIL, RELI)
  • Social and behavioral science: 3 credits in addition to the university-wide requirement in social and behavioral science for a total of 6 credits. The two courses used to fulfill the combined college and university requirements must be from different disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. This requirement may be fulfilled by completing any course in ANTH, CRIM, ECON, GOVT, HIST (except 100 or 125), LING, PSYC, or SOCI and these courses in GGS: 101, 103, 110, 301, 303, 304, 305, 306, 315, 316, 320, 325, 330, 357, 380.
  • Science: 1 credit in addition to the university-wide requirement for a total of 8 credits. This requirement can be fulfilled by completing two of any approved natural science courses that include a laboratory experience. This requirement may not be fulfilled by BIOL 124 or 125.
  • Non-Western culture: 3 credits of an approved course in the study of a non-Western culture in addition to the course used to fulfill the university-wide general education requirement in global understanding. A course used to fulfill the university-wide general education global understanding requirement may not be simultaneously used to satisfy this college-level requirement. A course used to fulfill this requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill any other requirements (university-wide general education requirements, college-level requirements, or requirements for the major). This requirement may be fulfilled by any of the following courses: ANTH 114, 300, 301, 302, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 311, 313, 314, 323, 330, 332, 381, 396; ARAB 420, 440; ARTH 203, 204, 319, 320, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 482; CHIN 318, 320, 325; DANC 118; ECON 361, 362; FREN 451, 454; GGS 101, 316, 325, 330, 399; GOVT 328, 332, 333, 340, 341, 345, 432, 433; HIST 130, 251, 252, 261, 262, 271, 281, 282, 328, 329, 353, 354, 356, 365, 366, 367, 387, 426, 460, 461, 465, 466; JAPA 310; MUSI 103; RELI 211, 212, 272, 313, 314, 315, 337, 374, 375, 490; or RUSS 353, 354. Students who can document attendance at a native school in a non-Western country for at least four years may request a waiver from this requirement through the CHSS Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office.
  • Foreign language: intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language. This requirement may be fulfilled by completing a course in a foreign language numbered 202, 209, or 210; or by successfully completing a 300- or 400-level course that requires intermediate-level proficiency and is taught in the foreign language; or by achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test; or by presenting for admission to George Mason University an approved score on the TOEFL and on the TOEFL essay (for students whose native language is not English).  International students should consult the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office about a possible waiver of the foreign language requirement.

Requirements for each BA major are listed in the departmental sections that follow.

Bachelor of Science

The BS degree provides students with a more intensive approach to the technical core knowledge and concepts in their major field of study. Therefore, this curriculum has a reduced number of courses in humanities and social sciences in comparison with the BA degree to allow students to achieve greater depth in their majors. Students pursuing a BS degree must complete the university-wide general education program plus the requirements for their major. Requirements for each BS major in COS are listed in the departmental sections that follow.

Teacher Licensure

Degree programs that prepare students for high school teaching careers are available in the following COS departments or programs: Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Science; Biology; Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Students who wish to become K-12 teachers, and who plan to seek teacher licensure should also consult the College of Education and Human Development  chapter and attend an information session early in their undergraduate career. For more information, call 703-993-2892, e-mail gseadmit@gmu.edu, or go to gse.gmu.edu.

Minors

Students may elect to take a minor in addition to their major field of study. For policies governing all minors, see the Academic Policies  chapter of this catalog. Students interested in earning a minor should complete the Undergraduate Declaration of Minor form.

Undergraduate 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 this catalog.

Questions about Academic Policies

Students with questions regarding exceptions to academic policies and college-level requirements should contact the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office (Science and Technology Building I, Room 103; cosdean@gmu.edu).

Additional policy information and forms are available online from the college’s Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Registration

Students are personally responsible for correctly registering for courses and paying all tuition and fees by the official university registration and payment deadlines. Instructors do not have the authority to add students to courses. All students should verify the accuracy of their enrollment before the end of the add period.

Academic Load

Students should review the university policies regarding academic load in the Academic Policies  section of this catalog.

In order to be considered for an overload, students must fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • Be in good academic standing
  • Have completed the prior semester with a GPA of 2.33 or higher
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.33 or higher
  • Have demonstrated in prior semesters at Mason the ability to handle an increased and demanding course load while maintaining high performance
  • Have no remaining incompletes (INs) from a previous semester

Freshman and transfer students in their first semesters are not given permission for overloads as they have yet to establish an academic record at George Mason.

If approved for an overload, the student is responsible for adding the additional class(es) and paying for the related tuition by the official university deadlines.

Excluded Courses

Physical Education (PHED) and Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies (PRLS) activity courses cannot be used for credit for a degree in the College of Science.

MLSC 400 and MLSC 401 can be used for credit for a degree in the college, but credit from other MLSC courses may not be applied toward degrees in the college.

Once matriculated at Mason, students may not take CLEP exams and apply credits from those exams to degrees in the college. Students may apply credits from CLEP exams to degrees in the college only if those credits were awarded and reported prior to admission.

University Consortium Registration

Students should review the university policies regarding university consortium under Special Registration Procedure in the Academic Policies  section of this catalog.

Students who have failed a course at Mason are not permitted to take the equivalent course through the consortium under any circumstances. All consortium registration requests must be submitted to the dean’s office at least 3 weeks prior to the first day of classes for the relevant semester at Mason.

Permission to Study Elsewhere

Students enrolled at George Mason University are expected to complete their coursework with George Mason courses. Exceptions to this policy are rare and are considered only under extraordinary circumstances, on a case-by-case basis. Students must obtain advance, written approval from their department/program and dean’s office before enrolling in classes elsewhere.

To be considered for an exception to this policy, students must have completed the immediately preceding semester with a GPA of 2.00 or higher and not be in danger of academic probation, suspension or dismissal. Freshmen and new transfer students are not allowed to take courses elsewhere as they have yet to establish an academic record at George Mason. Since transfer students have already transferred a number of hours, they are expected to plan all remaining courses at George Mason. Local community colleges are not part of the University Consortium, and requests to take community college courses can seldom be approved. Courses offered at Consortium Universities must be reviewed by the Consortium Coordinator in advance and do not need permission to study elsewhere.

Courses taken elsewhere that have been pre-approved by the dean’s office must be taken for a grade and be passed with a minimum grade of 2.00 or higher in order to be transferred to George Mason. Although credit for the course can be transferred, the grade for the course does not. The grade will not be factored into the student’s GPA. Additionally, approval to study elsewhere will not be granted after the student has completed the coursework. Approval for study elsewhere is specific to the term and course(s) for which it is granted. If a student does not complete the course(s) elsewhere during the approved term, the student must submit a new study elsewhere request to take the course(s) at a later date. Similarly, enrollment in additional or alternate courses at another institution will not be considered for transfer after the fact. Approval for study elsewhere during a given semester does not guarantee approval in a later term.

Students must make arrangements with the visited institution to have an official transcript mailed directly to the George Mason University Registrar’s Office immediately after the course work is completed. Credit cannot be transferred until an official transcript is received.

Additional information about study elsewhere can be found at www.gmu.edu/student/academicaffairs/policies.htm.

Study Abroad

In order to be considered for study through the Center for Global Education, students must plan well in advance and receive prior, written permission from the academic dean. Students must also meet all of the following criteria:

  • Students must meet all eligibility criteria for their program as specified by the Center for Global Education, including minimum GPA requirements.
  • Have completed the immediately preceding semester at Mason with a GPA of 2.00 or higher
  • Have completed the necessary forms and have obtained all required signatures and course equivalencies

The Center for Global Education may have higher academic standards and students must meet all eligibility requirements.

Students in danger of probation, suspension, or dismissal should plan very carefully before requesting to study abroad. Students who are not in good academic standing will not be permitted to study abroad.

Withdrawals

Courses for which a withdrawal is approved receive a grade of “W”.

Students are responsible for all courses in which they remain officially enrolled once the drop period has ended.

Instructors do not have the authority to withdraw students from classes. Withdrawals require the approval of the academic dean and are typically allowed only for full semesters at a time (all enrolled courses) and are only permitted for non-academic reasons. No withdrawals can be approved for academic reasons. When submitting a withdrawal request, students must provide verifiable, third-party documentation for the reason for the withdrawal. Requests for withdrawals should be submitted as early in the semester as possible, and never after the last day of classes.

Credits graded “W” do not affect a student’s GPA, but do count as attempted hours. The total attempted hours and cumulative GPA determine a student’s academic standing. If the cumulative GPA is below 2.00, withdrawals may affect whether a student will be on warning, probation, suspension, or dismissal. Students should be familiar with the Student Retention Categories in the Academic Policies  section of the catalog.

Academic Clemency

Students should review the university policies regarding academic clemency under Academic Standing in the Academic Policies  section of the catalog.

In extraordinary cases, students who (a) have been absent from George Mason for a minimum of three consecutive calendar years and (b) are currently in their first semester back at the university may request that their academic dean consider allowing clemency from up to 16 hours of coursework from previous semesters.

To be considered for this clemency, students must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be absent from George Mason for a minimum of three consecutive calendar years
  • Provide a detailed explanation for why they were unsuccessful in those courses and how they have made changes to ensure their academic progress upon their return
  • Submit their request within 12 months of the first day of the re-enrollment term
  • In order to make this request, students should (a) enroll in at least 6 hours during their first 12 months back at George Mason and (b) earn a minimum GPA of 2.50 each semester back prior to making the clemency request, with no grade below 2.00. If these minimum academic requirements are not met during the first semester of return, then clemency will not be allowed under any circumstances.

Appeals Process

Students may appeal departmental decisions concerning academic actions to the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. They may appeal decisions of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs to the Dean’s Council, a committee composed of college deans and faculty members. Students may appeal decisions of the Dean’s Council to the COS Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs. These levels of appeal are subject to the limits below concerning the final level of appeal for each type of academic action. Students who feel that the college appeal process was conducted unfairly may appeal to the Provost’s Office as specified in the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog.

Grade appeals should be made to the department or program, following the process specified in the Academic Policies  chapter of this catalog. If they are resolved within the department or program, that unit is the final level of appeal. The departmental decision may be appealed to the dean only on the basis of procedural irregularity. Such appeals should be made through the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. If the grade appeal is not resolved within the department or program, the chair makes a recommendation to the dean, who makes the final determination. The decision of the dean is not subject to review or further appeal.

Departments set the requirements for the majors and minors that they administer. Substitutions and waivers of requirements require the approval of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. When a department denies a substitution or waiver of a requirement, this decision may be appealed to the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs on the basis of procedural irregularity only, and it is the final level of approval.

The Dean’s Council is the final level of appeal for course overloads, consortium registration, study elsewhere, and withdrawals after the drop deadline within the semester.

The COS Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs is the final level of appeal for COS college level requirements, retroactive adds, withdrawals, graduation, and return from suspension and dismissal.

There is no waiver or appeal of satisfactory performance standards (minimum grades or grade point average, GPA) that have been set by the department or program faculty for the courses in their major or minor.

Students should file all appeals in a timely manner, usually within the semester in which the original decision is rendered, but no later than the final day of classes of the following semester.

Grievances

Grievances should be directed in writing to the Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs. The COS Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office may also provide guidance to students on how to resolve their concerns.

Transfer Students

Admitted and enrolled transfer students who have completed an AA, AS or AA&S degree from the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and have been offered admission to Mason by the Office of Admissions may be eligible for a waiver of all George Mason University’s lower level general education requirements in accordance with the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. Students eligible for this waiver are still required by the university to complete ENGH 302 and a synthesis course. Transfer students who have been offered admission under the terms of the Guaranteed Admission Agreement and are pursuing a degree in the college are considered to have met all college requirements except for proficiency in a foreign language (required of BA students).

Students with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution who are pursuing a BA degree in COS are also considered to have met all college requirements except for proficiency in a foreign language.

Programs

Master's Level Certificate

Joint Degree

■ Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences

Phone: 703-993-6069
Web: aoes.gmu.edu

Faculty

Professors: Diecchio, Dirmeyer, Hazen (Robinson Professor), Kinter, Schneider, Schopf, Shukla, Straus (Chair), Summers*

Associate professors:
Boybeyi, Chiu, DelSole, Houser**, Huang, Klinger, McBride

Assistant professors:
Jin, Lu, Stan, Uhen

Term professors: Krishnamurthy

Term associate professors: Nord, Verardo

Term assistant professors: Kysar-Mattietti

Term research faculty: Doty

* Primary Affiliation in the School of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences
** Primary Affiliation in the Geography and Geoinformation Science Department

Course Work

The department offers all course work designated CLIM and GEOL in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

Honors Program for Earth Science and Geology

Earth science majors who have completed 16 credits of math and science, including GEOL 302, BIOL 308 or CLIM 301 with a GPA of 3.00 or higher are eligible to enter the departmental honors program. Transfer students who have an incoming GPA of 3.10 or higher in math and science and a B or better in GEOL 302 or BIOL 308 are also eligible. To graduate with honors in Earth Science students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in math and science and complete one of the two following sets of courses with an average GPA of 3.50 or better: (1) GEOL 410, 411 and 420 or (2) CLIM 408, 409 and GEOL 420.

Programs

Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate Minor

Doctoral Degree

■ Biology Undergraduate Program

Phone: 703-993-1050
Web: biology.gmu.edu

Faculty

Director: Rockwood

Assistant Director: Otto

Biology Undergraduate Coordinator: Polayes

Medical Technology Coordinator: Peters

Professors: Rockwood

Term associate professors: Kocache, Polayes

Term assistant professors: Castilla, Fondufe, Laemmerzahl, Luther, Madden, Otto, Tondi, Verhoeven

Adjunct faculty: Amer, Einhorn, Jones, McClintock, Verardo, Wood-Salvesen

The Biology Undergraduate Program is a collaboration between the School of Systems Biology and the Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP). In addition, the Program has its own dedicated teaching faculty. The Program is administered by the Biology Program Director and the Assistant Program Director. It is governed by a Biology Program Committee consisting of the Program Director, two Biology Program faculty, two faculty from the School of Systems Biology and two faculty from the ESP Department.

Course Work

The program offers all undergraduate course work designated BIOL and MTCH in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Degree Programs

The bachelor degree programs in biology provide a sound liberal arts education with substantial experience in quantitative and analytical thought, along with preparation for a related profession. In addition to ensuring the strong background necessary for graduate study in the many fields of biological science, the broad range of courses available at Mason allows students to develop careers in many areas, including secondary school teaching, environmental management, microbiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, genetics, and natural history. Alternatively, students may prepare for postgraduate studies in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, wildlife management, fisheries biology, or marine science. The program also offers a BS in medical technology. Additional information can be found at the Biology Program’s web site at biology.gmu.edu or by visiting the Biology Program office in David J. King Hall, Room 3005.

Advising

All biology majors are strongly urged to see an academic advisor regularly to help them plan their schedule, so they can graduate on time. Biology majors should see an advisor for permission to register prior to their first semester and again as they complete 60 credits and 90 credits. Medical technology majors must see the medical technology advisor to obtain permission to register each semester.

Students returning from suspension are required to meet with the Undergraduate Coordinator or designee prior to being allowed to register.

For more information on advising or to set up an appointment, go to http://biology.gmu.edu.

Residence Requirement for Transfer Students

Students majoring in biology are required to complete 16 credits in the major at the 300 and 400 levels at Mason in addition to meeting the university residency requirement of at least 30 credits at Mason.

Policy on Using Biology Program Laboratories

Only authorized experiments and exercises may be carried out in any program research or teaching laboratory and must be done under the supervision of a university faculty or staff member. No unauthorized work is allowed in any laboratory.

Policy on Using Organisms in Classes

Direct observations of actual organisms are considered an essential part of learning biology at all levels. Direct observations of organisms may involve the use of living or preserved specimens, dissections of organisms or parts of organisms, and microscopic examination of organisms or parts of organisms. All use of live animals conforms to National Institutes of Health guidelines for the use and care of laboratory animals. Activities specified above may be a required part of a course and thus serve as a basis for grading in the course. Any questions about the administration of this policy should be directed to the course coordinator or instructor.

Honors Program in Biology

Admission Requirements

Minimum requirements for invitation:

  • GPA in biology courses must be 3.33 or better
  • GPA in supporting requirements (math and other science) must be 3.33 or better
  • Grade of B or better in BIOL 213

Students should apply for admission to the Honors Program during their first or second year at the university.

Retention Requirements

Students in honors biology must maintain a biology GPA of 3.33 or better and a supporting GPA of 3.33 or better from the time they have accumulated 30 hours and thereafter. Students who fall below this standard will be given a one semester probationary period in which to bring their GPA back up to the minimum standard.

Requirements to Graduate with Biology Honors

Students are required to take 6 to 8 credits in honors courses in BIOL including three semesters of BIOL 494 (honors seminar, 1 credit) or two semesters of BIOL 494 and one semester of BIOL 493 (honors research, 1 credit). The GPA requirements are as follows:

  • Minimum 3.33 GPA in honors biology courses
  • Minimum 3.33 GPA in biology requirements
  • Minimum 3.33 GPA in supporting requirements
  • Minimum 3.33 GPA overall

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Mason 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 biology fulfill this requirement by successfully completing BIOL 308. Medical Technology majors fulfill the requirement by completing BIOL 453.

Minor in Biology

Candidates for the minor in biology must complete 19-21 credits in Biology with a minimum GPA of 2.00 including BIOL 213 and BIOL 311, either 308 or 310 and two elective courses in biology. A grade of C or better must be earned in BIOL 213 before a student can advance to Upper Division courses. Note: Eight credits of coursework must be unique to the minor. For policies concerning minors, see the Academic Policies  chapter of this catalog.

Premedical, Predental, Prepharmacy, and Preveterinary Students

Web: prehealth.gmu.edu
Many students planning to enter medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, or other health professional schools choose to pursue a major in biology. These students should consult the health professions advising web site on required course work and overall preparation.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers should pursue either the BA in Biology with a Concentration in Education or the BS in Biology with a Concentration in Education and consult the College of Education and Human Development  chapter of this catalog and attend an information session early in their undergraduate career. For more information, call 703-993-2892, e-mail gseadmit@gmu.edu, or go to gse.gmu.edu.

Biology for Nonmajors

Students who are not majoring in science or mathematics and wish to fulfill their natural science requirement may enroll in BIOL 103 and 104. With permission of the instructor, nonmajors may enroll in BIOL 213 for further study. Chemistry, physics, and mathematics majors should consult their faculty advisor to determine which biology courses to take.

BS in Medical Technology

This program requires the equivalent of three years of full time professional study at the college level preceding a senior year of professional education in an affiliated school of medical technology. All affiliated schools are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

Responsibility for applying to schools of medical technology and gaining admission rests with the student; however, guidance is provided by the medical technology program director. Admission to medical technology schools is selective, so candidates should strive for strong academic standing. Students who fail to gain admission to a NAACLS-approved school are unable to complete the degree program. Such students may transfer to the biology major without loss of credits.

Application to medical technology schools should be initiated about a year before the desired entrance date. This fact, coupled with the large number of required courses in the pre-professional curriculum, makes it imperative that students in the program consult regularly with their faculty advisor. All medical technology majors and prospective majors are urged to enroll in MTCH 200 as early as possible. This course provides information on the profession, as well as the educational demands placed on candidates.

Students should be aware that the senior year spent off campus requires the following special interpretation of university policies. Transfer students must present at least 16 credits of 300-400 level biology or chemistry coursework taken at Mason. Students may present no more than 6 credits of D grades in biology and chemistry courses required in three years of pre-professional study. No unsatisfactory grades may be presented for courses in the senior year of professional study. Transfer students entering with more than 45 transfer credits are often unable to complete the pre-professional phase of their program in the usual three years of full-time study.

Senior students are registered at the university through special procedures. For details, consult the program director.

In addition to satisfying university general education requirements  for the BS degree and completing MTCH 200, candidates must present all courses in their pre-professional programs with a minimum GPA of 2.00. Students must earn a C or better in core BIOL courses and must earn a C or better in BIOL 213 in order to advance in the major. Because of the extensive professional education requirements stipulated by NAACLS, students majoring in medical technology are exempt from the university-wide general education requirement in the fine arts.

Major in Medical Technology as a Second Bachelor’s Degree

While the standard program for medical technologists is three years on campus followed by a fourth year at a clinical affiliate (3 + 1), many students elect to complete a bachelor’s degree before entering the clinical program (4 + 1). Students who have completed a BS in biology or chemistry at Mason and then undertake a fifth year at a clinical affiliate may be eligible for a second bachelor’s degree with a major in medical technology. Students wishing to receive the second degree must apply before entering their fifth year. For further information, contact a medical technology advisor.

Premedical Honor Society

Alpha Epsilon Delta Zeta Premedical Honor Society is a national student support group, providing professional school tours, educational programs, and lectures on health topics and the professional school admissions process to students interested in such health-related fields as medicine, dentistry, optometry, and veterinary medicine. Active membership is awarded to students who have completed at least three semesters with a minimum scholastic GPA of 3.00. Associate membership is also available.

Predental Society

Mason students who are interested in pursuing careers in dentistry are encouraged to participate in the Predental Society. This student organization organizes supplemental programming focused toward dentistry as a career.

Biology, Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degree

Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to an accelerated master’s program and obtain both a BS and an MS within an accelerated time frame. This program is open only to those students who wish to pursue the master’s degree concentrations in microbiology or molecular biology. Students admitted to this program may take graduate courses after completing 90 undergraduate credits, and up to 6 credits of graduate work may be used in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the undergraduate degree. If students earn at least a 3.00 in these classes, they are granted advanced standing in the master’s program and must then complete an additional 24 credits to receive the master’s degree. All other master’s degree requirements must be met, including a minimum of 18 credits taken for the master’s after the bachelor’s degree is complete.

Students with an overall GPA of at least 3.00 may apply for provisional acceptance to the accelerated master’s program after completing BIOL 213, 214, 308, 310 and 311; and CHEM 315 and 318; Three letters of recommendation, including one from a prospective thesis or project advisor, are required.

After completing 120 credits and all requirements for the bachelor’s degree, students are awarded a bachelor’s degree. Accelerated master’s students must then submit scores on the GRE and biology subject exam to have the provisional qualifier removed. Ordinarily, students should receive a minimum combined score of 1,100 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the general test and be in at least the 50th percentile on the subject exam.

Programs

Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate Minor

Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Program

■ Chemistry and Biochemistry

Phone: 703-993-1070
Web: chemistry.gmu.edu

Faculty

Professors: Cozzens, Foster, Hussam, Mose, Mushrush

Associate professors: Bishop, Born, Honeychuck, Schreifels (Chair), Slayden, Weatherspoon (Associate Chair)

Assistant professors: Cooper, Couch

Term associate professor: Hatton

Term assistant professors: Hamblet, Kort, Pant, Pettigrew

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated CHEM in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Mason 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 chemistry fulfill this requirement by successfully completing CHEM 336 or 465.

Honors Program in Chemistry

Chemistry majors who have completed prerequisites for CHEM 455 and 456 Honors Research in Chemistry and have maintained an overall GPA of at least 3.00 in mathematics and science courses are eligible to enter the departmental honors program. To graduate with honors in chemistry, a student is required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in mathematics and science courses and successfully complete the two semesters of CHEM 455 and 456 with a minimum GPA of 3.50.

Premedical, Predental, Prepharmacy, and Preveterinary Students

Web: prehealth.gmu.edu

Many students planning medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, or other health professional careers choose to pursue a major in chemistry. These students should consult the health professions advising web site on required course work and overall preparation.

Prepharmacy Society

Mason students who are interested in pursuing careers in pharmacy are encouraged to participate in the Prepharmacy Society. This student organization organizes supplemental programming focused toward pharmacy as a career.

Chemistry Club

The Chemistry Club provides a social and informational network for students. It serves the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry by sponsoring informational programs and allowing students to work at university events.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers should consult the College of Education and Human Development  chapter and attend an information session early in their undergraduate career. For more information, call 703-993-2892, e-mail gseadmit@gmu.edu, or go to gse.gmu.edu.

Graduate Degree Programs

The department offers an MS in chemistry with a research project (thesis option) or an all-course-work program (nonthesis option). Within the MS, students may pursue a concentration in biochemistry. The PhD in all branches of chemistry is available through the PhD program in Chemistry and Biochemistry. Students may also pursue Chemistry-related PhD research through the Environmental Science and Policy PhD program and the Bioscience PhD program. An area of emphasis in computational chemistry is available through the PhD in computational sciences and informatics  program offered in conjunction with the School of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences.

Chemistry, Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degree

Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to an accelerated master’s program and obtain both a BS and an MS in Chemistry within an accelerated time frame. Students admitted to this program may take graduate courses after completing 90 undergraduate credits, and up to 6 credits of graduate work may be used in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the undergraduate degree. If students earn at least a 3.00 GPA in these classes, they are granted advanced standing in the master’s program and must then complete an additional 24 credits to receive the master’s degree. All other master’s degree requirements must be met, including a minimum of 18 credits taken for the master’s degree after the bachelor’s degree is complete.

Programs

Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate Minor

Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Program

Master's Degree

Doctoral Degree

■ Environmental Science and Policy

Phone: 703-993-1043
Web: esp.gmu.edu

Faculty

Professors: Jones, Lawrey, Lovejoy, Rockwood

Term professor: Talbot

Associate professors: Aguilar, Ahn, Balint, Birchard, Crate, Edwards, Gillevet, Jonas (Chair), Macfarlane, Parsons, Torzilli, Weeks

Assistant professors: Forkner, Kennedy, Manca

Term associate professors: Sklarew

Term assistant professors: de Mutsert, Kim, Largen, Peters

Research associate professor: Litchfield

Emeritus professors: Bradley, Ernst, Kelso, Shaffer, Skog

Other Environmental Program Faculty

Professors: Beach, Black, Chandhoke, Conlan, Diecchio, Foster, Gifford, Haack, Houck, Mose, Mushrush, Nadeau, Regan, Rowan, Sage, Schum, Wan, Willett, Wong

Associate professors: Christensen, Conant, deMonsabert, Fryxell, Guagnano, Honeychuck, Kozlowski, Mahler, McBride, Meyer, Paden, Palkovich, Rodgers, Royt, Seto, Stough, Wood

Assistant professor: Kysar-Mattietti

Term associate professors: Verardo

Term assistant professors:Nord

Affiliate faculty: Bailey, Bartoldus, Baxter, Brown, Buchino, Burgess, Creque, Croisier, Dallmeier, Hamdan, Hourigan, Jordan, Kriechevsky, Lebovitz, Leimgruber, Maldini, Maldonado, Marano-Briggs, Marra, Maurakis, May-Collado, McShea, Megonigal, Millstein, Monfort, Murdy, Nerad, Noe, Oren, Ragen, Reith, Rybicki, Seidensticker, Sillett, Sladen, Smith, Songsasen, Strong, Wang, Wright

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated EVPP and numerous BIOL courses, listed in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

Other Undergraduate Programs

In addition to its own undergraduate programs, the Environmental Science and Policy department also works closely with and provides administrative input to other undergraduate programs.

In concert with the Biology Undergraduate Program, through which the BA and BS degrees in biology are offered, Environmental Science and Policy administers the environmental and conservation biology and the marine and freshwater biology concentrations.

The Concentration in Environmental and Conservation Biology (ESCB) within the BS in Biology is offered to students seeking a biology degree that focuses on ecology and organismal biology and prepares them for graduate work or employment in environmental and conservation fields, such as natural resources management, fisheries, forestry, water quality management, aquatic and wetland ecology, and conservation biology.

The Concentration in Marine and Freshwater Biology within the BS in Biology is offered to students seeking a biology degree that focuses on marine and freshwater biology and prepares them for graduate work or employment in aquatic, marine and fisheries fields.

Refer to the Biology Undergraduate Program  section for more information on Biology, BS  program and these two concentrations.

Environmental Science and Policy and the department of Geography and Geoinformation Sciences cooperatively offer the BS in Global and Environmental Change.  This interdisciplinary undergraduate program, one of the first of its kind in the nation, distinguishes itself from the other degrees in the natural sciences in that it examines from local, regional, and global scales the dynamics of Earth’s systems and their interactions:  the geosphere, the atmosphere, the ecosphere, and the sociosphere.  Refer to the GGS section for more information on the Global and Environmental Change, BS  program.

The Environmental Science and Policy department also offers (jointly with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences) the BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies , which focuses on the theoretical and practical knowledge of three aspects of environmental and sustainability studies: people, prosperity, and planet. In addition to required core courses, students obtain additional in-depth knowledge in their selected concentration area. This degree prepares students for employment and graduate study in fields related to social justice, business and public policy, and environmental protection as they relate to the environment and sustainability. Students should consult the full set of program requirements by viewing the complete description for the BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies . The Environmental Science and Policy department administers the following two concentrations:

Other Graduate Programs

In addition to its own graduate programs, the Environmental Science and Policy department also participates in the MS in Earth Systems Science  administered primarily through the Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science (GGS). Please see the GGS listing for program requirements.

The Environmental Science and Policy department also offers (jointly with the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution) the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Conflict Resolution and Collaboration , which focuses on a systems approach to environmental conflict and how to understand its legal, regulatory, and ecological implications. Coursework addresses the strategic thinking that is required for assessing and designing appropriate environmental conflict resolution processes, as well as understanding the public interest and the intertwined questions of social justice and sustainability that make environmental conflict particularly important and challenging.

Programs

Undergraduate Degree

Bachelor's Level Certificate

Undergraduate Minor

Master's Degree

Master's Level Certificate

Doctoral Degree

■ Forensic Science Program

Phone: 703-993-5071
Web: forensicscience.gmu.edu

Faculty

Director: Whildin

Professors: Foster, Jafri, Mushrush, Willett

Associate professors: Born, Gillevet, Honeychuck, Schreifels, Seto, Whildin

Assistant professors: Carisi, Couch, Forkner, Gill, Prendergast, Rancourt

Adjunct faculty: Christensen, Chittenden, DiZinno, Morrogh, O’Neal, Rickenbach, Spitzer

The Forensic Science Program is an interdisciplinary academic collaboration between the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the School of Systems Biology (SSB). In addition, the Program has its own dedicated teaching faculty. The Program is administered by the Forensic Science Program Director, and governed by an interdepartmental Forensic Science Program Committee.

Course Work

The program offers all course work designated FSRC in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Degree Programs

The Forensic Science Program oversees the BS and the undergraduate minor in Forensic Science.

Graduate Degree Programs

The Forensic Science Program oversees the MS and Graduate Certificate programs in Forensic Science.

Programs

Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate Minor

Master's Degree

Master's Level Certificate

■ Geography and Geoinformation Science

Phone: 703-993-1210 or 703-993-1212
Web: ggs.gmu.edu

Faculty

Professors: Agouris (Chair), Beach, Di, Falconer, Haack, Taylor, Waters, Wong

Associate professors: Curtin, Houser, Qu, Stefanidis, C. Yang, R. Yang

Assistant professors: Cervone, Croitoru, Leslie, Manca, Medina, Rice, Sun

Research or contract professors: Franzese, Resmini

Term instructors: Boudinot, Hallden

Course Work

This department offers all courses designated GGS in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

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 geography fulfill this requirement by successfully completing GGS 415. Students majoring in global and environmental change fulfill this requirement by successfully completing GGS 304.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers should consult the College of Education and Human Development  chapter and attend an information session early in their undergraduate career. For more information, call 703-993-2892, e-mail gseadmit@gmu.edu, or go to gse.gmu.edu.

PhD Studies in Other Programs

The department participates in other programs that provide opportunities for geographical, environmental, and earth science research. A popular example is the Environmental Science and Public Policy PhD  Program where faculty members serve as both dissertation committee members and chairs. Geographic studies fit well with many issues related to public policy, planning, conservation, and sustainable development. Program description and degree regulations are listed under the Department of Environmental Science and Policy.

The department also participates in the Public Policy PhD  Program, along with some of the university’s leading geographers who are members of the School of Public Policy. In addition, geography and geoinformation science faculty members provide joint supervision and serve as committee members to support those pursuing research primarily geographic in nature. Program description and degree regulations can be found under the School of Public Policy listing. Several departments participate in supervisory committees providing a rich opportunity for students to expand their  interdisciplinary interests with these departments.

Programs

Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate Minor

Master's Degree

Master's Level Certificate

Doctoral Degree

■ Mathematical Sciences

Phone: 703-993-1460
Web: math.gmu.edu

Faculty

Professors: Alligood, Anderson, Colonna, Kulesza (undergraduate coordinator), J. Lawrence, Levy, Morris (graduate coordinator), Polyak, Sachs, Saperstone (Acting Chair), Sauer (COS distinguished scholar), Shapiro (Associate Chair), Singman, Soltan, Walnut, Wanner

Associate professors: Agnarsson, Goldin, Griva, Kiley, Lamba, Lim, Lin, Sander, Seshaiyer, Zoltek

Assistant professors: Emelianenko

Admin professional: O’Brien

Term assistant professors: Fall, Fernandez, Matthews, Nelson

Term instructors: Crossin, Granfield, O’Beirne, Sausville

Affiliates: Nash

Emeritus: Cabell

The department offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in mathematics for students with various interests and career goals. Students may pursue the standard program or pursue a program focused on either actuarial mathematics or applied mathematics. Students may complement other interests by taking a double major in mathematics and a related field, such as chemistry, economics, physics, computer science, or engineering.

Graduating seniors are required to have an exit interview.

Course Work

The Mathematical Sciences Department offers all course work designated MATH in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Mason policy 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 mathematics fulfill this requirement by successfully completing MATH 290.

Math Tutoring Center

The department manages the Math Tutoring Center, which offers free tutoring for first- and second-year math courses (math.gmu.edu/tutorcenter.htm). Tutoring is given by advanced mathematics students and available on a drop-in basis with daytime and evening hours throughout the term.

Math Learning Center

The Math Learning Center (math.gmu.edu/mathlearningcenter.htm) for a small fee offers self-paced and classroom noncredit tutorial programs for students who do not place into the math course they need. Special tutors and tutorial software are available to those enrolled in the program. Successful completion of the relevant program enables students to enroll in Math 105, 108, 110, 111, 112, or 125.

Honors Program in Mathematics

Mathematics majors who have maintained a GPA of at least 3.50 in Mathematics courses and a GPA of 3.50 in all courses taken at George Mason University may apply to the departmental honors program upon completion of two MATH courses at the 300+ level (excluding MATH 400), at least one of which has MATH 290 as a prerequisite. Admission to the program will be monitored by the undergraduate committee. To graduate with honors in mathematics, a student is required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.50 in mathematics courses and successfully complete MATH 405 and 406 with an average GPA of at least 3.50 in these two courses.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become high school teachers should consider a concentration in education, available in either the BA or BS degree programs. Students with an interest in education may also consult the College of Education and Human Development  chapter and attend an information session. For more information, call 703-993-2892, e-mail gseadmit@gmu.edu, or go to gse.gmu.edu.

Certificate in College Teaching

A student enrolled in the MS or PhD program in mathematics who is primarily interested in pursuing a career in undergraduate education at the college level is encouraged to consider enrolling in the Higher Education Program’s College Teaching Graduate Certificate , offered through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (LA-CERG-CTCH). Credit can be earned for CTCH 685 (practicum) by working one semester as a graduate teaching assistant in the Mathematics Department.

Mathematics, Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degree

Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to an accelerated master’s program and obtain both a BS and an MS in Mathematics within an accelerated time frame. Students admitted to this program may take graduate courses after completing 90 undergraduate credits, and up to 6 credits of graduate work may be used in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the undergraduate degree. If students earn at least a 3.00 in these classes, they are granted advanced standing in the master’s program and must then complete an additional 24 credits to receive the master’s degree. All other master’s degree requirements must be met, including a minimum of 18 credits taken for the master’s after the bachelor’s degree is complete.

Programs

Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate Minor

Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Program

Dual Degree

Master's Degree

Master's Level Certificate

Doctoral Degree

■ Neuroscience Program

Phone: 703-993-4333
Web: gmu.edu/departments/neuroscience

Faculty

Director: Jafri

Professors: Ascoli, Blackwell, Butler, Jafri, Olds, Smith, McCabe, Parasuraman

Associate professors: Barreto, Cebral, Flinn, Fryxell, Greenwood, Houser, Kalbfleisch, Kello, Klimov, Peterson, Sander, So

Assistant professors: Cox, Dumas, Kabbani, Kozhevnikov, Krueger, Peixoto, Sikdar, Thompson

Neuroscience at George Mason University is an interdisciplinary field, grounded in biology, chemistry, and psychology. Research and education in neuroscience at Mason is conducted under the auspices of the Neuroscience Advisory Council (NAC). The BS degree in neuroscience is administered by the Psychology department in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the PhD program in neuroscience is administered by the College of Science. The neuroscience faculty at Mason comprise a unique blend of traditional, experimental, and theoretical scientists. They include faculty in the Psychology; Molecular Neuroscience; Molecular and Microbiology; Physics and Astronomy; Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and Electrical Engineering departments. Research in neuroscience focuses on the broad areas of behavior, anatomy, physiology, neuropharmacology, computational modeling, and informatics. Some of the key research initiatives currently underway at Mason include studies of:

  • effects of drugs and alcohol on behavioral and neurological development
  • identifying and characterizing protein interactions for the dopamine and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain
  • biochemical dynamics in disorders of the basal ganglia
  • computational methods for simulation of complex biological systems
  • description and generation of neuronal morphology
  • adaptive control for stabilization of epilepsy
  • role of metals in memory and Alzheimer’s disease
  • biochemical/metabolic simulations at the organism level
  • cellular and sub-cellular models of associative learning

Course Work

The program offers all course work designated NEUR in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

Programs

Doctoral Degree

■ School of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences

Phone: 703-993-1280
Web: spacs.gmu.edu

Faculty

Professors: Becker (Associate Director), Blaisten-Barojas, Borne, Carr*, Cebral, Dworzecka, Ehrlich, Ellsworth, Gentle, Lieb, Lohner, Mishin, Papaconstantopoulos, Rubin, Satija, Satyapal, Summers (Director), T. Sauer*, Trefil, Wegman, C. Yang

Associate professors: Barreto, Griva*, Klimov*, Sander*, K. Sauer, So, Weigel, Weingartner, R. Yang*, Zhang, Zoltek

Assistant professors: Camelli, Cressman, Nikolic, Rosenberg, Sheng, Tian, Zhao

Term associate professor: Oerter

Term assistant professors: Geller, Jazaeri, Wyczalkowski

Term instructors: Ericson, Ewell

Emeriti: Ceperley, Evans, Mielczarek

Research faculty: Aubry, Bilitza, Boyer, Dere, Duxbury, Economou, Gliozzi, Hoang, Kim, Meier, Mut, Odstrcil, Poland, Richards, Sforza, Sha, Shabaev, Titarchuk

*Faculty holding primary appointments in other academic units.
 

The School of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students with interests and career goals involving physics, computational sciences, data science, and astronomy. In addition, the School provides traditional and interdisciplinary research opportunities at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and benefits from a very high level of external grant funding. Additional information about current faculty research activities is available on the School’s website, spacs.gmu.edu.

Course Work

The School of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences offers all course work designated ASTR, CDS, CSI, and PHYS in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

The School offers bachelor’s degrees in Physics, in Computational and Data Sciences, and in Astronomy. Minors are available in Astronomy, in Computational and Data Sciences, and in Physics. An interdisciplinary minor is offered in Renewable Energy.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The School offers many opportunities for undergraduate students to get involved with research. Students should consult with faculty working on research topics of interest to them, based on their exploration of the School’s web site.

Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degree

Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to an accelerated master’s program and obtain both a BS and an MS in Physics within an accelerated time frame. Students admitted to this program may take graduate courses after completing 90 undergraduate credits, and up to 6 credits of graduate work may be used in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the undergraduate degree. If students earn at least a 3.00 in these classes, they are granted advanced standing in the master’s program and must then complete an additional 24 credits to receive the master’s degree. All other master’s degree requirements must be met, including a minimum of 18 credits taken for the master’s after the bachelor’s degree is complete.

Honors Programs

Physics majors who have maintained an overall GPA of at least 3.50 in physics courses and a GPA of 3.50 in all courses taken at Mason may apply to the physics honors program when they complete the first semester of their junior year. To graduate with honors in physics, a student is required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in physics courses and successfully complete PHYS 405 and 406 with a GPA of at least 3.50 and a grade of at least A- in PHYS 406.

Astronomy majors who have completed the prerequisites for ASTR 405 Honors Thesis in Astronomy, have a GPA of at least 3.50 in ASTR and PHYS courses taken at GMU, and have a GPA of at least 3.50 in all courses taken at GMU may apply for admission to the astronomy honors program. To graduate with honors in astronomy, a student must maintain a GPA of at least 3.50 in their ASTR/PHYS courses. Students accepted into the honors program must complete ASTR 405 and 406 with a GPA of at least 3.50 and a grade of A- or better in ASTR 406. Students in ASTR 405/406 will complete a research project and write a thesis working under the supervision of a faculty member. At the end of ASTR 406, the student will write a substantial thesis paper and make a presentation of results to their honors committee.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Mason 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 Physics fulfill this requirement by successfully completing PHYS 407. Astronomy majors fulfill the requirement by completing ASTR 402. Computational and Data Sciences majors fulfill this requirement by completing CDS 302 or CDS 411.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers should consult the College of Education and Human Development  chapter and attend an information session early in their undergraduate career. For more information, call 703-993-2078, e-mail gacline2@gmu.edu, or go to gse.gmu.edu.

Physics for Nonmajors

PHYS 243, 244, 245, and 246 are recommended for biology, geology, and premedical students, and mathematics students who seek a BA degree. PHYS 101, 102, 103, and 104 are intended for nonscience majors. PHYS 160, 161, 260, 261 or 265, 262, and 263 constitute a calculus-based sequence in general physics to be taken by physics and engineering majors, and chemistry, computer science, and mathematics students who are pursuing a BS degree. Students may receive credit for only one of the following three sequences: PHYS 243, 244, 245, 246; PHYS 103, 104; or PHYS 160, 161, 260, 261, 262, 263.

Graduate Programs

The School offers master’s degrees in Applied and Engineering Physics, and in Computational Sciences. The School also administers the Energy and Sustainability concentration in the Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS  program. A graduate certificate is available in Computational Techniques and Applications.

The School also offers doctoral degrees in Computational Sciences and Informatics, and in Physics. These graduate programs are strongly supported by the extensive research activities of the School faculty, including many collaborations with scientists and engineers at regional government laboratories.

Programs

Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Minor

Undergraduate Minor

Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Program

Master's Degree

Master's Level Certificate

Doctoral Degree

■ School of Systems Biology

Phone: 703-993-8400
Web: ssb.gmu.edu

Faculty

Professors: Bailey (distinguished), Jafri, Kashanchi, Liotta, Petricoin, Popov, Seto, Soyfer (distinguished university professor), Vaisman (Associate Director), Willett (Acting Director), Wu

Associate professors: Baranova, Christensen, Cox, Fryxell, Grant, Kinser, Klimov

Assistant professors: Hakami, Kehn-Hall, Luchini, van Hoek

Adjunct faculty: Pitt, Solka

Affiliate faculty: Baxevanis, Bokhari, Camphausen, Carr, Cooper, Grefenstette, Ikonomi, Kim, Lipsky, Masso, Marr, Matson, Matthews, Monroe, Reck, Sobie, Van Tassell, Ward, Williams

Emeritus: Isbister, Royt

The School of Systems Biology results from the merger of the Department of Molecular and Microbiology with the Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. The School offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in bioinformatics, and graduate degree programs in biology and bioscience. The School also offers research opportunities at the graduate and undergraduate levels. For additional details about current faculty research activities, please visit the School’s website, ssb.gmu.edu.

Course Work

The School offers all graduate and undergraduate course work designated BINF and BIOS in the Courses  chapter of this catalog, as well as all BIOL graduate courses.

Other Undergraduate Programs

The School of Systems Biology works closely with and provides faculty and administrative support to the Biology Undergraduate Program, through which the BA and BS degrees in Biology are offered. Refer to the Biology Undergraduate Program  section for more information on bachelor’s degrees in Biology.

Policy on Using Laboratories

Only authorized experiments and exercises may be carried out in the School’s research and teaching laboratories and must be done under the supervision of a university faculty or staff member. No unauthorized work is allowed in any laboratory.

Policy on Using Organisms in Classes

Direct observations of actual organisms are considered an essential part of learning biology at all levels. Direct observations of organisms may involve the use of living or preserved specimens, dissections of organisms or parts of organisms, and microscopic examination of organisms or parts of organisms. All use of live animals conforms to National Institutes of Health guidelines for the use and care of laboratory animals. Activities specified above may be a required part of a course and thus serve as a basis for grading in the course. Any questions about the administration of this policy should be directed to the course coordinator or instructor.

Biology, Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degree

Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to an accelerated master’s program and obtain both a BS and an MS within an accelerated time frame. This program is open only to those students who wish to pursue the master’s degree concentrations in microbiology or molecular biology. Students admitted to this program may take graduate courses after completing 90 undergraduate credits, and up to 6 credits of graduate work may be used in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the undergraduate degree. If students earn at least a 3.00 in these classes, they are granted advanced standing in the master’s program and must then complete an additional 24 credits to receive the master’s degree. All other master’s degree requirements must be met, including a minimum of 18 credits taken for the master’s after the bachelor’s degree is completed.

Students with an overall GPA of at least 3.00 may apply for provisional acceptance to the accelerated master’s program after completing BIOL 213, 303, 304, 305/306, 307, and 311; and CHEM 315 and 318; or after completing 75 undergraduate credits including BIOL 494. Three letters of recommendation, including one from a prospective thesis or project advisor, are required.

After completing 120 credits and all requirements for the bachelor’s degree and filing the Graduation Intent Form, students are awarded a bachelor’s degree. Accelerated master’s students must then submit scores on the GRE general exam to have the provisional qualifier removed. Ordinarily, students should receive a minimum combined score of 1,100 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the exam.

Programs

Undergraduate Minor

Master's Degree

Master's Level Certificate

Doctoral Degree