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2016-2017 University Catalog 
  
2016-2017 University Catalog

Computational Sciences and Informatics, PhD


Banner Code:  SC-PHD-CSI

College: College of Science  
Department: Computational and Data Sciences  

Founded in 1992, the Computational Sciences and Informatics, PhD  addresses the role of computation in science, mathematics, and engineering, and is designed around the emphases of Computer Modeling and Simulation and of Data Science. Computational science, focused on modeling and simulation, is defined as the systematic development and application of computing systems and computational solution techniques for modeling and simulation of scientific and engineering phenomena. Informatics, focused on data science, is defined as the systematic development and application of computing systems and computational solution techniques for analyzing data obtained through experiments, modeling, database searches, and instrumentation. The resulting interdisciplinary approach leads to understanding that traditional theory or experimentation alone cannot provide. The close relationship of the Computational Sciences and Informatics, PhD  to the research and development activities in federal laboratories, scientific institutions, and high-technology firms affords students opportunities for continued or new employment. Scheduled courses and sequences accommodate part-time students, with most courses meeting once a week in the late afternoon or early evening. The research and teaching activities associated with the program reflect the recognized role of computation and data analysis as part of a triad with theory and experiment, leading to a better understanding of nature. The program is designed to be completed in four to five years.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Graduate Admission Policies  section of this catalog. Students interested in applying for admission into the Computational Sciences and Informatics, PhD  program should have a bachelor’s degree in any natural science, mathematics, engineering, or computer science with a minimum GPA of 3.00 in their last 60 credits of study. Applicants to the PhD program should have a mathematics background up to and including differential equations. All applicants to the PhD program should also have knowledge of a computer programming language such as C, C++, FORTRAN, etc.

The GRE is required, unless the applicant holds a master’s degree from a regionally accredited school in the United States. A TOEFL score of 570 (paper-based test) or 230 (computer-based test), or 88 points total and a minimum of 20 points in each section (Internet-based test), is required for international students. The ETS code for Mason is 5827.

Students should submit a completed Mason Graduate Application along with three letters of recommendation, an expanded goals statement, and application fee in addition to the items listed above.

Applications should be received by March 1 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester. Applications requesting financial support must be received by February 1 for the fall semester. Applications from local applicants may be accepted after these general deadlines.

For additional information, please contact the CSI graduate coordinator.

Reduction of Credit and Transfer of Credit

Reduction of Credit: For students entering the doctoral program with a master’s degree in a related field from a regionally accredited institution, the required coursework may be reduced up to 24 credits, subject to approval of the graduate coordinator and the college’s associate dean.

Transfer of Credit: Students who have prior graduate coursework that has not been applied to any degree may request to have a maximum of 30 of those graduate credits transferred, with approval of the graduate coordinator, the college’s associate dean, and in accord with university policy. Research-based courses and seminar courses are not eligible for reduction or transfer.

See the Graduate Policies  section of this catalog for more information.

Degree Requirements


Students must satisfy all requirements for doctoral degrees expressed in the Academic Policies  section of this catalog.

Doctoral Coursework (48 credits)


General Core Courses (6 credits)


Select two from the following list of courses:

Areas of Emphasis Courses (18 credits)


From the list below, students are advised to select six courses that correspond to areas of emphasis in:

  • Computer Modeling and Simulation- Including applications to the natural sciences
  • Data Science- Including computational learning, statistics, and data analytics

When choosing courses, avoid courses previously taken to fulfill the ‘General Core Courses’ requirement and only choose one 500-level course:

Colloquium/Seminar (1 credit)


The department offers weekly colloquia and seminar series to ensure that students are exposed to the latest developments at area research institutions. One credit may be chosen from:

Elective Courses (23 credits)


Elective courses should be chosen to bring the total number of credits to 72. Courses must be approved by the student’s advisor and the graduate coordinator. Additionally,

  • A maximum of 2 credits of CSI 898  and/or CSI 991  may be applied as elective courses
  • A maximum of two 500-level courses may be applied between both the ‘Areas of Emphasis Courses’ requirement and the ‘Elective Courses’ requirement
  • CSI 796  and CSI 996  are the only allowable research-based courses that can be used as elective courses
  • The following courses may not be used as elective courses: CSI 798 CSI 799 CSI 998 , and CSI 999  
  • Students may pursue interdisciplinary research that supplements the ‘Areas of Emphasis Courses’ and ‘Elective Courses’ requirements with each other and also with geoinformation sciences, computational chemistry, climate dynamics, bioinformatics, computational social science, and several other autonomous PhD program areas within the College of Science 

Doctoral Research (24 credits)


No more than 24 combined credits from CSI 998  and CSI 999  may be applied toward satisfying doctoral degree requirements, with a minimum of 6 credits of CSI 999 .

Students become eligible to register for CSI 998  upon having an approved dissertation committee. Upon advancement to candidacy, students will be eligible to register for CSI 999 .

Candidacy Examination


The student must successfully complete separate written, computational, and oral candidacy examinations prepared and administered by the dissertation committee.

Dissertation Proposal and Advancement to Candidacy


Students advance to doctoral candidacy by fulfilling the following requirements:

  • The student must successfully complete candidacy examinations as stated above
  • The student prepares a dissertation proposal describing in detail the planned dissertation research. The proposal must be approved by the dissertation committee
  • Following successful completion of the research proposal and candidacy exams, the committee will recommend the student for advancement to doctoral candidacy to the graduate coordinator and the college’s associate dean

Dissertation Research and Defense


After advancing to candidacy, the student will work on a doctoral dissertation while enrolled in CSI 999 . The dissertation is a written piece of original contribution that demonstrates a doctoral candidate’s mastery of the subject matter. A student is expected to produce new and original research worthy of publication in a peer-reviewed journal. After the dissertation is completed, the committee will review the dissertation and examine the student in a public oral dissertation defense.

Degree Total: 72 credits