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 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 section 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 Academic Policies . 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 Academic Policies . 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 five bachelor of arts degrees and 11 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 section 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), except for PHIL 323, 324, 427, 428.
- 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 .
- Natural science: 1 credit in addition to the university-wide requirement for a total of 8 credits. This requirement must 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.
- 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 higher level courses taught in the language) or achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test. Students who are already proficient in a second language may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement. Additional information on waivers can be found at the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office.
- : 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). 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.
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 section 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 section 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 402 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
Once enrolled in degree status at George Mason University, students with less than 60 hours of earned transfer credits (excluding any credits earned through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area or through the Center for Global Education) may take no more than 9 credits of coursework in COS disciplines at another institution. Students with 60 or more hours of transfer credits are prohibited from taking additional coursework in COS disciplines at another institution. Students may request special permission for additional credits beyond these listed limits for summer registration if their permanent residence is more than 50 miles from George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. Decisions will be made by the dean after individual consideration of each request. See the university’s Permissions to Study Elsewhere policy for additional information.
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 section of this catalog.
Grade appeals should be made to the department or program, following the process specified in the Academic Policies section 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.
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