January 23, 2026 Agenda & Minutes

Time: 9:30am
Location: Microsoft Teams. If anyone in addition to the COSCC would like to attend, please email Jen for details.

Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 1/9/2026.

When available, the meeting minutes will be indicated within bold brackets [ ] and are in draft form until they are approved by the committee.

I. Call to Order [9:31 AM]

II. Approval of the December 8, 2025 Meeting Minutes [Approved with two abstentions.]

III. Announcements/Discussion

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• BIOL 215: Cell Structure and Function Laboratory [Approved]
• CHEM 479: Special Topics in Chemistry [Approved]
• NEUR 432: Neural Systems Design [pending common policy link, repeat credit hours, equivalence to BENG course.]

Modified Courses

• BIOL 213: Cell Structure and Function [Approved]
• BIOL 308: Foundations of Ecology and Evolution [Approved]
• BIOL 311: General Genetics [Approved]
• BIOL 313: Human Genetics for the Social Sciences [Approved pending addition of the required prereq.]
• BIOL 338: Lab for Fundamentals of Ecology and Evolution [Approved]
• BIOL 379: RS: Ecological Sustainability [Approved]
• MATH 464: Linear Algebra with Data Applications [Approved]
• MATH 465: Mathematics of Data Sciences [Approved]

Course Deactivations

• NEUR 410: Current Topics in Neuroscience [Approved]

New Programs

• Computational Neuroscience Minor [Approved pending addition of “or” NEUR 350 and 15 (not 20) credits for GPA requirement.]

Modified Programs

• Biology, BA [Approved]
• Biology, BS [Approved pending change to biology courses and labs.]
• Mathematics, BS [Approved pending change to biology courses and labs.]
• Neuroscience, BS [Approved pending addition of NEUR 432/BENG 350 to electives.]
• Bachelor’s Degree (selected), COS/Quantum Science and Engineering, Accelerated MS [Tabled]

VI. New Business – Graduate

Modified Courses

• MATH 665: Mathematics of Data Science [Approved pending update to NR grading.]

Course Deactivations

• NEUR 600: Chemistry and the Brain [Approved]
• NEUR 611: Philosophical Foundation of Neuroscience [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [10:55 AM]

*Item added after the agenda was announced

• *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.