Category: 2020-2021

August 27, 2021- Agenda & Minutes

Time: 10:00am
Location: Zoom invite sent to committee members. If anyone else would like to attend, please email Jen for details.
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 8/13/2021

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

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

I. Call to Order [10:03 AM]

II. Approval of the April 19, 2021 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

[New members Geof Gilleaudeau (AOES), Elisabeth Epstein (BIOL), and Fernando Camelli (PHYS) were introduced to the committee.]
[Dr. Hakami was voted to continue serving as the committee chair for the 2021 -2022 AY.]

III. Announcements/Discussion

COSCC Chair for the 2021-2022 Academic Year
General catalog reminders In order to meet catalog deadlines, please have any program modifications or deletions to the COSCC by its December 2021 meeting, and please have any course changes to the COSCC by its January 2022 meeting. Any new programs should be brought to Jen as soon as possible.]
CORRECTED LIST 8/27/2021 at 1:45pm- Zombie Courses 2021 [Please review the list of courses with your departments and make changes to the courses in CIM as necessary.]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

COS 315: Science Policy Internship Preparation [Approved pending clarification on grading percentages.]
EVPP 428: Planetary Health [Approved]

Modified Programs

Biology, BA[Approved]
Biology, BS [Approved]
IN-BA-P002,IN-BPRE-P002,IN-BS-P002 : INTO-Mason: Science[Approved]
Pre-Medical Undergraduate Certificate[Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

COS 515: Science Policy Internship Preparation [Approved pending clarification on grading percentages.]
EVPP 528: Planetary Health [Approved pending learning outcome adjustments.]

Modified Programs

Computational Social Science, PhD [Approved]
Environmental Science, MS [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [10:56 AM]

*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.

April 19, 2021- Agenda & Minutes

Time: 10:30am
Location: Zoom invite sent to committee members. If anyone else would like to attend, please email Jen for details.
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 4/5/2021

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

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

I. Call to Order [10:30AM]

II. Approval of the March 29, 2021 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

University Policies 3002 and 3011: #3002 discusses cross-level listings as we’ve discussed in previous meetings. #3011 clarifies the expectations for credit hours. [Graduate courses should have more advanced work and pre-eqs should be reasonable. Only upper level undergrad courses (300/400) and lower level graduate (500/600) and 700, 800, 900 are not allowed unless special topics. Course title should be related. If they are not approved to be cross listed, they should not be in the same room. Faculty teaching cross listed courses needs to meet the requirements for graduate courses.]
The Micro-Credentialing page has been added to the COSCC website, and a temporary form has been created for processing these new offerings. A more permanent form will be created in time.
Fall 2021 Meeting Schedule [Will continue to hold meetings online for Fall 2021. Will have a poll to determine everyone’s availability for next semester.]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

COS 100: Introduction to Science as a Profession* [Approved]
MATH 462: Mathematics of Machine Learning and Industrial Applications I* [Approved via email vote on 5/4/2021]
MATH 463: Mathematics of Machine Learning and Industrial Applications II* [Approved via email vote on 5/4/2021]
MATH 464: Linear Algebra with Data Applications* [Approved via email vote on 5/4/2021]
MATH 465: Mathematics of Data Science* [Approved via email vote on 5/4/2021]

Modified Courses

PHYS 306:Wave Motion and Electromagnetic Radiation [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

FRSC 601: Quantitative Methods for Forensic Scientists [Approved]
MATH 662: Mathematics of Machine Learning and Industrial Applications I* [Approved via email vote on 5/4/2021]
MATH 663: Mathematics of Machine Learning and Industrial Applications II* [Approved via email vote on 5/4/2021]
MATH 664: Linear Algebra with Data Applications* [Approved via email vote on 5/4/2021]
MATH 665: Mathematics of Data Science* [Approved via email vote on 5/4/2021]

VII. Adjournment [11:19 am]

*= this item was added after the announcement

*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.

March 29, 2021- Agenda & Minutes

Time: 10:30am
Location: Zoom invite sent to committee members. If anyone else would like to attend, please email Jen for details.
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 3/15/2021

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

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

I. Call to Order [This meeting was conducted over email vote.]

II. Approval of the March 15, 2021 Meeting Minutes

III. New Business – Undergraduate

Modified Programs

IN-BA-P002,IN-BPRE-P002,IN-BS-P002 : INTO-Mason: Science [Approved]

IV. Adjournment

*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.

March 15, 2021- Agenda & Minutes

Time: 10:30am
Location: Zoom invite sent to committee members. If anyone else would like to attend, please email Jen for details.
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 2/22/2021

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

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

I. Call to Order [10:32 AM]

II. Approval of the February 15, 2021 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

Notification of the offering of COS 402/602 Special Topics in Science. Course title: Social Impacts of Technology Convergence: AI and Quantum Computing. Instructor: Dr. Greg Vigganio. COS 402 Class Syllabus/COS 602 Class Syllabus [Please let Jennifer know if your department sees any problem with the courses being offered under the COS prefix.]

IV. Old Business

EVPP 566: Coral Reef Ecology, Health, and Conservation [Approved]
EVPP 567: Coral Reef Ecology, Health, and Conservation Lab/Field Experience [Approved pending course number correction on syllabus.]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

GEOL 340: Modern Methods in Geology [Approved]

Modified Courses

BIOL/EVPP/GEOL 309: Introduction to Oceanography [Approved]
- Previously approved, included for reference: GEOL 109 (lec) and GEOL 110 (lab): Introduction to Oceanography
BIOL 334: Vertebrate Paleontology [Approved]
BIOL 336: Invertebrate Paleontology [Approved]
CLIM 301: Weather Analysis and Prediction [Approved]
GEOL 308: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology [Approved]
GEOL 312: Invertebrate Paleontology [Approved]
GEOL 334: Vertebrate Paleontology [Approved]
GEOL 401: Structural Geology [Approved]

Modified Programs

Atmospheric Sciences, BS [Approved pending the addition of a more robust “why” explanation.]
Environmental Science Minor [Approved]
Geology, BS [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

GEOL 510: Advanced Structural Geology [Approved pending the addition of a more robust “why” explanation. Also, a grading scale update.]

VII. Adjournment [11:20am]

*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.

February 15, 2021- Agenda & Minutes

Time: 10:30am
Location: Zoom invite sent to committee members. If anyone else would like to attend, please email Jen for details.
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 2/1/2021

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

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

I. Call to Order [10:31 am]

II. Approval of the January 25, 2021 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

Moving March’s COSCC meeting from March 8 to March 15. [No objections were raised from the committee, the meeting will be held March 15 at 10:30am.]
E-mail approvals collected post-January meeting for: Biology BA; Biology BS; Chemistry and Biochemistry PhD; Mechanical Engineering BS to Computational Science Accelerated MS; Neuroscience PhD.

IV. Old Business

New Courses- Undergraduate

GEOL 109: Introduction to Oceanography [Approved pending revision to the learning outcomes, their addition to the syllabus and the addition of a grading scale to the syllabus.]
GEOL 110: Introduction to Oceanography Lab [Approved pending revision to the learning outcomes, their addition to the syllabus and the addition of a grading scale to the syllabus.]

New Courses- Graduate

GEOL 512: Invertebrate Paleontology [Approved pending the addition of the learning outcomes and a grading scale to the syllabus.]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

GGS 366: Spatial Computing [Approved.]

Modified Courses

BIOL 309/EVPP 309/ GEOL 309: Introduction to Oceanography [Tabled to further clarify the relationship between these courses and the new 100-level GEOL courses.
BIOL 326: Animal Physiology [Tabled for further work with Jen in order to meet Undergraduate Council expectations.]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

EVPP 566: Coral Reef Ecology, Health, and Conservation [Tabled to provide time to separate UG and GR syllabi.]
EVPP 567: Coral Reef Ecology, Health, and Conservation Lab/Field Experience [Tabled to provide time to separate UG and GR syllabi.]

Modified Programs

Biology, BA or BS/Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated* MEd (Secondary Education Biology Concentration)* [Tabled to email vote for further clarification on UG course expectations.]
Chemistry, BA or BS/Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education Chemistry Concentration)* [Tabled to email vote for further clarification on UG course expectations.]
Earth Science, BS/Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education Earth Science Concentration)* [Tabled to email vote for further clarification on UG course expectations.]
Geology, BS/Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education Earth Science Concentration)* [Tabled to email vote for further clarification on UG course expectations.]
Mathematics, BA or BS/Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated MEd, (Secondary Education Mathematics Concentration)* [Tabled to email vote for further clarification on UG course expectations.]
Physics, BS/Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education Physics Concentration)* [Tabled to email vote for further clarification on UG course expectations.]

*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.

January 25, 2021- Agenda & Minutes

Time: 10:30am
Location: Zoom invite sent to committee members. If anyone else would like to attend, please email Jen for details.
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 1/11/2021

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

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

I. Call to Order [10:36 am]

II. Approval of the December 14, 2020 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

Soon to be required: Separate syllabi for undergraduate and graduate courses that are crosslisted.
- There must also be a difference in learning outcomes- not content wise, but the level of expectation for what the different levels can do, i.e. undergrads can describe differences; graduate can analyze those differences.
COS’s Micro-Credential Policy and Processes
- Provost’s Micro-Credential website
- Micro credential- a digital badge that goes on a resume or LinkedIn account and shows that they have studied something very specific (i.e. cloud computing, political pedagogy).
- These are not SCHEV-approved but there needs to be some oversight in the COS and we are asking the COSCC to be a part of the review process..

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

GEOL 109: Introduction to Oceanography [Tabled to an email vote. The committee discussed the grading scale and the similar content between the lecture and lab course.]
GEOL 110: Introduction to Oceanography Lab [Tabled to an email vote. over the committee discussed the grading scale and the similar content between the lecture and lab course.]

Modified Courses

MATH 315: Advanced Calculus I [Approved]
MATH 321: Abstract Algebra [Approved]
MATH 322: Advanced Linear Algebra [Approved]
MATH 400: History of Math [Approved]
MATH 401: Mathematics through 3D Printing [Approved]
NEUR 411: Seminar in Neuroscience [Approved]

Course Deletions

MATH 290: Introduction to Advanced Mathematics [Approved]

New Programs

STEM in Society Minor [Approved with the addition of COSCC justification narrative.]

Modified Programs

Mathematics Minor [Approved]
Neuroscience, BS [Approved]
Neuroscience Minor [Approved]
Paleontology Minor [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

CHEM 560: Environmental Biotechnology [Approved]
GEOL 512: Invertebrate Paleontology [Tabled to an email vote with updated syllabus.]

Modified Programs

Chemistry, MS* [Approved]
Chemistry and Biochemistry, PhD* [Tabled to an email vote for better explanation in the program description.]

VII. Adjournment [11:57am]

*= added after the agenda announcement

*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.