Category: 2024

Time: 11:00am
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 11/25/2024.

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 [11:02AM]

II. Approval of the November 18, 2024 Meeting Minutes [Approved with one abstention]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• Spring 2025 Meeting Schedule* [Greg and Jennifer will poll committee members to find a time that works for all]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

Modified Courses

• FRSC 401: Crime Scene Investigations [Approved]
• FRSC 405: Independent Research Methods [Approved]
• FRSC 406: Forensic Internship [Approved]
• FRSC 418: Analytical Thinking and Violent Crime Profiling [Approved]
• FRSC 499: Comprehensive Examination [Approved]
• GEOL 312: Invertebrate Paleontology* [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Biology, BA* [Tabled pending cross-departmental discussions between ESP and BIOL.]
• Biology, BS* [Tabled pending cross-departmental discussions between ESP and BIOL.]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• MATH 726: Homological Algebra [Approved, pending updated syllabi over email]
• MATH 734: Commutative Algebra II [Approved, pending updated syllabi over email]
• MATH 735: Computational and Applied Technology and Topology [Approved, pending updated syllabi over email]

Modified Courses

• CSI 678: Time Series Analysis and Forecasting [Approved]
• CSI 772: Data Driven Modeling and Learning [Approved]
• FRSC 560: Advanced Forensic DNA Sciences [Approved]
• FRSC 610: Forensic Research Project [Approved]
• FRSC 790: Internship in Forensic Science [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [12:14PM]

*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.

Time: 11:00am
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 11/4/2024.

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 [11:01 AM]

II. Approval of the October 28, 2024 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• College of Science: Requirements for the BA [Approved]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

Modified Courses

• FRSC 304: Forensic Chemistry [Approved]
• FRSC 305_Forensic Chemistry Lab [Approved]
• FRSC 325: Molecular Biology [Approved]
• FRSC 326: Molecular Biology Lab [Approved]
• FRSC 404: Advanced Instrumentation in Forensic Chemistry [Approved]
• FRSC 460: Forensic DNA  Analysis [Approved]
• FRSC 461: Forensic DNA Analysis Lab [Approved]
• FRSC 470: Forensic Genomics [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Forensic Science, BS [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• BINF 761: AI and Deep Learning in Bioinformatics [Approved, pending the update to a graduate-level repeat status and adding CDS as an impacted department. ]

Modified Programs

• Geology and Earth Sciences, PhD [Approved]

Elisabeth Epstein brought to the committee’s attention a survey request from the Grade Process Task Force- faculty completion before 12/10 is encouraged!

VII. Adjournment [11:30 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.

Time: 11:00am
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 10/14/2024.

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 [11:00AM]

II. Approval of the September 23, 2024 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• COSCC Bylaws Revision FINAL VOTE (Bylaws are in the Teams under “files”). [Approved]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• BIOL 410: Biology and Society  (Approved pending “what” and “why,” and updating the effective term to fall 2024.)

Modified Courses

• BIOL 323: Lab for Developmental Biology* (Approved pending update to fall 2024 effective term.)
• BIOL 429: Biological Foundations of Pharmacology* (Approved allowing for departmental reconsideration to instead  move the pre-reqs to recommended as opposed to required. Also approved pending a fall 2024 effective term.)
• BIOL 495: Directed Studies in Biology (Approved)
• CHEM 321: Quantitative Chemical Analysis (Approved)
• CHEM 322: Quantitative Chemical Analysis Lecture (Approved pending an elaborated course description)

Modified Programs

• Forensic Science, BS (Approved with the addition of “or EVPP 460” where appropriate.)

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• GGS 515: Economic Geography [Approved, pending changes to syllabus to address crosslisting UG and GR courses.]

Modified Courses

• CSI 690: Numerical Methods [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [12:00pm]

*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.

Time: 11:00am
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 9/9/2024.

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 [11:00AM]

II. Approval of the August 26, 2024 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• New COSCC webpage: https://coscc.science.gmu.edu/ [Website was moved to the newer version of WordPress after a security issue was uncovered with the old site.]
• Please note the updated syllabus guidance here. [The Sterns Center has posted new syllabus recommendations.]
• COSCC Bylaws Revision (available in Teams under “Files”) [The bylaws were discussed by the committee and will be voted on next month.]
• A reminder to spread out curricular proposals so the committee won’t have to shoulder overloaded agendas before the catalog deadline [Please work with your departments to bring proposals to the COSCC sooner rather than later. For the best results, program proposals should be to the COSCC by December 2024 and course proposals should be to the COSCC by February 2025.]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Programs

• Clean Energy Studies Minor [Approved. After a post-meeting email communication, EVPP 362 was added to the electives list with COSCC agreement.]

VI. New Business – Graduate

VII. Adjournment [12:14pm]

*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.

Time: 11:00 AM
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 8/12/2024.

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 [11:05 AM]

II. Approval of the April 25, 2024 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• Greta Ann Herin (NEUR) was welcomed as a new member of the committee. The COSCC also welcomed Christine Rosenfeld and Gerald Weatherspoon (Undergraduate and Graduate Council Representatives, respectively) to August’s meeting and to any future COSCC meetings.]
•  COSCC Bylaws Revision [COSCC Members were asked to review the document in Teams and make any suggestions. A vote is expected to take place at the September meeting
• Kimberly Rule was voted in to serve as the COSCC chair for the follow upcoming academic year. 

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

Modified Programs

• Environmental Science, BS [Approved]
• Science and Technology Policy Minor [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

VII. Adjournment [11:39AM]

*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.

Time: 1:00pm
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 3/14/2024.

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 [1:01pm]

II. Approval of the February 29, 2023 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

[The COSCC thanked Wendy Lewis for her valuable contributions to the committee over the years and wished her well in her new position!]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business- College-wide

• Catalog edits to College Policies [Approved]

VI. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• CDS 321: Elements of Natural Language Processing [Approved]

Modified Courses

• GGS 480: GGS Internship [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Atmospheric Sciences, BS [Approved]
• Biology, BA [Approved pending a correction to the “Why” statement.]
• Computational and Data Sciences, BS [Approved]
• Geography, BA [Approved]
• Geography, BS [Approved]
• Geology, BA [Approved]
• Geology, BS [Approved]
• Neuroscience, BS [Approved pending the removal of the second instance of NEUR 328.]
• Neuroscience Minor [Approved]
• STEM: STEM in Society Minor  “Please reach out to Jen ASAP if you’d like a guest invited to present this modification.” [Approved]
• RNRG: Renewable Energy Interdisciplinary Minor [Approved pending removal of EVPP 401 as it has recently been deactivated.]

VII. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• ASTR 794: Astronomy Internship [Approved pending the requirement for an Experiential Learning Agreement.]
• BIOL 586: Medical Biochemistry*[Tabled by SSB.]
• CLIM 636: Atmospheric Aerosols [Approved pending syllabus updates to the grading scale, repeatable status, and details on the expectations for course deliverables.]
• CSI 745: Robust Optimization for Decision Making [Approved]
• EVPP 585: Quantitative Analysis for Environmental Scientists* [Approved]
• GGS 788: Deep Learning for Geoinformation [Approved]
• PHYS 794: Physics Internship [Approved pending the requirement for an Experiential Learning Agreement.]

Modified Courses

• CSS 625: Complexity Theory in the Social Sciences*[Approved]
• CSS 665: Complex Adaptive Systems in Public Policy* [Approved]
• EVPP 894: Supervised Internship* [Approved]
• EVPP 998: Doctoral Dissertation Proposal [Approved pending wording for updating the “Justification” statement.]
• GGS 505: Transportation Geography [Approved]
• GGS 560: Quantitative Methods [Approved]
• GGS 579_Remote Sensing [Approved]
• GGS 655: Geovisualization [Approved]
• GGS 684: Selected Topics in Geospatial Intelligence [Approved]
• GGS 685: Capstone Course in Geoinformatics [Approved]
• GGS 692: Web-Based Geographic Information Systems [Approved]
• GGS 695_ Geography and Geoinformation Science Graduate Internship [Approved]
• GGS 740: Hyperspectral Imaging Systems [Approved]

Deactivated Courses

• BIOL 550_Waterscape Ecology and Management* [Tabled as ESP desires to continue teaching the associated/bundled course EVPP 550.]
• CSI 754: Earth Science Data and Advanced Data Analysis [Approved]

Modified Programs: Substantive Changes

• Applied and Engineering Physics, MS [Approved]
• Biosciences, PhD*[Approved]
• Climate Science, MS [Approved]
• Earth Systems and Geoinformation Sciences, PhD [Approved]
• Environmental Science and Policy, MS [Approved]
• Environmental Science and Public Policy, PhD [Approved pending clarity on the dissertation committee requirements.]
• Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, MS [Approved]
• Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence, MS [Approved]
• Geographic Information Science Graduate Certificate [Approved]
• Geospatial Intelligence Graduate Certificate [Approved]
• Neuroscience, PhD [Approved]
• Physics, PhD [Approved pending clarity on the dissertation committee requirements.]

Modified Programs: Reduction/Transfer of Credit and Admissions & Policy Section Re-organization (non-substantive changes)

• Actuarial Sciences Graduate Certificate [Approved]
• Advanced Biomedical Sciences, GC [Approved]
• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Certificate*[Approved]
• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, MS*[Approved]
• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, PhD*[Approved]
• Bioinformatics Management, MS*[Approved]
• Bioinformatics Management, Professional Science Master’s*[Approved]
• Biology, MS* [Approved]
• Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Certificate* [Approved]
• Chemistry, MS [Approved]
• Chemistry and Biochemistry, PhD [Approved]
• Climate Dynamics, PhD [Approved]
• Computational Science, MS [Approved]
• Computational Sciences and Informatics, PhD [Approved]
• Computational Social Science Graduate Certificate [Approved]
• Computational Social Science, PhD [Approved]
• Data Science Graduate Certificate [Approved]
• Earth Systems Science, MS [Approved]
• Environmental GIS and Biodiversity Conservation Graduate Certificate [Approved]
• Environmental and Sustainability Management Graduate Certificate [Approved]
• Forensics Graduate Certificate [Approved]
• Forensic Science, MS [Approved]
• Mathematics, PhD [Approved]
• Remote Sensing and Image Processing Graduate Certificate [Approved]
• Science Policy Graduate Certificate [Approved]

VIII. Adjournment [3:13pm]

*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.

Time: 1:00pm
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 2/15/2024.

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 [1:11pm]

II. Approval of the January 11, 2024 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion*

1. March’s COSCC agenda is our last chance at course and program proposals for the 2024-2025 catalog.
2. Regarding the upcoming Transfer of Credit/Reduction of Credit graduate policy changes:
   • Programs are welcome to make their requirements more stringent than the university’s policy- if that is desired, please reach out to Jen soon so we can add the requirements to the proposal making its way to the COSCC for March.
   • March’s COSCC agenda will be full of grad program modifications.
   • Jen welcomes your thoughts on updated wording to highlight the ability to transfer in credits (thanks to SSB for the suggestion):
     • Current:

Policies

For policies governing all graduate programs, including the transfer of credit into this program, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

• • • Proposed:

Policies

For policies governing all graduate programs, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Transferring Previous Graduate Credit into this Program

Previously earned and relevant graduate credits may be eligible for transfer into this program; details can be found in the Credit by Exam or Transfer section of this catalog.

If the COSCC agrees that this is a better format, Jen will make program updates before March’s COSCC meeting.

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• CDS 351: Elements of High Performance Computing [Approved]
• COS 302: College of Science Transfer Transition [Approved]
• GGS 346: Geography of Religions and Belief Systems [Approved]
• GGS 432: Spatial Modeling for Public Health [Approved]

Modified Courses

• BIOL 101: Biology Freshman Seminar [Approved]
• BIOL 124: Human Anatomy and Physiology [Approved]
• BIOL 125: Human Anatomy and Physiology [Approved]
• BIOL 213: Cell Structure and Function [Approved]
• BIOL 405: Microbial Genetics [Approved]
• CHEM 460: Chemistry in the Kitchen [Approved]
• COS 401: RS: Discipline Based Education Research [Approved]
• EVPP 494: Internship [Approved]
• MATH 441: Deterministic Operations Research [Approved]
• MATH 442: Operations Research [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Environmental Science, BS  [pending the internship section moving from the core into the concentrations.]
• Environmental and Sustainability Studies, BA (please contact Jen if you’d like a non-COS representative to attend the meeting and present this modification) [Approved]
• STEM in Society Minor (please contact Jen if you’d like a non-COS representative to attend the meeting and present this modification.) [Approved]

Deleted Courses

• EVPP 326: Animal Physiology [Approved]
• EVPP 355: Ecological Engineering and Ecosystem Restoration [Approved]
• EVPP 401: Integrated Environmental Assessment [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• GGS 557: Urban Planning [Approved]
• GGS 632: Spatial Modeling for Public Health [Approved]

Modified Courses

• CSI 772: Data Driven Modeling and Learning [Approved]
• GGS 754: Earth Science Data and Advanced Data Analysis [Approved]

Deleted Courses

• EVPP 525: Economics of Human/Environment Interactions [Approved]
• EVPP 572: Tools and Techniques for International Development [Approved]
• EVPP 645: Freshwater Ecology [Approved]
• EVPP 684: Environmental Conflict Resolution and Collaboration: Leadership Practicum/Capstone [Approved]
• EVPP 792: Seminar in Earth Systems Science [Approved]

Modified Program

• Mathematics, MS  (This includes some of the modifications approved last month… pre-Graduate Council we received some suggestions that have been implemented into this version.) [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [2:48pm]

* Added after the agenda’s 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.

Time: 1:00pm
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 1/18/2024.

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

II. Approval of the January 11, 2024 Meeting Minutes

III. Announcements/Discussion

[Meeting Cancelled because there were no items scheduled for discussion.]

IV. Old Business

New Courses

Modified Courses

V. New Business – Undergraduate

VI. New Business – Graduate

VII. Adjournment

*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.