Category: Academic Year

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 11/30/2020

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 [10:32am. The committee welcomed Dr. Rothman, the committee’s new representative from Computational and Data Sciences.]

II. Approval of the November 23, 2020 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• Modification to the College Requirements for BA Degrees [Approved]
• Spring 2021 Meeting Schedule

IV. Old Business

Modified Programs

• Renewable Energy Interdisciplinary Minor [Approved with the flexibility to change the CHEM courses, though later this was deemed not necessary.]

New Graduate Courses

• GEOL 694: Supervised Internship [Approved pending a change to the syllabus file name to correct the course number.]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• COS 301: Great Ideas in Science [Approved]
• COS 310: Introduction to Science Policy [Approved. The committee encouraged seeking Mason Core designation for this course.]
• FRSC 325: Molecular Biology [Approved]
• FRSC 326: Molecular Biology Laboratory [Approved pending the addition of protein techniques and rewording “more advanced work”.]
• FRSC 404: Advanced Instrumentation in Forensic Chemistry [Approved]
• FRSC 470: Forensic Genomics [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Forensic Science, BS [Approved]
• Physics, BS [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• COS 510: Introduction to Science Policy [Approved]
• FRSC 525: Molecular Biology [Approved]
• FRSC 526: Molecular Biology Laboratory [Approved pending the addition of protein techniques and rewording “more advanced work”.]
• FRSC 670: Forensic Genomics [Approved]

Modified Courses

• GGS 798: Research Project in Earth Systems Science [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Applied and Engineering Physics, MS [Approved pending the removal of 798 in the footnote. The department is asked to revisit this program in one year to consider making the core courses more defined and to outline the students’ research experience.]
• Biology, MS [Approved]
• Computational Sciences and Informatics, PhD [Approved]
• Environmental Science and Policy, MS [Approved]
• Environmental Science and Public Policy, PhD [Approved]
• Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence, MS [Approved]

Modified Programs- Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s 

• Biology, BS/Biology, Accelerated, MS [Approved pending any additional changes to the new BAM policy at the Graduate Council.]
• Chemistry, BS/ Chemistry, Accelerated MS [Approved pending any additional changes to the new BAM policy at the Graduate Council.]
• Computational and Data Sciences BS,/Computational Science, Accelerated MS [Approved pending any additional changes to the new BAM policy at the Graduate Council.]
• Forensic Science, BS/Forensic Science, Accelerated MS [Approved pending any additional changes to the new BAM policy at the Graduate Council.]
• Mathematics BA and BS/Mathematics, Accelerated MS [Approved pending any additional changes to the new BAM policy at the Graduate Council.]
• Mechanical Engineering, BS/Computational Science, Accelerated MS [Approved pending any additional changes to the new BAM policy at the Graduate Council.]
• Neuroscience, BS/Biology Accelerated, MS [Approved pending any additional changes to the new BAM policy at the Graduate Council.]
• Physics, BS/Applied and Engineering, Accelerated MS [Approved pending any additional changes to the new BAM policy at the Graduate Council.]
• Selected Bachelor’s Degree/ Bioinformatics Management, PSM, Accelerated MS [Approved pending any additional changes to the new BAM policy at the Graduate Council.]
• Selected Bachelor’s Degree/Environmental Science and Policy, Accelerated MS [Approved pending any additional changes to the new BAM policy at the Graduate Council.]

VII. Adjournment [1:01pm]

• *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:  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 11/9/2020

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 [10:33 AM] The committee welcomed Dr. Rautenberg, our new Mathematical Sciences representative.

II. Approval of the October 26, 2020 Meeting Minutes [Approved with the addition of clarity that CHEM 471 was approved via email.]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Update* [The update has not yet received a final vote from the Graduate Council. Jennifer will be putting edits through the CIM approval chain as we do not have any time to spare in order to meet catalog deadlines.]
• Courses Last Taught Over Three Years Ago  [If you think any of these courses need to be deleted, please delete them in the CIM system.]
• Low Enrolled Certificates* [Let Jennifer know if you want to delete these.]
• Low Enrolled Minors* [Let Jennifer know if you want to delete these.]
• Spring 2021 Meeting Schedule [Mondays at 10:30 AM works for the committee.]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• BIOL 102: Introductory Biology I-Survey of Biodiversity and Ecology*[Approved]
• BIOL 103: Introductory Biology I* [Approved]
• BIOL 105: Introductory Biology I Laboratory* [To be brought for an email vote once the prerequisites are clarified.]
• EVPP 381: Nature and Culture in Global Wetlands [Approved once standard syllabus language is inserted.]

Modified Courses

• BIOL 308: Foundations of Ecology and Evolution [Approved]
• FRSC 304: Forensic Chemistry [Approved]
• FRSC 305: Forensic Chemistry Lab[Approved]
• FRSC 418: Analytical Thinking and Violent Crime Profiling [Approved]
• GGS 310: Introduction to Digital Cartography* [Approved]
• GGS 311: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems* [Approved]
• GGS 325: Geography of North Africa and the Middle East* [Approved]
• GGS 411: Advanced Digital Cartography* [Approved]
• GGS 415: Seminar in Geography* [Approved]
• GGS 462: Web Mapping* [Approved]
• GGS 463:RS: Applied Geographic Information Systems* [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Environmental and Sustainability Studies, BA [Approved]
• Environmental Science, BS [Approved]
• Geography, BA/Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, Accelerated MS* [Approved]
• Geography, BA/Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence, Accelerated MS* [Approved]
• Geography, BS/Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, Accelerated MS* [Approved]
• Geography, BS/Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence, Accelerated MS*[Approved]
• Paleontology Minor [Approved]
• Renewable Energy Interdisciplinary Minor [Tabled as department representative is unavailable.]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• GEOL 694: Supervised Internship Tabled by the department.]
• GEOL 894: Supervised Internship Tabled by the department.]

Modified Courses

• GEOL 541: Great Events in Earth History [Approved]
• GGS 518: Geography of North Africa and the Middle East* [Approved. Equivalent course later removed as we were advised by the Registrar’s Office that UG and GR equivalencies can’t be applied in any manner.]
• GGS 551: Thematic Cartography* [Approved. Equivalent course later removed per the reasoning listed on GGS 518.]
• GGS 553: Geographic Information Systems* [Approved with one abstention.]
• GGS 653: Geographic Information Analysis* [Approved. Equivalent course later removed per the reasoning listed on GGS 518.]
• GGS 655: Map Design* [Approved. Equivalent course later removed per the reasoning listed on GGS 518.]
• GGS 689: Seminar in Geographic Thought and Methodology* [Approved]
• GGS 692: Web-based Geographic Information Systems* [Approved. Equivalent course later removed per the reasoning listed on GGS 518.]

Modified Programs

• Bachelor’s degree (any)/Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, Accelerated MS* [Approved]
• Bachelor’s degree (any)/Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence, Accelerated MS* [Approved]
• Geographic Information Science Graduate Certificate* [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [12:35 pm]

* agenda item 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.

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 10/12/2020

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 [10:35AM]

II. Approval of the September 28, 2020 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

IV. Old Business

• College Requirements for the BA Degree Update [The Registrar’s Office has stated that DegreeWorks can handle 7 or 8 credits for the Natural Science requirement in the College Requirements for the BA Degree section. Please notify Jen if you would like to add a footnote for your program in order to reduce the natural science credit requirement to 7 credits.]
• BAM Policy Update [Jen notified the committee that the maximum of 90 credits for admission into the BAM has been lifted, changes to tuition charging has not been made, and while a specific statement about programs being able to have more stringent requirements will be added, as long as the BAM catalog entry states the requirements, the program’s requirements are valid.]
• Grading Update [As a follow up to last month’s discussion, departments are allowed to not award students with certain grades (i.e. BIOL does not award C- grades and this is permissible).]
• Curriculum Submissions Update
  • Course descriptions in syllabi [Each syllabus needs to have a course description.]
  • Robust justifications and syllabi attachments (including the “what” and the “why”), and syllabi attachments when helpful for supporting modifications (although always needed for new courses).
• Crosslisting Culture [Where possible, let’s work on making crosslisting courses between departments few and far between. Instead, offer one course and direct students and program catalog entries to that one course. This does not apply to within-department undergrad and grad crosslists (i.e. CHEM 400 crosslisted with CHEM 600) Contact Jen if you’d like to discuss further.]
• Program Outcomes* [New for the 2021-2022 catalog, we are encouraged to add program outcomes, which can now be placed in CIM. This will feed into the Digital diplomas that will be part of the catalog in 2022. Digital Diplomas are diplomas that employers can quickly access and see program outcomes.]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• CHEM 471: Solid State Chemistry [Email vote pending update to syllabus.]
• FRSC 450: Practical Forensic Skeletal Biology [Approved with the addition of a stronger justification.]

Modified Courses

• BIOL 103: Introductory Biology I [Tabled by department.]
• BIOL 106: Introductory Biology II Laboratory [Tabled by department.]
• BIOL 107: Intro Biology II Lecture [Tabled by department.]
• GGS 309: Introduction to Meteorology and Climate [Approved with the addition of the word “geography” in the course description.]
• GGS 354: Data Analysis and Global Change Detection Techniques [Approved with clarification about exactly what action is taking place re: IT 104.]

Modified Programs

• Chemistry, BS [Approved]
• Geology, BS [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

Modified Courses

• ASTR 798: Research Project 
• [Approved, will need to add more to the justification.]
• GGS 507: Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development [Approved]
• GGS 516: Geography of Latin America [Approved]
• GGS 517: Geography of China [Approved]
• GGS 526: Geography of Eastern Europe and Russia [Approved]
• GGS 540: Health Geography [Approved]
• GGS 544: Military Geography [Approved]
• GGS 615 Economic Geography [Approved]
• PHYS 510: Computational Physics I [Approved]
• PHYS 513: Applied Electromagnetic Theory [Approved]
• PHYS 613: Computational Physics II [Approved]
• PHYS 620: Continuum Mechanics [Approved]
• PHYS 694: Applied Mechanics of Solids [Approved]
• PHYS 798: Research Project [Approved, will need to add more to the justification.]

Modified Programs

• Climate Dynamics, PhD [Approved]
• Geology, BS/Earth Systems Science, Accelerated MS* [Approved pending clarification to “e.g 12 credits…” sentence. The update has been completed.]
• Mechanical Engineering, BS/Applied and Engineering Physics, Accelerated MS* [Approved pending addition of course suggestions sections.]

Adjournment [1:01pm]

*= item was 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:  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 9/14/2020

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 [10:33 AM]

II. Approval of the August 24, 2020 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

General Discussion on the College Requirements for the BA Degree*

• Committee thoughts on if the Natural Science requirement (currently 8 credits) should be reduced to match the Mason Core requirement of 7 credits? Or should programs be able to choose 7 or 8 credits of natural science? [How do we feel about changing the natural science requirement to 7 credits or should we say 7 to 8 credits?  We are exploring the 7 to 8 credit option for the natural science requirement for the BA degrees. The committee weighed the options and asked for further information, i.e.: Is it possible to have varying requirements by BA degree?]
• This college-wide policy is in effect for the following programs: the Biology, BA, the Chemistry, BA, the Geography, BA, the Geology, BA, and the Mathematics, BA.

Updates to the new BAM policy (still under construction)* [The committee raised concerns about the cap of 90 credits as some transfer students arrive with 90 credits. They also requested clarification on the statement regarding undergraduate versus graduate tuition charging. The addition of wording making it clear that programs may have more stringent requirements was, again, requested. Jen will bring these concerns to Dr. Donna Fox, one of the college’s Graduate Council representatives.]

IV. Old Business

• PHYS 411: Renewable Energy Internship* [Approved pending the addition of a course description to the syllabus.]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• BIOL 429: Biological Foundations of Pharmacology [Approved]
• CHEM 472: Modern Polymer Chemistry [Approved pending an updated syllabus to indicate that the calendar isn’t “tentative,” but rather that it is an example.]
• GGS 426: Physical Fundamentals of Remote Sensing [Approved]
• GGS 429: Remote Sensing of the Environment and Earth System  [Approved, update required pre-req to GGS 379 or 416.]

Modified Courses

• FRSC 499: Comprehensive Examination [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Geology, BS [Tabled until departmental representation is available.]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• GGS 626: Physical Fundamentals of Remote Sensing [Approved update recommended pre-requisite to GGS 579. GGS 700 to be inactivated at a later meeting.]
• GGS 629: Remote Sensing of the Environment and Earth System [ Approved update recommended pre-requisite to GGS 579.]

Modified Program

• Environmental Science and Policy, MS [Approved]
• Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, MS [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [12:04]

*= item 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.

Time: 10:00 am (please note time change)
Location: WebEx
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 4/20/2020

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 [10:01am]

II. Approval of the April 20, 2020 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• Potential COS 402/602 Special Topics in Science course for summer 2020* [Jen voiced a goal of the college to have a COVID19 course for the summer 2020. The course would address how the virus mutated, would model its spread, and would bring experts from other colleges in as guest speakers. Details will be unfolding over the next few months.]

IV. Old Business

Modified Programs

• Biology, MS  [Approved]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• ASTR 303: Black Holes [Tabled. There was a concern over the level of the course and if the intention is to make it a Mason Core offering.]
• CHEM 323: Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory [Approved]

New Programs

• Astrophysics Minor [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Astronomy Minor [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [10:53am]

* Item added post-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.

Time: 10:30 am
Location: Webex
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 4/6/2020

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 [10:32am]

II. Approval of the March 30, 2020 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

[The COSCC voted to require program modification proposals to include a description of the actual changes. The agreed upon wording was “For complicated revisions, program proposals should include, in the justification, an overview description of the changes”.]

IV. Old Business

New Courses:

• CHEM 322: Quantitative Chemical Analysis Lecture [Approved via email vote on 4/16/2020.]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• GEOL 104: Historical Geology Laboratory* [Approved with the addition of “(concurrent enrollment permitted)”.]

Modified Courses

• FRSC 401: Crime Scene Investigations [Approved]
• GEOL 102: Introductory Geology II* [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• BIOL 689: Interdisciplinary Tools in Biosciences [Approved with the addition of “the” in the title: Interdisciplinary Tools in the Biosciences.]

Modified Courses

• GEOL 536: Paleontology Seminar* [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Biology, MS [Tabled to allow for further discussions with NEUR regarding the Neuroscience concentration.]
• Environmental Science and Public Policy, MS [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [11:37 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.

Time: 10:30 am
Location: Via WebEx. COSCC members have the password in their email and online calendars, but email Jen if needed.

Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 3/16/2020

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 [10:35 AM]

II. Approval of the February 24, 2020 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• “Earth Science, BS” to revert to “Geology, BS” title.* [This title change will go into effect next year.]
• An all campus draft catalog review is underway until April 1, 2020. Alert Jen to any issues that may need to be resolved.*

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• CHEM 480: Fundamentals of Nanoscience and Nanomaterials
• CLIM 401: Midlatitdue Synoptic Meteorology* [Approved, will need to be updatedto 3 contact hours, change the repeat code to N3, and 9 repeatable credits.]

Modified Courses

• EVPP 427: Disease Ecology and Conservation [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• BIOL 502: Adaptation in Biosystems [Approved]
• BIOL 667: Signal Transduction in Cancer [Approved]
• CHEM 680: Fundamentals of Nanoscience and Nanomaterial [Approved]
• CLIM 601: Midlatitude Synoptic Meteorology* [Approved, will need to be updated to 3 contact hours, and change the repeat code to NR.]

Modified Courses

• BIOL 508:  Selected Topics in Animal Biology [Approved]
• BIOL 669: Pathogenic Microbiology [Approved]
• EVPP 527: Disease Ecology and Conservation [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [11:16 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.