Category: Calendar Year

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.

Time: 10:30 am
Location: Exploratory Hall, Room 3301
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 2/10/2020

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 [10:39 AM]

II. Approval of the January 27, 2020 Meeting Minutes 

III. Announcements/Discussion

• Retroactive Catalog Requirement [We now have the option of making program requirements retroactive to previous catalog terms. Members asked: “Can we apply this to previous catalog changes?” and “Can students apply the old or the new changes to their program?” The answer to both of these questions is “yes,” please contact Jennifer to employ this feature.]
• Dr. van der Ham updated the committee that he attended February’s COS Faculty Committee and provided them with the COSCC’s progress since last year.

IV. Old Business

Undergraduate

Modified Courses

• MATH 315: Advanced Calculus I [Approved]
• MATH 321: Abstract Algebra [Approved]
• MATH 322: Advanced Linear Algebra [Approved]
• MATH 400: History of Math (Topic Varies) [Approved]
• MATH 401: Mathematics through 3D Printing [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Mathematics, BA* [Approved via email vote on 2/27]
• Mathematics, BS* [Approved via email vote on 2/27]
• Mathematics Minor* [Approved via email vote on 3/2]

Graduate

New Courses

• EVPP 544: Urban Ecosystems & Process-Lab/Fields [Approved pending clarity on whether CHEM 213 should be listed. Change BIOL 307 to 308.]
• NEUR 622: Glutamatergic Systems [Tabled]

Modified Courses

• EVPP 542: Urban Ecosystems & Process [Approved pending clarity on whether CHEM 213 should be listed..]

Modified Programs

• Earth Systems Science, MS* [Approved via email vote on 3/2]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• EVPP 326: Animal Physiology [Moved to an email vote which was approved on 2/25/2020.]

Modified Courses

• BIOL 312: Biostatistics for Bioinformatics [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Biology, BA* [Approved]
• Biology, BS* [Approved]
• Environmental and Sustainability Studies, BA [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

Modified Programs

• Environmental Science and Public Policy, PhD* [Approved pending a better way for students to learn about available faculty.]
• Mathematics, PhD*[Approved via email vote on 2/27]

VII. Adjournment [11:30 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: Exploratory Hall, Room 3301
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 1/13/2020

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 [10:40AM]

II. Approval of the December 9, 2019 Meeting Minutes [Approved pending insertion about the Climate Science, MS email vote.]

III. Announcements/Discussion

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• CONS 210: Inquiry and Design [The committee has concerns over the course number, it appears to be anupper level course. ESP voiced concerns over how the course will fit into its programs and concerns over EVPP course overlap. Syllabus also needs some standard template information added. Max allowable should be 9..]
• CONS 360: Qualitative Research and Inquiry [ESP voiced concerns over how the course will fit into its programs and concerns over EVPP course overlap. Syllabus also needs some standard template information added. Max allowable should be 9.]
• BIOL 340: Introductory Botany [Approved]
• BIOL 432: Clinical Application Human Physiology [Approved pending title update, “Clinical Applications in Human Physiology”.]
• BIOL 491:  Selected Topics in Biology Laboratory [Approved]
• EVPP 456: Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology [Approved pending max allowable to 8.]
• GGS 326: Geography of Eastern Europe and Russia [Approved with the stipulation that GGS 330 must be deleted shortly.]
• NEUR 407: Lab Investigations Using Voltage Camp Electrophysiology [Approved pending title update, “ab Investigations Using Voltage Clamp Electrophysiology”.]
• NEUR 422: Glutamatergic Systems [Approved]

Modified Courses

• BIOL 105: Introductory Biology I Laboratory [Approved]
• BIOL 106: Introductory Biology II Laboratory [Approved]
• BIOL 312: Biostatistics for Bioinformatics [Tabled per department, need to see syllabus to make sure content is sufficient after lab removal.]
• BIOL 318: Conservation Biology [Approved]
• BIOL 331: Invertebrate Zoology [Approved]
• BIOL 332: Insect Biology [Approved]
• BIOL 357: Ecology Field Skills [Approved]
• BIOL 374: Biogeography: Space, Time, and Life [Approved]
• BIOL 401: Phage Discovery [Approved]
• BIOL 420: Vaccines [Approved pending the insertion of required prerequisite clarity: BIOL 305 or BIOL 246 or BIOL L305 or BIOL L246.]
• BIOL 440: Field Biology [Approved]
• BIOL 443: Tropical Ecology [Approved]
• BIOL 444: Tropical Ecology Laboratory [Approved]
• BIOL 446: Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology [Approved]
• BIOL 452: Immunology [Approved]
• BIOL 453: Immunology Laboratory [Approved]
• BIOL 459: Fungi and Ecosystems [Approved]
• BIOL 465: Histology [Approved]
• BIOL 470: Dinosaur Biology [Approved]
• BIOL 472: Introductory Animal Behavior [Approved]
• BIOL 480: The Diversity of Fishes [Approved]
• BIOL 492: Senior Seminar [Approved]
• CONS 100: Introduction to Field Conservation Ecology [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to UGC due date.]
• CONS 401: Conservation Theory [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to UGC due date.]
• CONS 402: Applied Conservation [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to UGC due date.]
• CONS 404: Biodiversity Monitoring [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to UGC due date.]
• CONS 406: Small Population Management [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to UGC due date.]
• CONS 410: Human Dimensions in Conservation [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to UGC due date.]
• CONS 490: RS: Integrated Conservation Strategies [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to UGC due date.]
• CONS 495: Capstone in Conservation [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to UGC due date.]
• MATH 315: Advanced Calculus I [Tabled due to no representation.]
• MATH 321: Abstract Algebra [Tabled due to no representation.]
• MATH 322: Advanced Linear Algebra [Tabled due to no representation.]
• MATH 400: History of Math (Topic Varies) [Tabled due to no representation.]
• MATH 401: Mathematics through 3D Printing [Tabled due to no representation.]

Deleted Courses

• BIOL 310: Biodiversity [Approved]
  • Impacted Courses: BIOL 330, BIOL 443, BIOL 444, BIOL 318, BIOL 320, BIOL 331, BIOL 332, BIOL 334, BIOL 336, BIOL 344, BIOL 345, BIOL 357, BIOL 374, BIOL 433, BIOL 440, BIOL 446, BIOL 459, BIOL 470, BIOL 472, BIOL 480, EVPP 318, EVPP 380, EVPP 468
• BIOL 330: Biodiversity Lab and Recitation [Approved]
  • Impacted Courses: BIOL 310

Modified Programs

• Conservation Studies Minor [Approved]
• Neuroscience, BS [Approved, would like to add BIOL 432 under electives.]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• EVPP 544: Urban Ecosystems and Processes-Labs/Fields [Tabled per department.]
• EVPP 556: Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology [Approved]
• NEUR 622: Glutamatergic Systems [Tabled per department, graduate syllabus needs to better describe how the graduate students will be graded.]

Modified Courses

• CONS 625: Statistics for Ecology and Conservation Biology [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to GC due date.]
• CONS 630: Species Monitoring & Conservation [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to GC due date.]
• CONS 645: Estimating Animal Abundance and Occupancy [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to GC due date.]
• CONS 697: Special Topics in Conservation [Approved pending no other COSCC concerns prior to GC due date.]
• EVPP 542: Urban Ecosystems & Processes [Tabled per department.]

Modified Program

• Neuroscience, PhD [Approved pending clarity that the professional skills are options within the elective section.]

VII. Adjournment [12:00PM]

• *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: Exploratory Hall, Room 3301
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 11/25/2019

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 

II. Approval of the November 18, 2019 Meeting Minutes [Approved.]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• Spring 2020 COSCC Meeting Dates* [The committee is in favor of this schedule.]

IV. Old Business

Undergraduate

Modified Programs

• Biology Minor [Approved]

Graduate

Modified Programs

• Climate Science, MS- [Approved by committee through email vote.]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• CONS 201:How to Succeed in Conservation* [Tabled pending a conversation between ESP and CONS.]
• GGS 344: Military Geography [Approved]
• GGS 422: Drone Remote Sensing [Approved]
• GGS 426: Surface and Atmosphere Remote Sensing [Withdrawn by the department.]

Modified Courses

• BIOL 309/EVPP 309/GEOL 309: Introduction to Oceanography* [Approved]
• CHEM 313: Organic Chemistry I [Approved pending the removal of “L” transfer equivalents on 300+ level equivalents. Additionally, work between Jennifer and the department will ensue to stabilize prerequisites across semesters. POST-MEETING UPDATE: Jennifer is not convinced that this is the right course of action, she will confer with Assad Khan and the department to ensure proper modifications are applied.]
• CHEM 314: Organic Chemistry II [Approved pending statement above on CHEM 313.]
• CHEM 315: Organic Chemistry Lab [Approved pending statement above on CHEM 313.]
• CHEM 318: Organic Chemistry Lab II* [Approved pending statement above on CHEM 313.]
• EVPP 408/BIOL 408: Mushrooms, Molds and Society* [Approved]
• GEOL 308: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology [Approved]

New Programs

• Environmental Consulting Minor [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Biology, BA [Approved pending the addition of “Concentration” to the title.]
• Biology, BA or BS/Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education Biology Concentration) [Approved]
• Chemistry, BA or BS/Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education Chemistry Concentration) [Approved]
• Conservation Biology Minor [Approved]
• Earth Science, BS Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education Earth Science Concentration) [Approved]
• Geographic Information Systems Minor [Approved]
• Geography, BA [Approved. Ensure that GGS 330’s title change proposal is “shredded” in CIM so that the original title is visible. Also, add wording to clarify that GGS 326’s proposal is on its way through the approval trail.]
• Geography, BS [Approved. Ensure that GGS 330’s title change proposal is “shredded” in CIM so that the original title is visible. Also, add wording to clarify that GGS 326’s proposal is on its way through the approval trail.]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• GGS 516: Geography of Latin America [Approved]
• GGS 517: Geography of China [Approved]
• GGS 518: Geography of North Africa and the Middle East [Approved]
• GGS 526: Geography of Eastern Europe and Russia [Approved]
• GGS 544: Military Geography [Approved]
• GGS 622: Drone Remote Sensing [Approved]
• GGS 626: Surface and Atmosphere Remote Sensing[Withdrawn by the department.]
• PHYS 534: Introduction to Quantum Computation and Quantum Information [Approved pending addition of “Experience with programming” as a recommended prerequisite. Also, changing max repeatable to 9 and providing an updated syllabus.]
• PHYS 591: Systems for Quantum Scientists [Approved pending max repeatable to 9, hours per week to 3, and an updated syllabus.]

Modified Courses

• CHEM 531: Elements of Physical Chemistry [Approved pending updated syllabus.]

New Programs

• Forensic Science, PSM [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Applied Engineering Physics, MS* [Tabled by the department.]
• Biology, MS [Approved pending BIOL 683 correction.]
• Environmental Science and Policy, MS [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [Jennifer announced that an email vote will likely be requested between now and our next meeting at the end of January 2020. It was also requested that Jennifer add information regarding SCHEV and SACSCOC program requirements to the COSCC website, this information has been added to the Procedures page (second bullet). 12:30 PM.]

• *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: Exploratory Hall, Room 3301
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 11/4/2019

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 

II. Approval of the October  21, 2019 Meeting Minutes  [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• SACSCOC Reminders [Departments are strongly encouraged to review this document]
• Professional Skills for PhDs [If any PhD programs are interested in enriching their curriculum by adding professional skills courses or a business certificate, please contact Jen.]
• Spring 2020 Meeting Schedule [Mondays at 10:30AM was still an optimal time for the committee.]

IV. Old Business

New Courses

• EVPP 534: Food-Energy-Water Nexus* [Approved pending course number update on the syllabus.]

Modified Courses

• GGS 507: Sustainable Development [Approved]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• EVPP 434: Food-Energy-Water Nexus* [Approved pending course number update on the syllabus.]
• MATH 300: Introduction to Advanced Mathematics*  [Approved, pending review of 1) impact on other courses and programs, 2) transferring all Mason Core and writing intensive designations, 3 adding standard language to the syllabus.]
• PHYS 334: Introduction to Quantum Computation and Quantum Information [Approved pending correction to the max allowable credits and adding standard language to the syllabus.]

Modified Courses

• ASTR 111: Introductory Astronomy: The Solar System [Approved, pending the clarification of pre and co-requisites. Per an email from PHYS/ASTR after the meeting: “ASTR 111 is not a prereq or coreq for ASTR 112, as correctly indicated in current system. Part of the reason is that some students (transfer or AP for example) who have taken the equivalent of 111 can register for 112 lab. In principle, 112 as a lab course can stand alone, and does not require a corresponding lecture before or going along with it. As we discussed in the meeting, other units and sequences also have the same practice”.]
• ASTR 112: Introductory Astronomy: The Solar System Lab [Approved, pending the clarification of pre and co-requisites, see email quote above.]
• ASTR 113: Introductory Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe [Approved, pending the clarification of pre and co-requisites, see email quote above.]
• ASTR 114: Introductory Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe Lab [Approved, pending the clarification of pre and co-requisites, see email quote above.]
• CHEM 468: Bioorganic Chemistry [Approved]
• CONS 320: Conservation in Practice [Approved]
• EVPP 336: Human Dimensions of the Environment [Approved]
• EVPP 409: Medical Mycology [Approved]
• EVPP 430: Fundamentals of Environmental Geographic Information Systems [Approved]
• EVPP 445: Principles of Environmental Toxicology [Approved]
• GEOL 401: Structural Geology [Approved]

Deleted Courses

• CHEM 300: Chemistry of Semiconductor Processing* [Approved]
• EVPP 110: The Ecosphere: An Introduction to Environmental Science I [Approved]
  • Impacted Courses: BIOL 308, BIOL 309, BIOL 408, EVPP 309, EVPP 336, EVPP 408, EVPP 409, EVPP 430, EVPP 445, GEOL 309, GEOL 332
• EVPP 111: The Ecosphere: An Introduction to Environmental Science I [Approved]
  • Impacted Courses: EVPP 336

Modified Degrees

• Biology, BS* [Approved]
• Biology Minor* [Tabled for departmental clarification]
• Environmental Science Minor [Approved]
• Mathematics, BS* [Approved pending the addition of 1) CDS courses in the computational skills, 2) Moving STAT 360 to the “Choose two” section.]
• Paleontology Minor* [Approved pending BIOL 310/330 correction and listing EVPP/BIOL/GEOL 309 and EVPP 419/BIOL 454.]
• Sustainability Studies Minor [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• ASTR 601:Computer Simulation in Astronomy [Approved provisionally pending an updated syllabus.]

Modified Courses

• CONS 625: Statistics for Ecology and Conservation Biology [Approved with a friendly notification that the last sentence of the course description needs correction.]
• CONS 645: Estimating Animal Abundance and Occupancy [Approved]

New Programs

• Bachelor’s Degree (any)/Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, Accelerated MS* [Approved]
• Bachelor’s Degree (any)/Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence, Accelerated MS* [Approved]
• Geography, BA/Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence, Accelerated MS* [Approved]

Modified programs

• Geography, BA/Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, Accelerated MS* [Approved]
• Geography, BS/Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, Accelerated MS* [Approved]
• Geography, BS/Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence, Accelerated MS* [Approved]
• Environmental Science and Public Policy, PhD* [Approved]

[The committee welcomed Dr. Michael Eagle, the COSCC’s new Computational and Data Sciences representative.]

VII. Adjournment [12:19 PM]

• *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.