Course Descriptions
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Catalog Index Course Descriptions
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Admission Requirements
An applicant for the M.S. program with a Biological Sciences specialization is expected to have a bachelor's degree in biology or its equivalent, with a GPA of 3.0 or better in biology courses. The applicant must submit three letters of recommendation and scores on the Graduate Record General and Subject Biology Examinations.
To be accepted as a degree student, an applicant's scores on the verbal and quantitative general test should total 1,100 or greater and should be in the 50th percentile or better on the biology subject portion with no raw subscore less than 60 (40th percentile).
A substantial statement of interest in the program and an explanation of career goals must be submitted with the standard application. Prospective students are encouraged to contact potential advisers. Information concerning faculty interests can be obtained from the departmental office. Admission is contingent upon acceptance by an adviser.
Deadlines
Deadlines for admission are March 15 for fall semester and October 1 for spring semester. Please note these deadlines are for completed applications. Decision notification will be made by May 1 for fall admission and December 1 for spring.
Degree Requirements
A student must complete at least 30 semester hours, including at least two hours of seminar. During their first semester, new students should register for Introduction to Graduate Studies in Biology (BIOL 690). Students are required to form a supervising committee and submit a program of study to the program coordinator for approval within the first 12 credits of course work. Course requirements may be fulfilled by completing courses from a variety of departments and institutes on campus.
Students have the option to conduct either a formal thesis for which up to six credits of BIOL 799 (master's thesis research) could be earned, or a project for which up to three credits of BIOL 798 (master's project research) could be earned. The difference between the two options is in the depth and sophistication of the project. Whereas a thesis normally involves original research, independent acquisition, and interpretation of data, a project could be employment-related research or a comprehensive report resulting from an internship.
At the conclusion of the program, students pursuing the master's project option must successfully complete a comprehensive written and oral examination. Students pursuing the master's thesis option must defend their thesis and present their results in a public seminar.
Lack of enrollment for two consecutive semesters will result in inactive status. Reactivation of program enrollment is by application to the M.S. coordinator and is contingent on availability of program resources.
Environmental problems are defined in the real world, and they do not necessarily conform to traditional academic disciplines--rather they require creative combinations of the diverse interests and subjects to be resolved. Effective training can be accomplished only by rigorous, problem-focused interdisciplinary education in a setting where research is an essential element supporting the instructional mission.
The M.S. degree with a specialization in Environmental Science and Policy can also serve as a training ground for students wishing to further their education by pursuing the Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy at George Mason.
Admission Requirements
For the Environmental Science and Policy specialization, those holding a baccalaureate degree in natural or earth sciences, engineering, resource planning, or related fields from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 are invited to apply for admission. If the baccalaureate degree is in a field other than the above mentioned, the applicant should have taken several science courses beyond the introductory level. An applicant may be required to make up deficiencies before being permitted to enroll in the program.
Three letters of recommendation should be submitted including at least one from a former professor. The aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination is required with a minimum score of 1,100 for verbal and quantitative combined. A substantial statement of interest in the program and potential area of specialization, and an explanation of career goals must be submitted with the standard application. Prospective students are encouraged to contact potential faculty advisers appropriate to their interests. The departmental office can provide a list of faculty research interests. Admission is contingent upon acceptance by an adviser.
Deadlines
Deadlines for admission are March 15 for fall semester and October 1 for spring semester. Please note these deadlines are for completed applications. Decision notification will be made by May 1 for fall admission and December 1 for spring.
Degree Requirements
The Environmental Science and Policy specialization encourages an independent and creative approach in the development of curricula. Students are required to form a supervisory committee and submit a program of study to the program coordinator for approval within the first 12 credits of course work. Course requirements may be fulfilled by completing courses from a variety of departments, centers, and institutes on campus.
Lack of enrollment for two consecutive semesters will result in inactive status. Reactivation of program enrollment is by application to the M.S. coordinator and is contingent on availability of program resources.
The program requires a minimum of 33 graduate credits distributed in four categories to provide both depth and breadth in knowledge related to environmental problems.
Category 2--Social Sciences: A minimum of six credits is required in areas such as public policy, economics, law, sociology, ethics, business, or conflict management.
Category 3--Environmental Methods: A minimum of six credits in areas such as statistics, remote sensing, cartography, instrumental analysis, computing, mathematics, modeling, or management and information systems.
Category 4--Individual Program Focus: A minimum of 12 credits that should reflect a cohesive area of study. Graduate seminars for credit and research hours belong in this category. The Environmental Science seminar must be taken once.
At the conclusion of the program, students pursuing the master's project option must successfully complete a comprehensive written and oral examination. Students pursuing the master's thesis option must defend their thesis and present their results in a public seminar.
Program Requirements
The Environmental Management certificate program consists of a minimum of 27 semester hours of courses. Students receiving the certificate must hold a baccalaureate degree or be receiving a baccalaureate degree from the university at the time they receive the certificate. As an entry-level requirement, students are required to complete a two-semester laboratory science sequence in biology, chemistry, or geology. Only courses with a grade of C or better are counted toward the certificate program.
Students select at least 27 hours of course work with the help of the certificate director. The courses are divided into five categories. Courses listed in more than one category can only satisfy the requirements of one. Any substitution from the following list requires permission from the certificate director.