Institute for
Computational Sciences & Informatics
Faculty
Beall, Becker, Black, Blackwell, Blaisten-Barojas, Carr, Ceperly, Chiu, Davis, Denning, Dworzecka, Ehrlich, ElGhazawi, Ellsworth, Evans, Foster, Gentle, Guillory, Haack, Hanna, Hertz, Hunter, Jones, Kafatos, Kan, Kerschberg, Krichmar, Lieb, Lin, Lohner, Manitius, McIntyre, Michaels, Miller, Morowitz, Mushrush, Nash, Norris, Ozernoy, Papaconstantopoulos, Rine, Sachs, Saperstone, Satija, Sauer, Schopf, Shukla, Solka, Sood, Soyfer, Spikell, Struppa, Summers, Sutton, Walbridge, Wallin, Wang, Wechsler, Wegman, Willett, Wong, J. Wood, K. Wood, Yang, Zoltek
Course Work
The Institute for Computational Sciences and Informatics (CSI) offers all course work designated CSI in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.
Graduate Programs
Computational Sciences and Informatics, Ph.D.
The Institute for Computational Sciences and Informatics addresses the role of computation in science, mathematics, and engineering. CSI was founded in 1991 to provide a doctoral program (instituted in 1992) dedicated to scientific research and designed around a core of advanced computer technology. CSI provides scientific and applications content to George Mason's information technology focus.
"Computational sciences" is defined as the systematic development and application of computing systems and computational solution techniques to models of scientific and engineering phenomena. "Informatics" is defined as the
systematic development and application of computing systems and computational solution techniques for analyzing data obtained by experiments, modeling, database search, and instrumentation. Computing is now part of a triad, along with theory and experimentation, that serves as a means of investigation, and
it provides insight and leads to understanding that, in many cases, theory or experimentation cannot. The multidisciplinary activities of CSI respond to this new role for computation, and CSI seeks to integrate computation in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering to produce new knowledge to develop
new approaches to the solution of complex problems.
Certificate in Computational Techniques and Applications
CSI offers a graduate certificate program in computational techniques and applications, which provides students an opportunity to improve their basic computational skills. The certificate is independent of the doctoral program and is designed primarily for professionals in technical fields who may wish to
upgrade their computer expertise, but it is also available as an option for prospective and currently enrolled doctoral students. The certificate program is composed of 15 credits of course work designed to provide an accelerated introduction to concepts in modern computation. Topics include operating systems, environments, languages, graphics, databases, and applications.
Nondegree status is available for professionals who are
interested in taking a limited number of courses.
Admission Requirements
Students interested in applying to either the doctoral program in computational sciences and informatics or the certificate program in computational techniques and applications should have an academic background in material sciences, engineering, mathematics, computer science, or natural
science. The undergraduate degree should be from an accredited institution, and applicants should have earned a GPA of at least 3.000 in their last 60 credits of study.
Applicants should forward a completed George Mason graduate application, two transcripts from each college and graduate institution attended, and an expanded goals statement to the Graduate Admissions Processing Center. Applicants to the doctoral program should also include three letters of
recommendation and scores from the GRE-GEN (the GRE-SUB is recommended if it is given in the student's undergraduate major subject area). If the undergraduate degree was earned more than five years ago, students should submit a resume or
statement of work experience. TOEFL scores are required for all foreign applicants to either the doctoral or certificate programs.* Those who are also applying for fellowships must submit completed applications by Feb. 1; all other applications for fall admission are due by March 1. Applications for spring admission are due by Nov. 1.
*Transcript evaluation by a U.S.-recognized agency is required for transcripts coming from foreign countries.
Degree Requirements
The doctoral program provides interdisciplinary research opportunities spanning, but not limited to, such specialty areas as atmospheric transport and dispersion; bioinformatics and computational biology; climate dynamics and
global change; computational chemistry; computational fluid dynamics; computational mathematics; computational neuroscience; computational physics; computational statistics; computer design of materials; earth observing and
remote sensing; and space sciences and computational astrophysics.
The program emphasizes three intellectual elements: common computational science topics; computationally intensive courses in specific areas of scientific interest; and doctoral research. Interested individuals should have
a bachelor's degree in science, mathematics, engineering, or computer science. The program requires 72 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, with a minimum of 48 credits in course work, and 24 credits of dissertation research.
The course work is in the following areas:
- The common computational core courses: CSI 700, 801, 803, and 810
- The scientific core courses in one of the areas of concentration
- Scientific electives from specialty courses in the area of concentration, or individualized study based on professional experience and research
- General electives
- Three credits of colloquia or seminars, with at least one credit of CSI 899
For those holding a master's degree, the 72 required credits may be reduced by up to 24 credits, depending on graduate courses completed. Scheduled courses and sequences accommodate part-time students, with courses offered in the late afternoon or early evening four nights per week.
Applicants are encouraged to apply their knowledge to a broad range of natural science problems using extensive computational knowledge and techniques missing from the more traditional degree programs in science and mathematics.
The close relationship of the doctoral program to the research and development activities in federal laboratories, scientific institutions, and high-technology firms affords students opportunities for continuing or new employment. In addition to the common core of CSI 700, 801, 803, and 810,
courses for the specific areas of concentration are required.
Requirements for the Areas of Concentration
For each of the areas of concentration, detailed information on the curriculum requirements is available at the CSI website through the university's main page at www.gmu.edu. Note that research opportunities are not limited to the listed areas. Students are presented with the opportunity to create new areas of interdisciplinary research that would be difficult to accommodate within a traditional doctoral program. Students are to
consult with their advisors to prepare their specific plans of study.
A summary of the scientific core courses for each area of concentration follows.
Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion: CSI 655 and 755.
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology: CSI 650, 651, and 652.
Climate Dynamics and Global Change: CSI 652, 655, 750, 751, and 753.
Computational Chemistry: CSI 711, 713, 782, and 783.
Computational Fluid Dynamics: CSI 720, 721, and 722.
Computational Mathematics: CSI 740; MATH 677 or 678.
Computational Neuroscience: CSI 650, 651, 734, and 735.
Computational Physics: CSI 780; PHYS 513 or CSI 785; CSI 783 or 784; one of CSI 781, 782, 783, 784, 888, or PHYS 705.
Computational Statistics: CSI 778, 877, 972, 973; CSI 771 or 773.
Computer Design of Materials: CSI 687, 780, 782, 783, and 786. Students are to take at least one of the two simulation courses CSI 787 or 986.
Earth Observing and Remote Sensing: CSI 750 and 753.
Space Sciences and Computational Astrophysics: ASTR 530 and CSI 780; CSI 783 or 784; PHYS 513 or CSI 785. Students are advised to take at least one of the three simulation courses, CSI 721, 761, or 788.
Facilities
Computation is recognized as a central feature of the instructional and research program of CSI. The institute, therefore, seeks to establish world-class computational facilities consistent with funding available through the university and through other sources in cooperation with George
Mason's University Computing and Information Systems office.
The CSI Graduate Instructional Computational Facility houses Silicon Graphics workstations as well as other platforms. CSI has two massively parallel computers, the Intel Paragon and a MasPar, which are used for teaching as well as for research. Other advanced computing platforms within CSI include an SGI Origin 2000 workstation with 16 processors, an SGI Origin 200, an SGI Onyx with infinite reality graphics engine, and an Octane visualization
workstation. CSI students are issued accounts and access to the CSI instructional facilities. Other computing platforms are available for research by graduate students.
George Mason University: 1999-2000 University Catalog: Catalog Index: Institute for Computational Sciences & Informatics |
