Advance your career with nationally accredited academic certificates from George Mason University’s College of Science. You can be on your way to a better job or new career in less time than it takes to earn a college degree. 

The College of Science, with locations in the heart of Fairfax and Prince William counties in Virginia, is easy to reach from the Capital Beltway and Interstate 66. Public transportation to all of our locations via Mason’s free Metro shuttle to the Fairfax Campus and local bus lines to both locations is also available. 

The College of Science at George Mason University offers more than a dozen professional, science-based certificate programs designed for working professionals, career changers, and students. By concentrating on your special interests you can improve your career options with a certificate and apply the academic credits toward an undergraduate or graduate degree.

Designed for Professionals

Mason’s COS certificates are perfect for professionals who want to advance their careers but who may not have the time or need to pursue a complete degree program. Most courses are held during the late afternoon and evening to accommodate your busy schedule. By combining real-world experience with up-to-the-minute information, our certificates help you stay ahead of your competition.

COS certificates provide a quick, affordable way on top of the latest developments in your field. You can also leverage that knowledge by applying your certificate credits toward a masters or doctoral degree program. If you’re already a PhD candidate, our certificates can help you prepare for your dissertation. 

The COS has 13 certificates in a wide range of disciplines throughout its science departments in both undergraduate and graduate studies. Learn more about Mason’s certificate programs, and find one that’s right for you.

Undergraduate certificates are open to anyone who holds a bachelor’s degree in any major or who is currently pursuing such a degree at George Mason University.

• Certificate in Environmental Chemistry: combine your interests in chemistry and the environment by studying the behavior of pollutants and their effects on air, water, soil, and human, animal, and plant health
• Certificate in Environmental Management: uncover the biological, physical, and social aspects of environmental problems and practice methods for their analysis and resolution 

Graduate certificates are open to anyone who holds a bachelor’s degree, has completed program specific prerequisites , and has a strong interest in the program of their choice.

• Certificate in Actuarial Sciences: study probability, statistics, and other risk-related coursework to complete this program in only three semesters. This certificate prepares you for Society of Actuaries courses and Causality Actuary Society exams
• Certificate in Advanced Biomedical Sciences: prepare for medical, dental, and other healthcare-related professions and for professional school entrance examinations. This certificate is offered in partnership with Georgetown University Medical Center
• Certificate in Applied Conservation Science: get hands-on education in conservation science at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, VA.
• Certificate in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology: learn how to apply biological analysis and high-performance computing to areas such as genetic research, disease detection, and drug design and discover career opportunities with the Washington, D.C., region’s many federal research labs and biotechnology companies
• Certificate in Computational Techniques and Applications: boost your problem-solving skills and learn about state-of-the-art computing methodologies used in quantitative scientific research
• Certificate in Environmental Management: expand your knowledge beyond your undergraduate training through advanced studies in the natural and social sciences, analytical methods, and public policy issues
• Certificate in Environmental Conflict Resolution and Collaboration: learn to assess the strengths and weaknesses of collaborative processes and to apply best practices for preventing, preparing for, and addressing environmental conflict
• Certificate in Forensics: learn technical and legal aspects of forensic science through two tracks, General Forensics (focused on law and anthropology) and Forensic Science (focused on chemistry and toxicology) to prepare for careers in some of the country’s foremost labs located here in northern Virginia.
• Certificate in Geoinformation Science: learn about the latest technologies;  including land-use modeling techniques; digital cartography methods; and analysis of human-environment interactions and their effects on food, population, and other areas; in the geographic and mapping sciences
• Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence: learn analysis tools and techniques to apply to a range of constantly evolving intelligence situations including unclassified applications such as tracking the spread of avian flu and mapping environmental damage caused by chemical spills, to military and national security applications that affect foreign policy decisions. This certificate is one of only three programs nationwide to be accredited by the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation
• Certificate in Remote Sensing and Earth Image Processing: discover systems, from hyperspectral imaging to digital processing of remote sensing imagerythat gather and analyze data from aerial and spaceborne platforms
• Certificate in Nanotechnology and Nanoscience: learn about technologies that affect the future of health care (especially drug delivery and in vivo imaging), environmental science, and biotechnology

Graduate Certificate Graduation Requirements

Candidates must satisfy all university certificate requirements and all requirements established by the certificate program faculty. Individual departmental certificate requirements are listed under the respective certificate programs in this catalog.

1. A candidate must earn a minimum of 15 graduate credits.
2. Only graduate courses may apply toward the certificate.
3. A maximum of 3 graduate credits taken at another institution can be transferred into a certificate program.
4. A candidate must have a minimum GPA of 3.000 in course work presented on the certificate application, which may include no more than 6 credits of C. (Grades of C+, C-, and D do not apply to graduate courses.) The GPA calculation excludes all transfer courses and George Mason Extended Studies credits not formally approved for the degree.
5. A maximum of two certificates may be conferred as part of a Master's degree.