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George Mason University

Advising

Advising in the College of Science

Students in the College of Science who have declared a major should plan on visiting with an academic advisor at least once per semester. There is one point of contact for every major and some majors may have additional advisors who can assist in the advising process for students. Regularly scheduled advising appointments are recommended for all students to make certain that the appropriate courses are being taken and to answer any questions which may arise.

The Importance of Advising

Academic advisors will help you to stay on track for graduation. You should plan on meeting with your advisor at least once a semester to receive academic planning advice. Course selection, internship and research opportunities, and career options after completion of your degree are just some of the topics which can be covered during a one on one session with an academic advisor. Seeing your  advisor every semester is the best way to stay on track with your academic progress.

For assistance in undergraduate academic affairs, contact:

Assad Khan
Director for Undergraduate Student Affairs
Suite 1450 Exploratory Hall
ugradcos@gmu.edu

Find Your Advisor

Astronomy

Are you intrigued by the wonders of the universe? The ever-expanding and captivating study of astronomy awaits you.

Astronomy majors study the nature of stars, gaseous nebulae, and phenomena like quasars and black holes and take a variety of generalized and specialized courses to meet their own interests. Our unique program blends coursework with cutting-edge research opportunities involving ground and space-based telescopes and state of the art computers.

Students work one on one with faculty doing exciting research at the forefront of physics and astronomy, leading to co-authorship on research presentations at professional meetings. The Physics and Astronomy Department provides an analytical and scientific background for students planning for graduate school, a career in industry, business, or science education. An Astronomy major helps prepare students for graduate school or careers in computer science, medicine, teaching, engineering, patent law, medicine, science writing, or science reporting.

Program Contact:
Joseph Weingartner
Associate Professor/Undergraduate Coordinator
Planetary Hall, Room 231
703-993-4596
jweinga1@gmu.edu

Program Information:

Atmospheric Sciences

Are you interested in the weather?  Do you care about the climate and want to make a difference? Making predictions of both weather and climate have real, substantial and immediate benefits to society, industry and governments.

The undergraduate program in atmospheric sciences gives students a strong quantitative undergraduate education in atmospheric, climate, and related sciences to understand the basic principles behind current and emerging issues in weather, climate variability, and climate change. Students completing the atmospheric sciences degree will be prepared for a full range of career paths including forecast and analysis, operations and research support in meteorology, atmospheric sciences, and climate.

View degree requirements for the Meteorology and Computational Atmospheric Science completion options.

Program Contact:
Bohua Huang
Academic Advisor
bsatmos@gmu.edu

Program Information:

Biology

The Department of Biology at George Mason University offers the student a comprehensive yet liberal education in the biological sciences. With diverse interests in biology and environmental science, the faculty offer a broad range of courses.

The programs offer field studies in plants, animals, and ecology, and concentrations in the following: bioinformatics, biopsychology, biotechnology and molecular biology, environmental and conservation biology and microbiology.

Students interested in teaching biology at the secondary level can find more information about teacher preparation programs.

Program Contact:
Valerie Olmo
Assistant Professor/Undergraduate Coordinator
volmo@gmu.edu

Program Information:

Chemistry

Chemistry majors experience small classes, opportunities for research, close interaction with faculty, and enhanced access to nearby government laboratories. The traditional BS is certified by the American Chemical Society as meeting the necessary criteria for a professional baccalaureate degree in chemistry. Major requirements include a minimum of 51 semester hours of chemistry, 11 hours of mathematics, and 8 of physics and 4 hours of biology.

Students may pursue the traditional BA or BS in chemistry but also can opt for a concentration in the following: biochemistry (both BA and BS), analytical chemistry (BS only) and environmental chemistry (BS only)

Chemistry graduates find employment at agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the Naval Research Lab, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Smithsonian. Our graduates also work in private industry or as high school teachers. Those who go directly on to graduate school attend some of the top postgraduate programs in the U.S., where they obtain PhD’s in Chemistry, Material Science, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacy as well as professional degrees in medicine and dentistry. If any of these possibilities interest you, consider majoring in chemistry.

Program Contact:
Jessica Callus
Undergraduate Program Coordinator
jcallus@gmu.edu

Program Information:

Computational and Data Sciences

The aim of this degree is to provide students with technical skills and knowledge for rigorously investigating physical and social phenomena. The BS is a transformative approach that integrates science at George Mason University based on the combination of real-world computer science skills, data acquisition and analysis, scientific modeling, applied mathematics, and simulation. As an interdisciplinary STEM-designated program, this degree addresses the current central role of computation in the areas of “big data,” modeling, and simulation.

Graduates of the program will possess the computational, scientific, and mathematical skills necessary for participating effectively as members of the scientific simulation and data analysis groups that are of increasing importance in the federal and public sectors, and in high technology firms. Additionally, graduates of the program will be well prepared to pursue graduate studies.

Program Contact:

Edgar Garcia
Academic Advising Support and Media Specialist
Research Hall Room 227
egarci5@gmu.edu

Program Information:

Environmental Science

The BS in environmental science covers the fundamental techniques of environmental science and engineering, protection and improvement of environmental quality, environmental policy, risk assessment and risk management, and public and private decision-making processes. Graduates of the program are prepared to undertake careers in a variety of environmental science fields, and are also qualified to pursue advanced scientific/professional education.

To graduate with a degree in environmental science, students must select a concentration from the following:

  • Conservation
  • Ecological Science
  • Environmental Health
  • Human and Ecosystem Response to Climate Change
  • Marine Estuarine and Freshwater Ecology
  • Wildlife

Program Contact:
Keanah Turner
Academic Advisor
Contact us

Program Information:

Forensic Science

Forensic Science is the application of scientific principles and techniques to the legal process. It is a blanket term for many fields and disciplines, all related to the application of science to the law. This program provides an exciting and innovative curriculum that offers hands-on training in crime scene investigation techniques and crime lab methodologies. These courses are designed to provide exposure/training to:

  • Forensic laboratory tests
  • Criminal procedures and expert testimony
  • Forensic Chemistry and Biology
  • Trace analysis and physical evidence analysis
  • Professional ethics and quality control

Program Contact:
Kimberly Rule
Assistant Professor/Undergraduate Coordinator
Exploratory Hall, Suite 3400
703-993-5338
Contact us

Program Information:

Geography

Where is geography? Geography can be found in careers as varied as economics, engineering, environmental science, transportation, business, marketing, and public health.

A degree in geography provides excellent opportunities for students who want to enrich their knowledge and advance their technical skills in several areas in geography. Students receive hands-on experiences for real-world practice. Studies included courses in Human Geography, Physical Geography, Regional Geography, technique courses in Cartography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Spatial Statistics.

Program Contact:
Nathan Burtch
Undergraduate Coordinator
Exploratory Hall, Suite 2400
703-993-1210
nburtch@gmu.edu

Program Information:

Geology

Geology is the scientific study of the solid earth, earth processes, and how earth has changed through time. Geologists do research to develop new principles to help our understanding of the earth. These principles can often be applied to land use planning, the discovery of mineral, energy or water resources and to environmental studies.

Positions are available to geologists in most large energy companies, mineral exploration companies, engineering and environmental firms, state and national geological surveys, colleges and universities. The degree program in geology provides students with a general background in science, and a comprehensive background in the principal disciplines of geology. Fieldwork is emphasized.

The bachelor’s of science in geology covers the earth sciences in the broadest sense and their effect on the environment. Students specialize within this broad framework by choosing one of several concentrations offered by the program. To graduate with a degree in earth science, students must select a concentration from the following:

  • Earth Surface Processes
  • Environmental Geoscience
  • Geology
  • Paleontology
  • Oceanography and Estuarine Science

The Washington, D.C., area is an exciting place to enter the field of earth sciences, with collaboration and career opportunities at US Geological Survey, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the Smithsonian Institution, and many other public and private labs. The earth science degree is a starting point for many career paths, including research via an advanced degree, work in government laboratories, consulting, resource management and extraction, environmental advocacy, and teaching.

Program Contact:
Stacey Verardo
Term Professor/Undergraduate Coordinator
Exploratory Hall, Room 2451
703-993-1045
sverardo@gmu.edu

Program Information:

Mathematics

Students majoring in mathematics take courses in the logical foundations of mathematics, the calculus sequence, matrix algebra, and discrete mathematics. Majors choose from a concentration of applied, traditional, or actuarial mathematics. Both the BA and the BS in mathematics will allow entry to advanced studies or career opportunities as diverse as the fields to which mathematics is applied. The metro region of Washington, D.C., is a particularly fertile area for related job opportunities, including consulting, teaching, and government.

Mathematics is one of the few disciplines that teaches us about the power of thought as distinct from the power of authority. It is not necessarily dependent on our physical observations of the world, and yet it constantly provides models for our observations. Such models—usually studied in applied mathematics—may have relevance in traditional sciences such as physics, biology, or chemistry. Topics studied by mathematicians, such as chaos theory or dynamical systems, often serve as models for economics, neuroscience, or predictors of fluctuations in the stock market.

Program Contact:
Catherine Sausville
Undergraduate Coordinator
Exploratory Hall, Room 4400
703-993-4511
csausvil@gmu.edu

Program Information:

Medical Laboratory Science

Are you fascinated by science? Do you have a desire to help others? If you have ever wondered what happens to the blood sample you give at the doctor’s office or how doctors diagnose disease, you might consider a rewarding career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), formerly known as Medical Technologist (MT).

The Department of Biology at George Mason University offers a BS in Medical Laboratory Sciences that will prepare you for entrance into an affiliated NAACLS-accredited school of clinical laboratory science or medical technology for required clinical training in the Washington, D.C., area. As a medical laboratory scientist, you will have the flexibility to work in a variety of jobs: in hospital laboratories, physician or veterinary office laboratories, reference or research laboratories, fertility clinics, pharmaceutical companies, and many other places. You may also continue your education in graduate or professional school. At least 150,000 clinical laboratory scientist positions must be filled by 2014 and beyond (Coordinating Council on the Clinical Laboratory Workforce). If you want a challenging and interesting career and a degree that will guarantee a competitive edge in the job market after graduation, choose a degree in medical laboratory science.

How Can I Become a Medical Laboratory Scientist?

You need to have a solid background in biology, chemistry, math, and computer science. You must earn a baccalaureate degree (BS or BA). You need to complete a NAACLS-accredited medical technology program that will prepare you to take the national certification examination administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

Program Coordinator:
Anne Verhoeven
Department of Biology
Exploratory Hall, Suite 1200
703-993-1050
averhoev@gmu.edu

Program Information:

Neuroscience

The bachelor of science in neuroscience is an interdisciplinary program emphasizing the relationship between the biology and chemistry of the nervous system and behavior of an organism. The BS in neuroscience prepares students for graduate-level study in both medical school and doctoral and master’s level programs in neuroscience and other health-related fields, and work in the neuroscience field.

Program Coordinator:
Gwendolyn (Wendy) Lewis
Undergraduate Coordinator
Krasnow Institute, Room 204
neurosci@gmu.edu

Program Information:

Physics

If you are interested in why the physical universe is the way it is, and if you have good math skills, you might consider majoring in physics. Physics majors study the nature of matter and energy, from subatomic particles to the far reaches of the universe. You’ll learn how an understanding of physics forms the basis for explaining many phenomena in other natural sciences, all of which ultimately is based on physics.

Physics also underlies many developments in technology including lasers, transistors, magnetic resonance imaging, and even the world wide web. Physics students take a variety of generalized and specialized courses to meet their own interests. Many have the opportunity to work one-on-one with faculty doing exciting research at the forefront of physics and astronomy.

Careers in Physics
Careers for students with physics degrees can be in physics itself (if they pursue a graduate degree,) or in a range of other areas including astronomy, computers, engineering, patent law, medicine, science writing or reporting, and teaching. View this partial list of employers that have recently hired students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in physics from U.S. universities.

Program Contact:
Joseph Weingartner
Associate Professor/Undergraduate Coordinator
Planetary Hall, Room 231
703-993-4596
jweinga1@gmu.edu

Program Information: