Mason Science: New Courses and Special Topics Offerings

BIMR 510 001: Creativity and Innovation
Creative and innovative thinking is the most important requirement for success in any field. Creative thinking drives all progress in the arts, the sciences, and the commercial sector. Under this philosophy, students will be immersed in a culture of creativity surrounded by mentors and advisors who explain and demonstrate the creative process. Students will be shown that every team member in a modern career ranging from summer scientists to tenured professors – can be the originator (and inventor) of a seminal idea that opens a whole new field.

CDS 465 DL1: Modeling Interactive Populations
Employs several computational methods to create an agent-based model of an evolving and interactive population. Applied scenarios will include human identification through DNA profiles, community analysis through connected graphs, data generation, virus tracking, and evolution of human traits in me. Software skills developed will include Python, Pandas, and SQL.

EVPP 441 001 and 201: Protist Diversity and Ecology
This course is designed to examine the diversity and ecology of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic protists (one of the five Kingdoms of organisms) and cyanobacteria (precursors to protists) primarily distributed in freshwater and marine habitats. The evolution and phylogeny of these related, but relatively distinct organismal groups are highlighted. An ecological perspective is used to explore the diversity and ecological significance of algae which are the main primary producers in aquatic ecosystems and heterotrophic protozoa which play an important role as consumers in microbial food webs. Biotechnological applications of protists such as their potential as energy sources and as building materials is explored as well economic and health concerns caused by harmful and nuisance algal blooms and protozoan parasites are discussed. The laboratory provides students with hands on exercises to sample, view and identify protists as well as experience in laboratory and field methods used.

GGS 485 003: Capstone in Geography & Geoinformation Sciences
Provides students with project-based culminating experience that integrates geographic problem solving with real-world data and questions. Students work in teams on client-based projects and present project deliverables. This course requires analytical, collaborative, communication, organizational, and research skills, with students demonstrating mastery of geographic thought and practice.

ASTR 390 001: Topics in Astronomy
Description is forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

ASTR 590 001: Selected Topics in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Description is forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

BINF 704 001: Application of Genomics in Health
Seminar course that meets in person and via Zoom.  Readings are assigned on current Genomics topics in literature / journals with student presentations.

BINF 704 DL1: Bioinformatics Colloquium
Asynchronous online course designed to train students in understanding scientific presentations and publications while giving them a rudimentary capability to craft a colloquium style presentation based on  journal articles.  Students will record and present a talk on current Bioinformatics topics and write up summaries of additional speakers’ talks for a grade.

BINF 704 DL2: Colloquium Speaker Series
Seminar series on the latest findings from Principal Investigators (both internal and external speakers) that share published and unpublished data regarding infections (i.e. RNA and DNA viruses as well as bacteria), immunity (both tissue and immune cells in primary and secondary lymphatics), diagnostics, and therapeutics (drugs, exosomes, etc).

BINF 704 DL3: Special Topics Speaker Series
Seminar series on the latest findings from Principal Investigators (both internal and external speakers) that share published and unpublished data regarding infections (i.e. RNA and DNA viruses as well as bacteria), immunity (both tissue and immune cells in primary and secondary lymphatics), diagnostics, and therapeutics (drugs, exosomes, etc).

BINF 739 001: Special Topics Speaker Series
Seminar series on the latest findings from Principal Investigators (both internal and external speakers) that share published and unpublished data regarding infections (i.e. RNA and DNA viruses as well as bacteria), immunity (both tissue and immune cells in primary and secondary lymphatics), diagnostics, and therapeutics (drugs, exosomes, etc).

BINF 739 002: Special Topics Speaker Series
Seminar series on the latest findings from Principal Investigators (both internal and external speakers) that share published and unpublished data regarding infections (i.e. RNA and DNA viruses as well as bacteria), immunity (both tissue and immune cells in primary and secondary lymphatics), diagnostics, and therapeutics (drugs, exosomes, etc).

BINF 739 DL2: Special Topics Speaker Series
Seminar series on the latest findings from Principal Investigators (both internal and external speakers) that share published and unpublished data regarding infections (i.e. RNA and DNA viruses as well as bacteria), immunity (both tissue and immune cells in primary and secondary lymphatics), diagnostics, and therapeutics (drugs, exosomes, etc).

BINF 739 DL3: Special Topics Speaker Series
Seminar series on the latest findings from Principal Investigators (both internal and external speakers) that share published and unpublished data regarding infections (i.e. RNA and DNA viruses as well as bacteria), immunity (both tissue and immune cells in primary and secondary lymphatics), diagnostics, and therapeutics (drugs, exosomes, etc).

BINF 739 P01: Special Topics Speaker Series
Seminar series on the latest findings from Principal Investigators (both internal and external speakers) that share published and unpublished data regarding infections (i.e. RNA and DNA viruses as well as bacteria), immunity (both tissue and immune cells in primary and secondary lymphatics), diagnostics, and therapeutics (drugs, exosomes, etc).

BIOL 302 DL1: Alternative Careers in Biology
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information

BIOL 417 001: Creativity & Innovation
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information

BIOL 417 003: Epidemics & Pandemics Seminar
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information

BIOL 417 004: Coral Reef Ecology, Health & Conservation
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information

BIOL 417 005: Next Generation Sequencing Techniques
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information

BIOL 417 DL1: Conservation Genetics
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information

BIOL 417 DL3: Research & Development in Biotech Companies
This course focuses on Research and Development approaches and methodologies used in solving critical problems in biosciences/life sciences through biotechnology.  The course will focus on various steps needed for product development and commercialization.  The course will primarily cover agricultural and medical technologies in a case study format.  Students will develop skills to evaluate novel technologies and methodologies being used in the biotech industry to address medical and agricultural problems.  Students will learn to develop skills needed to analyze patents, literature and data, and learn to formulate research plans.

BIOL 418 DL1: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology II
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

BIOL 492 DL1: Senior Seminar
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

BIOL 508 DL1: Research and Development in Biotechnology Companies
This course focuses on Research and Development approaches and methodologies used in solving critical problems in biosciences/life sciences through biotechnology.  The course will focus on various steps needed for product development and commercialization.  The course will primarily cover agricultural and medical technologies in a case study format.  Students will develop skills to evaluate novel technologies and methodologies being used in the biotech industry to address medical and agricultural problems.  Students will learn to develop skills needed to analyze patents, literature and data, and learn to formulate research plans. 

BIOL 695 001: Application of Genomics in Society
Online course that meets in person and via Zoom.  Readings are assigned on current Genomics topics in literature / journals with student presentations.

BIOL 695 002: Application of Genomics in Health
Online course that meets in person and via Zoom.  Readings are assigned on current Genomics topics in literature / journals with student presentations.

BIOL 695 DL1: Colloquium Speaker Series
Fully online course that meets at lunchtime with various guest speakers.  Topics cover current trends in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

BIOL 695 DL2: Colloquium Speaker Series
Fully online course that meets at lunchtime with various guest speakers.  Topics cover current trends in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

BIOL 695 DL3: Special Topics Seminar
Asynchronous online course designed to train students in understanding scientific presentations and publications while giving them a rudimentary capability to craft a colloquium style presentation based on  journal articles.  Students will record and present a talk on current Bioinformatics topics and write up summaries of additional speakers’ talks for a grade.

BIOL 695 DL4: Bioinformatics Colloquium
Asynchronous online course designed to train students in understanding scientific presentations and publications while giving them a rudimentary capability to craft a colloquium style presentation based on  journal articles.  Students will record and present a talk on current Bioinformatics topics and write up summaries of additional speakers’ talks for a grade.

BIOL 695 DL5: Precision Oncology Studies
Fully online course that meets at lunchtime with various guest speakers.  Topics cover current trends in oncology.

BMED 651 001: Physician and Society
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information. 

BMED 651 DL1: Physician and Society
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

BMED 651 E01: Physician and Society
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

BIOS 704 001: Applications of Genomics in Health
Seminar course that meets in person and via Zoom.  Readings are assigned on current Genomics topics in literature / journals with student presentations.

BIOS 704 DL1: Colloquium Speaker Series
One-hour seminars offered weekly from top funded researchers from around the country on various topics of molecular biology of medicine, diagnostics, and therapeutics. The broad topics have included virology, bacteriology, molecular medicine, Ebola, extracellular vesicles, HIV/Aids, neurological diseases associated with these diseases and a range of diagnostics approved by the FDA as well as therapeutics that cover basic fundamental drugs, antibodies and nucleic acid approaches.  Registered students are required to submit a one-page report one week after the seminar with introduction, results, discussion and reference sections.

BIOS 704 DL2: Topics in Biosciences
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

BIOS 704 DL3: Bioinformatics Colloquium
Asynchronous online course designed to train students in understanding scientific presentations and publications while giving them a rudimentary capability to craft a colloquium style presentation based on  journal articles.  Students will record and present a talk on current Bioinformatics topics and write up summaries of additional speakers’ talks for a grade.

CHEM 490 001: Undergraduate Seminar
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

CHEM 579 001: Advanced Topics in Material Chemistry
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

CHEM 790 001: Graduate Seminar
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

CLIM 759 002: Atmospheric Convection
To provide a deep understanding of the structure and theory of atmospheric moist
convection, particularly as it relates to the structure and sensitivity of climate system.

CLIM 991 001: Climate Dynamics Seminar
Description forthcoming. Please contact the department in the meantime for more information.

COS 315 DL1: Scientific Policy Internship Prep
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

COS 515 DL1: Scientific Policy Internship Prep
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

CDS 486: Statistical Inference
Description is forthcoming. Please refer to the department webpage in the meantime.

CSI 709 002: Natural Language Processes for Complex Systems
The course focuses on the fundamentals of natural language processing (NLP), comparatively or coupled with other computational methods such as machine learning (with an emphasis on decision trees, random forests and neural networks), agent-based modeling, social network analysis, and image processing. Emphasis on current large language models (LLMs), such as BERT, PaLM, GPT or Semantic Analysis are included. The course provides tools for the analysis of datasets that include text, audio, and/or image/video files.

CSI 899 DL1: Colloquium in Computational Science and Informatics
Weekly research seminar featuring topics at the frontier of computing and its applications to both natural and social science domains. Recent focus of the seminar on agent-based modeling, machine learning, artificial intelligence and related developments is designed to keep the faculty and graduate students in the Department of Computational and Data Sciences up-to-speed on the latest developments in the field.

CSS 610 001: Agent-based Modeling and Simulation
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

CSS 635 001: Cognitive Foundations of CSS
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

CSS 645 001: Spatial Agent-Based Modeling of Human-Environmental Interactions
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

CSS 692 001: Social Network Analysis
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

CSS 898 DL1: Research Colloquium in CSS
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department for more information.

CSS 739 001: Natural Language Processes for Complex Systems.
The course focuses on the fundamentals of natural language processing (NLP), comparatively or coupled with other computational methods such as machine learning (with an emphasis on decision trees, random forests and neural networks), agent-based modeling, social network analysis, and image processing. Emphasis on current large language models (LLMs), such as BERT, PaLM, GPT or Semantic Analysis are included. The course provides tools for the analysis of datasets that include text, audio, and/or image/video files.

CSS 898 DL1: Research Colloquium in Computational Social Science
Weekly research seminar featuring topics at the frontier of computing and its applications to both natural and social science domains. Recent focus of the seminar on agent-based modeling, machine learning, artificial intelligence and related developments is designed to keep the faculty and graduate students in the Department of Computational and Data Sciences up-to-speed on the latest developments in the field.

EVPP 490 002: Sustainability in Action
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 490 011: Sustain Systems Methods Practice
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 490 012: Spec Topic-Envir Sci/Pol
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 490 SA1: Spec Topic-Envir Sci/Pol
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 490 SA2: Spec Topic-Envir Sci/Pol
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 490 SA4: Nepal: Conservation Storytellng
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 505 002: Fundamentals of Environmental GIS
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 505 003: Soil Science
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 505 004: Career Development for Environmental Scientist
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 505 005: SA: Nepal Conservation Story
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 505 006: Selected Topics in Environmental Science
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 505 008: Selected Topics in Environmental Science
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.]

EVPP 505 009: Lab for Lecture 006
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

EVPP 505 SA1: Selected Topics in Environmental Science
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

FRSC 515 001: Firearm and Toolmark ID
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department more information.

FRSC 600 001: Forensics Seminar
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department more information.

GGS 399 002: Sports, Culture, and Place
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

GGS 399 DL1: Spatial Justice
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

GGS 485 001: Capstone Geography & Geoinformation Science
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information

GGS 590 009: Economic Geography
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

GGS 590 DL1: Spatial Justice
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.
 

GEOL 392 001: Geology and Earth Science Seminar
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

GEOL 420 001: Earth Science and Policy
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

GEOL 441 001: Great Events in Earth History
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

GEOL 503 002: Special Topics in Earth Science Education
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

GEOL 541 001: Great Events in Earth History
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

GEOL 792 001: Seminar in Earth Systems, Geology, and, Earth Science
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

GEOL 792 DL1: Seminar in Earth Systems, Geology, and, Earth Science
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

MATH 400 002: History of Math
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

MATH 439 001: Quantum Algorithms
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

MATH 495 001: Undergraduate Seminar
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

MATH 639 001: Topics in Geometry/Topology
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

MATH 795 001: Graduate Seminar
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

NEUR 411 001: Seminar in Neuroscience
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the departmentfor more information.

NEUR 411 003: Seminar in Neuroscience
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the departmentfor more information.

NEUR 461 001: Behavioral Chemistry
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the departmentfor more information.

NEUR 461 002: Neuroinformatics Methods
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the departmentfor more information.

NEUR 592 DL1: Neurobiology of Decision Making
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the departmentfor more information.

NEUR 592 DL2: Brain is a Time Machine
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the departmentfor more information.

PHYS 390 001: Statistical Methods in Physics
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

PHYS 390 002: Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

PHYS 390 003: Story of Quantum Spin
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

PHYS 390 004: Topics in Physics
A seminar/colloquium where we invite different speakers from all over to come talk on cutting-edge research.

PHYS 390 010: Ideas in Quantum Science & Technology
A seminar/colloquium where we invite different speakers from all over to come talk on cutting-edge research.

PHYS 581 001: Physics of Renewable Energy
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

PHYS 590 001: Statistical Methods in Physics
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

PHYS 590 002: Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

PHYS 590 003: The Story of Quantum Spin
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

PHYS 590 004: Selected Topics in Physics
A seminar/colloquium where we invite different speakers from all over to come talk on cutting-edge research.

PHYS 590 005: Ideas in Quantum Science & Technology
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.

PHYS 703 002: Seminar in Physics
Description forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the department  for more information.