Computational Sciences and Informatics, PhD

Program Overview

George Mason University's Computational Sciences and Informatics PhD program combines computing with science, mathematics, and engineering. Its focus on Computer Modeling and Simulation and Data Science provides interdisciplinary understanding of phenomena through computation. With links to research institutions and firms, the program offers employment opportunities and prepares students for a wide range of careers. Assessment includes candidacy examinations, dissertation proposal, and research defense.

Program Outline

It focuses on the role of computation in science, mathematics, and engineering, with emphases on Computer Modeling and Simulation and Data Science.

• Computational Science: Emphasizes the development and application of computing systems and computational techniques for modeling and simulating scientific and engineering phenomena.
• Informatics: Emphasizes the development and application of computing systems and computational techniques for analyzing data from experiments, modeling, databases, and instrumentation.
The program's close ties to research and development activities in federal laboratories, scientific institutions, and high-technology firms provide students with opportunities for employment. The program is designed to be completed in four to five years and accommodates part-time students with most courses meeting once a week in the late afternoon or early evening.

Assessment:

The program includes the following assessment components:

• Candidacy Examination: Students must successfully complete separate written, computational, and oral candidacy examinations prepared and administered by their dissertation committee.
• Dissertation Proposal: Students must prepare a dissertation proposal outlining their planned research in detail.
The proposal must be approved by the dissertation committee.
• Dissertation Research and Defense: After advancing to candidacy, students work on a doctoral dissertation while enrolled in CSI 999 Doctoral Dissertation.
The dissertation must demonstrate original research worthy of publication in peer-reviewed journals. The dissertation is reviewed by the committee, and the student must defend it in a public oral defense.

Careers:

The program's close ties to research and development activities in federal laboratories, scientific institutions, and high-technology firms provide students with opportunities for employment.

Other:

• The department offers weekly colloquia and seminar series to expose students to the latest developments at area research institutions.
• Students can choose one credit from CSI 898 Research Colloquium in Computational Sciences and Informatics or CSI 899 Colloquium in Computational and Data Sciences.
• The program does not accept the transfer of previous research credits, including master's thesis credits.