Program Overview

Biodefense, PhD

Overview

This program is designed to prepare students to serve as scholars and professionals in the fields of biodefense and biosecurity. The program integrates knowledge of natural and man-made biological threats with the skills to develop and analyze policies and strategies for enhancing biosecurity. Other areas of biodefense, including nonproliferation, intelligence and threat assessment, and medical and public health preparedness are integral parts of the program.

Admissions

See Graduate Admissions for general information on graduate admission to George Mason University. See the Schar School of Policy and Government Admissions website for application requirements and deadlines. Students are considered for admission for the Fall term only.

Policies

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6.10 Requirements for Doctoral Degrees.

Transfer of Credit

Previously earned and relevant graduate credits may be eligible for transfer into this program; details can be found in the Credit by Exam or Transfer section of this catalog.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 72

• Core Courses
  • BIOD 604: Emerging Infectious Diseases I: Bacteria and Toxins (3 credits)
  • BIOD 605: Emerging Infectious Diseases II: Viral Agents (3 credits)
  • BIOD 609: Biodefense Strategy (3 credits)
  • BIOD 620: Global Health Security Policy (3 credits)
  • BIOD 710: Health Security Preparedness (3 credits)
  • GOVT 500: The Scientific Method and Research Design (3 credits)
  • GOVT 540: International Relations (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following advanced research courses: (3 credits)
    • POGO 611: Advanced Data Analysis for Policy and Government
    • POGO 646: Policy and Program Evaluation
    • An alternative research course approved by the program director
  • Total Credits: 24
• Field of Specialization
  • Select one field of specialization and complete the requirements therein.
  • International Security
    • GOVT 744: Foundations of Security Studies (3 credits)
    • GOVT 745: International Security (3 credits)
    • Select six credits of electives (courses may be chosen from the electives list below) (6 credits)
    • Total Credits: 12
  • Terrorism and Homeland Security
    • BIOD 722: Examining Terrorist Groups (3 credits)
    • BIOD 725: Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction (3 credits)
    • Select six credits of electives (courses may be chosen from the electives list below) (6 credits)
    • Total Credits: 12
  • Technology and Weapons of Mass Destruction
    • BIOD 706: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons Policy and Security (3 credits)
    • BIOD 760: National Security Technology and Policy (3 credits)
    • Select six credits of electives (courses may be chosen from the electives list below) (6 credits)
    • Total Credits: 12
• Additional Specialization Courses
  • Of the courses listed for the preceding fields of specialization, students must select two courses from those that are not in their chosen field. (6 credits)
  • Total Credits: 6
• Electives
  • Select 9 to 18 credits of additional electives in consultation with advisor.
  • Courses may be offered by Schar or by other units. Schar courses include the following:
    • BIOD 610: Advanced Topics in Global Health Security
    • BIOD 621: Ethics and International Security
    • BIOD 622: Negotiating in the International Arena
    • BIOD 705: Intelligence: Theory and Practice
    • BIOD 706: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons Policy and Security
    • BIOD 709: Nonproliferation and Arms Control
    • BIOD 722: Examining Terrorist Groups
    • BIOD 723: Legal Dimensions of Homeland Security
    • BIOD 725: Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction
    • BIOD 726: Food Security
    • BIOD 751: Biosurveillance
    • BIOD 760: National Security Technology and Policy
    • BIOD 762: Biotechnology and Society
    • BIOD 766: Medical Countermeasures for Responding to CBRN Threats and Pandemics
    • BIOD 793: Directed Studies in Biodefense
    • BIOD 810: Advanced Seminar in Biodefense
    • BIOD 890: Doctoral Supervised Internship
    • BIOD 899: Directed Research in Biodefense
    • GOVT 510: American Government and Politics
    • GOVT 706: Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations
    • GOVT 739: Issues in Comparative and International Politics
    • GOVT 741: Advanced Seminar in International Politics
    • GOVT 745: International Security
    • GOVT 755: Seminar in Politics and Bureaucracy
    • PUAD 504: Managing in the International Arena: Theory and Practice
    • PUAD 630: Emergency Planning and Preparedness
    • PUAD 631: Disaster Response Operations and Recovery
    • PUAD 632: Terrorism: Theory and Practice
    • PUAD 635: Emergency Preparedness: Interagency Communication and Coordination
    • PUAD 701: Cross-Cultural and Ethical Dimensions of International Management
    • PUAD 727: Seminar in Risk Assessment and Decision Making
    • PUAD 731: Homeland/Transportation Security Administration
    • PUAD 738: Issues in International Security
    • PHIL 642: Biomedical Ethics
  • Total Credits: 9-18
• Qualifying Exam
  • The purpose of the qualifying exam is to determine if the student is ready to engage in dissertation research. Doctoral students are eligible to take the exam at the conclusion of coursework, provided an approved Degree Plan is on file with Schar. The exam must be passed before the student takes dissertation proposal (BIOD 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal).
• Advancement to Candidacy
  • Advancement to candidacy for the doctoral degree occurs when a student has met the coursework requirements, passed the comprehensive qualifying examination, presented and successfully defended a dissertation proposal, and has an approved dissertation committee.
• Dissertation Research
  • Once enrolled in BIOD 998, students in this degree program must maintain continuous registration in BIOD 998 or BIOD 999 each semester (excluding summers) until the dissertation is submitted to and accepted by the University Libraries. Once enrolled in BIOD 999, students must follow the university's continuous registration policy as specified in AP.6.10.6 Dissertation Registration. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least 1 credit of BIOD 999.
  • Students may apply to this degree a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 credits of BIOD 998 and a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 18 credits of BIOD 999. They apply a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 24 dissertation credits (BIOD 998 and BIOD 999 combined) to the degree. Because of the continuous registration policy, students may be required to register for additional credits of these courses.
  • Before registering in BIOD 999, students must offer a successful public defense of the dissertation proposal. Students must present the results of the dissertation research to their dissertation committee in a seminar and defend their dissertation to the university community. Successful completion of a dissertation is contingent on approval of the dissertation committee and the dean.
  • Research credits: 12-24
  • BIOD 998: Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (minimum of 3 credits)
  • BIOD 999: Doctoral Dissertation (minimum of 6 credits)
  • Total Credits: 12-24