Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Graduate Catalogue 
    
2017-2018 Graduate Catalogue Archived Catalogue

Environmental Studies and Public Administration, M.S. EVS/M.P.A Dual Degree


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The dual degree program is offered jointly by the Departments of Environmental Sciences and Public and International Affairs. Full-time students will earn two degrees – a Master of Science in Environmental Studies (M.S. EVS) and a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) – in three years as opposed to four years if enrolled separately. This degree option is specifically for students who want to bridge the communication gap between environmental science and public policy. Potential post-graduation opportunities associated with the program include: career tracks in coastal planning and management and other environmental programs at the federal, state, or local level; careers in nonprofit organizations focused on environmental issues; and private sector jobs focused on consulting or regulatory compliance.

The dual M.S. EVS/M.P.A. degree program requires three academic years of full-time study consisting of a minimum of 57 credit hours. This is accomplished by sharing a maximum of 18 credit hours that will count toward both degree programs. Students in the M.P.A. program will not be required to complete a concentration. Instead, that requirement is replaced by the required EVS coursework.

Application


Applicants seeking admission to the dual M.S. Environmental Studies and M.P.A. Public Administration degree programs must submit an application and application fees for consideration to both programs. Students must be successfully admitted to both degree programs, in accordance with their individual standards and requirements. Admission to the dual degree program will then be determined by the graduate coordinators for the M.S. EVS and M.P.A. programs. Once admitted to the dual M.S. EVS/M.P.A. degree program, students will select a concentration from the M.S. in Environmental Studies  program. Students will be assigned advisors (the Graduate coordinators) from each program to help them develop their course of study.

Admission Requirements


Applicants seeking admission to the M.S. EVS/M.P.A. dual degree program are required to submit the following to the Graduate School:

  1. An application for graduate admission to both the M.S. EVS and M.P.A. programs;
  2. Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate);
  3. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) less than five years old;
  4. Three recommendations from individuals in professionally relevant fields;
  5. A personal statement describing educational and professional experiences, their reasons for pursing the dual degree, and career goals;
  6. A resume;
  7. A writing sample (optional).

Application and required documents must be submitted by the published deadlines.

Applicants seeking admission to the program must meet the following requirements:

  • Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or its equivalent from a foreign institution of higher education based on a four-year program;
  • A strong academic record with an average GPA of 3.0 or better in the undergraduate program;
  • Strong academic potential as indicated by satisfactory performance on the GRE General Test;
  • Indication of graduate academic potential as reflected by three letters of recommendations from individuals in professionally relevant fields;
  • Professional and career goals that are consistent with the nature of a dual degree program in environmental studies and public administration.

Individuals who fall below a specified criterion may be admitted if other factors indicate potential for success. Individuals with identified deficiencies may be accepted provisionally with specified plans and goals for the remediation of these deficiencies. Such remediation may include a requirement for additional hours beyond those normally required for the degree.

Note: If you are a student currently enrolled in either the M.S. EVS or M.P.A. programs separately, and would like to be considered for the Dual degree, please contact your Program Coordinator in your respective area for information on the application process.

Degree Requirements (57 total credit hours)


All students must complete the required coursework that is part of the M.S. EVS and M.P.A. degree programs.

Concentration (15 credit hours)


All students are required to pursue a concentrated area of study in Coastal Management, Marine and Coastal Education, Environmental Education and Interpretation, or Environmental Conservation and Management as part of the EVS component of the dual degree. Students can also elect to plan their own curriculum in the Individualized Study concentration. Students electing to pursue the Individualized Study concentration should consult with their advisors from both programs and must have their course of study approved by the graduate coordinators of both programs. For students pursuing a combined concentration, a maximum of 6 total credit hours may be shared between the concentrations.

Coastal Management


All students pursuing a concentration in Coastal Management must complete the following:

Marine and Coastal Education


All students pursuing a concentration in Marine and Coastal Education must complete the following:

Environmental Education and Interpretation


All students pursuing a concentration in Environmental Education and Interpretation must complete the following:

Environmental Conservation and Management


All students pursuing a concentration in Environmental Management must complete the following:

Individualized Study


All students pursuing an Individualized Study concentration must complete the following:

  • 15 credit hours of electives approved by the EVS graduate program advisor

Applied Skill-Based Elective (3 credit hours)


All students are required to take one of the following applied skill-based electives to further their professional development and analytical skills. Students are encouraged to take additional coursework from this list of electives when putting together their plan of study for their concentrations or as their electives.

M.P.A. Internship or Practicum (3 credit hours)


All students must complete an internship or practicum experience of at least 3 credit hours unless the requirement is waived by the graduate coordinator of the M.P.A. program. All students must also have their placement approved by the M.P.A. graduate coordinator. In general, a practicum is only approved in place of an internship when the student’s professional responsibilities or work requirements make it difficult or impossible to complete an internship.

A waiver of the internship requirement is only granted when the student can demonstrate a minimum of 5 years of significant management or policy-related professional experience or completes a comparable experience that serves as a suitable replacement for this requirement. If the internship requirement is waived, the student must complete an additional 3 hours of electives.

Capstone Experiences (6 credit hours)


To ensure that students are able to employ skills and knowledge gained in the program within applied settings, capstone courses are required by each program. Both courses provide extended opportunities for fieldwork, research or creative projects and help the student to bridge related theory with practical applications. Both courses should be taken near the end of each program.

Electives (3 credit hours)


Students will generally be required to complete an additional 3 credit hours of electives in order to fulfill their degree requirements. Students can select additional skill-based electives, coursework from other concentrations, or take other electives as approved by the graduate coordinators from the EVS and M.P.A. programs.

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