Environmental Studies, M.S.

Admission Requirements

To ensure consistency in course sequencing, the majority of admissions will occur in the fall semester of each academic year. However, a limited number of admissions will be available in the spring semester.

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Science in Environmental Studies program are required to submit the following to the Graduate School:

1. An application for graduate admission
2. Official transcripts of all prior university or college work (undergraduate and graduate)
3. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) less than five years old
4. Three recommendations by individuals in professionally relevant fields
5. An essay describing educational and professional experiences, reasons for pursuing graduate study in environmental studies and career goals
6. A resume
7. Optional writing sample
8. Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.

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

1. Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college, or its equivalent (due to the diversity of areas of emphasis within the program, it is not required that the successful applicant possess a degree in Environmental Studies)
2. Strong academic performance in an undergraduate curriculum indicated by a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher, or its equivalent
3. Indication of graduate academic potential reflected by satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination
4. Indication of graduate academic potential reflected by three letters of recommendation from individuals in professionally relevant fields
5. Concurrency of personal goals with the focus of the environmental studies graduate curriculum

Individuals who fall below one of these criteria 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 of additional hours beyond those normally required for the degree.

Degree Requirements (33 total credit hours)

The program requires the satisfactory completion of 33 credit hours of approved graduate level courses consisting of the following: 15 credit hours of core classes designed to provide a foundation in environmental studies; 3 credit hours of practicum or final project designed to link theory with practice; 15 credit hours in an approved concentration. A maximum of 6 total credit hours from any combination of EVS 591 , EVS 595 , EVS 597 , and/or EVS 598  may be applied toward the degree without approval from the graduate coordinator..