Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalogue 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalogue Archived Catalogue

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


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Graduate Programs

Graduate Coordinator for M.S. in Environmental Studies: Dr. Devon Eulie
Graduate Coordinator for Masters in Public Administration: Dr. Mark T. Imperial


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 60 credit hours. Students complete the degree requirements for both programs with the exception that they share 12 credit hours that count towards both sets of program requirements. EVS 518 - Fundamentals of Applied Environmental Research (3 credit hours) serves as the methods requirement for the students in the EVS-MPA dual degree program so students are not required to take MPA 501 – Quantitative Methods. Students in the EVS-MPA dual degree program are only required to complete one internship or practicum by completing either MPA 598 – Internship in Public Administration or MPA 594 – Practicum in Public Administration (3 credit Hours). Accordingly, students are not required to complete the EVS degree’s 3 credit applied learning requirement. Students are required to select a concentration from each degree. One EVS concentration course will serve as an elective in the MPA program for either a concentration or applied skill-based elective. Similarly, one MPA concentration course or applied skill-based elective will serve as an elective for the EVS concentration. This results in sharing 6 additional credit hours.

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 each program’s 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 complete the curriculum requirements described below. Students will be assigned faculty advisors (e.g., Graduate coordinators) from each program to help them develop their course of study.

Admission Requirements


Applicants seeking admission to the M.S. EVS/MPA dual degree program should submit applications to both graduate programs prior to the deadlines published by the Graduate School. 

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

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

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

  • 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)
  • Strong academic performance in an undergraduate curriculum indicated by a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher, or its equivalent
  • Indication of graduate academic potential reflected by satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination
  • Indication of graduate academic potential reflected by three letters of recommendation from individuals in professionally relevant fields
  • 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.

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program must meet the following requirements:

  • An application for graduate admission
  • Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate). A GPA of 3.0 at the undergraduate level is required for admission. Students with a GPA below 3.0 may be accepted provisionally when there is a record of professional work experience longer than 3 years or other evidence that suggests the ability to successfully complete graduate coursework. Such evidence could include work experience in excess of three years, standardized test scores on the GRE/GMAT, and/or successful completion of other graduate coursework. Contact the program coordinator for additional clarification.
  • Three recommendations from individuals who are in a position to evaluate the applicant’s professional competence as well as potential for graduate study (ideally at least one reference should be an academic instructor).
  • A personal statement describing your professional experiences, reasons for pursuing graduate study in the MPA program, and your professional career goals
  • Resume

Admissions decisions are based upon the examination of the entire portfolio of information and when indicators of success warrant, individuals who fall below the established criterion in one area may be considered for admission. Such individuals may be required to take additional coursework to remove deficiencies or may be required to demonstrate proficiency in certain areas.

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 (60 total credit hours)


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

Core Requirements for the M.P.A. Degree (12 credit hours)


Applied Skill-Based Elective (6 credit hours)


All students are required to take two of the following applied skill-based electives; however, students can take additional classes from this list as part of their concentration coursework. Applied-skill based electives may be double counted as concentration electives for the MPA concentrations or be used as electives in an EVS concentration. Note, however, that double counting courses does not reduce the 60 credit hours requirement for the dual EVS-MPA degree. Students should consult with their advisors to select the appropriate courses.

Internship or Practicum (3 credit hours)


All students must complete an internship or practicum experience of at least 3 credit hours. The internship placement or practicum project also satisfies the EVS degree’s 3-credit applied learning requirement.  All students must 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..

Selecting a Concentration in Each Degree Program


All students in the dual EVS-MPA degree program are required to select a concentration from each program.  One EVS concentration course will serve as an elective for the MPA Program’s concentration or satisfy its applied skill-based elective requirement.  Similarly, one MPA concentration course or applied skill-based elective will serve as an elective for the EVS concentration. This results in sharing 6 credit hours. If students complete a dual concentration in either degree program, a maximum of 6 credit hours of concentration courses can be shared and extra coursework beyond the 60 required hours may be required.

EVS Degree 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. 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 the Environmental Studies graduate coordinator.

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:

  • Credit Hours: 3
  • 12 credit hours of electives approved by the EVS graduate program advisor (3 credit hours must be in approved natural science courses and 3 credit hours must be in approved physical science courses)
  • Note: EVS 595  or EVS 597  placement of students in this concentration must be at an approved Marine and Coastal Education site.

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

MPA Degree Concentrations (12 credit hours)


All students are required to pursue a concentrated area of study in Public Management (12 credit hours), Public Policy Analysis (12 credit hours), Nonprofit Management (12 credit hours), Urban and Regional Policy and Planning (12 credit hours), Coastal Planning and Management (12 credit hours).

Public Management (12 credit hours)


All students pursuing a concentration in public management must complete the following requirements:

Public Policy Analysis (12 Credit Hours)


All students pursuing a concentration in public policy analysis must complete the following requirements:

Nonprofit Management (12 credit hours)


All students pursuing a concentration in nonprofit management must complete the following requirements:

Urban and Regional Policy and Planning (12 credit hours)


All students pursuing a concentration in urban and regional policy and planning must complete the following requirements:

Coastal Planning and Management (12 credit hours)


All students pursuing a concentration in coastal planning and management must complete the following requirements:

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Graduate Programs