Nov 28, 2024

2024-2025 Graduate Catalogue

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

Graduate Coordinator for M.S. in Environmental Sciences: Dr. Devon Eulie

Program Coordinator for Masters in Public Administration: Craig Kelly
Masters in Public Administration Director: Dr. Mark 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 Sciences (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 63 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 can choose to complete their EVS applied learning requirement with either EVS 595 - Research in Environmental Sciences or EVS 597 - Practicum in Environmental Sciences (3 credits). 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 (63 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.S. EVS Degree (15 credit hours)

EVS 501 - Introduction to Environmental Problems Credit Hours: 3
EVS 515 - Field Methods in Environmental Sciences Credit Hours: 3 or
EVS 516 - Field Methods for Coastal Environments Credit Hours: 3
EVS 518 - Fundamentals of Applied Environmental Research Credit Hours: 3
EVS 519 - Advanced Applied Environmental Research Credit Hours: 3
ENG 575 - Professional Science Writing Credit Hours: 3

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

MPA 500 - Public Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 505 - Policy Analysis Credit Hours: 3
MPA 502 - Public Human Resources Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 503 - Financial Management and Decision Making Credit Hours: 3
MPA 595 - Capstone Seminar in Public Administration Credit Hours: 3
Note: MPA 595 – Capstone Seminar in Public Administration should be taken in the final semester of completing the EVS-MPA dual degree unless students are graduating in a summer session.

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.

MPA 504 - Analytics for Public and Nonprofit Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 506 - Program Evaluation Credit Hours: 3
MPA 507 - Applied Management Tools, Skills, and Techniques Credit Hours: 3
MPA 509 - Leading Public and Nonprofit Organizations Credit Hours: 3
MPA 517 - Strategic Planning and Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations Credit Hours: 3
MPA 531 - Nonprofit Resource Development Credit Hours: 3
MPA 535 - Leading and Managing Volunteers Credit Hours: 3
MPA 541 - Public Economics and Cost-Benefit Analysis Credit Hours: 3
MPA 545 - Government Planning and Geographic Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
MPA 550 - Social Impact Clinic Credit Hours: 3
GGY 524 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
Or other courses as approved by the program coordinators

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.

MPA 594 - Practicum in Public Administration Credit Hours: 3 or
MPA 598 - Internship in Public Administration Credit Hours: 3

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:

EVS 520 - Foundations of Coastal Management Credit Hours: 3
12 credit hours of electives approved by the EVS graduate program advisor

Marine and Coastal Education

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

EVS 525 - Foundations of Environmental Education 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:

EVS 525 - Foundations of Environmental Education Credit Hours: 3
12 credit hours of electives approved by the EVS graduate program advisor

Environmental Conservation and Management

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

EVS 540 - Foundations of Environmental Conservation and Management Credit Hours: 3
12 credit hours of electives approved by the EVS graduate program advisor

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:

MPA 517 - Strategic Planning and Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations Credit Hours: 3
MPA 542 - Managing Interorganizational Relations Credit Hours: 3
Students must take an additional six credit hours of an approved elective. Choose six credit hours from the following list of approved electives:
MPA 506 - Program Evaluation Credit Hours: 3
MPA 507 - Applied Management Tools, Skills, and Techniques Credit Hours: 3
MPA 508 - Ethics in Public Life Credit Hours: 3
MPA 509 - Leading Public and Nonprofit Organizations Credit Hours: 3
MPA 510 - Public Administration, Policy and Politics in the American Federal System Credit Hours: 3
MPA 514 - Conflict Resolution Credit Hours: 3
MPA 515 - Organizational Communication Credit Hours: 3
MPA 528 - Local Government Administration Credit Hours: 3
MPA 530 - Nonprofit Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 541 - Public Economics and Cost-Benefit Analysis Credit Hours: 3
or other approved electives

Public Policy Analysis (12 Credit Hours)

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

MPA 506 - Program Evaluation Credit Hours: 3
MPA 541 - Public Economics and Cost-Benefit Analysis Credit Hours: 3
Students must take an additional six credit hours of an approved elective. Choose six credit hours from the following list of approved electives:
MPA 510 - Public Administration, Policy and Politics in the American Federal System Credit Hours: 3
MPA 513 - Regional Planning Politics and Policy Credit Hours: 3
MPA 520 - Seminar in Coastal Processes and Problems Credit Hours: 3
MPA 521 - Coastal Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 524 - Managing Coastal Hazards Credit Hours: 3
MPA 525 - Managing Coastal Ecosystems Credit Hours: 3
MPA 527 - Planning Theory and Planning Law Credit Hours: 3
MPA 526 - Sustainable Cities Credit Hours: 3
MPA 543 - Environmental Policy Analysis Credit Hours: 3
MPA 544 - Resource Economics Credit Hours: 3
MPA 547 - Housing and Transportation Policy Credit Hours: 3
MPA 562 - International Environmental Policy Credit Hours: 3
or other approved electives

Nonprofit Management (12 credit hours)

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

MPA 530 - Nonprofit Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 536 - Nonprofit Business Law Credit Hours: 3
Students must take an additional six credit hours of an approved elective. Choose six credit hours from the following list of approved electives:
MPA 506 - Program Evaluation Credit Hours: 3
MPA 507 - Applied Management Tools, Skills, and Techniques Credit Hours: 3
MPA 508 - Ethics in Public Life Credit Hours: 3
MPA 510 - Public Administration, Policy and Politics in the American Federal System Credit Hours: 3
MPA 531 - Nonprofit Resource Development Credit Hours: 3
MPA 532 - Issues in Nonprofit Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 533 - Nonprofits, Society, and Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
MPA 534 - Nonprofit Leadership Experience Credit Hours: 3
MPA 535 - Leading and Managing Volunteers Credit Hours: 3
MPA 537 - Nonprofit Financial Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 542 - Managing Interorganizational Relations Credit Hours: 3
or other approved electives

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:

MPA 512 - Land Use Planning Credit Hours: 3
MPA 513 - Regional Planning Politics and Policy Credit Hours: 3
Students must take an additional six credit hours of an approved elective. Choose six credit hours from the following list of approved electives:
MPA 506 - Program Evaluation Credit Hours: 3
MPA 510 - Public Administration, Policy and Politics in the American Federal System Credit Hours: 3
MPA 514 - Conflict Resolution Credit Hours: 3
MPA 520 - Seminar in Coastal Processes and Problems Credit Hours: 3
MPA 521 - Coastal Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 526 - Sustainable Cities Credit Hours: 3
MPA 527 - Planning Theory and Planning Law Credit Hours: 3
MPA 528 - Local Government Administration Credit Hours: 3
MPA 541 - Public Economics and Cost-Benefit Analysis Credit Hours: 3
MPA 545 - Government Planning and Geographic Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
MPA 547 - Housing and Transportation Policy Credit Hours: 3
or other approved electives

Coastal Planning and Management (12 credit hours)

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

MPA 512 - Land Use Planning Credit Hours: 3
MPA 521 - Coastal Management Credit Hours: 3
Students must take an additional six credit hours of an approved elective. Choose six credit hours from the following list of approved electives:
MPA 513 - Regional Planning Politics and Policy Credit Hours: 3
MPA 522 - Field Seminar in Coastal Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 524 - Managing Coastal Hazards Credit Hours: 3
MPA 525 - Managing Coastal Ecosystems Credit Hours: 3
MPA 526 - Sustainable Cities Credit Hours: 3
MPA 527 - Planning Theory and Planning Law Credit Hours: 3
MPA 528 - Local Government Administration Credit Hours: 3
MPA 543 - Environmental Policy Analysis Credit Hours: 3
MPA 545 - Government Planning and Geographic Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 511 - Coastal and Ocean Law Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 521 - Institutions and the Environment Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 524 - Coastal Resources Management Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 525 - Coastal Ecosystem Governance Credit Hours: 3
or other approved electives