Program Overview and Requirements

Environmental science is a broad, interdisciplinary field of science that deals with all aspects of the natural environment and the interaction of humans with the environment. Environmental scientists work on a wide range of environmental issues including the utilization and conservation of natural resources; sustainable development in both developed and developing countries; the investigation and remediation of ground water and soil contamination; brown field restoration; the mitigation of the destructive forces associated with hazardous geologic and meteorological events; the utilization of energy resources; climate change and global warming; environmental policy; environmental health and toxicology; environmental education and environmental law.

The purposes and goals of this program are to provide students with the interdisciplinary education and training they need to find employment in this rapidly growing field of study, or to continue their studies in the pursuit of a doctoral degree.

The Master of Science in Environmental Science program is a 33 credit program that consists of 4 required courses (12 credits) designed to expose students to the diversity of this field of study and 7 elective courses (21 credits) that give students the opportunity to continue studying environmental science as an interdisciplinary science, or to concentrate their studies on a specific field of environmental science. Initially, these fields will be ecology, geology, chemistry and environmental toxicology and environmental policy.

In order to better serve the individual needs of the students in this program, both thesis and non-thesis options are available. Students undertaking thesis work can use up to 6 credits of thesis research credits for their elective credits. In addition, student desiring to study an area of environmental science that is not offered as a formalized course can take an independent course (3 credits) to achieve this goal. To accommodate working professionals, students will be able to enter this program on either a full time or part time basis.