MA Degree Completion Requirements

Master of Arts (MA) in Environmental Science and Policy

Graduate students in the Master of Arts in Environmental Science and Policy will satisfactorily complete, with a grade of B or better, fifteen (15) credit hours of Theme 1: Core Concepts in Science, twelve (12) credit hours of Theme 2 : Core Concepts in Policy and at least three (3) credit hours of Theme 3: Electives. Students will complete a comprehensive examination after all Theme 1 and Theme 2 courses. Six (6) credit hours of final project are required to successfully complete the required 36 credit hours for the Master’s degree.

Coursework:

Theme 1: Core Concepts in Science (all 5 courses required = 15 credit hours)

1. EVR 6936 Seminar in Environmental Science
2. PCB 6933 Seminar in Ecology
3. CHM 6938 Environmental Chemistry
4. STA 5166 Statistical Methods
5. EVR 6934 Global Climate Change

Theme 2: Core Concepts in Policy (all 4 courses required = 12 credit hours)

1. EVR 6937 Seminar in Environmental Policy
2. EVR 6934 Wetlands, People and Public Policy
3. GEO 6116 Perspectives in Environmental Thought
4. GIS 6100 Geographic Information Systems

Theme 3: Electives (choose at least 1 = 3 credit hours)

1. GIS 6038C Advanced Remote Sensing
2. EVR 6934 Qualitative Method
3. GEO 6428 Seminar in Advanced Human Geography
4. EVR 6934 Environmental Justice
5. EVR 6216 Advances in Water Quality Policy and Management
6. GEO 6286 Advances in Water Resources
7. Or other Appropriate Electives

Theme 4: Final Project (6 credit hours)

Each student will register for three (3) credits of EVR 6908 (Directed Individual Study) during each of his/her last two semesters, for a total of six (6) credits. Each student will work with the instructor to identify a relevant final project of interest to him/her and which should result in professional growth. The final project requires students to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their course work via completion of a project. The final project results will be written up and presented to the department. To ensure quality control, each report will be evaluated by the instructor, the graduate coordinator, and the department chair.

Comprehensive Exam

Upon completion of all Theme 1 and Theme 2 courses, students will sit a Comprehensive Exam designed to assess that they have mastered the major concepts expected of a master’s-level graduate. A test bank will be created by the instructors of these courses and Comprehensive Exams will consist of questions chosen from the test bank. Students will be allowed two opportunities to pass the Comprehensive Exam. Students must pass the Comprehensive Exam to earn the MA degree.