Master of Science in Environmental Science
The Master of Science in Environmental Science at American University
provides professional training for working in the complex environmental
field. The program of study is multidisciplinary, reflecting an
extensive collaboration among academic departments and major teaching
units of the university. After initial grounding in core courses
in environmental science and statistics, students concentrate in
toxicology, conservation biology, earth and atmospheric science,
or environmental assessment.
The program of study accommodates the training needs of established
professionals in the environmental field as well as recent college
graduates. It can serve as a terminal degree in itself or as a stepping
stone for further graduate work toward a Ph.D. in environmental
science or a related discipline.
Curriculum and Degree Requirements
- A total of 35 credit hours of approved graduate work, including 26 hours
of required courses and 9 hours of course work within an area of concentration.
- One comprehensive examination with a maximum of two attempts is permitted.
Core Courses
- ENVS-580 Environmental Science I: A Quantitative Approach (4)
- ENVS-58l Environmental Science II: A Quantitative Approach (4)
- ECON-579 Energy Economics, Resources and the Environment (3) and ECON-603
Introduction to Economic Theory (3) OR
SIS-519 Special Studies in International Politics: International Environmental
Politics (3) and PUAD-606 Foundations of Policy Analysis (3)
- ENVS-68l Environmental Research Seminar and Practicum (3)
- ENVS-69l Environmental Science Research (3)
- STAT-5l4 Statistical Methods (3)
- STAT-5l5 Regression (3)
- Track-specific courses dependent upon area of concentration: toxicology,
conservation biology, earth and atmospheric science, or environmental assessment.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;
- 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate work;
- scores from the GRE General Aptitude test;
- two letters of recommendation;
- a well-written Statement of Purpose;
- TOEFL score of 600 paper / 250 computer for all international students
whose first language is not English.
In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for
graduate study, students must have completed one year of calculus
and one year of laboratory science (biology, chemistry, geology,
or physics). One semester or more of economics is recommended.
Contact Information
Environmental Studies Program
American University
Hurst Hall 101
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20016
Phone: (202) 885-2176
E-mail: environ@american.edu
www.american.edu/cas/env_std/programs_MS.html
