Overview of Graduate Program
The multidisciplinary MS in Environmental Science involves extensive collaboration among academic departments at the university. We offer an innovative graduate-level environmental science course sequence that bridges many disciplines and makes environmental science accessible to graduate students whose academic training is in other subject areas. Our course of study balances interdisciplinary work with in-depth training in the discipline. Our outstanding faculty are nationally recognized scholars in natural products chemistry, marine science, environmental toxicology, ecology, conservation biology, environmental chemistry, and environmental statistics. Students benefit from individualized attention and close interaction with the faculty in small classes.
After initial grounding in core courses in environmental science and statistics plus two graduate courses in environmental policy, the student chooses a concentration in either earth and atmosphere science, toxicology, or conservation biology. All students participate in an environmental research seminar and practicum that provides an opportunity to establish links between policy and science in an applied context.
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.
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study (hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college, and have at least a 3.00 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate study), students must have completed:
- One year of calculus
- One year of laboratory science (biology, chemistry, geology, or physics)
- One semester or more of economics is recommended
Financial Support
Fellowships, teaching assistantships and student grants are available to qualified applicants. See the AU Graduate Programs Application for additional information about being considered for these merit awards.
Degree Requirements
A total of 36 credit hours of approved graduate work, including 18 hours of required courses and 18 hours of electives. One comprehensive examination with a maximum of two attempts are permitted.
I. Required Core Courses (total 18 credit hours)
- ENVS-580 Environmental Science I (3)
- ENVS-581 Environmental Science II (3)
- STAT-514 Statistical Methods (3)
- CSC-610 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (3)
- ENVS-681 Environmental Research Seminar and Practicum (3) (see below for additional info)
- One of the following: ENVS 690 Environmental Science Research (3) or ENVS 691 Internship (1-3)
At least 3 courses from the environmental science cluster electives listed below
- ENVS-520 Biogeochemistry (3)
- ENVS-575 Risk assessment (3)
- ENVS-596 Biogeography (3)
- ENVS-675 Hydrology (3)
- BIO-596 Field methods (3)
- BIO-572 Conservation Biology (3)
- ENVS-582 Environmental Law (3)
- PUAD-606 Foundations of Policy Analysis (3)
- ECON-579 Environmental Economics (3)
- SIS-660 Environment and Politics (3)
- SIS-649 Environment and Development (3)
- SIS-620 Studies in Global Environmental Politics (3)
- SOCY-689 Environmental Sociology (3)
A second statistics course (STAT 515 Regression, STAT 516 Design of Experiments, STAT 520 Applied Multivariate Analysis, STAT 524 Data Analysis or others approved by the Graduate Advisor) may be substituted as an Elective in either cluster. ENVS-681: Students are required to take ENVS 681 during spring semester of their final year. This will involve writing up a paper based on an internship, research or independent study and present the paper given during a venue approved by the graduate advisor.