Environmental Science (MS)

Objectives

The M.S. in Environmental Science is an advanced interdisciplinary graduate program for students interested in developing an understanding of various scientific paradigms related to the environment and its management.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 30-degree credits is required. Candidates must consult with the graduate advisor (not thesis advisor) in designing appropriate programs of study.

Students must attain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the core courses listed below, and a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.

Seminar: In addition to the minimum 30-degree credits required, all students who receive departmental or research-based awards must enroll each semester in EVSC 600 Environmental Science Seminar.

Learning outcomes

In the program, students will gain both fundamental and applied interdisciplinary knowledge, as well as laboratory skills that they will need to become successful environmental scientists. Students will learn a range of environmentally related subjects, such as chemistry, biological sciences, ecology as well as studies in air/water pollution and waste management. The students in M.S. Environmental Science acquire a wide range of skills and knowledge, but we specifically aim for them to meet the following learning outcomes:

• Ability to learn about natural processes and environmental pollutants.
• Ability to learn about environmental regulations and laws.
• Ability to develop an understanding of global environmental issues including, energy utilization and its connection to the environment.
• An ability to problem-solve both as an individual and as part of a team.
• An ability to identify and utilize evidence-based resources and information.
• An ability to think critically and creatively about the environmental issues.
• Ability in scientific research and writing using laboratory experiments related to environmental pollution issues and hazardous waste issues.
• Students should understand issues related to toxicity.
• Understanding of how scientific information obtained through the laboratory and computational data are used in research, and to maintain the environmental health of our society in terms of contamination in air, water, and soil.
• Ability to analyze effectively and accurately and use technical skills and equipment to quantify environmental phenomena, use quantitative methods to describe these issues.
• Understanding of chemical, biological and microbiological process in the environment.