Environmental Studies and Sciences: Graduate

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Administration

Brian Wygal, Program Director
Science Building, Room 310
p – (516) 877-4174
f – (516) 877-4485
e – bwygal@adelphi.edu
w – environmental-studies.adelphi.edu

Aaren Freeman, Associate Professor & Graduate Coordinator of Environmental Studies and Sciences Program
Science Building, Room 120
p – (516) 237-8546
e – afreeman@adelphi.edu

Faculty

Master of Science (M.S.) in Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary field of knowledge that encompasses aspects of scientific, political, social, and economic disciplines. A working knowledge of these fields is necessary for the analysis, remediation, and protection of a multitude of environmental problems on local, national, or global scales. The Environmental Studies program permits students to become conversant with the breadth of environmental problems and possible solutions, while achieving a strong, experience-based concentration in one of the specific disciplines within the field.

There are two basic curricular specializations open to the student who wishes to pursue the Master of Science degree in Environmental Studies. A student can elect a specialization in the Global Physical Environment, the Global Human Environment, Business/Environmental Economics, or the Global Human Environment, Environmental Health.

Opportunities exist, within each concentration, for the student to make program selections that reflect areas of faculty and student interest. For example, such selections could focus on:

• The physical, chemical, biological, and biochemical aspects of pollutant detection;
• The cultural, societal, epidemiological, public health, paleontological, and paleopathological effects of environmental problems;
• and
• The economic, governmental, and social interactions consequent to environmental concerns.

The Master of Science in Environmental Studies prepares students for careers in many industrial, regulatory, political, economic, and educational settings. The program is composed of 33 credits incorporating classroom, laboratory, field opportunities, and either a thesis or internship. The optional culmination in a thesis provides additional flexibility for the student with more specific career or educational goals. Full-time students can anticipate three semesters of 12 credits each. Field classes, internships, and research are also offered during the summer months.

Undergraduate students taking Environmental Studies, Environmental Sciences, Biology, or Natural Science degrees may elect to apply for the 4+1 Accelerated undergraduate to M.S. in Environmental Studies degree program. This accelerated degree program allows students to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in only five years. 

Admission

The requirements for admission to the master’s program are a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies or a related field, and demonstrated promise of successful achievement in the field. Work experience in related environmental fields will be considered with regard to the above requirements. Students are admitted as regularly matriculated students or on an initial provisional basis as non-degree students. Graduate Record Examination scores are not required. Applicants should contact the program director for further information.

Note: It is not necessary for an undergraduate student at Adelphi University to complete the bachelor’s degree before entering the graduate program. By careful scheduling of courses it should be possible for a student to complete both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees within 5 years.

Specializations

Specializations are optional clusters of courses centered on specific subject matter pertaining to business, economics, or environmental health. The selected area of specialization encompasses the majority of the course work for the student. Directed research, fieldwork, and electives, may be associated with the specialization. In following the global physical environment or the global human environment, the student acquires a technical and theoretical level of sophistication in areas fundamental to the contemporary study of specific aspects concerning the environment.

Emergency Management Program

Environmental graduate students may take selected courses in the Emergency Management Graduate Program  toward their degree requirements. Students should consult with their advisor prior to taking Emergency Management Program coursework. Up to 8 credits of Emergency Management coursework may be applied to the 36 credits required for the Environmental Studies M.S. degree. Relevant courses in Emergency Management include:

• UEM (0616) 501 - Introduction to Emergency Management
    
• UEM (0616) 503 - Health Management in Times of Disaster
    

Programs

• Environmental Studies, M.S.

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