Accelerated 4+1 Environmental Studies, M.S. Degree Program

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Return to: College of Arts and Sciences
NY State Program Code: 19055/23534
HEGIS Code: 0420.00
CIP Code: 03.0103
(33 Credits)

The Environmental Studies 5-year accelerated M.S. degree program provides students with the opportunity to complete an undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S.) in one of three disciplines (Environmental Studies and Sciences, Biology, or Natural Sciences) as well as an Environmental Studies, M.S. degree within 5 years. A maximum of 12 credits from courses at the 500-699 level can be taken in the senior year for undergraduate credit and applied toward the M.S. requirements. Students currently enrolled in an Environmental Studies, B.A. , Environmental Science, B.S. , Biology, B.A. , Biology, B.S. , or Natural Sciences, B.S. are eligible to apply for the Accelerated M.S. in Environmental Studies program. Interested students must obtain the permission of the Graduate Coordinator and meet entry level requirements before being accepted into the Master of Science program. Once accepted, students can take up to 12 credits of Environmental Studies and Sciences courses (ENV or EAS) between the 500 and 699 level and apply these to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees either as electives or degree requirements (when applicable). This would enable the completion of the Master of Science in Environmental Studies with as little as 21 graduate credits in the fifth year.

Complete the Environmental Studies, B.A. , Environmental Science, B.S. , Biology, B.A. , Biology, B.S. or Natural Sciences, B.S. requirements (120 credits), followed by the M.S. (33 credits):

MS in Environmental Studies

The Environmental Studies, M.S. requires 33 total credits for completion in consultation with their advisor. Students may but are not required to take one area of speciality either The Global Human Environment or The Global Physical Environment.

Global Human Environment

The subject of global human environment examines the complex biological and cultural interactions of human populations through time with their varied environmental and geographic contexts. This subject is the focus of the subfields of political science, anthropology, public health, and ecology. Global Human Environment content accentuates the dynamic interactions of these factors from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Optional Specialization in Business/Environmental Economics

People involved in environmental fields from either business or economics must have the necessary tools to understand and influence environmental decision-making. This specialization offers these tools to our students. In consultation with their advisor, students may apply nine elective credits from the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business toward the total the M.S. in Environmental Studies degree.

Optional Specialization in Environment and Health

Environmental health is a recently defined specialization that includes diverse fields such as toxicology and ecotoxicology, disease ecology, and epidemiology. Students, in consultation with their advisor, may select courses related to environment and health.

Optional Specialization in Global Physical Environment

The subject of global physical environment examines knowledge from the Earth Sciences. These offerings develop current knowledge of the geologic, hydrologic, climatic, and diachronic aspects of Earth.

Senior Year

Students may qualify to take a maximum of four (4) designated graduate courses in the fourth year (or its equivalent) of the baccalaureate program and count the credits earned in these courses toward the requirements for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees, assuming they have met the following criteria:

Met all of the requirements of the undergraduate major, as well as those relevant to the overall undergraduate degree, i.e. for a B.S., all general education requirements and 75 percent of credits completed are classified as liberal arts and sciences (LAS);
Maintain a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher in the undergraduate major

(Environmental Studies);

Maintain an overall Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher in all undergraduate studies;
Have permission of both the undergraduate and graduate program director to enroll in the designated graduate level courses in Environmental Studies, subject to the requirements of each degree at the time of entry;
Only a graduate course with an earned grade of 3.0 or higher, taken while enrolled as an undergraduate, will also count toward the Master’s degree requirements;
Matriculate into the Master’s program immediately upon completing the Bachelor’s degree.

A maximum of 12 credits of any Environmental Studies (ENV), Earth Science (EAS), Chemistry (CHE), Anthropology (ANT), or Biology (BIO) courses between 500 and 699 level are approved to be taken in the fourth year (or its equivalent) of the baccalaureate program and will be applied to meet the degree requirements for both the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Environmental Studies.

Upon earning the Bachelor of Science degree, students may matriculate (with the acceptance of the graduate coordinator and program director) into the Master of Science degree and the designated graduate credits earned will be entered on the graduate transcript, enabling the completion of the Master of Science in Environmental Studies with an additional 21 credits earned in the fifth year.

Fifth Year

Of the required 33 core and elective credits for the MS in Environmental Studies degree, six credits are required from the options below. Students may choose their remaining 27 credits from any Environmental Studies or Sciences graduate level course 500 or above in consultation with their advisor or select from specific specializations available through the MS in Environmental Studies program.

Students are required to take the ENV 700 Graduate Seminar but may choose between completing an internship or preparing a written thesis for their final requirement.

ENV (0125) 500 - Environmental Studies Intro Seminar Credits: 3.00
ENV (0125) 791 - Internship Credits: 3.00
or
ENV (0125) 799 - Thesis Research Credits: 3.00