Master of Science in Environmental Science

The Master of Science Degree in Environmental Science prepares students for environmental science research, doctoral study, community college teaching, and technical positions in universities, industry, or governmental agencies. The degree offers four options: Environmental Biology, Environmental Engineering Science, Environmental Hydrology, and Geospatial Sciences. The Environmental Biology Option emphasizes basic research into such areas as conservation, pollution, and global change. Environmental Engineering Science Option treats similar issues (i.e., air, soil, and water pollution and sustainability) from the perspective of engineering solutions. The Environmental Hydrology Option emphasizes fundamental problems of the hydrologic cycle, including water pollution issues, wetlands and watershed hydrology, and hydrologic modeling. The Geospatial Sciences option emphasizes both theoretical and analytical skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing data processing.

Applicants must possess a BA or BS degree from an accredited institution in biology, chemistry, civil engineering, environmental engineering, environmental science, geography, geology, or a related field. Applicants with a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units who are admitted by the Environmental Science Program are admitted to the degree program in Conditionally Classified standing. Promising applicants with GPAs in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units between 2.5 and 2.74 may be admitted as Special Action students. Special Action students must achieve an overall grade point average of a B (3.0) for four qualifying courses (approved in advance by the student’s graduate advisor). The qualifying courses should be completed by the end of the second quarter of graduate study. Students who do not have a BS degree or a BS degree in the option chosen may be required to take a set of pre-requisite courses (e.g. chemistry, physics, calculus, biology etc.) with an average GPA of 3.0 or above. The general university minimum admission requirements are: Completion of a four-year Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university by the end of summer for Fall admission, or by the end of Fall for Spring admission; Good academic standing at the last college or university attended; Grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 in an acceptable earned Bachelor's degree (or a GPA of at least 2.5 (out of 4.0) in the last 60 semester (or 90 quarter) units attempted); Submit Official Academic Records/Transcripts, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - 80 ibt or higher , International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Band 6.0 or higher , Toefl Paper - 550