Master of Science in Environmental Conservation - Water, Wetlands, and Watersheds

This concentration leads to both Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Environmental Conservation (ECo) and is designed for students who want scientific training in the multi-disciplinary field of water, wetlands and watershed conservation. The focus of this concentration is broadly on water resources but encompasses specialized training in fields such as wetlands, hydrology, nonpoint source pollution, modeling, ecosystems, water resource management, watershed sciences, economics, climatic impacts, and water-related policy. There are many options for specialized training within this concentration. For example, students may choose to specialize in wetlands, where they will gain an understanding of wetland ecology, including hydrology, soils, plants, and wildlife; field methods for wetland delineation and functional assessment; and public policy relating to state and federal wetland regulatory programs. Or, for example, students may choose to specialize in watershed science and management, where they will gain an understanding of the science underlying a watershed system and develop technical skills in integrated watershed management. More specifically, students will develop a comprehensive under-standing of the interrelated components of watersheds, including: land cover, hydrology, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, socioeconomic processes, pollutant transfer, institutions, communities, and economic growth.

The Graduate Program in Environmental Conservation (ECo) strongly supports and is committed to being a diverse, equitable and inclusive community and we welcome all applicants regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, national origin, socio-economic status, political views, physical abilities, and age. The basic admission policies are as follows:First, you must meet the UMass Graduate School admissions requirements to be considered for admission to the ECo Graduate Program. See the UMass Graduate School for more information regarding admission.Second, and importantly, admission to the ECo Graduate Program is driven entirely by individual faculty. In other words, individual faculty members (not an admissions committee) have the sole authority to accept students into the program. No student is admitted without a designated faculty major advisor.We recommend the following steps when seeking admission to the Eco Grad Program:FIND A FACULTY MEMBER — This is the critical first step. It’s in your best interest to proactively contact faculty members whose work interests you. To learn more about individual faculty, view the faculty research profiles on the departmental website. The more you know about the prospective faculty member the better off you are going to be in convincing them of your sincere interest in working with them. We strongly suggest initiating contact with prospective faculty advisors via email to see if they are accepting new students and interested in someone with your background and aspirations. It is advisable to attach your current CV or resume to the message. Also, note that faculty are extremely busy and sometimes get behind in responding to emails. We encourage you to follow-up with another message or whatever it takes to establish a line of communication.SEND LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION — Arrange to have at least two (three is better) letters of recommendation sent to the Graduate School (there are forms in the Graduate Application that can be used).SEND TRANSCRIPT — Have one official transcripts sent to the Graduate School from any undergraduate and graduate institutions that you have attended.GRE – The GRE is not required.