Environmental Sciences, MS (Professional Science track)

Please see the general statement of degree requirements for master’s degree programs in the “Academic & Administrative Policies” section of this publication. The Professional Science Track™ in the MS Program in Environmental Sciences is designed to build upon the unique interdisciplinary training and research capacities of the School for the Environment at UMass Boston. This track leverages the strengths in ecosystem assessment and management that permeate the biological and environmental science programs at the university against the rapidly growing programs in entrepreneurial science and industry-science partnerships. The primary goal of this track is to provide students who enroll part-time or full-time with natural science knowledge, quantitative skills, business acumen, and communication skills appropriate for existing and emerging professional science needs in the environmental sector.

This track requires successful completion of thirty credit hours.

Course Requirements

Quantative Analysis

One course (3 or 4 credits) is required. Courses that fulfill the requirement include:

Natural Sciences

Three courses (9 credits) are required. Courses fulfilling this requirement include:

Environmental Law, Policy, Administration, Management, or Economics

Two courses (6 credits) are required. Courses that fulfill the requirement include:

Science Communication

One course (3 credits) in science communication is required.

ENVSCI 654 Professional Science Communication

Management

One course (3 credits) in management is required. Courses that fulfill the requirement include:

Elective

Take one elective (3 credits) from a graduate environmental sciences or environmental law, policy, managmenet course not taken to fulfill core requirements.

Professional Science Internship

ENVSCI 798 Internship in Environmental Sciences

Criteria for Adequate Progress

Criteria for adequate progress include performance in courses and seminar presentations (starting in the second year, each student presents one departmental seminar per year). Students are expected to maintain, at minimum, a B average (3.0) in courses; students who fall below that mark will be placed on academic probation and are subject to dismissal. Normally, two grades of C or one grade of F will result in dismissal from the program.

Admission Requirements

Please see the general statement of admission requirements for all graduate studies programs in the “Admissions” section of this publication.

The graduate admissions committees for all programs and tracks recommend admissions on the basis of the completed application, official transcripts, Graduate Record Examination scores (aptitude tests only), letters of recommendation, and (when applicable) TOEFL exam scores (normal minimum: 600).

A BS or BA degree is required for admission, with a major in the natural, physical, or social sciences, or in mathematics. Candidates who have completed a master’s degree are particularly welcome in the doctoral program.

Completion of at least one year each of college level mathematics (including calculus), biology, chemistry, physics and social sciences will generally be considered as minimum prerequisites for admission to study at the master’s or doctoral level. Applicants should consult with prospective advisors, as there may be additional prerequisites for specific specialty areas. Students are also advised to review the subject matter of the prerequisite courses before they begin the program.

At the discretion of the graduate admissions committee, and depending on the area of concentration an applicant chooses, academic deficiencies at the undergraduate level may need to be remedied before the applicant is admitted to either the master’s or the doctoral program. After admission, the student’s advisory or dissertation committee may also require that academic deficiencies be remedied. The stated interest of a prospective student must coincide to an acceptable degree with the faculty specialties represented within the program. Generally, prospective students should identify potential faculty advisors in their application.

To assure applicants of full and timely consideration, completed applications should normally be received by December 15 for the upcoming fall semester and by October 15 for the upcoming spring semester; however, applications received after those dates may be considered. Notification of admission is made as soon as possible.