Environmental Science M.S. (Non-Thesis)

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Degree Requirements: 36 Credit Hours

Admission

Students are selected for the Master of Science in Environmental Science degree program on a competitive basis. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Admission Requirements

An overall minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in their major courses, or at the discretion of the graduate admission committee.
Two Letters of Recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s potential to complete successful graduate work.
Applicant’s Statement of Purpose to include their interest in the program, relevant research experience, and future plans.

Grades

Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 to remain in good academic standing and to be eligible to graduate. In the event the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. Students have nine (9) credits to elevate the cumulative GPA to at least 3.0 or will be excluded from the program. Students earning grades of “F” will also be excluded from the program.

A maximum of twelve (12) credits at the 5000 level are allowed for the Master of Science in Environmental Science degree.

Program of Study

Core Requirements [Credit Hours: 9]

Environmental Science Elective [Credit Hours: 3]

Choose one course from the list below:

Major Interdisciplinary Electives [Credit Hours: 18]

May include courses from the Environmental Science Elective list above, and/or additional courses from the list below. Must include at least one course with laboratory or scientific process component (4-hr course).

Research, Non-Thesis Capstone, Internship [Credit Hours: 6]

Complete a total of 6 credit hours from the courses below:

Total Credit Hours: 36

Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s in Environmental Science

The Accelerated BS/MS program in Environmental Science allows high achieving students to complete both their B.S. and M.S. degrees in five years, one year earlier than if the degrees were done separately. This gives students an advantage in the job market by providing them with more training, an advanced degree, more research experience, or an advantage for entry into professional schools or Ph.D. programs. Students are accepted into the BS/MS program no earlier than the 1st semester of their junior year.

Admission:

Students are selected for the Master of Science in Environmental Science degree program on a competitive basis. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Admission Requirements:

1. An overall minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in their major courses, or at the discretion of the graduate admission committee.
2. Two Letters of Recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s potential to complete successful graduate work.
3. Applicant’s Statement of Purpose to include their interest in the program, relevant research experience, and future plans.

Program Requirements:

In accordance with SACSCOC requirements, 120 unique credit hours are required in a Bachelors degree program, and at least 30 unique credit hours are required in a Masters degree program. The MS ENVS program combines 124 hours from the BS Env Sci program and 36 hours from the MS ENVS program, exceeding the required 150 unique hours between undergraduate and graduate degree programs by 10 hours. The Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies Handbook for Program Directors and Graduate Advisors permits a maximum of 9 shared credit hours between the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Therefore, MS ENVS-ABM students may share a maximum of 9 credit hours of Masters level courses (5000G-8000) in satisfying the requirements of both degree programs.

Grades:

Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 to remain in good academic standing and to be eligible to graduate. In the event the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. Students will have nine (9) credits to elevate the cumulative GPA to at least 3.0 or will be excluded from the program. Students earning grades of “F” will also be excluded from the program.