ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES CURRICULUM
The Master of Science in Environmental Studies program is made up of 36 credits, including 24-30 hours of coursework, with capstone or thesis project hours making up the remainder. The capstone project is typically less comprehensive than the thesis, so students choosing this option are required to take two additional elective courses. Students interested in pursuing the master’s degree full-time should plan to spend about two years in residence.
Thesis Option
The purpose of the thesis option is to demonstrate the student’s ability to investigate a research topic and report the findings in proper scientific publication style. This enables the student to gain experience in a specific area of environmental studies and to report research results in a publishable document. Experience in literature review, experimental design, data collection, record-keeping, statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation are obtained by students completing the thesis option. Students who intend to further their graduate education (e.g. obtain a doctoral degree) should choose this option, because doctoral programs often require students to have demonstrated their ability to successfully complete a master’s thesis. Required courses and thesis topic must be approved by the student’s graduate committee.
Thesis Option First Year
| Fall |
Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Total | 9 | Total | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
ENV 501 - Introduction to Environmental Studies |
3 | ENV 503 - Student Team Project | 3 |
| ENV 600 - Research* | 3 | ENV 509 - Biostatistics OR ECO 501 - Statistical Methods |
3 |
| Elective* | 3 | ENV 502 - Population and Community Ecology |
3 |
Thesis Option Second Year |
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Total | 9 | Total | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
ENV 511 - Energy and the Environment |
3 | Elective | 3 |
ENV 600 - Research* |
3 | ENV 600 - Research* | 3 |
Elective |
3 | ENV 601 - MES Thesis | 3 |
*Up to three research credits may be taken each semester to give graduate students full-time status while thesis research is in progress.
Capstone Project Option
Graduate students enrolled in the non-thesis option are required to complete a capstone project as determined by their major professor and approved by their committee. Examples might include a literature review, a public service project, or Cooperative Extension work. A detailed proposal is submitted for approval to the student’s committee before the project is conducted, and a final project report must be approved by the student’s committee before graduation.
Capstone Option First Year
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Total | 9 | Total | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
ENV 501 - Introduction to Environmental Studies |
3 | ENV 503 - Student Team Project | 3 |
| Electric | 3 | ENV 509 - Biostatistics OR ECO 501 - Statistical Methods |
3 |
| Elective | 3 | ENV 502 - Population and Community Ecology |
3 |
Capstone Option Second Year
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Total | 9 | Total | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
ENV 511 - Energy and the Environment |
3 | Elective | 3 |
Elective |
3 | Elective | 3 |
ENV 699 - Capstone |
3 | ENV 699 - Capstone | 3 |
Core Courses:
- ENV 501 Introduction to Environmental Studies
- ENV 502 Population and Community Ecology
- ENV 503 MES Student Team Project
- ENV 509 Biostatistics OR ECO 501 Statistical Methods
- ENV 511 Energy and the Environment
- ENV 699 MES Capstone OR ENV 600/601 MES Research and Thesis
* Electives:
- AQU 522 Principles of Aquaculture
- ENV 507 Agroforestry: Local and Global Perspectives
- ENV 508 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
- ENV 513 Aquatic Ecology
- ENV 515 Environmental Ethics
- ENV 516 Environmental Justice
- ENV 517 Environmental and Resource Economics
- ENV 519 Sustainable Agriculture Systems
- ENV 525 Organic Agriculture
- ENV 535: Urban Agriculture
- ENV 540 Ornamental and Landscape Plants
- ENV 542 Plant Propagation and Production Systems
- ENV 545 Molecular Techniques for Environmental and Aquatic Studies
- ENV 550 Human Health and the Environment
- ENV 551 Livestock Production Practices
- ENV 555 Food Safety and Microbiology
- ENV 560: Agricultural and Environmental Policy
- ENV 565: Environmental Law
- ENV 585 Special Topics in Environmental Studies
- ENV 589 Remote Sensing of the Environment
- ENV 595 Environmental Science and Bioremediation