ENVST:MS - Master of Science in Environmental Studies
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Admissions Requirements for the Master of Science (MS) in Environmental Studies
To be admitted into the MS in Environmental Studies program, a student must meet the university’s graduate admission requirements and:
(1) Have a “B” average in upper level work
(2) International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 80 on the iBT TOEFL or 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.
(3) Submit three letters of recommendation, a one-page statement of research interests, and a copy of all transcripts to University Graduate Admissions on or before February 1 for the Fall admissions and August 1 for the Spring admissions.
(4) Receive approval of the departmental Graduate Program Committee.
The Master of Science in Environmental Studies requires 36 credits, including the specific requirements (listed below) of either the thesis or non-thesis option of the degree program. A maximum of six credits of post-baccalaureate graduate coursework may be transferred from other institutions, subject to approval of the Graduate Committee. Particular courses will be determined by the student in consultation with the thesis advisory committee, faculty advisor, or the Graduate Program Director.
The MS degree program offers two options: thesis and non-thesis. The thesis option involves rigorous, solutions-oriented scientific research into the functioning of environmental systems. This option is highly recommended for students who are coming directly from undergraduate programs and who are interested in doctoral research in the future. The non-thesis option is primarily designed for employed professionals who may want to enhance their careers and skills through additional academic training beyond their bachelor’s degree and practical training through internships with agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations or academic institutions. It is not recommended for students who do not have job experience.
Graduate Concentrations for the MS in Environmental Studies
The Department of Earth and Environment currently offers graduate-level concentrations in several different areas. A list of electives for each of these concentrations can be obtained from the Department’s Office.
Admissions Requirements for the Combined Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sustainability and the Environment to MS in Environmental Studies Accelerated Degree Pathway
To be considered for admission to the combined bachelor’s/master’s accelerated degree pathway, students must have completed at least 75 credit hours including all lower division requirements, typically have at least 30 credit hours remaining in the program, and meet the admissions criteria for the graduate degree program to which they are applying. Students need only apply once to the combined accelerated degree pathway; the application is submitted to Graduate Admissions typically before the student starts the last 30 credits of the bachelor’s degree program. Students must apply prior to the semester in which graduate credits will be counted towards the undergraduate degree program.
Admissions Requirements
(1) Current enrollment in the BA in Sustainability and the Environment degree program at FIU.
(2) Completed at least 75 credits of coursework (including UCC), and typically has at least 30 credits remaining.
(3) Completion of all lower division required courses for the Bachelor’s degree.
(4) Current GPA of 3.25 or higher.
(5) Three letters of recommendation.
(6) Approval by the Earth and Environment Graduate Committee.
For EVR 6971, students must complete at least six (6) credits to fulfill this requirement.
The research methods course and electives are selected in consultation with student’s thesis advisor.
Elective courses fit the student’s thesis research. Additional Master’s Thesis, Thesis Research, or Graduate Independent Study up to a maximum total of 3 credits may also be applied as elective credit. Students must demonstrate a competency in Statistics (equivalent to two courses of undergraduate statistics, taken prior to the admission into the program, with a “B” or better grade in both courses, or one course of graduate statistics with a “C” or better grade in both courses). Additional course work may be recommended by the advisory committee.
Other Curricular Offering: Combined BA in Sustainability and the Environment to MS in Environmental Studies Accelerated Degree Pathway
The combined BA/MS degree pathway in Environmental Studies allows qualified students to earn both the BA in Sustainability and the Environment and a non-thesis MS in Environmental Studies, in a shorter amount of time than typically required for earning degrees sequentially. The accelerated pathway is designed for highly qualified undergraduate students in the Department of Earth and Environment.
A student admitted to the combined degree pathway will be considered to have undergraduate status until the student applies for graduation from their bachelor’s degree program. Only 5000-level or higher courses, and no more than the number of credits specified by the program catalog, may be applied toward both degrees. Shared credit is limited to formal coursework, exclusive of independent study. Students may not enroll in graduate level classes until provisionally admitted to the graduate program.
Students must apply for the award of their bachelor's degree the semester the degree requirements will be completed.
The bachelor's degree and master's degree cannot be awarded in the same term. No undergraduate credit may count toward the graduate degree.
General Requirements
(1) Meet the requirements of both the BA in Sustainability and the Environment and the non-thesis MS degree in Environmental Studies.
(2) Overlap of programs: Up to 4 courses (12 credits) may be used in satisfying both the BA and MS degree requirements, which must be at the 5000-level or higher.
Admissions Requirements for the Combined Bachelor of Science (BS) in Environmental Studies to MS in Environmental Studies Accelerated Degree Pathway
To be considered for admission to the combined bachelor’s/master’s accelerated degree pathway, students must have completed at least 75 credit hours including all lower division requirements, typically have at least 30 credit hours remaining in the program, and meet the admissions criteria for the graduate degree program to which they are applying. Students need only apply once to the combined accelerated degree pathway; the application is submitted to Graduate Admissions typically before the student starts the last 30 credits of the bachelor’s degree program. Students must apply prior to the semester in which graduate credits will be counted towards the undergraduate degree program.
Admissions Requirements
(1) Current enrollment in the BS in Environmental Studies degree program at FIU.
(2) Completed at least 75 credits of coursework (including UCC), and typically has at least 30 credits remaining.
(3) Completion of all lower division required courses for the Bachelor’s degree.
(4) Current GPA of 3.25 or higher.
(5) Three letters of recommendation.
(6) Approval by the Earth and Environment Graduate Committee.
The quantitative methods course is selected in consultation with faculty advisor.
Electives are selected in consultation with faculty advisor.
Elective courses are chosen and to fit the student’s particular professional interest and to ensure sufficient breadth and depth of environmental studies knowledge. Students carrying out research, internship or independent study for their non-thesis project should sign up for course but may not exceed 6 credits total. EVR 6970 and EVR 6971 will not count toward electives. A maximum of 6 credit hours may be taken at the 4000 level. A minimum of 12 elective credits must be taken in Environmental Studies or other departmental courses. All courses must be taken for letter grades.
Doctoral candidates in the Natural Resource Science and Management Major of the Earth Systems Science degree who have filed the D-2 and D-3 forms and accepted by the University Graduate School can receive a MS in Environmental Studies degree en route to the PhD after completion of 36 credits of graduate coursework with “non-thesis option” appearing in the transcript.
Other Curricular Offering: Combined BS in Environmental Studies to MS in Environmental Studies Accelerated Degree Pathway
The combined BS/MS degree pathway in Environmental Studies allows qualified students to earn both the BS in Environmental Studies and a non-thesis MS in Environmental Studies, in a shorter amount of time than typically required for earning degrees sequentially. The accelerated pathway is designed for highly qualified undergraduate students in the Department of Earth and Environment.
A student admitted to the combined degree pathway will be considered to have undergraduate status until the student applies for graduation from their bachelor’s degree program. Only 5000-level or higher courses, and no more than the number of credits specified by the program catalog, may be applied toward both degrees. Shared credit is limited to formal coursework, exclusive of independent study. Students may not enroll in graduate level classes until provisionally admitted to the graduate program.
Students must apply for the award of their bachelor's degree the semester the degree requirements will be completed.
The bachelor's degree and master's degree cannot be awarded in the same term. No undergraduate credit may count toward the graduate degree.
General Requirements
(1) Meet the requirements of both the BS in Environmental Studies and the non-thesis MS degree in Environmental Studies.
(2) Overlap of programs: Up to 4 courses (12 credits) may be used in satisfying both the BS and MS degree requirements, which must be at the 5000-level or higher.
Other Curricular Offering: MS in Environmental Studies and Juris Doctor Joint Degree Pathway
The faculties of the College of Law and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education at Florida International University offer a joint degree pathway culminating in both a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, awarded by the College of Law, and a Master of Science in Environmental Studies (MS-ES) degree, awarded by the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education. Under the joint degree pathway, a student can obtain both degrees in significantly less time than it would take to obtain both degrees if pursued consecutively. Essential criteria relating to the joint degree pathway are as follows:
(1) For law students, enrollment in the MS-ES program is required no later than the completion of 63 credit hours in the JD program. For MS-ES students, enrollment in the JD program is required no later than the completion of 24 credit hours in MS-ES program.
(2) A student must satisfy the curriculum requirements for each degree before either degree is awarded. For the MS-ES degree, students must meet the requirement of the non-thesis option. The College of Arts, Sciences, and Education will allow 6 credit hours of foundation law courses and up to 9 credit hours of upper level environmental law courses to be credited toward both the MS-ES and JD degrees. These law classes will count toward the non-EVR Environmental Studies elective credits allowed under the MS-ES non-thesis option program. Reciprocally, law students may receive 9 hours of credit toward the satisfaction of the JD degree for courses taken in the MS-ES curriculum upon completion of the MS-ES degree curriculum with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
(3) The College of Arts, Sciences, and Education will recognize any significant, environment-related law review or research project completed with a letter grade of ‘B’ or better for the JD program toward the 3 credit hour course, course and the attendant ‘Project’ required for the MS-ES non-thesis option program. For the purpose of this program, a project is defined as a substantial analysis and proposal for change of a real-world environmental problem, and requires preparation of a report and presentation as part of the required Environmental Studies Graduate Seminar class.
(4) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway may begin the student’s studies in either college, but full-time law students must take the first two semesters of law study consecutively and part-time law students must take the first three semesters of law study consecutively. Students admitted to one college but electing to begin study in the other college under the joint degree pathway may enter the second college thereafter without once again qualifying for admission so long as they have notified the second college before the end of the first week of the first semester in the second college and are in good academic standing when studies commence in the second college.
(5) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway will not receive either degree until the student has satisfied all of the requirements for both degrees, or until the student has satisfied the requirements of one of the degrees as if the student had not been a joint degree candidate.
(6) As non-thesis option MS-ES students, students in the joint degree pathway will not normally be eligible for the graduate teaching assistantships in the Environmental Studies Department.
There are no majors associated with this program.
Admissions Requirements for the MS in Environmental Studies and Juris Doctor Joint Degree Pathway
(1) Candidates for the pathway must meet the entrance requirements for and be accepted by both colleges. Both colleges must be informed by the student at the time of application to the second program that the student intends to pursue the joint degree.
(2) The joint degree pathway is not open to students who have already earned one degree.