Master of Science in Environmental Science
With world-class faculty and small-class sizes, the Master of Science in Environmental Science program provide students with an interdisciplinary, applications-oriented education in environmental science. The program is designed to enable graduates to analyze and understand natural ecosystems, predict environmental change, and participate in the management of environmental issues. Each student in the program conducts research through completion of a thesis and develops depth in a specific academic area through the completion of focused course work. Additional breadth is added through a set of core courses that include concepts in ecology, environmental policy, applied sciences and quantitative methods.
The MS Environmental Science program is a thesis-oriented research experience. Therefore, to be successfully admitted to the program you must be sponsored by a member of the faculty. Thus, prior to applying to the program it is required that you contact one of the WSU Vancouver science faculty with research interests similar to your own about becoming your major advisor. Students are not admitted into the graduate program without an academic advisor. If you have questions please contact Dr. Brian Tissot, Graduate Program Coordinator, for more information.
*** View our Graduate program poster! ***
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
The course of study is a thesis degree program. The thesis degree program consists of not less than 32 hours of credit including 6 hours of thesis credit (ES/RP 700) and a minimum of 26 hours of course work. The course work must include a minimum of 21 hours of graded course work. No more than 6 hours of non-graduate credit 300- or 400-level courses may be included in either program.
Required core courses
ES/RP 544: Environmental Assessment (4 credits)
ES/RP 591 or 592: Special Topics (2)
ES/RP593: Graduate Seminar (1)
ES/RP 700: Thesis (6)
Ecology area (one course required)
Biol 567: Ecological Restoration (3)
Biol 568: Conservation Ecology (3)
Biol 565: Biological Oceanography (3)
Applied Biological, Physical, or Social Science area (one course required)
Biol 567: Ecological Restoration (3)
Biol 565: Biological Oceanography (3)
Geol 565: Biogeochemistry and Global Change (3)
ES/RP 586: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (4)
PolS 430: Politics of Natural Resource & Environmental Policy (3)
PolS 534: Seminar in Comparative Politics (3)
Quantitative skills (one course required)
Stat 412: Biometry (3)
Stat 555: Statistical Ecology (3)
Area of Specialization (11-13 semester hours)
Biol 538: Animal Behavior (3)
Biol 520: Conservation Genetics (2)
Biol 561: Environmental Physiology (3)
Biol 567: Ecological Restoration (3)
Biol 568: Conservation Ecology (3)
Biol 565: Biological Oceanography (3)
ES/RP 502: Human Health & the Environmental (3)
ES/RP 527: Environmental Chemistry (3)
ES/RP 545: Hazardous Waste Management (3)
ES/RP 550: Systems Dynamics Models of Environmental Systems (4)
ES/RP 586: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (4)
Stat 555: Statistical Ecology (3)
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
For information about admission see "How to Apply" listed below as well as from the WSU Graduate School.
Prerequisites for admission in to the program include: sociology or cultural anthropology (3 semester hours); basic course in environmental science (3); biological sciences (3); general chemistry or general physics (6); calculus or statistics (3); and general ecology (4).
Note: Due to the pre-requisites of the core graduate course a minimum requirement of one-year of general biology (for science majors), one-year of general chemistry (for science majors), and math through calculus is also required. Students admitted with deficiencies can remove them after arrival by taking suitable courses without receiving graduate credit.
Students must meet the minimum grade requirement for every course taken for their degree program (no grade lower than a B-) or will have to re-take the course.
Students who do not have English as their primary language must complete the TOEFL.
HOW TO APPLY
All material must be received by January 10 (for Fall semester) in order to be considered for admission. If you are interested in applying to any other semester except Fall please contact a potential faculty advisor.
Applications are processed entirely online from the WSU Graduate School Website: http://www.gradsch.wsu.edu/future-students/admission/apply.html
Required material for the MS Environmental Science degree program are as follows:
Online application.
One copy of official transcripts from each institution of higher education previously attended.
GRE scores (general test).
Three letters of recommendation.
A 2-3 page statement of your long-term goals.
IMPORTANT: Send items 1-4 of the above material to the WSU Graduate School using the online application process. Applications are processed centrally in Pullman and we access them in Vancouver.
Please be sure to check "Vancouver" as your campus of choice on the application. E-mail item #5 directly to the Vancouver Science Graduate Secretary, Julie Points.
Questions?
Please direct any questions you have about the application process to the WSU Graduate School.
For queries regarding the status of your application at WSU Vancouver please contact Julie Points.
For questions about the graduate program in Vancouver please contact Dr. Brian Tissot.
