Master of Science in Environmental Studies

Environmental Geoscience Option
The Environmental Geoscience Option is designed to prepare students with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct research and act as consultants in environmental sciences and geosciences. The students in the program will take a variety of courses distributed across two areas – Policy/Economics and Environmental Geoscience. Course work will be concentrated in the Environmental Geosciences, with the option to take additional courses in the other areas based on student interest.

The MS program requires the completion of 30 credits: 3 credits in Policy/Economics, 18 credits in Environmental Geoscience, 3 additional credits from any area, and 6 credits of Master’s thesis (for the MS thesis option). The thesis involves original laboratory or theoretical work, usually publishable in accredited and peer reviewed technical journals. The thesis advisory committee will consist of a Principal Advisor who is the member of the EEAS faculty, and two members chosen from EEAS or associated UMass Lowell faculty. One member may be from outside the University, with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator. In lieu of a thesis, students may elect to take an additional 6 credits of approved course work (non-thesis MS).

Candidates for the program should have a baccalaureate degree in physical or biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering from an accredited program and generally a 3.000 GPA or higher. Candidates with a closely related major may be admitted with the approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator. Students entering the program should have at a minimum a year of college Physics, a year of college Chemistry, and Calculus I (Calculus II may be required for some courses). Depending on their prior course work, students entering the program may be required to take undergraduate courses in order to develop the analytical skills and knowledge base required for the advanced level courses, but these credits will not count towards the total required for the Master’s degree.

General requirements for all applicants are a completed application packet supplied by the Graduate Admissions Office which includes:

  • Graduate Admissions Application form
  • A Statement of Purpose
  • Two letters of recommendation pertaining to academic ability and/or professional performance
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Application fee
  • International applicants must also submit an official TOEFL score
  • For Fall 2023 and beyond applications, the GRE exam is no longer required.

Applications may be downloaded or submitted electronically from the Graduate Admissions website.

Applications for the Master of Science Option in Environmental Geoscience are accepted year round, but it is recommended that completed applications be submitted several months before expected matriculation.

Curriculum

Area I. Policy/Economics (Elect 1) - 3 credits

Area II. Environmental Geoscience (Elect 6) - 18 credits

Any other GEOL or ENVI course at the 5000-8000 level can be taken. Course of relevance in the other departments may be accepted with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator.
Elective from any Area (Elect 1) - 3 credits
Thesis (6 credits) or 2 courses from any of the above Area(s) for non-thesis - 6 credits

Total Credits: 30 credits

last updated 3/16/2023

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