The Professional Science Masters degree is designed for graduates of bachelor’s programs in physical/natural sciences, environmental studies, civil/environmental engineering, or related fields, or those who have at least 20 credit hours in these areas who are currently employed, or wanting to be employed, in private firms, public agencies, and not-for-profit organizations that address a range of environmental issues. Key foci in the science curriculum of this program are environmental impact assessment; soil, air, water, and ecosystems science; environmental health and policy; community and climate resilience; and an understanding of environmental law and policy and the regulatory environment.
The Professional Science Master’s (PSM) is an interdisciplinary graduate degree that combines advanced coursework in science with a set of professional skills courses (project management, technical writing/communications, policy), and a capstone/internship experience. The environmental assessment graduate program combines physical and natural science, resilience, and sustainability principles with project management and communications training to develop science professionals with the skills to accurately collect, synthesize, and clearly communicate data, develop and implement solutions, and successfully lead teams.
This is a National Professional STEM Master's Association (NPSMA) affiliated program with curriculum aligned to NPSMA's guidelines and best practices designed to create tomorrow's innovative STEM workforce.
Admission to Graduate Studies
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
The admissions requirements for the Professional Science Master's in Environmental Assessment include:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. The student must have an undergraduate major in the natural, physical, or applied sciences, engineering, or related fields, OR coursework of at least 20 semester hours in the natural and applied sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, geology, physical geography, physics, statistics, and/or civil/environmental engineering). For those without the necessary background courses in undergraduate science, some additional coursework will need to be completed prior to the start of the graduate student program.
- Statement of interest: This 1-2 page narrative should succinctly summarize your education, employment history, your long-term career goals, and how this degree program will help you achieve these goals.
- At least two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to offer judgment on your work ethic and ability to undertake graduate-level work.
- International students must also meet the English proficiency and financial support documentation. Admissions will not result in an F-1 Visa, as the program does not qualify for the F-1 Visa status.
GRE not required.
All PSMs must include a core of communication, project management, and business or data science skills.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| EVRN 721 | Environmental Regulation and Policy | 3 |
| PFS 804 | Project Management for Professionals | 3 |
| PFS 730 | Writing and Speaking for Decision Makers | 3 |
| or PFS 801 | Interpersonal and Persuasive Communication Skills for Managers |
| or PFS 810 | Organizational Communication Strategies |
| 3 |
| Managing Teams and Leading People | |
| Financial Management for Professional Success | |
| Advanced Environmental Applications in Geospatial Techniques | |
| Contaminant Transport | |
| Applied Groundwater Modeling | |
| Nonprofit Management and Policy | |
| Managing Public Money | |
| Innovation and Organizational Change | |
| |
| EVRN 770 | Environmental Impact Assessment | 3 |
| 6 |
| Water Quality, Land Use, and Watershed Ecosystems | |
| Soil Science for Environmental Assessment | |
| Soil Ecology & Restoration |
| Environmental Air Quality Assessment | |
| 1 | |
| Advanced Environmental Applications in Geospatial Techniques | |
| Global Environmental Justice | |
| Climate Change, Ecological Change and Social Change | |
| Environmental Toxicology | |
| Environmental Remote Sensing | |
| Water Resource Sustainability | |
| Natural Hazards and Environmental Risks | |
| Fluvial Geomorphology | |
| Wetland Delineation | |
| Community Resilience | |
| Energy and Environment | |
| Soil Ecology & Restoration | |
| Environmental Site Operations, Management, and Safety: HAZWOPER Health and Safety Standards | |
| Site Assessment | |
| EVRN 814 | Professional Science Masters Environmental Assessment Capstone I | 1 |
| EVRN 815 | Professional Science Masters Environmental Assessment Capstone II | 2 |
| Total Hours | 33 |
The following is a sample plan and will be adjusted to fit a students' individual scheduling and course needs within the framework of the PSM degree requirement. Since many PSM students are working professionals, summer courses are consistently provided to allow students to balance course loads with their professional workload and maintain steady progress towards their degree at a manageable pace. While this program can be completed in a shorter timeframe, the sample plan below shows an average course load for those who are working professionals. This average plan is for a part-time student. Full-time students take 9-12 credit hours per semester.
*Initial enrollment can occur in Fall, Spring, or Summer terms.
| Year 1 |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
|---|
| EVRN Science Core Selection | 3 | EVRN 721 | 3 | EVRN 700+ Science Elective | 3 |
| EVRN 500+ Science Elective | 3 | EVRN 700+ Science Elective | 3 | Professional Core Course Selection | 3 |
| | 6 | | 6 | | 6 |
| Year 2 |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
|---|
| PFS 804 | 3 | EVRN 770 | 3 | EVRN 815 | 2 |
| PFS 810 | 3 | EVRN Science Core Selection | 3 | |
| EVRN 814 | 1 | | |
| | 7 | | 6 | | 2 |
| Total Hours 33 |
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Apply disciplinary and/or thematic training to practical situations through quantitative analysis, critical thinking assignments, or case studies.
- Synthesize and evaluate disciplinary concepts and ideas to assess environmental conditions and make responsible decisions in the best interest of populations impacted by environmental issues as displayed in discussions, projects, homework problems and essays.
- Identify and develop new or original interpretation or analysis of a relevant environmental topic through the application of program curriculum in course projects and the Capstone Experience course proposal and report.
- Communicate effectively in a professional environment through technical reports, graphical illustrations, or presentations.
- Demonstrate effective management and collaboration skills through project development and group work.
