Graduate Programs

MS Environmental Science & Policy

• M.S. in Environmental Science & Policy (EVSP)
• M.S. in Environmental Management (EVMG)
• M.S. in Conservation Science & Policy (COSP) new
• M.S. in Environmental Biocomplexity (EVBC)
• M.S. in Earth Surface Processes & Environmental Geochemistry (ESEG)

The Master of Science in Environmental Science & Policy trains students to understand the scientific basis of environmental problems, as well as the social, political and economic factors that shape appropriate policy responses. The student can choose a project master's degree that leads to professional credentials or a thesis master's degree that that offers greater specialization and serves as preparation for doctoral study. Students can also select the Master of Environmental Management concentration which prepares students for work in the environmental field, but without the thesis or project. This concentration has enhanced coursework.

ADMISSION

Potential graduate students should use Mason's on-line application to apply for graduate admission at http://admissions.gmu.edu/.
Please note that international students should also complete the International Student Information Forms at http://oips.gmu.edu/.  

Application deadlines

The deadline for fall enrollment for all graduate applications is Feb. 15 for fall enrollment and Oct. 1 for spring enrollment.  Application materials must be sent to Office of Graduate Admissions, College of Science, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 6A3, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4444.

The following are the prerequisites for applying to the program:

• Bachelor’s degree in Natural or Earth Sciences, Engineering, Resource Planning, or related fields from an accredited institution.*
• ESP Self-assessment form
• GRE Exam
• Prerequisite Courses: Two semesters of general chemistry with a laboratory; Three semesters of general biology with a laboratory including a course in ecology; One course in general ecology (students who do not meet this requirement must take EVPP 607 Fundamentals of Ecology as their natural science elective.)
• Three letters of recommendation (including one from a former professor or someone having a Ph.D.)
• Resume:  If interested in an assistantship
• Statement of interest in the program to include the following :
• Concentration
• Area of emphasis and research skills
• Explanation of career goals
• Advisor agreement

*Not a science major? Foundation work may be required provisionally or before being admitted to the program for those students with social science or other non-natural science backgrounds seeking a degree and career in Environmental Science and Policy.  These courses (EVPP 506, 507, and 607) may be required IN ADDITION to any other degree requirements in the department and will be excluded from your degree audit upon graduation.

Applicants must confirm an advisor first to gain admission. Prospective students are encouraged to contact potential faculty advisors appropriate to their interests. Faculty bios can be found on our website at http://esp.gmu.edu/people/facultybios/index.html.  Availability of an advisor in the student's area of interest is one of the criteria for admission. Students will choose their research skills option at the time of application, but may change later with permission of their advisor.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Environmental Science and Policy Concentration (EVSP)

The MS in Environmental Science and Policy Concentration is designed to meet the increasing need to train environmental professionals and who will address the problems of land and water management, land use and urbanization, wetland loss, and ecosystem preservation. These professionals will also contribute to the analysis and resolution of global problems such as deforestation, insufficient world food supplies, acid deposition, population growth and public health, global warming, and depletion of the ozone layer. Areas of specific departmental focus include ecosystem, conservation, and sustainability science, policy, and management. This degree is designed for students who wish to obtain a research-oriented master's degree and can serve as a training ground for students wishing to further their education by pursuing the PhD in Environmental Science and Public Policy at George Mason or PhD programs at other universities.

This degree encourages an independent and creative approach to the development of curricula that reside within the general field of environmental science and policy. Students must form a supervisory committee and submit a program of study to the graduate coordinator for approval within the first 9 credits of course work or by the end of second semester, whichever comes first. The supervisory committee consists of the advisor and at least two other members, chosen in consultation with the advisor and conformingto Mason policy on master's thesis committees. Course requirements may be fulfilled by completing courses from a variety ofacademic units at Mason. The program requires a minimum of 33 graduate credits distributed in four categories to provide a breadth of knowledge appropriate for addressing current environmental issues. Course selection should reflect a coherent individual program focus, which is stated and briefly described in the program of study, and support the research component of the student's degree program.

• Natural sciences: At least 6 credits are required in biology, geology, geography, chemistry, or environmental engineering. For those students without previous course work in ecology, EVPP 607 is required in addition to the 6 credits.
• Public policy: At least 6 credits are required in environmental law, human ecology, environmental ethics, planning, or public affairs.
• Methods and statistics: At least 9 credits are required in statistics, remote sensing, information systems, instrumental analysis, or modeling. A course in statistics is highly recommended.
• Seminar: A minimum of 1 credit of EVPP 692 Master's Seminar in Environmental Science and Public Policy on an appropriate topic is required.
• Research: This requirement may be satisfied in one of two ways: EVPP 798 Research Project (1–3 credits) or EVPP 799 Thesis (3–6 credits).

Students may conduct a project (EVPP 798) or produce a formal thesis (EVPP 799). The depth and sophistication of the research differs between the two options. The thesis normally involves original research with independent acquisition and interpretation of data, with the goal of peer-reviewed publication. Projects are generally less extensive, and can include a broader range of activities.

Students fulfilling the research requirement with EVPP 798 are required to take a comprehensive exam administered by their committee. Students choosing to do a thesis and completing EVPP 799 will present their results in a public seminar, and defend their thesis before their committee. Students will be graded pass/no credit on the research skills component.

Environmental Biocomplexity Concentration (EVBC)

This concentration is for students desiring an MS degree with the environmental biocomplexity theme. Students must form a supervisory committee and submit a program of study to the graduate coordinator for approval within the first 9 credits of course work or by the end of the second semester, whichever comes first. The supervisory committee consists of the advisor and at least two other members, chosen in consultation with the advisor and conforming to Mason policy on master's thesis committees. Course requirements may be fulfilled by completing courses from a variety of academic units at the university. The program requires a minimum of 33 graduate credits distributed in five categories to provide a breadth of knowledge appropriate for addressing current environmental issues. Course selection should support the research component of the student's degree program.

Students are encouraged to complete at least 1 credit of Directed Studies (EVPP 693) as a lab rotation to broaden the scope of their experience in the concentration.

• Natural sciences: At least 6 credits are required in courses that cover ecology, biogeochemistry, biochemistry, population genetics, molecular biology, molecular systematics, molecular evolution, microbial ecology, microbial diversity, quantitative genetics, and population biology.
• Public policy: At least 6 credits are required in environmental law, human ecology, environmental ethics, patent law, legal and ethical issues in science.
• Methods and statistics: At least 9 credits are required in statistics, bioinformatics, information systems, instrumental analysis, microbiological techniques, molecular methods, phylogenetic methods, and bioinformatics.
• Seminar: At least 1 credit of EVPP 692 Master's Seminar in Environmental Science and Public Policy on an appropriate topic is required.
• Research: This requirement may be satisfied in one of two ways: EVPP 798 Research Project (1–3 credits) or EVPP 799 Thesis (3–6 credits) as described above for the environmental sciences and policy concentration.
• Students may conduct a project (EVPP 798) or produce a formal thesis (EVPP 799). The depth and sophistication of the research differs between the two options. The thesis normally involves original research with independent acquisition and interpretation of data, with the goal of peer-reviewed publication. Projects are generally less extensive, and can include a broader range of activities.
• Students fulfilling the research requirement with EVPP 798 are required to take a comprehensive exam administered by their committee. Students choosing to do a thesis and completing EVPP 799 will present their results in a public seminar, and defend their thesis before their committee. Students will be graded pass/no credit on the research skills component.

Earth Surface Processes and
Environmental Geochemistry Concentration (ESEG)

This concentration is for students desiring an MS degree with an earth science geology theme. Students must form a supervisory committee and submit a program of study to the graduate coordinator for approval within the first 9 credits of course work or by the end of the second semester, whichever comes first. The supervisory committee will consist of the advisor and at least two other members, chosen in consultation with the advisor and conforming to Mason policy on master's thesis committees. Requirements may be fulfilled by completing courses from a variety of academic units at Mason. The program requires a minimum of 33 graduate credits distributed in five categories to provide a breadth of knowledge appropriate for addressing current environmental and earth science issues. Course selection should support the research component of the student's degree program. Students present their thesis results in a public seminar, and defend their thesis before their committee. Students will be graded pass/no credit on the research component.

• Natural sciences: At least 16 credits are required, 10 of which must be from least one course from each of the following areas: soils science, hydrogeology, and geochemistry. The remainder may be chosen from a list of applicable EVPP, CHEM, and GEOL graduate courses including: GEOL 500, 501, 601; CHEM 633, 651, 728; EVPP 503, 543, 550, 563, 577, 581, 607, 610, 643, 644, 745.
• Public Policy: At least 6 credits are required in environmental law, human dimension of global change, environmental ethics, human ecology, or planning.
• Methods: At least 6 credits are required in remote sensing, GIS, statistics, instrumentation, or modeling.
• Seminar: At least 1 credit of EVPP 692: Master's Seminar in Environmental Science and Public Policy on an appropriate topic is required.
• Research: At least 3 credits of EVPP 799 Thesis; a thesis is required for this concentration.

Students may conduct a project (EVPP 798) or produce a formal thesis (EVPP 799). The depth and sophistication of the research differs between the two options. The thesis normally involves original research with independent acquisition and interpretation of data, with the goal of peer-reviewed publication. Projects are generally less extensive, and can include a broader range of activities.

Students fulfilling the research requirement with EVPP 798 are required to take a comprehensive exam administered by their committee. Students choosing to do a thesis and completing EVPP 799 will present their results in a public seminar, and defend their thesis before their committee. Students will be graded pass/no credit on the research skills component.

Conservation Science & Policy Concentration (COSP)

Photo credit: Katheryn Patterson, GMU

This concentration is for students desiring an MS degree with an interdisciplinary approach to the conservation of species and habitats.  Students may take courses offered by ESP and other departments on the Fairfax campus as well as CONS courses which are offered through the Smithsonian Mason Global Conservation Studies Program.  This unique partnership with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia offers students hands-on education in cutting-edge conservation science and human dimensions through residential, intensive classes.  SCBI is renowned for its conservation research and training of conservation practitioners around the world and instructors for these classes are drawn from SCBI’s conservation scientists and other experts from around the world.

Students must form a supervisory committee and submit a program of study to the graduate coordinator for approval within the first 9 credits of coursework or by the end of the second semester, whichever comes first.  The supervisory committee consists of the advisor and at least two other members, chosen in consultation with the advisor and conforming to Mason’s policy on master’s thesis committees.  Requirements may be fulfilled by completing courses from a variety of academic units at Mason.  The program requires a minimum of 33 graduate credits distributed in five categories to provide a breadth of knowledge appropriate for addressing current conservation issues.  Course selection should support the research component of the student’s degree program.

• Conservation Sciences (6 credits): At least 6 credits are required from conservation science courses. E.g. CONS 630 - Species Monitoring and Conservation (variable topics, may be taken more than once if different topic); EVPP 518 - Conservation Biology; EVPP 543 - Tropical Ecosystems; EVPP 519 - Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation; EVPP 621 – Overview of Biodiversity Conservation; EVPP 550 - Waterscape Ecology and Management
• Conservation Policy and Human Dimensions of Conservation (6 credits): At least 6 credits are required in conservation policy or social science courses. E.g. CONS 660 - Effective Conservation Leadership; CONS 665 - Conservation Conflict Resolution; EVPP 521 - Marine Conservation; EVPP 622 - Management of Wild Living Resources; EVPP 642 - Environmental Policy
• Conservation Methods (6 credits): At least 6 credits are required in relevant experimental methods, statistics or conservation techniques courses. E.g. CONS 620 - Spatial Ecology, Geospatial Analysis, and Remote Sensing; CONS 625 - Statistics for Ecology and Conservation Biology; EVPP 520 - Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation Field Course; EVPP 555 - Lab in Waterscape Ecology
• Seminar (1 credit): At least 1 credit on an appropriate topic is required. EVPP 692 - Master's Seminar in Environmental Science and Public Policy
• Research (EVPP 798 or 799): This requirement may be satisfied in one of two ways. Students may conduct a project (EVPP 798) or produce a formal thesis (EVPP 799). The depth and sophistication of the research differs between the two options. The thesis normally involves original research and independent acquisition and interpretation of data, with the goal of peer-reviewed publication. Projects are generally less extensive and can include a broader range of activities.

Students fulfilling the research requirement with EVPP 798 are required to take a comprehensive exam administered by their committee. Students choosing to do a thesis and completing EVPP 799 will present their results in a public seminar and defend their thesis before their committee. Student will be graded pass/no credit on the research skills component.

EVPP 798 - Master's Research Project in Environmental Science and Public Policy (1-3 credits) or
At least 3 credits of EVPP 799 - Master's Thesis in Environmental Science and Public Policy (1-6 credits)

• Electives:  If necessary, students take additional, relevant, electives to bring the total to 33 credits.

Environmental Management Concentration (EVMG)
(Effective Fall 2012)

Photo credit: Karin Bloomquist, GMU

The MS in Environmental Management Concentration combines the managerial and administrative skills developed in a traditional Master of Public Administration with the scientific knowledge and understanding normally found as a component of a Master of Science degree. This concentration will serve as a terminal professional master's for those individuals currently working in or aspiring to work as managers in the environmental field in both government and private industry.

Students must complete 37 credits for the environmental management concentration. This concentration has been updated so the following requirements are effective Fall 2012. An advisor will be assigned upon admission. Full-time students can complete this degree in three semesters; part-time students take six semesters. Course work must include the following.

• Core Courses: At least 18 credits are required, including the following: PUAD 502 - Administration in Public and Non-profit Organizations; PUAD 640 - Public Policy Process; EVPP 642 - Environmental Policy; EVPP 638 - Corporate Environmental Management and Policy; EVPP 641 - Environmental Science and Public Policy; *PUAD 611 - Problem Solving and Data Analysis I (research design). Courses that may be substituted for PUAD 611 are EVPP 650 - Environmental Analysis and Modeling; GGS 550 - Introduction to GIS; GGS 553 - Advanced GIS; GGS 590 - Remote Sensing; GGS 585 - Quantitative Methods; or SOCI 531 - Statistical Reasoning
• Environmental Law: At least 3 credits are required, including the following: EVPP 670 - Environmental Law or PRLS 501 - Introduction to Natural Resources Law or CEIE 556 - Environmental Law
• Field Ecology: At least 4 credits are required in one of two sequences. Sequence 1: EVPP 550 - Waterscape Ecology and Management /Lab in Waterscape Ecology or Sequence 2: EVPP 646 - Wetland Ecology and Management/ Lab in Wetland Ecology
• Capstone: This requirement is fulfilled with 3 credits hours of EVPP 677 - Applied Ecology and Ecosystem Management
• Electives: Students may choose 9 credits (or more to complete 37) from the courses that are approved by the Graduate Director

Please visit the Department of Environmental Science and Policy’s webpage at http://esp.gmu.edu for more information.