Environmental Studies, M.S.

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Master of Science in Environmental Studies

(36 UNITS)

Application Deadlines

The program only admits students in the fall semester of each year. The deadline for completing online applications is July 1 of the year in which a student seeks to begin the program, though application review will begin March 1 and continue until all open slots in the program are filled (csumentor.edu). Mailed applications must be postmarked by the same deadline. However, deadlines may change based upon enrollment projections. Check the university graduate studies website for current information: fullerton.edu/graduate.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified

Students must meet the CSU requirements for admission to a master’s degree program. Please consult the Graduate Admissions section in this catalog for complete information. In addition, the program requires a grade-point average of 3.0 in the last 60 units of coursework attempted and two letters of recommendation, at least one of which must come from a college or university.

Because the program accepts students as a cohort, the size of the cohort will limit the number of applicants accepted. Applicants’ interests much match those of the faculty advisers. Students must indicate potential advisers in their letters of intent (review faculty adviser interests at: hss.fullerton.edu/evnstud/) and should contact potential advisers prior to submitting applications. Prerequisites for admission differ, depending on the selected track.

Environment and Society Track

One undergraduate course in ecology; one course in quantitative methods.

Environmental Sciences and Technology Track

Nine upper-division units in the natural and/or physical sciences, mathematics and/or engineering.

Students without these prerequisites may be admitted provisionally, but must take these courses during their first year. In addition, students must be assigned an adviser upon entry. Additional requisites may be established at the discretion of the adviser.

Graduate Standing - Classified

After completing no more than nine semester units of adviser approved coursework and developing an approved study plan, the student must apply for classified standing.

Study Plan

Core Courses (9 units)

Electives (9-15 units)

Cross-Disciplinary Electives (9-15 units)

Courses outside Environmental Studies are chosen with prior approval of the faculty adviser and graduate program adviser. The graduate program adviser will maintain a list of acceptable electives. No more than 12 units can be taken from the undergraduate major department.

Planning Requirement

A three-unit planning course must be included, either from environmental studies electives or cross-disciplinary electives.

Culminating Experience (0-3 units)

All Environmental Studies students are required to complete a thesis, project or comprehensive exam. For the thesis or project options, students must register in ENST 597 or ENST 598 . Students may only register for the course once. If they do not complete their project or thesis within this semester, they will be assigned a grade of RP for the course until a letter grade can be assigned. Students choosing the comprehensive exam must take an additional section of ENST 595T . Since students are required to maintain continuous enrollment, they must register in GRAD 700, either through University Extended Education (UEE) or CSUF. Students may only enroll in GRAD 700 through UEE for one semester if they are working on a project, and for two semesters if they are working on a thesis.

Additional Information

For further information, consult the graduate program coordinator or graduate adviser.