University of South Florida

M.S. ENVIROMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY DEGREE OPTIONS

Thesis Option

The thesis option is designed for students who wish to complete original research. Students who wish to work to the Ph.D. level are strongly encouraged to complete a thesis.

Students will be assigned a committee early in the student's first semester and prior to selecting a thesis topic. The committee will initially consist of two ESP core faculty and one affiliated faculty. One core faculty member will be in the student's area of interest and the other from a different area. The affiliated faculty member will be from an area related to the student's interests.

Project Option

The project option of the graduate program is designed for students who wish to complete a focused project on a topic during the course of one semester and who wish to gain additional breadth through taking additional courses. Students will be assigned a committee early in the student's first semester and prior to selecting a thesis topic. The committee will initially consist of two ESP core faculty and one affiliated faculty. One core faculty member will be in the student's area of interest and the other from a different area. The affiliated faculty member will be from an area related to the student's interests.

The student will select a project topic in consultation with the committee. The student's advisor will have the primary responsibility for guiding the project. There are a variety of projects that students may complete. There is no set format for the final product. The project format, topic, and goals are set by the student in consultation with his/her advisor. It is the student's advisor that approves the final draft of the project. Once approved, a copy of the project is submitted to the Graduate Coordinator for filing within the Program Offices.

In addition to completing the project, students selecting this option must also present their research in a department colloquium and complete an oral exam based on the project or part of their presentation.