M.S. ENVIROMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Credit Hours
Course work for the M.S. degree is divided into three categories:
Core Courses: 12 credits
Elective Courses: 15-18 credits
Supervised Research (Thesis/Report Preparation): 6-9 credits
Required Core Courses (12 credits)
Coursework in the three categories is selected according to the following guidelines.
| 1. Applications/Tools. Quantitative methods suitable for advanced analysis of environmental problems. Students may select one of the following, in consultation with their faculty Supervisory Committee: |
| GIS 5177 |
Geographic Information Systems for Non-Majors |
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| GEO 5157 |
Advanced Geographic Information Systems |
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| STA 5166 |
Computational Statistics I |
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| PCB 6456 |
Biometry |
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| Other courses with the primary objective of quantitative methodology for environmental science or policy decision-making will be considered, subject to the approval of the Graduate Program Committee. |
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2. Environmental Thought, Policy, and Decision-Making. Students
complete both of the following, or equivalent, courses that may be offered periodically with the permission of the department Graduate Program Committee. |
| GEO 6116 |
Perspectives on Environmental Thought |
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| EVR 6034 |
Seminar in Environmental Policy |
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3. Advanced Topics in Environmental Science. Students select from ESP courses designed to integrate
scientific information from various scientific disciplines and apply scientific analyses to public policy decision-making. Students select one of the following: |
| EVR 6934 |
Seminar in Environmental Science (varying special topics) |
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| EVR 6216 |
Advances in Water Quality Policy and Management |
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| EVR 6594 |
Geomorphology for Environmental Scientists |
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| EVR 6934 |
Wetland Environments |
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| EVR 6048 |
Wildlife Ecology |
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Other courses in this category are periodically offered by the department and may be accepted toward this core requirement, subject to prior approval by the Graduate Program Committee. |
Elective Requirements (15 credits)
Students complete 15 credit hours of elective courses within an area of concentration selected according to their interests and career goals. Students should select appropriate advanced coursework within their chosen area of concentration, in close consultation with their major professor and Supervisory Committee, to develop a program of study that fits their scholarly and career interests and research needs, within a coherent and clearly defined area of concentration. Each student's elective program of study is subject to the approval of the Graduate Program Director.
Areas of concentration supported by ESP faculty research interests and Department educational objectives, where students may choose to focus their elective coursework, include the following:
| 1. Ecology. 15 credits primarily in the EPS Program and in the Department of Biology, to be selected in consultation with the student's Supervisory Committee. The ESP program features a particular concentration in the areas of landscape ecology and management, conservation, ecological modeling, and field methods, including the use of GIS, GPS, and remote sensing technologies. |
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2. Environmental Policy and Management. 15 credits guided by the guidelines for the ESP Graduate Certificate in Environmental
Management, to be selected in consultation with the student's Supervisory Committee. |
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3. Geology. 15 credits primarily in the ESP Program and in the Department of Geology, to be selected in consultation with the student's Supervisory Committee. The program features a particular concentration in the area of Karst geology and public policy planning in Karst environments, and a concentration in paleogeology. |
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4. Hydrogeology. 15 credits as required by the Graduate Certificate in Hydrogeology, as specified by the Geology Department. |
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| 5. Natural Hazards Assessment and Mitigation. 15 credits primarily in the ESP program and in the Geography, Geology, and Civil Engineering Departments, to be selected in consulation with the student's Supervisory Committee. |
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| 6. Urban Environment. 15 credits primarily in the ESP program and in the Department Geography, to be selected in consulation with the student's Supervisory Committee. |
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| 7. Water Quality and Policy. 15 credits drawn from relevant courses in the ESP program and in the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geography, Geology, and Government and International Affairs, to be selected in consulation with the student's Supervisory Committee. The program features a particular concentration in the areas of urban runoff water quality, watershed-based water quality assessment, and watershed plannibg and management for water quality protection. |
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| 8. Others. Other areas of concentration are also considered. The student may select an area of concentration that is strongly supported by graduate studies at USF and by one or more ESP faculty who have agreed to support studies and research in that area. The student should be able to describe how the courses form a coherent area of concentration relevant to his or her scholary interests, research objectives, and/or career goals, and prepare a brief statement to that effect for the approval of the Graduate Director. The student should then select courses in consultation with the student's Supervisory Committee. |
Research Requirements (6-9 credits)
| 1. Thesis/Project Requirements. Students must complete either a thesis (6 credits) or a project (3 credits, with 3 extra credits to be completed in the elective area). |
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2. Thesis Research Methods. All students electing either the Thesis or Project Option will complete an approved research focused course approved by the student's Supervisory Committee and the Graduate Program Director. The course can be independent study, directed research, or directed reading course with the student's major professor. |
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3. Research Colloquium. All M.S. candidates must complete the 1-unit Research Colloquium in Environmental Science and Policy (EVR 6930) at least once during their candidacy. |
Other Requirements
There are several additional requirements and rules that apply to graduate students in the ESP Program.
Up to 12 semester hours of credit earned as a special student may be applied to satisfy degree requirements. No more than 8 semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred from another recognized graduate school (with the approval of the Graduate Director).
A total of 8 semester hours of 4000 level course work may be taken as part of the 30 required hours provided the courses are approved in advance by the student's committee and the Graduate Director.
A student must maintain a 3.0 ("B") grade point average in all graduate course work. Failure to do so will result in probationary status. A student may remain on probationary status for one semester only, after which he/she will be dismissed.
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