Master of Science in Integrated Environmental Science

John O. Gross Science Hall
Nichsolson Annex Complex 
Office: #4
386-481-2695

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Program Overview

The thesis-based MS in Integrated Environmental Science (IES) is offered by the Department of integrated Environmental Science in the College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (CSEM). The program seeks to adhere to the highest standards for academics and research, and in pursuit of these standards has set the following requirements and curriculum.

Admissions Requirements

A program of this type is grounded in natural science but integrates information from other disciplines into it. As a result, students who have a decent science background plus some exposure to at least one non-science field would be best prepared for this program. Therefore, in addition to the General Graduate Entrance Criteria listed in the Admissions section of this catalog, the applicants for the MS in Integrated Environmental Science must meet the following specific requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in any area of natural or applied science or environmental policy, or any degree program of undergraduate study with 12 credit hours (or equivalent) of natural, physical, or environmental science, one lab, two courses of 200-level or higher, 9 credit hours of social science or humanities, one course of 200-level or higher, one course focusing on environmental or resource issues.
• A minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for conditional admission and a preferred GPA of 3.0 for full admission
• GRE section scores in the upper 50 percent for each section

Program Description

An MSIES graduate student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing in the program and to earn a degree, and must pass all courses with a grade of “B” or better. An MSIES student who earns less than a “B” in a listed course and/or receives a cumulative GPA below 3.0 will be given a grace period of one retake or one semester to correct the deficiency, or the student will be withdrawn from the degree program. A student may take advantage of a grace period only once as an MSIES student; a second occurrence will result in automatic withdrawal from the MSIES program. Any appeal for consideration of extenuating circumstances must be made in writing to the IES Department Chair and the Dean of the Graduate School within 60 days of the second occurrence. The decision of the Chair and Dean concerning reinstatement (and any associated conditions) is considered final.

Educational Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes

The Master of Science in Integrated Environmental Science uses a science core to train students in the critical thinking necessary to test and evaluate data, methodological courses to understand the behavior of natural systems and humanity’s role within them, and a set of increasingly integrated courses to teach students how to combine scientific data with other types of information necessary to address modern environmental issues.

Students completing the Master of Science in Integrated Environmental Science will demonstrate the following student learning outcomes. They will:

1. Acquire, Analyze, and Critique Advanced Knowledge of the Structure and Function of Ecological Systems. Students will understand the organization of ecological systems and will be able to explain the interaction of organisms with other organisms from multiple perspectives and scales.
2. Acquire, Analyze, and Critique Advanced Knowledge of the Structure and Function of Human Systems. Students will understand the organization of human socio-economic and urban systems and be able to explain the interaction of organisms with human socio-economic and urban systems from multiple perspectives and scales.
3. Acquire, Analyze, and Critique Practical Knowledge of the Interaction between Human and Natural Systems as Pertains to Environmental Concerns. Students will understand the existing or potential impacts of human activities on ecological systems, both on smaller scales and holistically. Students will understand the impact of ecological systems and their changes on human actions, both on smaller scales and holistically. Students will utilize basic mathematical, analytical, and technological tools for characterizing and measuring environmental systems and understand, interpret, and critique arguments pertaining to environmental issues.
4. Develop Methodological or Research-based Strategies to Address the Management and Mitigation of Human Impacts on Environmental Systems. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the various strategies used to evaluate the costs and benefits of human activities in order to make environmental decisions, including scientific, socio-economic, political, and ethical approaches. Students will understand approaches to the management and manipulation of human impacts, including their strengths and weaknesses, will apply the various environmental methods and theories learned within an application setting, and effectively carry out new research and/or application of existing methodology to an environmental issue.

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