Catalogue 2012/13

Environmental Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master of Arts in Environmental Studies

The master’s degree program in environmental studies focuses on issues and problems concerning public policy. A main goal of the graduate program is to educate students who already have a good grounding in the natural sciences about central theories, concepts and principles in public policy. A minimum of 41 units is required to receive an M.A. in environmental studies.

All students have a common point of entry into the graduate program. ENST 500 Introduction to Environmental Studies is broad and interdisciplinary. It provides students with an introduction to the field and to the different concentrations in the program. POSC 546 Seminar in Environmental Policy represents the second required core course. It offers students an overview of environmental politics, policy and regulations. Environmental science courses — ENST 501, ENST 502, ENST 503 and ENST 504 — expose students to critical scientific principles, concepts and issues related to pollution control, remediation and ecology. Students must also obtain a background in statistics and economics by taking ENST 510 Statistics for Environmental Analysis (or an equivalent course in the social sciences) and ECON 487 Resource and Environmental Economics. Finally, all students must complete the capstone course, ENST 595 Graduate Seminar in Environmental Studies.

Students who enroll in the master’s degree program must pursue one of three concentrations: global environmental issues and development; law, policy and management; and environmental planning and analysis. Each one differs in professional training and educational focus and, perhaps most importantly, exposes students to fields and areas of knowledge that are closely and critically connected to today’s most vexing environmental policy problems.

The concentration in global environmental issues and development introduces students to the social, political and economic dynamics that underlie regional and global environmental problems and seeks to unravel the complex interrelationships between political economy, population growth and development in the Pacific Rim and elsewhere in the world.

The concentration in law, policy and management is intended for those who wish to work (or already work) in government agencies, private companies and non-profit organizations (e.g., environmental groups). Students learn about the interconnections that exist between law, public policymaking, management (i.e., the administration of human and financial resources) and environmental issues.

The third concentration, environmental planning and analysis, is for students who wish. to study technical matters related to land use planning and analysis. This concentration seeks to train students who wish to work (or who are already working) for planning departments, planning commissions and consulting firms.

A master’s thesis is not required for the M.A. degree.

Required Courses and Concentrations

A minimum of 41 units is required. All courses are four units unless otherwise noted.

Admission Requirements

Students who wish to enter the Master of Arts program in environmental studies are expected to have a GPA of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0). Students with a baccalaureate degree in any major will be admitted into the program as long as they have completed a year of biology, a year of chemistry, a course in earth sciences and a course in each of the following areas: a course in either earth, life, or physical sciences or engineering; a course in statistics (or calculus); and an introductory human environment, social ecology or environmental studies course in the social sciences. It is recommended that students take a science course in ecology and a course in economics at the undergraduate level prior to applying for admission. The director of the Environmental Studies Program will consider relevant course work and work experience as a possible substitute for the required and recommended course work.

Selection Criteria

Selection for graduate study is based on letters of reference, the student’s previous academic record, the Graduate Record Examinations and a statement of purpose for graduate study.

Application Procedure

Applicants should contact the Environmental Studies Program office for an admission package. All applicants should return their applications by March 1 for full consideration. The following components of the application are required: (1) a completed USC Application for Admission to Graduate Studies, (2) official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work taken to date, (3) the results of the General Test of the GRE or notification of when it will be taken and that a request has been made to send the results to USC and (4) at least three letters of recommendation from persons directly familiar with the student’s academic work and potential for successful graduate study.

Advisement

Advisement for the graduate program in environmental studies is viewed as an ongoing process. Before entering graduate school and during the first months of graduate school, each student should work with the director of the Environmental Studies Program on devising a plan for completing his or her course work.

Degree Requirements

The master’s degree in environmental studies is under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation and the Graduate School for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Master of Science, Environmental Risk Analysis

The focus of the M.S., Environmental Risk Analysis degree is on advanced training for students with an existing science background. Students will enter the M.S. program with a B.S. degree in a core natural science field or in engineering, environmental science and certain fields of geography. Students take a core curriculum in science, engineering and finance, which is supplemented by important tools courses in risk assessment, statistics and computer modeling. Students learn about the basics of environmental science in a two-semester combination of courses and seminars (ENST 501, ENST 502, ENST 503, ENST 504). An advanced environmental science seminar (ENST 505ab) is offered in a two-semester sequence and ties together science, technology and finance with risk assessment and policy. The first semester of the course is devoted to analyzing case studies taken from business, industry and government. During the second semester students work on a project that employs the tools they have acquired in linking science, policy, technology and finance.

A master’s thesis is not required for the M.S. degree. The M.S. degree in environmental risk analysis will give students the quantitative skills needed to understand and assess environmental risks and to use that information in business, industry, government and society.

Required Courses

A minimum of 48 units is required.

Admission Requirements

Students who wish to enter the Master of Science program in environmental risk analysis are expected to have a GPA of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0). Students with a baccalaureate degree in the natural sciences, mathematics, environmental science, geography and engineering will be admitted into the program. It is recommended that students have completed an introductory human environment, social ecology or environmental studies course in the social sciences as well as a course in economics and/or environmental policy. The director of the Environmental Studies Program will consider relevant course work and work experience as a possible substitute for the required and recommended course work.

Selection Criteria

Selection for graduate study is based on letters of reference, the student’s previous academic record, the Graduate Record Examinations and a statement of purpose of graduate study.

Application Procedure

Applicants should contact the Environmental Studies Program office for an admission package. All applicants should return their applications by March 1 for full consideration. The following components of the application are required: (1) a completed USC Application for Admission to Graduate Studies; (2) official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work taken to date; (3) the results of the General Test of the GRE or notification of when it will be taken and that a request has been made to send the results to USC; and (4) at least three letters of recommendation from persons directly familiar with the student’s academic work and potential for successful graduate study.

Advisement

Advisement for the graduate program in environmental studies is viewed as an ongoing process. Before entering graduate school and during the first months of graduate school, each student should work with the director of the Environmental Studies Program on devising a plan for completing his or her course work.

Degree Requirements

The master’s degree in environmental risk analysis is under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation and the Graduate School for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

PDF reflects print version of the catalogue