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.

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.

Finally, all students must successfully complete a master's thesis. Students select a topic of interest (related to their chosen area of concentration in most cases) and explore it in great depth. Graduate School rules and regulations governing master's theses are closely followed.

Required Courses and Concentrations

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

Core Courses (14 units): Core introductory course: ENST 500 Introduction to Environmental Studies

Environmental science courses: ENST 501 Environmental Science I (2) and ENST 503 Environmental Science II (2); ENST 502 Environmental Science Seminar I (1) and ENST 504 Environmental Science Seminar II (1) (ENST 502 and 504 are corequisites for ENST 501 and ENST 503 respectively, and ENST 501 is a prerequisite for ENST 503.)

Environmental regulation and policy course: POSC 546 Seminar in Environmental Policy

Skills Courses (8 units):
Natural resource economics course: ECON 487 Resource and Environmental Economics
Statistics course: Students select one of the following:
ENST 510	Statistics for Environmental Analysis
GEOG 592	Quantitative Methods in Geography
IR 514	Multivariate Analysis
POSC 500	Methods of Political Science
POSC 500	Seminar in Advanced Research Methods
SOCI 521	Advanced Social Statistics I

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 may contact either the Graduate School or 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 work taken to date, (3) the results of the General Test of the GREs 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. As soon as possible, each student should identify a thesis topic and advisor and establish his or her thesis committee.

Degree Requirements

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

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