ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Dr. D. Allan Stern, Division Chair 

Program Description

The environmental science program gives the student the broad multi-disciplinary subject matter and analytical tools necessary to be successful in such professions as consulting, industrial environmental management and environmental protection. Students from diverse science backgrounds apply their knowledge and skills to environmental problems, such as air pollution and control; water pollution and treatment; groundwater protection, contamination and remediation; solid and hazardous waste management.

Admission Requirements

For regular admission, applicants to the Environmental Science program must complete General Admission and Program requirements prior to registering for the first semester of courses.

1. General Admission Requirements

Each applicant for admission must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, and must satisfy at least ONE of the following criteria:

• Score at the mean or above on the verbal GRE
• Score at the mean or above on the quantitative GRE
• Score at the mean or above on the analytical GRE
• Score at the mean or above on the Miller Analogies Test
• Have an undergraduate GPA of 2.50 or above
• Have passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (F.E.) exam and/or the Professional Engineer (P.E.) exam

In other words, if the final undergraduate GPA is 2.5 or above you are exempt from taking the standardized test (GRE or MAT).

2. Program Requirements

In addition to the general requirements all students entering the graduate Environmental Science program must have completed prior to admission the following courses OR their equivalent:
Chemistry 211 and Math 130 with a grade of C or better, AND a minimum total of FIVE (5) courses/ competencies, relevant to environmental science, from the following: Chemistry (200 level or above); Physics (200 level or above); Biology; Geology; Geography; Statistics; Soil Science; Law; Health and Economics; 10 years relevant work experience.

3. Admission Process/Materials

To apply to the Marshall University Graduate College, visit the Graduate Admissions website. You can apply online or use a PDF form. Refer to the Graduate Application menu item on the left of the page at that site.

If you are from outside the US, you may find Marshall's International Student Information website a useful resource.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 36 graduate credit hours at the graduate level, including at least 24 credit hours at Marshall University. The degree consists of 12 credit hours of core courses; 12 credit hours of required courses; and 12 credit hours of electives.

Core Courses

• EM 660 - Project Management (3 hrs)
• ENGR 610 - Applied Statistics (3 hrs)
• TE 698 - Comprehensive Project Formulation - after completion of 18 hours (3 hrs)
• TE 699 - Comprehensive Project - after completion of 27 hours (3 hrs)

Additional Degree Requirements

Required Courses

• ENVE 615 - Environmental Chemistry (Or ES 646 or SFT 651) (3 hrs)
• ES 614 - Risk Assessment (3 hrs)
• ES 660 - Environmental Law (or ES 662 or ES 655) (3 hrs)
• ES 620 - Environmental Management Systems (3 hrs)

Electives

On completion of the MS Environmental Science degree program the student should have the requisite scope of knowledge and competency in specific environmental subject matter. Students are required to take 12 credit hours of elective courses and use them to satisfy proficiency courses:

• TWO Environmental Science program electives
• ONE division elective (an approved course in the division)
• ONE CITE elective (an approved course in CITE)

The required and elective courses should be outlined in the Plan of Study. The Plan of Study should be developed in cooperation with and signed by the student’s advisor and should be completed prior to registration for the 12th credit hour.

Graduate Minor in Environmental Science

The Graduate Minor in Environmental Science can be completed through 9 hours of coursework:

• ES 614 - Risk Assessment (or ES 610 Environmental Sampling Practice or ES 630 Site Assessment) (3 hrs)
• ENVE 615 - Environmental Chemistry (or ES 646 Dynamics of Ecosystems or ES 654 Environmental Microbiology) (3 hrs)
• ES 660 - Environmental Law (or ES 662 Environmental Policy or ES 655 Environmental Ethics) (3 hrs)