This program is offered by the Kennedy College of Sciences and has two options:
Related Programs:
Candidates for the program should have a baccalaureate degree in sciences, mathematics, or engineering from an accredited program an generally a 3.000 GPA or higher. Students entering the program should have a minimum a year of college Physics, a year of college Chemistry, and Calculus I & II. Candidates who do no meet all these requirements may be admitted with the approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator. Such students may make up course prerequisite deficiencies while in the program, although these credits will not count toward the total required for the master's degree.
Application Requirements
General requirements for all applicants are a completed application packet supplied by the Graduate Admissions Office which includes:
Applications for the Master of Science (MS) in Environmental Studies, Atmospheric Science Option, are accepted year round, but it is recommended that completed application be submitted several months before expected matriculation.
The M.S. program requires the completion of 30 credits, 3 in Policy/Economics, 9 in core courses, and 18 in elective courses. Six credits may be achieved by completing a Master's Thesis. The thesis involves original laboratory or theoretical work, usually publishable in accredited and peer reviewed technical journals. With the Graduate Coordinator’s approval, the thesis work may be performed at home or at the student’s employment facilities. The thesis advisory committee will consist of a Principal Advisor who is the member of the EEAS faculty, and two additional members chosen from EEAS or associated UMass Lowell faculty. One member of the committee, as approved by the Graduate Coordinator, may be from outside the University, with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator. Students may elect to take additional courses instead of writing a thesis.
Most of the courses will be offered in the evening, usually from 6 to 9 p.m., once per week. This enables working students to complete the course requirements while the student is employed. A maximum of 5 years is allowed for completion of the master’s degree, including the thesis.
Curriculum
Degree pathway for the MS in Environmental Studies - Atmospheric Option
updated 3/16/2023
The Environmental Geoscience Option is designed to prepare students with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct research and act as consultants in environmental sciences and geosciences. The students in the program will take a variety of courses distributed across two areas – Policy/Economics and Environmental Geoscience. Course work will be concentrated in the Environmental Geosciences, with the option to take additional courses in the other areas based on student interest.
The MS program requires the completion of 30 credits: 3 credits in Policy/Economics, 18 credits in Environmental Geoscience, 3 additional credits from any area, and 6 credits of Master’s thesis (for the MS thesis option). The thesis involves original laboratory or theoretical work, usually publishable in accredited and peer reviewed technical journals. The thesis advisory committee will consist of a Principal Advisor who is the member of the EEAS faculty, and two members chosen from EEAS or associated UMass Lowell faculty. One member may be from outside the University, with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator. In lieu of a thesis, students may elect to take an additional 6 credits of approved course work (non-thesis MS).
Candidates for the program should have a baccalaureate degree in physical or biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering from an accredited program and generally a 3.000 GPA or higher. Candidates with a closely related major may be admitted with the approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator. Students entering the program should have at a minimum a year of college Physics, a year of college Chemistry, and Calculus I (Calculus II may be required for some courses). Depending on their prior course work, students entering the program may be required to take undergraduate courses in order to develop the analytical skills and knowledge base required for the advanced level courses, but these credits will not count towards the total required for the Master’s degree.
General requirements for all applicants are a completed application packet supplied by the Graduate Admissions Office which includes:
Applications may be downloaded or submitted electronically from the Graduate Admissions website.
Applications for the Master of Science Option in Environmental Geoscience are accepted year round, but it is recommended that completed applications be submitted several months before expected matriculation.
Curriculum
Degree Pathway for the MS in Environmental Studies, Environmental Geostudies option
last updated 3/16/2023