The M.S. in Environmental Studies is flexible. Students, with their academic advisors, design their own study programs by choosing from courses within Environmental Studies and throughout the University.

The UM Graduate Student Advising Guidelines, designed to help both students and faculty and to offer best advising practice resources, are available for review and reference at Graduate Student Advising Guidelines.

General Graduate Program Requirements

Graduate School policies and standards can be found on the Graduate School Policies page. 

The minimum GPA for any graduate program is 3.0. Individual programs may require more than a 3.0 to remain in good standing. 

The minimum grade for a course to be accepted toward any requirement is C. Individual programs may require higher grades for specific courses.

MASTER OF SCIENCE - ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Thesis, Professional Paper, or Portfolio

Students have three options for demonstrating their critical and analytical abilities and their written communication skills: thesis, a professional paper, or portfolio. The formulation of a topic is encouraged by April of the first year of study.

Thesis Option

Students choosing this option must develop a substantive, original scholarly work that includes either the collection and analysis of data to answer a research question (as in original field research in the natural sciences, a policy analysis in policy studies, or survey research in the social sciences) or the production of a creative, interpretive, or critical work (as in the humanities or fine arts). Upon completion of the thesis, students are given a one-hour oral examination.

Professional Paper Option

Students choosing this option must develop a substantive report directed to a specific audience that demonstrates the student's ability to participate in professional discourse. Upon completion of the professional paper, students are given a one-hour oral examination.

Portfolio Option

In consultation with an Environmental Studies advisor, students choosing this option select courses, internship experience(s), and portfolio project(s) directed toward specific career goals. Portfolios include three discrete elements, one of which is an internship or work experience, and demonstrated coherence between these pieces, the student's course of study, and the student's goals. Upon completion of the portfolio, students are given a one-hour oral examination that focuses upon the integrity of each portfolio piece and coherence between the pieces.

Required Coursework

• Environmental Studies graduate students who do either a thesis or a professional paper must register for at least one credit of ENST 599 or ENSC 599 in the semester during which they defend their manuscript. The minimum number of credits required for graduation with a thesis or professional paper is 33.
• Portfolio-option students must take a total of 36 credits, including a total of 3 credits of ENST 590. 
• An approved natural systems ecology is required if a student has not taken a biologically-grounded ecology course(s) as an undergraduate equivalent to ENSC 360.
• Students are required to take at least one 3-credit class from each of four distributional area requirements (our core areas of study):
  • Scientific Approaches: Examines methods and limits of scientific inquiry and critical analysis of information.
  • Policy Approaches: Examines socioeconomic and political processes.
  • Thought & Writing: Explores environmental writing, literature, and relationships between humans and the rest of the natural world.
  • Engagement: Develops leadership, organizational, and participatory skills through experiential learning, civic engagement, or other forms of involvement.
  • Students should consult with their advisor about courses that meet these requirements.