UMass Boston

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

• Letters of Recommendation: 2
• Other: Faculty advisor commitment, 3.0 undergraduate GPA

Deadlines: February 1 for fall, November 1 for spring

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.

Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, please visit the Bursar's website.

Core Courses (8 Credits)

• ENVSCI 603 - Coasts and Communities I 4 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 604 - Coasts and Communities II 4 Credit(s)

Skills Course (3 Credits)

Complete one from below.

Another course may be taken with approval of the master&'s thesis/project committee.

• ENVSCI 601 - Introduction to Probability and Applied Statistics 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 611 - Applied Statistics 3 Credit(s)

Ethics Course (1 Credit)

• ENVSCI 600 - Responsible Conduct in Research 1 Credit(s)

School for the Environment Seminar (2 Credits)

All masters students must attend seminar each week throughout their enrollment in the program. A maximum of two credits will be earned from the seminar course.

• ENVSCI 791 - Seminar in Environmental Sciences 1 Credit(s)

Thesis Course (6 Credits)

• ENVSCI 699 - Thesis Research 1-10 Credit(s)

Electives (9 or 10 Credits)

Select courses and independent research hours to fulfill 30 credit hour requirement.

Students may select from any of the courses above not already taken or from 600-level or higher courses approved by their faculty mentor.

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Core Courses (8 Credits)

• ENVSCI 603 - Coasts and Communities I 4 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 604 - Coasts and Communities II 4 Credit(s)

Skills Course (3 or 4 Credits)

Complete one from below.

Another course may be taken with approval of the master’s thesis/project committee.

• ENVSCI 601 - Introduction to Probability and Applied Statistics 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 611 - Applied Statistics 3 Credit(s)

Ethics Course (1 Credit)

• ENVSCI 600 - Responsible Conduct in Research 1 Credit(s)

School for the Environment Seminar (2 Credits)

All masters students must attend seminar each week throughout their enrollment in the program. A maximum of two credits will be earned from the seminar course.

• ENVSCI 791 - Seminar in Environmental Sciences 1 Credit(s)

Capstone Course (6 Credits)

• ENVSCI 698 - Projects in Environmental Sciences 1-6 Credit(s)

Electives (9 or 10 Credits)

Select courses and independent research hours to fulfill the 30 credit hour requirement.

Students may select from any of the courses above not already taken or from 600-level or higher courses approved by their faculty mentor.

Upon completion of the Environmental Science MS:

1. Students will be able to apply scientific ways of knowing and design appropriate experiments to answer environmental science questions.
2. Students will understand the contributions of laboratory, field, and survey data collection and analysis for approaching environmental science problems.
3. Students will be able to analyze and critique environmental questions across multiple natural and social science perspectives and research approaches.
4. Students will demonstrate analytical and quantitative proficiencies to analyze environmental and/or social science data.
5. Students will understand the system interactions and feedback between human activities and social institutions and the natural environment.
6. Students will be experienced in communicating their learnings both in writing, visually, and orally, and for specific and general audiences.
7. Students will have gained confidence in being an expert in a their field by knowing the relevant literature, having conducted original and significant research, and presented this research publically. (and have had this work reviewed by experts in their field (at least the committee or readers).

Thesis Track

Complete 30 credits from at least nine courses including two core courses, one skills course, one ethics course, one School for the Environment seminar, one thesis course, and nine to ten credits of electives.

Capstone: Complete a master’s thesis.

Students may apply to transfer to the Environmental Sciences (PhD) program from the thesis track upon completion of the core course requirements.

Minimum grade: No courses with a grade below B may be applied toward the program. Students who earn a B- in two courses will be considered no longer in good standing and may be dismissed from the program. Students who receive a grade below C in any graduate course will be dismissed from the program.
Grading basis: Courses must be taken graded unless the course is only offered on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required from all courses applied toward the program.
Residency: Graduate course credits earned at another institution, as a non-degree student, or in another department may only be applied to the program with approval from the thesis/project advisor and graduate program director.
Course level: No more than one course taken at UMass Boston at the 300/400-level may be applied toward the program with approval of the thesis/project advisor and graduate program director.
Statute of limitations: Seven years.

Non-Thesis Track

Complete 30 credits from at least nine courses including two core courses, one skills course, one ethics course, one School for the Environment seminar, one capstone course, and nine to ten credits of electives.

Capstone: Complete a project as part of ENVSCI 698.

Minimum grade: No courses with a grade below B may be applied toward the program. Students who earn a B- in two courses will be considered no longer in good standing and may be dismissed from the program. Students who receive a grade below C in any graduate course will be dismissed from the program.
Grading basis: Courses must be taken graded unless the course is only offered on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required from all courses applied toward the program.
Residency: Graduate course credits earned at another institution, as a non-degree student, or in another department may only be applied to the program with approval from the thesis/project advisor and graduate program director.
Course level: No more than one course taken at UMass Boston at the 300/400-level may be applied toward the program with approval of the thesis/project advisor and graduate program director.
Statute of limitations: Seven years.

1. Should I contact faculty members directly?

Yes, reach out and talk to faculty whose research interests you. To be accepted in the program you need a faculty advisor.

2. Is there a separate application I need to fill out to be considered for a teaching assistantship?

No, your general application is all that is required.

3. I'm applying for a master's degree, can I still get a teaching assistantship?

Possibly, preference is given to doctoral students.

4. Can I start my graduate degree in the spring semester?

Yes, however, most students start in the fall semester.

5. Can I get an application fee waiver?

In special situations this is possible, please contact the graduate program director directly and discuss your situation.

Should you need further assistance please refer to the link below or contact Graduate Program Director Georgia Mavrommati at georgia.mavrommati@umb.edu.

Graduate Program Director Michael Tlusty
michael.tlusty [at] umb.edu
(617) 287-5285