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: June 15 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.

Communications Core (3 Credits)

Complete one from below.

• BIOL 650 - Scientific Communication 3 Credit(s)
• MBAACM 682 - Oral Communication for Managers 3 Credit(s)

Environmental Policy, Law, and Management Core (3 Credits)

Complete one from below.

• ENVSCI 670L - Environmental and Energy Economics 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 674L - Climate and Energy: Law, Policy and Management 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 675L - Economics of Renewables: Marine and Energy Resources 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 726L - Coastal Zone Policy, Planning, and Management 3 Credit(s)
• MBA AF 631 - Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing 3 Credit(s)

Quantitative Analysis Core (3 to 4 Credits)

Complete one from below.

• ENVSCI 601 - Introduction to Probability and Applied Statistics 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 611 - Applied Statistics 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 623L - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 4 Credit(s)

Environmental Sciences Core (6 to 7 Credits)

Complete two from below.

• ENVSCI 630 - Biological Oceanography 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 635 - Environmental Toxicology 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 640 - The Chemistry of Natural Waters& 3 Credit(s)

• ENVSCI 641 - The Geochemistry of a Habitable Planet 3 Credit(s)
  AND
• ENVSCI 642 - Laboratory for the Geochemistry of a Habitable Planet 1 Credit(s)

• ENVSCI 646 - Global Ecology 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 657 - Fluvial Hydrology 3 Credit(s)
• ENVSCI 670L - Environmental and Energy Economics 3 Credit(s)

Business Management Core (3 Credits)

Complete one from below.

• MBAMGT 650 - Organizational Analysis and Skills 3 Credit(s)

Capstone Course (3 Credits)

• ENVSCI 798 - Internship in Environmental Sciences 1-10 Credit(s)

Electives (7 to 9 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.

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

Upon completion of the Environmental Sciences Professional, PSM:

1. Students will be able to apply the scientific method 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.

Complete 30 credits from at least nine courses including one communications core course; one environmental policy, law, and management core course; one quantitative analysis core course, two environmental sciences core courses, one business management core courses, one capstone course, and seven to nine credits of electives.

Capstone: Complete an internship as part of ENVSCI 798.

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