Earth & Environmental Sciences

M.S. in Environmental and Earth Science

Objectives

The MS in Environmental and Earth Sciences is designed to provide graduate students an integrated, multidisciplinary education, nurtured through a carefully tailored degree program requiring a breadth of understanding and mastery of a spectrum of scientific and engineering principles. Among the goals is to provide students who have earned engineering or science undergraduate degrees a common ground for interdisciplinary communication, an understanding of the environment, and competence in a discipline that will enable them to evaluate complex environmental problems.

Admissions

There are 3 categories of admission:

Unconditional - all the admission criteria are met and there are no conditions placed on continued enrollment in the program.

Probationary - Applicants that do not meet the standards for unconditional admission may be considered for probationary admission after careful examination of their application materials. Probationary admission normally requires that the applicant receive a B or better in their first 12 hours of graduate coursework at UTA.

Deferred and Provisional Admission

A deferred admission may be granted when an application is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate. An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.

International students must have a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL exam.

For unconditional admission a student must meet the following requirements:

1. A B.S. degree in biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, or engineering. Students with a Bachelor's Degree in other sciences will also be considered, subject to satisfactory completion of courses to make up for deficiencies.
2. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale, as calculated by the Graduate School.
3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are considered in admission decisions. Masters students who have succeeded in the Environmental and Earth Sciences Program typically score higher than 550 on the quantitative portion of the GRE.
4. For applicants whose native language is not English, a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (or an equivalent score on a computer-based test) or a score of 40 on the Test of Spoken English.
5. Favorable letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant's academic work.
6. Students may be considered for unconditional admission if further review of their transcripts, recommendation letters, correspondence or direct interactions with Environmental and Earth Sciences faculty, and statement of professional or research interests indicates that they are qualified to enter the Masters Program.

Degree Requirements

All students take 15 semester hours of core courses as follows:

Engineering

CE 5321 Engineering for Environmental Scientists
     and either
CE 5319 Physical-Chemical Processes II
     or
CE 5328 Fundamentals of Air Pollution

Two of the following courses in science:

EVSE 5309 Environmental Systems-Biological Aspects [1]
EVSE 5310 Environmental Systems-Chemical Aspects [1]
EVSE 5311 Environmental Systems-Geological Aspects [1]

[1] Students with less than 20 undergraduate hours in biology, chemistry, or geology will need to take a third environmental systems course as a deficiency. Students entering with a BS degree in one of these areas must take their two courses in the other areas.

One of the following courses in City and Regional Planning

CIRP 5342.  Environmental policy (3-0)
CIRP 5343.  Foundations of Environmental Policy (3-0)
CIRP 5351.  Techniques of Environmental Assessment (3-0) 

Thesis Option: In addition to the core courses, the minimum requirements for the master's degree with thesis include:

9 hours of electives within one of the following units: Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Civil and Environmental Engineering, or Urban and Public Affairs
6 hours of additional electives
2 hours of EVSE seminar
6 hours thesis
The successful defense of the thesis before the supervising committee.

Non-thesis Option: In addition to the core courses the minimum requirements for the master's degree without thesis include:

9 hours of electives within one of the following departments: Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Civil and Environmental Engineering, or Urban and Public Affairs
12 hours of additional electives [2]
2 hours of EVSE seminar
Successful completion of the Master's Comprehensive Examination in the final semester.

[2] Must include 6 hours in department(s) outside that in which the first 9 hours of additional coursework are taken.