MS Environmental Science

The Master of Science in Environmental Science prepares students for a career as an environmental professional or to continue their graduate studies by entering a PhD program. The program is designed to meet the needs of students currently employed in the field, those recently completing an undergraduate degree, or anyone interested in a career change.

Florida Gulf Coast University upholds a strong commitment to the environment and emphasizes environmental sustainability. Our Master’s Program offers an integrated study of ecosystems (uplands, wetlands, estuaries and coastal systems), environmental science, and ecosystem restoration. We offer small class size and opportunities for research and professional development. Students are also encouraged to share their research with other professionals in the field by participating in regional and national conferences.

John Herman The core of the program focuses on:

Understanding the science of ecology
Use of scientific methods
Application of the concept of sustainability.

Graduate Student Forms
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Graduate Committee Appointment Form

Graduate Student Milestone Checklist

Sample Thesis Title Page

Sample Thesis Approval Page

Graduation Certification Checklist (APPROVE)

Graduation Certification Checklist (DENY)
Graduate Student Handbook
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Graduate Faculty Handbook
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Students demonstrate their acquisition of this knowledge and these skills through the completion of a thesis project.

* NOTE: Although there are no concentrations, students are expected to pursue interests in:

Environmental science
Organismal ecology
Ecosystem ecology
Marine science

Student Profile

The student profile provides the interquartile ranges (25th - 75th percentiles) of the grade point average (GPA) and entrance exam scores for students admitted to the program during the previous three years. This information is intended to assist applicants in determining opportunities for admission.

Undergraduate GPA: 3.1-3.5

Graduate Record Exam:

Verbal: 148-157
Quantitative: 147-156

student in the field

Department Contacts

Fugate, David

Program Coordinator/Professor

WH 0115

239-590-7136

dfugate@fgcu.edu

Meeting the Environmental Sciences MS Faculty

Accreditation
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Admissions Information
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Getting Started
Applicants must submit an application online at apply.fgcu.edu. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.
See program website at URL listed above.

Program Admission Requirements

Admission to the Environmental Science (MS) program is competitive and selective. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements for consideration may not necessarily be admitted into the program.

Minimum Requirements
- A cover letter of introduction including your academic and career goals, and how FGCU can help you meet these goals.
- A statement of research interests, so that the program can identify an interim faculty mentor. This should be about one paragraph to one page in length.
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent foreign institution in a field relevant to the field of research the applicant wishes to conduct.
- Official copies of all undergraduate transcripts with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for the last 60 semester hours of upper division undergraduate coursework. GPA from previous graduate coursework (if any) may also be taken into consideration.
- Official scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test (GRE Subject Test is not required). Interquartile scores for students recently admitted to the program are available at: https://www.fgcu.edu/CAS/Env-Sci-MS/.
- A minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test) or 79 (internet-based test) for applicants whose baccalaureate degree was received in a country where English is not the official language.
- At least three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and research potential.
- Completion of the following:
  - General Ecology
  - Introductory Statistics
Program Requirements
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Program Requirements for the 2022-2023 Catalog Year
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
- A minimum of 36 credit hours.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework in program.
- Provide one signed, bound copy of the student's thesis to the Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences.
- Each student must have a Graduate Committee composed of a minimum of three individuals, two of whom must be part of the graduate faculty in Environmental Science.
- Submit an application to graduate to CAS Advising by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
- A maximum of 9 credits of course work may be transferred from other institutions or from pre-degree enrollment at FGCU, if those courses are appropriate to the program of study. These are subject to approval of the Program Coordinator.
Program Requirements
1. Required Courses (16-18 credits)
  Successful completion of each core course requires a grade of B or better.
  
  Complete the following:
  EVR 6022 Environmental Rsch Methodology (3)
  EVS 6920 Grad Seminar in Current Topics (1)
  EVS 6970 Master's Thesis (total of 6-8 credits)
  
  Select one of the following:
  EVR 6322 Con App Sustainability (3)
  EVS 6937 Environmental Policy (3)
  
  Select one of the following:
  OCB 6635 Estuarine Ecology (3)
  PCB 6064C Advanced Ecology (3)
2. Restricted Electives (18-20 credits)
  Select a minimum of 18 hours from the following. Successful completion of each elective requires a grade of C or better. No more than 6 hours may be selected from EVR 5415, EVR 5925, EVR 6322, EVS 6937, or PAD 5620. Alternate electives must be approved by the student's Graduate Committee. Courses used to satisfy Core requirements may not be used as electives.
  
  EVR 5068C Microbial Ecology (3)
  EVR 5145 Ecotoxicology (3)
  EVR 5414 Interpreting the Environment (3)
  EVR 5925 Environmental Education (3)
  EVR 6045C Data Analysis for Enviro Science (3)
  EVR 6322 Con App Sustainability (3)
  EVR 6907 Independent Stdy Environ Scien (may be taken more than once with prior approval by Program Coordinator) (1-3)
  EVR 6936 Special Topics Enviro Scien (course may be taken more than once for other topics) (3)
  EVS 5818 Ecological Risk Assessment (3)
  EVS 6937 Environmental Policy (3)
  EVS 6941 Environmental Practicum I (3-6)
  GIS 6308C Advanced GIS: Research Project (3)
  GLY 5266C Advanced Biogeochemistry (3)
  GLY 5575C Sediment Dynamics (3)
  GLY 5661C Conservation Paleobiology (3)
  GLY 6566 Carbonate Sed Petrol and Stratigr (3)
  OCB 6050 Biological Oceanography (3)
  OCC 5115C Advanced Marine Chemistry (3)
  OCG 6053 Coastal & Watershed Geol (3)
  OCB 6635 Estuarine Ecology (3)
  PCB 5307C Limnology (3)
  PCB 6064C Advanced Ecology (3)
Total Credits Required: 36 HRS
Course Descriptions
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Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search
Course Schedule
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Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.
*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)
Learning Outcomes
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Students who complete the Environmental Science (MS) Program will demonstrate significant progress towards the following learning outcomes:

I. Critical Thinking Skills:
1. An understanding of, and the ability to apply, the scientific method, and the capacity to design and conduct a relevant research investigation using qualitative and quantitative techniques
2. Mastery of appropriate methodologies (to include one or more of: statistical analyses, geographic information systems, field and laboratory techniques, system’s analysis and simulation modeling).
II. Effective Communication
1. Develop skills and experience in communication of concepts of the field of study, and of methods and results of research in the environmental field, at an advanced level.
III. Professional and Technical Expertise
1. A strong foundation in ecological principles and their application to the description and interpretation of environmental systems
2. An understanding of anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems.
IV. Leadership Skills
1. The ability to function in a leadership capacity within a professional setting.
V. Continuing Learning
1. The capacity for continuing learning, growth, and scholarly activity in their respective disciplines and fields of study.
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
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Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Office of the Bursar web site.

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available for full-time students (those enrolled in 9 or more credit hours per semester). These are awarded competitively, and admission into the program does not guarantee a graduate assistantship. These include stipends for work with faculty members, assistantships with teaching or research by the Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences faculty. For additional information, please select the "Contact Us" link on the navigation bar.

A limited number of teaching assistantships are available for full-time students who have passed 18 hours of Environmental Science graduate coursework and who have successfully completed core courses for the program. These are awarded competitively; meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee a teaching assistantship. For additional information, please select the "Contact Us" link on the navigation bar.

Scholarships

Scholarships will be awarded to degree-seeking graduate students and can be used for books, tuition, or other expenses.

Tuition Waivers

A limited number of tuition waivers, which cover only in-state matriculation fees, are available. These are awarded competitively. To access the application, visit the tuition waiver page. For additional information, please select the "Contact Us" link on the navigation bar.

Financial Aid

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment.