PROGRAM COORDINATOR
John Bock
ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR
Steven Kim
PROGRAM OFFICE
Humanities 420A
DEPARTMENT WEBSITE
http://hss.fullerton.edu/envstud
PROGRAM OFFERED
Master of Science in Environmental Studies
PROGRAM COUNCIL AND THESIS/PROJECT ADVISERS
Gordon Bakken (History), John Bock (Anthropology), David Bowman (Geological Sciences), April Bullock (Liberal Studies), Matt Calarco (Philosophy), Alison Cliath (Sociology), Peter Fashing (Anthropology), John Foster (Geological Sciences), Jane Hall (Economics), William Hoese (Biological Science), Mike Horn (Biological Science), Anne Houtman (Biological Science), Eugene Jones (Biological Science), Danny Kim (Health Scienes), Jeff Kuo (Civil Engineering), William Laton (Geological Sciences), Shari McMahan (Health Sciences), Megan Nelson (History), Morteza Rahmatian (Economics), Harold Rogers (Chemistry), Darren Sandquist (Biological Science), Denise Stanley (Economics), Michael Steiner (American Studies), Paul Stapp (Biological Science), Jonathan S. Taylor (Geography), Justin Tucker (Political Science), Robert Voeks (Geography), Jindong Wu (Geography)
Graduate Adviser: Steven Kim
INTRODUCTION
The master’s program in Environmental Studies is a broadly based interdisciplinary program that focuses on human interaction with the environment. The program is geared for students entering the rapidly expanding environmental field, especially in science, planning and regulation, and education. Because the scale and scope of environmental issues vary from local and practical to international and theoretical, the program seeks to integrate knowledge and approaches from a range of related disciplines in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. Topics include environmental policy, management, pollution, law, philosophy, economics, planning, regulation and education. Given the range of their academic backgrounds, students are encouraged to craft a study plan that meets their own particular career or avocational goals. Students demonstrate their expertise in one of the environmental concentrations by preparing a thesis or project.
Students select a course of study consistent with one of the following three concentrations:
Environmental Sciences
This area deals with the application of physical and biological science principles to environmental issues. Topical concerns include environmental ecology, water and air resources waste management, toxicology and environmental geology. Students in this emphasis typically have a strong background in biology, chemistry, earth science, engineering, geography, geology or mathematics.
Environmental Policy and Planning
This area deals with the concepts and methods of the social and behavioral sciences as applied to environmental policy and planning. Topical concerns include urban and regional planning, environmental aspects of administration, design, ethics, perception, law and economics. Students in this area come from many backgrounds, including the natural, social or behavioral sciences, or the humanities.
Environmental Education and Communication
This emphasis seeks to develop a body of knowledge that is consistent with the needs of the environmental educator, the outdoor naturalist or the communication specialist. Students in this emphasis area should have a background in natural science, education or communications.
International Learning Opportunities in Environmental Studies
Because many environmental problems are trans-boundary in nature, our curriculum necessarily addresses issues that are international in scope. From topical courses, such as Environmental Ethics and Global Environmental Issues, to region-specific courses, such as Wetlands and Tropical Rainforests, students tackle an array of internationally significant environmental problems. This experience is enhanced further through interaction with the significant number of international students enrolled in the program.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Application Deadlines
The deadlines for completing online applications are April 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester (see http://www.csumentor.edu). Mailed applications need to be postmarked by the same deadlines. However, deadlines may be changed based upon enrollment projections.
Admission to Graduate Standing: Conditionally Classified
University requirements include a baccalaureate from an accredited institution and a grade-point average of 3.0 in the last 60 units of coursework attempted. In addition, two letters of recommendation are required, at least one of which must come from a college or university.
An undergraduate course in ecology and one in quantitative methods are prerequisites for admission. Students without these prerequisites may be admitted provisionally but must take these courses during their first year in the program.
Graduate Standing: Classified
After completing no more than nine semester units of adviser-approved coursework and developing an approved study plan, the student should apply for classified standing.
STUDY PLAN
The M.S. in Environmental Studies requires the completion of 36 units of adviser-approved coursework with a GPA of 3.0 or better, and includes a thesis or project. The student’s thesis committee should comprise three CSUF faculty members, representing at least two different academic disciplines. A student’s project is supervised by a single CSUF faculty member.
Environmental Studies Core (9 units)
Environmental Studies 500 Environmental Issues and Approaches (3)
Environmental Studies 510 Environmental Evaluation and Protection (3)
Environmental Studies 520 Environmental Research and Analysis (3)
Environmental Studies Electives (12-15 units)
Choose from:
Environmental Studies 595T Selected Topics in Environmental
Problems (3)
Environmental Studies 596 Internship in Environmental Studies (3)
Environmental Studies 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
Cross-Disciplinary Electives Work (9-12 units)
Courses outside Environmental Studies are chosen with prior approval of the faculty adviser and must be consistent with the student’s area of concentration.
No more than 12 units can be taken from the undergraduate major department. A three-unit planning course must be included, either from environmental studies electives or cross-disciplinary elective.
Thesis 598 or Project 597 (3 units)
All Environmental Studies students are required to register in Environmental Studies 597 Project, or Environmental Studies 598 Thesis exit research option. Students may only register for this course once. If they do not complete their project or thesis within this semester, they will be assigned a grade of RP for the course until a letter grade can be assigned. Since students are required to maintain continuous enrollment, they must register in GS 700, either through University Extension or CSUF. Students may only enroll in GS 700 through University Extension for one semester if they are working on a project, and for two semesters if they are working on a thesis.
The deadline for project completion is the last Friday before the final exam period each semester. The deadline for thesis completion is set by the university (usually three weeks before the end of exam week). By the thesis/project deadline, a notification of completion form must be submitted with the faculty adviser’s signature and (if applicable) with change of grade card(s) from the faculty adviser. In addition, all students must submit a hard-bound copy of his or her completed project or thesis. A receipt indicating that a bound and title-embossed copy of the thesis or project has been ordered for the Environmental Studies Program may be submitted on the deadline.
For further information, consult the graduate program associate coordinator.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES COURSES
Courses are designated as ENST in the class schedule
