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The Institute offers a BS in Environmental Science, the MA and MS in Environmental Science, and a two-year professional degree, the Master of Environmental Management.
For detailed information:
BS in Environmental Science
MS in Environmental Science (thesis option)
MA in Environmental Science (non-thesis option)
Master of Environmental Management (MEM)
Requirements for the BS degree with a major in Environmental Sciences
A. Required Courses (46 semester hours)
THE CORE (22 semester hours)
BIOL 10003 Contemporary Issues in Biology
and BIOL 30013 Natural History of North America
— OR —
BIOL 10504 Principles of Life Sciences
and BIOL 10514 Principles of Life Sciences
GEOL 10113 Understanding the Earth
ENSC 10143 Principles of Environmental Science
BIOL 30403 Ecology
GEOL 30393 Soils in the Environment
ENSC 40193 Environmental Stewardship Seminar
ENSC 40001 Scientific Presentations
ELECTIVES (24 semester hours)
A minimum of 6 hours of Biology, 6 hours of Environmental Science, and 6 hours of Geology designation.
B. Associated Requirements (16 semester hours)
CHEM 10113 Freshman Chemistry
CHEM 10123 Freshman Chemistry
CHEM 10122 Freshman Chemistry Lab
PHYS 10153 General Physics I
PHYS 10151 General Physics Laboratory
MATH 10524 Calculus I
The total required for the BS degree with a major in Environmental Sciences is 132 semester hours.
Pass/No Credit Option. Courses in the major and minor, if any, must be taken for letter grades.
Requirements for a minor in Environmental Sciences
A minimum of 18 semester hours of Biology, Environmental Science, or Geology courses including a minimum of three (30000 or above) courses.
Study Abroad and Field Courses
Click HERE for Study Abroad and Field Course information
Overview
Available as the Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees.
Prerequisites for the M.A. and M.S. degrees: Bachelor's degree with a major in Environmental Science, Biology or Geology (or the equivalent) or a major in one of the other sciences, or engineering, or one of the social sciences. Students with undergraduate preparations different from these will be considered after careful review.
The student must have completed at least one year of biology, one semester of physical geology, one year of chemistry, one semester of calculus, and one semester of introductory statistics. Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required.
Students pursuing a Master of Science must complete at least 30 semester hours with a thesis. These semester hours are made up as follows:
Required Courses (4 semester hours)
ENSC Environmental Issues Seminar (3)
BIOL 60001 Scientific Presentations (1)
Thesis (6 semester hours)
The student, in consultation with a faculty member, should select an appropriate research topic normally at the end of the student's first year of graduate work. At this time the student will present and defend a thesis proposal to the faculty, where they show a grasp of the literature, have a well-defined rationale and set of objectives, a planned methodology, and an appropriate budget. If approved, the student proceeds with his/her research until submission of the thesis as per TCU guidelines. Each student will defend his/her thesis in an oral examination.
Electives (20 semester hours)
The electives are selected in consultation with the student’s major professor and the director of the program. At least 12 hours of electives must be ENSC, BIOL or GEOL courses. Students may count 3 hours of Independent Study toward their electives, though further Independent Study hours may be taken with the approval of the director of the program.
Program of Study (POS)
Each student prepares an individual Program of Study (POS) designed specifically for the student’s particular background and goals. The POS is prepared in consultation with the student’s major professor and the director of the program.
Students pursuing a Master of Arts by coursework must complete at least 36 semester hours made up as follows:
Required Courses (4 semester hours)
ENSC Environmental Issues Seminar (3)
ENSC 60001 Scientific Presentations (1)
Electives (26-29 semester hours)
The electives are selected in consultation with the director of the program. At least 18 hours of electives must be ENSC, BIOL or GEOL courses. As with the thesis program, students may count 3 hours of Independent Study toward their electives (with further hours upon approval by the director of the program). Each student also prepares an individual Program of Study (POS) in consultation with the director of the program.
Internship (3-6 semester hours)
Students must complete an approved internship with a company, government agency, or national laboratory. A minimum of 3 hours (and up to 6 hours) must count towards their degree plan through the internship. The purpose of the internship program is to train and equip students for future careers as environmental professionals. It provides the opportunity for students to experience first-hand actual environmental challenges in government, industry, public interest groups and scientific research organizations. The program reaches beyond the campus to provide practical experience individually tailored to each student's academic goals and capabilities. Part-time students who already work in their area of study may fulfill the internship requirement by working on a special project with their current employer. All projects require approval from the program director. At the conclusion of this internship, students must present a summary of their internship project(s) in both oral and written form.
Each student is also required to pass an oral examination based upon the chosen program of study.
Overview
Available as the Master of Environmental Management degree.
Prerequisites for the M.E.M.: The Institute accepts students with a variety of undergraduate majors, including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. However, in order to be adequately prepared for the required coursework, MEM applicants should have completed two semesters in any combination of Biology, Geology, or Chemistry, and one semester of either calculus or introductory statistics. Students lacking some of this preparation may be accepted for admission, but it is expected that deficiencies will be made up prior to entrance by means of formal coursework or other arrangements agreed upon by the applicant and the Director. Acceptable scores on the GRE or GMAT are also required
M.E.M. Degree Requirements
The Master of Environmental Management is a two-year professional degree by coursework. This degree is designed to equip students with the skills needed to bridge the gaps between science, business, and government, and for those individuals who plan to enter or re-enter the workforce upon graduation. The degree plan requires coursework in both the natural sciences and business, with a particular focus on the relationship among science, management, and policy. Students pursuing a Master of Environmental Management must complete at least 36 semester hours as follows:
Required Courses (28 semester hours)
The required Core Courses have been developed to account for a full range of physical, biological, societal, legal, and economic principles essential for environmental problem solving. The core courses are generally designed to accommodate varying levels of knowledge.
BIOL 60403 Ecology* (3)
GEOL 50493 Environmental Hydrology (3)
ENSC 50773 Environmental Law (3)
ENSC 50513 Environmental Compliance (3)
ENSC 60001 Scientific Presentations (1)
ENSC Environmental Issues Seminar (3)
FINA 60013 Management of Financial Resources (3)
ACCT 60010 and ACCT 60020 Financial Reporting (1.5 hours for each module)
MANA 60033 Managing People (3)
MANA 60040 Business Ethics (1.5)
MANA 70610 Essentials of Negotiation (1.5)
*Students who have had a senior undergraduate or graduate ecology course may substitute BIOL 60403 with BIOL 50103 Terrestrial Ecosystems, BIOL 50703 Ecology of Lakes and Streams, or a course agreed upon by the director of the program.
Specialization/Electives/Internship (8 semester hours)
In addition to the core courses, which are intended to provide a broad training in the field of environmental management, students choose two electives as part of their MEM degree plan. These electives may be grouped to form a “specialization”, either within the sciences or business, but may include courses from other departments on the TCU campus.
In lieu of the electives, students may choose to complete an internship with a company, government agency, or national laboratory. The purpose of the internship program is to train and equip students for future careers as environmental professionals. It provides the opportunity for students to experience first-hand actual environmental challenges in government, industry, public interest groups and scientific research organizations. The program reaches beyond the campus to provide practical experience individually tailored to each student's academic goals and capabilities. Part-time students who already work in their area of study may fulfill the internship requirement by working on a special project with their current employer. All projects require approval from the program director. At the conclusion of this internship, students must present a summary of their internship project(s) in both oral and written form.
Each student is also required to pass an oral examination based upon the chosen program of study.
Program of Study (POS)
Each student prepares an individual Program of Study (POS) designed specifically for the student’s particular background and goals. This is done in consultation with the director of the program. |
