Pursuit of the MS degree in environmental science and sustainability provides students with research and education opportunities in environmental protection and remediation and in plant growth and physiology. Students will select graduate coursework in soil science, biology, and environmentally related courses taught in departments across the campus.

Those completing the program requirements will be well prepared for employment in environmental and agricultural consulting, teaching at the junior college level, and continued graduate studies for the Ph.D. Their research and teaching interests include: plant growth under environmental stress, invasive species, plant physiology, urban landscape environments, bioremediation of contaminated soils and water, and both modern and ancient agricultural environments. All emphases require original research topics with the results presented in thesis format. This research is expected to be of a publication quality and thesis style best reflecting that of a professional journal, thus facilitating timely submissions for publication. We also encourage formal presentations at professional meetings.

• Credit hours: (30): minimum 24 course work hours plus 6 thesis hours (PWS 699R).
• Undergraduate hours: no more than 9 semester hours may be applied toward a master’s degree.
• Thesis: completion of the thesis in scientific journal format and prepared for journal submission.
• Required courses: Two semesters of PWS 694R (seminar) and one semester of graduate statistics (Stat 511).
• Biannual progress reviews by an advisory committee and graduate committee.
• Examinations: final oral defense of thesis.