Environmental Science MS

Institutional Accreditation

Information on FGCU institutional accreditation is available at www.fgcu.edu/accreditation

Getting Started

Applicants must submit an application online per the individual program’s instructions below. 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.

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.

• Submit an FGCU Graduate Admissions Application and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
• Earned baccalaureate degree from an institution that maintains accreditation by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting body (https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html) or equivalent foreign institution in a field relevant to the field of research the applicant wishes to conduct.
• A curriculum vitae 1-3 pages in length listing your academic and professional experience.
• A statement of purpose including your academic goals, career goals, and your research interests. It is strongly recommended that the statement of purpose identify a faculty mentor that you have discussed a potential project with and who has encouraged you to apply. The statement of purpose should be 1-2 pages in length.
• 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/thewaterschool/departments/mes/enviroscims/. There is no minimum score requirement.
• International students must demonstrate English language proficiency in accordance with University regulation.
• At least three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and research potential.
• Completion of the following is preferred but not required:
  • General Ecology
  • Introductory Statistics

Program Requirements for the 2024-2025 Catalog Year

Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements

• Earn a minimum of 36 credit hours.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework in the program.
• Provide one signed, bound copy of the student's thesis to the Department of Marine & Earth 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 for graduation 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.
• Earn more than 50% of the credits through FGCU.
• Students must register for a minimum of one credit during the semester in which they apply for graduation.

Program Requirements

1. Required Courses in the Major (16-18 credits)
   Successful completion of each 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)
   
   Complete one from the following:
   EVR 6322 Con App Sustainability (3)
   EVS 6937 Environmental Policy (3)
   
   Complete one from the following:
   OCB 6635 Estuarine Ecology (3)
   PCB 6064C Advanced Ecology (3)
   
   
2. Restricted Electives in the Major (18-20 credits)
   Complete a minimum of 18 credits from the following. Successful completion of each elective requires a grade of C or better. No more than 6 credits 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 required course requirements may not be used as electives.
   
   EVR 5145 Ecotoxicology (3)
   EVR 5414 Interpreting the Environment (3)
   EVR 5925 Environmental Education (3)
   EVR 6045C Data Analysis 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) (1-4)
   EVR 6936 Special Topics in Enviro Scien (course may be taken more than once for other topics) (1-4)
   EVS 5818 Ecological Risk Assessment (3)
   EVS 6937 Environmental Policy (3)
   EVS 6941 Environmental Practicum I (3-6)
   GLY 5266C Advanced Biogeochemistry (3)
   GLY 5661C Conservation Paleobiology (3)
   GLY 6566 Carbonate Sed Petrol and Stratigr (3)
   OCB 6050 Biological Oceanography (3)
   OCB 6635 Estuarine Ecology (3)
   OCC 5115C Advanced Marine Chemistry (3)
   OCG 6053 Coastal & Watershed Geol (3)
   PCB 5307C Limnology (3)
   PCB 6064C Advanced Ecology (3)
   
   
   

Total Credits Required: 36 HRS