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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. David W. Buckalew, Chair of the Department of Natural Science
Dr. Mary E. Lehman, Program Coordinator
The course of study in Environmental Studies is a 36-hour interdisciplinary program leading to the Master of Science degree. Requirements for the degree include field-based and classroom courses. Students may choose the thesis or non-thesis option to complete the degree. Undergraduate prerequisites are introductory biology (8 credits), ecology (4 credits), hydrology (3 credits), general chemistry (8 credits), instrumental analysis (3 credits), and microeconomics (3 credits). THESIS Students choosing the thesis option are expected to discuss thesis research topics with faculty members as soon as possible. Work with an advisor is based on mutual agreement between the advisor and the student. A research topic and thesis advisor must be chosen before enrolling in ENST 600 Thesis Research I; students will conduct research over a period of at least one academic year or the equivalent. Students will usually complete the writing of the thesis in the academic term after their enrollment in ENST 601 Thesis Research II. Successful oral defense of the thesis before a committee jointly chosen
by the student and advisor may be completed before the end of the semester
in which the student is enrolled in ENST 601 Thesis Research II; however,
the defense will usually be held in the semester or summer session immediately
following the completion of this course. The thesis defense may not
be delayed beyond this time except when extenuating circumstances related
to the difficulty of obtaining results warrants an extension.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION Students electing the non-thesis option must complete 6 credit hours
of additional classroom coursework in lieu of Thesis Research I and II
(ENST 600 and 601). Successful completion of a comprehensive exam is required
for the non-thesis track. Students must register for ENST 699, Comprehensive
Exam, the last semester of their degree work or the semester immediately
following the completion of all coursework. The comprehensive exam
may not be delayed beyond this time unless prior approval has been granted
by the program coordinator. The student's committee will be responsible
for the preparation, administration, and evaluation of the comprehensive
examination. The comprehensive exam will consist of a written portion
and an oral exam. The written portion will be given first and the
oral exam should be scheduled no later than 6 weeks after the completion
of the written exam. The grading system for the evaluation of the
written and oral examinations will be pass/fail. In the event of
a failing grade, the student may re-register for ENST 699 Comprehensive
Exam no earlier than the next semester or summer session. During the second
attempt, the written and/or the oral portion of the exam may be repeated,
as deemed necessary by the student’s committee. Failure of the examination
for a second time will be final, and the student will be dropped from the
graduate program.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, THESIS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED: 36
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, NON-THESIS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED: 36 |
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