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2012-2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
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Environmental Science M.S. & Ph.D

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Return to:  School of Environmental and Public Affairs 
 
 

The School of Environmental and Public Affairs administers an interdisciplinary program offering M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Science. At present two fields of concentration are available: 1) Environmental Chemistry and 2) Environmental Policy and Management. An Environmental Science Graduate Coordinating Committee appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School establishes policy for the degree program.

The program descriptions for the Environmental Science degrees are provided here. Students interested in pursuing degrees in chemistry or geology should refer to graduate program descriptions of the appropriate department in the College of Sciences.
 

Description and Objectives of the Program

The graduate program in Environmental Science fosters an understanding of interrelationships between disciplines in addition to requiring depth of study in specialized areas. It emphasizes the need to understand the social context and environmental consequences of using science and technology to serve human needs. We require all students to take two core courses: Environmental Problem Solving (

  ), and Environmental Law and Policy Seminar ( ). Other course work in support of a student’s specialization generally includes courses from several departments and student research often crosses disciplinary lines.

The general objectives of offering Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Environmental Science at UNLV are to:

  1. Promote the understanding of environmental systems, the relationship among science, environmental management and the human condition, and the effective management of that relationship.
  2. Respond to local, state, regional, national and international needs for environmental professionals with advanced degrees.
  3. Assist in the process of shifting toward more sustainable practices in our local community, state and throughout the world.
  4. Encourage graduate students, undergraduate students, and faculty from various departments, colleges and NSHE institutions to collaborate in an effort to find new and creative solutions to environmental problems.
  5. Assist in the development of expertise that will both support excellence in Environmental Science at UNLV and lead to the enhancement of disciplinary graduate programs of each department.
  6. Provide opportunities and encouragement for both disciplinary and interdisciplinary student and faculty interactions that will promote team-building; undergraduate, graduate, faculty mentoring activities; community problem-solving; and enhance instructional programs at UNLV.
  7. Support graduate student research with grants and contracts from extramural sources.
  8. Encourage faculty and graduate student research on environmental projects developed in cooperation with the UNLV International Programs Office and institutions abroad.

Admission Requirements

Applications are reviewed twice per year: February 15 and November 15. Requirements 1-5 below must be met before applying to the program. Items 7 and 8 must be submitted directly to the School of Environmental and Public Affairs office prior to the application review dates.

  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  2. Minimum of three credits of calculus or three credits of statistics and at least 12 credit hours in physical and/or biological sciences with grades of B or better.
  3. A GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale is required for admission.
  4. Scores at or above the 50th percentile in all three areas of the Graduate Record Exam.
  5. International students must take and obtain a score of at least 550 on the TOEFL exam.
  6. Application to the Graduate College, submitted using the on-line application system.
  7. Three letters of recommendation from professors, employers and/or professional colleagues.
  8. A 1-2 page “ Statement of Objectives.”

The Graduate Coordinating Committee uses the Statement of Objectives to determine whether the necessary physical and intellectual resources exist at UNLV to allow the applicant to achieve her/his objectives. The statement will be used to identify and appoint an appropriate advisor for the first year of graduate study, and make other decisions regarding admissibility.

Degree Requirements for all Environmental Science Graduate Students

Each student admitted to the Ph.D. or the M.S. degree program in Environmental Science will be appointed an initial advisor. The initial advisor will help the student design an appropriate curriculum, evaluate possible research directions or opportunities, identify an advisor, and become aware of personnel and resources available in Environmental Science at UNLV. By the end of the first (M.S.) semester or second (Ph.D.) semester the student will select a chair of her/ his Advisory Committee and, in consultation with that chair recommend membership on the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee and the chair are subject to approval by the Graduate Coordinating Committee. The Advisory Committee will assist the student in course selection and definition of a research topic for the thesis or dissertation. A minimum of 33 credits (of which at least 21 will be in 700-level courses) beyond the baccalaureate, including a minimum of six credits for thesis, is required for the M.S. degree. A minimum of 72 credits (of which at least 36 will be in 700-level courses) beyond the baccalaureate is required for the Ph.D. degree. Requirements for completion of each of the fields in these degree programs will frequently make it necessary for students to exceed these minimum credit requirements.

Students must make satisfactory progress each semester to remain in the program. Satisfactory progress is defined as filing an approved program before the completion of nine credits of course work, completion of the minimum required credits in the approved program per calendar year, maintenance of a GPA of at least 3.00, no grades below a C, and compliance with the Graduate Catalog. Any student whose GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on probation and will have one semester to raise the GPA to a 3.00 or above. The program of study will be developed by the student and advisor and filed with the Graduate College. Prior to filing, the student’s graduate committee must approve the program. The program of study must be submitted by the second semester of study. Students must also fulfill the requirements specific to their field of study as described below.

Successful completion and oral defense of a dissertation is required for the Ph.D. degree. Successful completion and oral defense of a thesis is required for the M.S. degree. The student is advised to examine the specific information for each field of study for additional requirements.

Environmental Chemistry

Requirements

Students in both the M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Environmental Chemistry, will be required to complete two core courses,

  and   . In addition, they must take   (minimum of six credits), elective graduate-level courses in CHE or WRM (i.e., minimum of nine credits chosen from  ,  ,  ,   and  ,   (maximum of four credits), and a minimum of six credits of thesis for the M.S. or 18 credits of dissertation for the Ph.D.

Doctoral Requirements

  1. Eighteen credits of Dissertation will be required as part of the graduation requirement. Students who complete an M.S. in Chemistry or Environmental Science (Environmental Chemistry) may apply up to 24 credit hours of class work from the master’s to the Ph.D. degree program with the consent of their committee. Course selection will be based on the student’s research objectives, academic record and results of a preliminary examination. This examination will consist of the American Chemical Society Advanced Placement Examination or will be a three-part placement examination prepared by the Chemistry Department with assistance from faculty in other areas appropriate to the particular interests of the student.
  2. Satisfactory performance on a written Comprehensive Examination prepared by the Chemistry Department (with collaboration from other appropriate faculty).
  3. Satisfactory oral defense of the student’s dissertation proposal before the student’s dissertation committee. The dissertation advisor shall be present but non-voting.
  4. Satisfactory performance on an oral final defense of the dissertation. The dissertation committee will be selected by the completion of the student’s first year and composed of:
    1. Three members of the Chemistry Department (usually the Dissertation advisor and two faculty in related fields).
    2. Two members selected from the participating units in the Environmental Science Doctoral Program (including collaborating departments at UNLV and/or faculty from the HRC, DRI or UNR).
    3. One member appointed by the Graduate College.

Environmental Policy and Management

Requirements

  1. Core requirements. Students in both the M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Environmental Policy and Management, will be required to take three core courses,  ,  , and  . In addition, they must, by the end of the first (M.S.) or second (Ph.D.) semester, file a program of study listing courses to be completed (21 credits of the M.S. or 36 credits of the Ph.D. must be 700 level or above). The program of study is to be prepared by the student and his/her advisor and must be approved by the student’s advisory committee. The advisory committee will be selected by the completion of the student’s first (M.S.) or second (Ph.D.) semester. It will be composed of a total of four members representing appropriate expertise plus one representative from the Graduate College. Each student will be required to take   during the first semester it is offered after the student joins the program and an advanced methods course during some subsequent semester.
  2. Areas of concentration. For the M.S. degree students will design two areas of concentration in consultation with their advisor, each consisting of a minimum of three courses. For the Ph.D. degree, students will design three areas of concentration, also containing a minimum of three courses each. Courses in an area of
    concentration do not need to have the same prefix or be from the same department. Areas of concentration should represent a subset of expertise that is relevant to the student’s program. Areas may include, but are not limited to: anthropology, biological sciences, chemistry, communication, economics, education, geology,
    risk analysis, history, mathematics, political science, public administration, sociology, or statistics. Areas of concentration must be approved by the student’s committee chair.
  3. Minimum credit hours. Each M.S. or Ph.D. student in the Environmental Policy and Management field must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each calendar
    year, and at least three each semester.
  4. M.S. students. By the end of the first full year in the program, each student will choose one of four options
    for completing the degree (Thesis, Professional Paper,
    Examination and Practicum).
    1. Thesis Option: Students in the Thesis Option, in addition to requirements previously noted, must complete a minimum of 33 credits beyond the baccalaureate, including six credits of thesis, and must complete and orally defend a thesis. Each student who wishes to earn the M.S. under the thesis option must, by the end of his or her first full year in the program, have completed a thesis prospectus, approved by the Advisory Committee. Students in the Thesis Option may not count   or   credits towards the degree and may count no more than six credits of    and   combined towards the degree.
    2. Professional Paper Option: Students in the Professional Paper Option, in addition to requirements previously noted, must complete a minimum of 33 credits beyond the baccalaureate, including six credits of professional paper research, and must complete and orally defend a professional paper. Each student who wishes to earn the M.S. under the Professional Paper Option must, by the time he or she has completed one full year in the program, have completed a professional paper prospectus, approved by the Advisory Committee. Students in the professional Paper Option may not count   or   credits towards the degree and may count no more than six credits of   and   combined toward the degree.
    3. Examination Option: Students in the Examination option, in addition to requirements previously noted, must complete a minimum of 33 credits beyond the
      baccalaureate, including three credits of examination preparation under the direction of a graduate program chair, and must complete a written examination that will take place over a two-day period, eight hours each day. The student’s advisor will design the examination and determine the dates of completion and rubric for grading. The Advisory Committee may require an oral defense of the examination. Students in the Examination Option may not count   or   credits towards the degree and may count no more than six credits of   and   combined towards the degree.
    4. Practicum Option: Students in the Practicum Option, in addition to requirements previously noted, must complete a minimum of 33 credits beyond the baccalaureate, including a minimum of six credits combined of Internship ( ) and Teaching practicum ( ). The Advisory Committee must approve the student’s proposed program of courses and approve a final report prepared by the student outlining the Practicum experience and explaining its relationship to the selected course of study. Students in the Practicum Option may not count  ,   or   credits towards the degree and may count no more than nine credits of   and   combined towards the degree.
  5. Ph.D. students in the Ph.D. program will have three additional semesters beyond completion of   to advance to candidacy. Each student in the Ph.D. program must take a minimum of three credits of Directed Readings ( ) each semester following completion of   until he or she has successfully advanced to candidacy. A maximum of six credits of   may count towards the 72 total credits required by the program. Each Ph.D. candidate must take a minimum of three credits of dissertation research (ENV 798) each semester until graduation. At least 12 and no more that 18 credits of   and   combined may be included in the 72 total credits required by the program. No more than six of these may be  ; a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 of these may be  .

Students who complete an M.S. in the Environmental Policy and Management field may apply up to 24 credit hours of class work from the master’s to the Ph.D. degree program with the consent of their committee. Following completion of course work from the three areas selected, the Advisory Committee will administer a qualifying examination. Students who fail the qualifying examination may be allowed to retake it one time. The student will then defend a dissertation proposal before the student’s Advisory Committee. The student’s Doctoral Advisory Committee must approve the dissertation proposal. Students are advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. upon the completion of all course work and approval of the dissertation research proposal. Completion of the dissertation and its successful defense will complete degree requirements.

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