This master's program meets the increasing need for trained environmental professionals who can address the problems of land and water management, land use and urbanization, wetland loss, microbial ecology, bioremediation, conservation biology, and ecosystem preservation. These professionals will also contribute to the analysis and resolution of global problems such as deforestation, insufficient world food supplies, population growth, planetary health, and global climate change/warming. Areas of specific departmental focus include ecosystems, conservation, environmental biocomplexity, molecular ecology, sustainability science, environmental policy and management, and human/environmental interactions.
Environmental problems are defined in the real world and do not necessarily conform to traditional academic disciplines. As such, solutions require creative combinations of diverse interests and subjects. Effective training requires rigorous, problem-focused transdisciplinary action in a setting in which research is an essential element supporting instruction.
This has been designated a Green Leaf program.
Admissions
University-wide admissions policies can be found in the Graduate Admissions Policies section of this catalog. International students and students having earned international degrees should also refer to Admission of International Students for additional requirements.
Eligibility
Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency or international equivalent with a GPA of 3.00 in natural or Earth sciences, engineering, resource planning, environmental studies, or a field that leads to an environmental focus.
Applicants should have taken at least two semesters of chemistry and three semesters of biology, including a course in ecology. Applicants who lack this coursework should contact the ESP Graduate Office for advice (espgrad@gmu.edu). Successful completion of a two-semester sequence of introductory graduate-level environmental chemistry and biology courses can be used to satisfy the biology and chemistry prerequisites for admission. These introductory courses would be in addition to the requirements for the degree.
Application Requirements
To apply for this program, prospective students should submit the George Mason University Admissions Application and its required supplemental documentation, and:
- Three letters of recommendation, including at least one from a former professor or, if not available, from someone with a PhD.
- Statement of interest indicating: Desired concentration, potential areas of environmental focus/research interest, interactions with potential faculty advisors, and career goals.
- Contact a potential George Mason faculty advisor (appropriate for research interests). The availability of an advisor in the student's area of interest is a prerequisite for admission. The advisor will provide a completed Prospective Advisor Form to be included in the admissions application. More details can be found here.
The GRE is not required for admission into this program.
Policies
For policies governing all graduate programs, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Transferring Previous Graduate Credit into this Program
Previously earned and relevant graduate credits may be eligible for transfer into this program; details can be found in the Credit by Exam or Transfer section of this catalog.
Course Selections
Some program requirements may be fulfilled by completing courses from a variety of academic units at Mason. A student's course selections should reflect a coherent individual program focus, which is stated and briefly described in the program of study. Course selections should also support the research component of the student's degree program (if applicable) and should be developed in close consultation with the supervisory committee. The supervisory committee approves a coursework program (the program of study) individually for each student.
In special cases, the graduate program director may permit the substitution of an alternative course in place of a required one.
Supervisory Committee
Students must form a supervisory committee and submit a program of study to the ESP Graduate Office (espgrad@gmu.edu) for approval within the first 9 credits of coursework or by the end of the second semester, whichever comes first.
The supervisory committee consists of the advisor and at least two other members, chosen in consultation with the advisor, and must conform to AP.6.9 Requirements for Master's Degrees.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 33
This is a Green Leaf program.
Students should refer to Admissions & Policies for specific policies related to this program.
Students in all concentrations must complete the Core Courses, Research Requirement, concentration requirements, and elective credits (as needed) for a total of 33 credits.
Students may elect for their degree to culminate in either a research project (3 credits) or a thesis (3-6 credits). The concentration credit amount requirements below are directly related to the selection of either a research project or a thesis.
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Science Courses | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Fundamentals of Ecology | ||
| Population Ecology | ||
| Statistics Courses | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Data Analysis for Environmental Scientists | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods for Environmental Scientists | ||
| Multivariate Data Analysis for Ecology and Environmental Science | ||
| Statistics and Study Design in Ecology and Conservation | ||
| Generalized Linear and Mixed Models in Ecology and Conservation Biology | ||
| Fundamentals of Epidemiology and Biostatistics | ||
| Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | ||
| Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry | ||
| Applied Statistics I | ||
| Policy Courses | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Environment and Society | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Science and Policy Courses | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Evidence-Based Environmental Policymaking | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Seminar Courses | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Master's Seminar in Environmental Science and Public Policy | ||
| Advanced Seminar in Environmental Science | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Research Requirement
The research requirement may be satisfied in one of two ways: A research project or a formal thesis. The depth and sophistication of the research differs between the two options. The thesis normally involves original research with independent acquisition and interpretation of data, with the goal of peer-reviewed publication. Projects are generally less extensive and can include a broader range of activities.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following options: | 3-6 | |
| Research Project Option | ||
| Students fulfilling the research requirement with the project option register for EVPP 798 Master's Research Project in Environmental Science and Public Policy and are required to take a comprehensive examination covering knowledge mastered throughout the program of study. This examination includes both a written and an oral component and is administered by the student's supervisory committee. Project written product and public presentation of the project may be substituted for oral and written examinations at the discretion of the student’s advisor and committee members. Students will be graded "Satisfactory/No Credit" on the project research requirement. | ||
| Master's Research Project in Environmental Science and Public Policy (3 credits) | ||
| Thesis Option | ||
| Students fulfilling the research requirement with the thesis option register for EVPP 799 Master's Thesis in Environmental Science and Public Policy, present their results in a public seminar, and defend their thesis before their supervisory committee. Students will be graded "Satisfactory/No Credit" on the thesis research requirement. | ||
| Master's Thesis in Environmental Science and Public Policy (3-6 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 3-6 | |
Aquatic Ecology Concentration (AQEC)
This concentration will provide students with a well-grounded master's in the study of aquatic environments such as lakes, streams, watersheds, and estuaries. Emphasis is placed on food webs, biogeochemical cycles, water quality, habitat characteristics, and life histories of aquatic organisms. Students will become proficient with research tools including literature review, field and laboratory methods, and analytical tools as well as applications to management issues.
Aquatic Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EVPP 550 | Waterscape Ecology and Management | 3 |
| EVPP 581 | Estuarine and Coastal Ecology | 3 |
| Select 3-6 credits from the following: 1 | 3-6 | |
| Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation | ||
| Marine Conservation | ||
| The Diversity of Fishes | ||
| Principles of Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Marine Ecology | ||
| Coastal Morphology and Processes | ||
| Coral Reef Ecology, Health, and Conservation | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Social Science | ||
| The Challenge of Biodiversity | ||
| Translating Environmental Policy into Action | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Environmental Science and Public Policy | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Wetland Ecology and Management | ||
| Population Ecology | ||
| Physical Oceanography | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Molecular Environmental Biology I | ||
| Lab in Waterscape Ecology | ||
| Coral Reef Ecology, Health, and Conservation Lab/Field Experience | ||
| Estuarine and Coastal Ecology Laboratory | ||
| Molecular Environmental Biology II | ||
| Wetland Ecology Lab and Field | ||
| Multivariate Data Analysis for Ecology and Environmental Science | ||
| GIS Analysis and Application | ||
| Applied Statistics I | ||
| Total Credits | 12-15 | |
- 1
Credits must be unique to this concentration and are not permitted to share with other core requirements in this degree.
Conservation Science and Policy Concentration (COSP)
This concentration is designed to foster an interdisciplinary, research-oriented degree focusing on the conservation of threatened species and habitats, integrating biological sciences and the human dimensions of conservation practice.
Students may take courses offered by the Department of Environmental Science and Policy and other departments, including CONS courses which are offered through the Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation. This unique partnership with the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) in Front Royal, Virginia offers students hands-on education in cutting-edge conservation science and human dimensions through residential, intensive classes. SMSC is renowned for its conservation research and training of conservation practitioners around the world and instructors for these classes are drawn from SMSC's conservation scientists and other experts from around the world.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EVPP 637 | Human Dimensions of Climate Change | 3 |
| Select 3 credits from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Conservation Biology | ||
| The Challenge of Biodiversity | ||
| Overview of Biodiversity Conservation | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Environmental Science Communication | ||
| Evidence-Based Environmental Policymaking | ||
| Select 3-6 credits from the following: 1 | 3-6 | |
| Molecular Environmental Biology I | ||
| Conservation Medicine | ||
| Infectious Diseases of Wildlife | ||
| Fundamentals of Ecology | ||
| Molecular Environmental Biology II | ||
| Development of U.S. Environmental Policies | ||
| Translating Environmental Policy into Action | ||
| Population Ecology | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Total Credits | 12-15 | |
- 1
Credits must be unique to this concentration and are not permitted to share with other core requirements in this degree.
Environmental Science and Policy Concentration (EVSP)
The Environmental Science and Policy concentration is the largest within the master's and serves as a home for a broad array of research foci. It encourages an independent and creative approach to the development of curricula that reside in the general field of environmental science and policy.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Select at least 3 credits from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Conservation Medicine | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Tropical Ecosystems | ||
| Population Ecology | ||
| Select at least 3 credits from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Land-use Modeling Techniques and Applications | ||
| Ecosystem Analysis and Modeling | ||
| Nonparametric Statistics and Categorical Data Analysis | ||
| Analysis of Experimental Data | ||
| Select 6-9 credits from the following: 1 | 6-9 | |
| Marine Conservation | ||
| Energy Policy | ||
| Urban Ecosystems Processes | ||
| Waterscape Ecology and Management | ||
| Infectious Diseases of Wildlife | ||
| The Challenge of Biodiversity | ||
| Management of Wild Living Resources | ||
| Translating Environmental Policy into Action | ||
| Environmental Science and Public Policy | ||
| Applied Ecology and Ecosystem Management | ||
| Total Credits | 12-15 | |
- 1
Credits must be unique to this concentration and are not permitted to share with other core requirements in this degree.
Communication for Environmental Science, Policy, and Human Behavior (CESP)
The ability to communicate underlies all successful human cooperation. With the growth of anthropogenic global threats such as biodiversity loss and climate change, communication that supports environmental knowledge formation, policy, and behavior change is needed more than ever. Two courses in the concentration from the department, supplemented by those across the university, will allow students to focus on one of these topics. Other classes aside from the core courses may be substituted as needed.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EVPP 529 | Environmental Science Communication | 3 |
| EVPP 530 | Evidence-Based Environmental Policymaking | 3 |
| Select 3-6 credits from one of the following groupings: 1 | 3-6 | |
Policy and Governance Grouping | ||
| Global Biodiversity Governance | ||
| Risk Communication | ||
| American Government and Politics | ||
| Public Policy Process | ||
Behavior Change Grouping | ||
| Risk Communication | ||
| Climate Change and Sustainability Communication Campaigns | ||
| Social Marketing | ||
| Strategic Communication | ||
Science in Society Grouping | ||
| Theories and Research of Mass Communication | ||
| Science Communication | ||
| Science and the Public | ||
| Crisis Communication | ||
| Select at least 3 credits from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Social Media Analysis | ||
| Intro to Research Methods in Communication | ||
| Media Content Analysis | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Educational Research | ||
| Introduction to Measurement and Survey Development | ||
| Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | ||
| Policy and Program Evaluation | ||
| Psychometric Methods | ||
| Statistical Methods in Policy Analysis | ||
| Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry | ||
| Survey Research | ||
| Total Credits | 12-15 | |
- 1
Credits must be unique to this concentration and are not permitted to share with other core requirements in this degree.
Environment and Management Concentration (EVM)
This concentration combines the managerial and administrative skills developed in a traditional master of public administration degree program with the scientific knowledge and understanding normally found in a master of science degree. It is especially meant for individuals working in or aspiring to work as managers in the environmental field in government or private industry.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EVPP 641 | Environmental Science and Public Policy | 3 |
| EVPP 677 | Applied Ecology and Ecosystem Management | 3 |
| Select 3 credits from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Corporate Environmental Management and Policy | ||
| Administration in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | ||
| Select 3-6 credits from the following: 1 | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Environmental and Resource Economics | ||
| Environmental Science Communication | ||
| Evidence-Based Environmental Policymaking | ||
| Energy Policy | ||
| Urban Ecosystems Processes | ||
| Principles of Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Waterscape Ecology and Management | ||
| Infectious Diseases of Wildlife | ||
| Development of U.S. Environmental Policies | ||
| Wetland Ecology and Management | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Total Credits | 12-15 | |
- 1
Credits must be unique to this concentration and are not permitted to share with other core requirements in this degree.
Energy and Sustainability Policy and Science (ESPS)
Many mid-level energy and sustainability positions in the public and private sectors require multidisciplinary grounding in science, policy, and methods. To provide such a foundation, this concentration combines the scientific knowledge normally acquired through a Master of Science degree with development of relevant policy and methods skills.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EVPP 533 | Energy Policy | 3 |
| Select 3 credits from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Food-Energy-Water Nexus | ||
| Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Urban Ecosystems Processes | ||
| Applied Ecology and Ecosystem Management | ||
| Geology of Energy Resources | ||
| Topics in Renewable Energy | ||
| Sustainable Development | ||
| Environmental Engineering Systems | ||
| Geoenvironmental Design | ||
| Topics in Civil Engineering | ||
| Water Resources Engineering II: Water Resource Systems | ||
| Select 1 or 2 courses from the following: 1 | 3-6 | |
| Selected Topics in Environmental Science (When the topic is "Energy Law & Regulation," or "Fundamentals of Environmental GIS" (EVPP 505 can be taken twice if these two topics are taken separately)) | ||
| Food-Energy-Water Nexus | ||
| Field Mapping Techniques | ||
or GEOL 553 | Field Mapping Techniques | |
| Corporate Environmental Management and Policy | ||
| Ecosystem Analysis and Modeling | ||
| Spatial Agent-Based Models of Human-Environment Interactions | ||
| Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development | ||
| Special Topics in Economics | ||
| Perspectives on Food Security | ||
| Global Nutrition | ||
| Total Credits | 12-15 | |
- 1
Credits must be unique to this concentration and are not permitted to share with other core requirements in this degree.
Conservation Medicine & Planetary Health Concentration (CMPH)
Conservation Medicine and Planetary Health (CMPH) are emerging disciplines that address complex health problems that follow disturbances to the Earth’s natural systems requiring transdisciplinary collaborations, systems thinking, and adaptive management approaches to health and ecology. Conservation Medicine evolved from the singular key principle that health connects all species in the planet. Planetary Health is focused on characterizing the human health impacts of anthropogenic disruptions of Earth's natural systems. The CMPH concentration will provide training in quantitative and qualitative research methods and expand the student’s ability to think outside of the box and work beyond traditional disciplinary silos to address complex health issues rooted in ecological principles.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EVPP 527 | Conservation Medicine | 3 |
| EVPP 528 | Planetary Health | 3 |
| EVPP 677 | Applied Ecology and Ecosystem Management | 3 |
| Select 3-6 credits from the following: 1 | 3-6 | |
| Environmental Science Communication | ||
| Urban Ecosystems Processes | ||
| Principles of Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Infectious Diseases of Wildlife | ||
| Global Biodiversity Governance | ||
| Bioremediation: Theory and Applications | ||
| Human Dimensions of Climate Change | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Multivariate Data Analysis for Ecology and Environmental Science | ||
| Scientific Basis of Climate Change | ||
| Health Geography | ||
| Biodefense Strategy | ||
| Crisis Communication | ||
| Global Health | ||
| Fundamentals of Epidemiology and Biostatistics | ||
| Global Nutrition | ||
| Emergency Planning and Preparedness | ||
| Total Credits | 12-15 | |
- 1
Credits must be unique to this concentration and are not permitted to share with other core requirements in this degree.
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| If necessary, students must take additional electives or concentration courses to bring the degree total to 33 credits. These courses must be approved by the student's supervisory committee and outlined on the student's program of study. | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 0-3 | |
Bachelor's Degree (selected)/Environmental Science and Policy, Accelerated MS
Overview
This bachelor's/accelerated master's degree program allows academically strong undergraduates with a commitment to advance their education to obtain a Green Leaf-designated bachelor's degree and the Environmental Science and Policy, MS degrees within an accelerated timeframe. Upon completion of this 141-credit accelerated program, students will be exceptionally well prepared for entry into their careers or into a doctoral program in the field or in a related discipline.
Students are eligible to apply for this accelerated program once they have earned at least 60 undergraduate credits and can enroll in up to 18 credits of graduate coursework after successfully completing 75 undergraduate credits. This flexibility makes it possible for students to complete a bachelor's and a master's in five years.
For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies. For more information on undergraduates enrolling in graduate courses, see AP.1.4.4 Graduate Course Enrollment by Undergraduates.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Graduate Admission Policies section of this catalog.
Important application information and processes for this accelerated master's program can be found here.
The GRE exam is not required for this accelerated master's program.
Students should submit three letters of recommendation (at least one from a former professor or someone with a PhD), a recent resume, a statement of interest/research goals and interests (including information on the candidate's proposed MS research), and a letter from their advisor (Perspective Advisor Form) stating that the advisor agrees to take on the candidate as an MS student, how the candidate would be a good fit for them and why candidate's research topic would be suitable.
Students with an overall GPA of at least 3.20 who are pursuing any Green Leaf-designated major or minor may apply to this accelerated master's program after completing two semesters of chemistry (including CHEM 211 General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and CHEM 212 General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and three semesters of biology, including a course in ecology, or the equivalent, for example:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following options: | 13 | |
Option 1: | ||
| Cell Structure and Function (Mason Core) | ||
| Biostatistics for Biology Majors | ||
| Foundations of Ecology and Evolution (Mason Core) | ||
Option 2: | ||
| Environmental Biology: Molecules and Cells | ||
| Environmental Science: Biological Diversity and Ecosystems | ||
| Environmental Science: Biomes and Human Dimensions | ||
| Environmental Microbiology Essentials | ||
| Environmental Microbiology Essentials Laboratory | ||
Option 3: | ||
| Conservation Theory | ||
| Applied Conservation | ||
6 credits of BIOL or CONS electives | ||
Graduate Advisor
By at least the beginning of their senior year, students should seek out a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy who is willing to serve as their advisor. This advisor will aid the student in choosing the appropriate graduate courses to take and help to prepare the student for graduate studies. Admission into a research-oriented master's concentration is dependent upon securing the agreement of a faculty advisor. Faculty from a variety of departments and colleges at George Mason University (called "program faculty") can serve as master's advisors. Potential students are encouraged to speak with the graduate program coordinator in the department to obtain guidance on this issue.
Accelerated Option Requirements
After the completion of 75 undergraduate credits, students may complete 3 to 12 credits of graduate coursework that can apply to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.
In addition to applying to graduate from the undergraduate program, students in the accelerated program must submit a bachelor's/accelerated master's transition form (available from the Office of the University Registrar) to the College of Science's Office of Academic and Student Affairs by the last day to add classes of their final undergraduate semester. Students should enroll for courses in the master's program in the fall or spring semester immediately following conferral of the bachelor's degree, but should contact an advisor if they would like to defer up to one semester.
Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher in all graduate coursework and should consult with their faculty advisor to coordinate their academic goals.
Reserve Graduate Credits
Accelerated master's students may also take up to 6 graduate credits as reserve graduate credits. These credits do not apply to the undergraduate degree, but will reduce the master's degree by up to 6 credits. With 12 graduate credits counted toward the undergraduate and graduate degrees plus the maximum 6 reserve graduate credits, the credits necessary for the graduate degree can be reduced by up to 18.
Graduate Course Suggestions
The following list of suggested courses is provided for general reference. To ensure an efficient route to graduation and post-graduation readiness, students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor before registering for graduate-level courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EVPP 518 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| EVPP 529 | Environmental Science Communication | 3 |
| EVPP 621 | Overview of Biodiversity Conservation | 3 |
| EVPP 635 | Environment and Society | 3 |