Master of Environmental Science at Towson University

Degree: Master of Science
https://www.towson.edu/fcsm/departments/environsci/grad/science/

Program Director: Dr. John Sivey
Phone: 410-704-6087
Email: [email protected]

The graduate program in environmental science (ENVS) is an interdisciplinary program with core courses taught by biologists, geologists and chemists. The program seeks to provide students with the ability to collect and evaluate geological, chemical and ecological data associated with creating and resolving solutions to the most pressing environmental issues and problems currently faced by metropolitan areas. The program has a thesis and a non-thesis capstone option, both designed to develop a student's ability to communicate the scientific basis for environmental decisions that impact human health and the environment to a wide audience of potential stakeholders including policy makers and disciplinary scientists.

Students pursuing a thesis will work with a research adviser to develop a scientifically sound project with the ultimate goal being the successful defense of their thesis. The non-thesis students will complete their degree in with the capstone Research Practicum course (ENVS 798) where they will conduct a comprehensive scientific review of the policy and/or regulations governing a current or emerging environmental issue. As part of the requirements for ENVS 798 these students will draft a policy analysis document to be reviewed by an external content expert and make a presentation of their findings to a panel of invited experts and guests.

The students currently enrolled in the program come from a range of backgrounds and disciplines that include those already working in the environmental field, those who are looking to enter the environmental work force or go on for an advanced graduate degree in a related field, and educators seeking to expand their knowledge of environmental sciences in metropolitan areas so they can teach the specialty. Four concentrations were developed within the program, based on workforce needs identified by regional environmental professionals: Biological Resources Management, Water Resources Management and Assessment, Wetlands Assessment and Management, and Environmental Spatial Analysis.

The graduate handbook describes the policies and procedures pertaining to the M.S. degree and graduate certificate in Environmental Science. All required courses in the program and all ENVS-sponsored electives are taught in the late afternoon or evening.

1. Collect and evaluate geological, chemical and ecological data associated with creating and resolving solutions to current (and local) environmental problems.
2. Interpret the legal framework that underlies environmental regulation as it applies to protecting human health and the environment.
3. Apply their knowledge of geological, chemical and ecological processes to environmental data collection, analysis and interpretation in order to propose viable solutions to complex multidisciplinary environmental issues.
4. Find, read and comprehend the primary scientific literature that relates to environmental issues and produce written documents using a scientific format.
5. Communicate clearly, both in writing and orally, to a wide audience (potential stakeholders) the scientific basis for environmental decisions that impact human health and the environment.