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Applicants normally come from undergraduate backgrounds related to the desired concentration. Students with backgrounds in areas tangential to the field of environmental conservation may apply with the understanding that deficiencies could extend their time in the program; normally, two to three years are required for the completion of the master’s degree. Each concentration area in the Environmental Conservation graduate degree program provides students with a choice of Thesis or Non-thesis (Professional Degree) options. All master’s students must complete a comprehensive exam, earn a minimum of 35 credits, take a minimum of 21 credits in the major, take at least 8 credits at the 600 level or above, take 8 credits in required core courses, take 15-21 credits (depending on thesis/non-thesis option) in elective core topic area courses, including at least one course in each of the following three core topic areas, and prepare one publishable scientific paper resulting from a thesis or professional project. There is no language requirement for the master’s degree.

Core courses are offered in three topic areas: environmental science (biology, ecology, conservation, and environmental building systems); quantitative sciences (statistics, Geographic Information Systems, and modeling; and human dimensions (environmental policies, economics, politics, administration, management, and values). Some courses offered by other departments can satisfy core area requirements with the approval of a student’s committee. Further information on approved courses is available from the department.

Thesis candidates must write a thesis worth 12 hours of credit and are given a final oral examination upon its completion. Non-thesis professional degree students must complete a 6-credit practicum specific to the concentration and approved by the student’s committee and successfully defend a professional paper. Two years are required for the completion of most non-thesis options.

Additional information is available on the program website: http://eco.umass.edu/degree-programs/graduate-programs/.