Environmental Science (M.S.)

Basic Degree Information/Description

The College of Sciences offers opportunities for advanced study and research leading to the Master of Science degree in Environmental Sciences. The Master of Science degree is awarded to candidates who have displayed an in-depth understanding of the subject matter and demonstrated the ability to make an original contribution to knowledge in their field of specialty.

Degree Requirements

• The Master of Science degree requires a minimum of 36 semester credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree (exclusive of coursework or other study required to remove deficiencies).
• For a complete list of degree requirements please see the Graduate Catalog.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Admission Prerequisites: 

• A bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, chemistry, geology, engineering or some other related scientific discipline.  
• Additionally, it is required that applicants will have taken coursework in the following areas:  1) one semester in general statistics; 2) one semester in organic chemistry; and 3) one semester of environmental science or ecology.  Applicants lacking these requirements will be asked to complete these deficiencies within the first 12 credit hours. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in upper-division and graduate work is also required. Applicant's evaluations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Application Requirements:

• A degree seeking applicant must meet university wide requirements.
• A complete Graduate Studies application.
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended.  All international transcripts must be recorded in English or officially translated to English.
• General GRE Required
• A Resume is required.
• 2 Letters of Recommendation are required from persons familiar with the applicant's academic record.
• A Statement of Purpose - should include research interest as well as professional and academic goals.
• Evaluation of Foreign Credentials: All applicants including non-U.S. citizens (International), U.S. citizens (Domestic), or permanent residents who have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions are required to submit an evaluation from an approved Foreign Credential Agency of transcripts from all foreign institutions attended. If official transcripts are used in the foreign credential evaluation, the official transcript requirement will be considered met. However, if unofficial documents are used in the foreign credential evaluation, final official transcripts must be sent to UTSA.
  
  • An approved evaluation requires a detailed course-by-course evaluation. Summaries will not be accepted.
  • The Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA) is a private corporation that provides evaluations of foreign school credentials. The application is available at: Application for Credentials Evaluation.
  International Applicants:
  
  • IELTS: Minimum score of 6.5.
  • TOEFL: Minimum scores of 79 or 60 for Internet or paper versions, respectively.
  Additional Requirements: A degree seeking applicant must meet international graduate student admission requirements.

Career options available for graduates

Our M.S. graduates are employed as scientists in government agencies and private environmental consulting firms. Some of the graduates who complete theses pursue doctoral degrees. 

Research taking place in the M.S. Environmental Science program

Research is conducted by faculty in Biology, Chemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Geological Sciences and includes multidisciplinary topics. Recently completed thesis projects include:

• Andrew Baldwin (2012): The effects of repetitive grazing on schizachyrium scoparium and the role it plays in woody plants encroachment on Texas grasslands.
• Claudia Contreras (2011): Transcriptional analysis of distant signaling induce by insect elicitor and mechanical wounding in zea mays.
• Jeremy Shields (2011): The effects of different sources of supplemental carbon on the growth rate of neochloris oleoabundans.