M.S. Environmental Sciences and Management

The Master of Science degree program in Environment Sciences and Management (MS ESM) offers advanced study in a range of environmental science and management disciplines.The MS ESM program is designed to provide advanced education in environment and natural resources management through coursework and directed research that builds core scientific literacy, knowledge, and applied skills  through the development of either a thesis or a professional project. 

The MS ESM program prepares students for a broad range of careers in science, research, and environmental management. The program is open to students from any undergraduate major. The MS ESM program requires completion of a core curriculum (research skills, sciences, management) and directed electives. Students admitted to the program begin their studies in the fall quarter as a cohort.

Areas of Study Emphasis

Admissions

Admission requirements for this program require that students have at least a 3.0 GPA in the final 90 quarter units of their undergraduate degree and completion of the following undergraduate coursework:   

Sciences— three quarters or two semesters of any combination of chemistry, biology, ecology, physics, earth science, or atmospheric science  
Statistics—one quarter or one semester  
Calculus—one quarter or one semester 

An applicant who lacks prerequisite coursework may be admitted as a conditionally classified student and must make up any deficiencies (12 unit limit) before advancement to classified graduate standing.  

The GRE exam is optional. Applicants must have at least 3 letters of reference that can attest to the academic capabilities of the applicant. All applicants who do not speak and write English as their primary language are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), taken within the last 2 years with a minimum score of 550 (paper version), 213 (computerized version), or 80 (internet based). 

Applications for Fall 2025 admission will be available November 2024. The deadline for Fall 2025 applications is March 1, 2025. Only complete applications will be reviewed (all letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and official transcripts submitted).

Note: please do not apply for winter admission unless you were specifically told to do so by a faculty member and the graduate coordinator. Our program admits students for rhe Fall term.

Cost to attend Cal Poly

Applying

Application and supporting materials are submitted through Cal State Apply. Specific instructions and the link to Cal State Apply can be found on the Cal Poly Graduate Education website (https://admissions.calpoly.edu/applicants/graduate/process.html). There are additional requirements for foreign students. Questions concerning applications from foreign students should be directed to the Cal Poly Admissions Office https://admissions.calpoly.edu/applicants/international/ .  

The following requirements are specific to our program: 

• 3.0 GPA in final 90 quarter units 
• Transcripts from degree granting institution (other transcripts optional): request official transcripts through CSU Apply
• Three letters of reference: applicants will request 3 reference letters in CSU Apply from people who can speak to both your professional and academic abilities. References not sent through CSU Apply will not be accepted. 
• Personal Statement (see step 2) 

Step 1 - Contact potential faculty advisors 

Admission to the program is contingent on us connecting the applicant with a faculty advisor. You are required to contact faculty with expertise that interests you to discuss potential projects. Contact information can be found on the NRES Faculty directory. Review the list of faculty and potential graduate projects below. 

 Faculty who plan to advise a Masters Student(s) starting Fall 2025 and their research topics:

Dr. Aakash Ahamed: The research topics I plan to be working on with a Masters student include using remote sensing technologies and geospatial data science to understand the water and carbon cycles. Please reach out to me (aahamed@calpoly.edu) with a short summary of your research interests and your background by January 15 if you might be interested in working with me for your MS in ESM.

Dr. Ashley Grupenhoff: The research topics I plan to work on with a Masters student include estimating the carbon implications of delayed forest reestablishment and evaluating the impacts of prescribed fire on ecosystem resilience across central California. Please reach out to me (agrupenh@calpoly.edu) with a short summary of your research interests and background by January if you might be interested in working with me for your MS in ESM.

Dr. Bwalya Malama: The research topics I plan to be working on with the student[s] include groundwater, soil biophysics, stream-aquifer interactions, and forest evapotranspiration. Please reach out to me (bmalama@calpoly.edu) with a short summary of your research interests and your background by January 15 if you might be interested in working with me for your MS in ESM.

Dr. Gordon Rees:  The research topic I plan to be working on with a Masters student include analysis of soil micromorphology in thin sections of soils from range sites after compost application.  Please reach out to me at (grees@calpoly.edu)  with a short summary of your research interests and your background by Jan 15 if you might be interested in working with me for your MS in ESM.

Dr. Stewart Wilson: The research topics I plan to be working on with a Masters student include soil and water impacts from fire retardant applications, effect of fuels treatments on soil properties, and machine learning and spatial modeling of fire affected soils. Please reach out to me (swilso49@calpoly.edu) with a short summary of your research interests, background and CV/resume by 12/9/2024 if you might be interested in working with me for your MS in ESM.

Dr. Yiwen Chiu: The research topics I plan to be working on with a Masters student include the application of life-cycle analysis to quantify the environmental performance of different agricultural practices, and geospatial implications of GHG emissions associated with the change of land use. Please reach out to me (yichiu@calpoly.edu) with a short summary of your research interests and a copy of your resume by 12/01/2025 if you might be interested in working with me for your MS in ESM.

Dr. Lilli Kaarakka: I plan to support one or two Masters student beginning in Fall 2025. The research topic(s) I plan to be working on with the selected Masters student(-s) include forest management and modeling future outcomes (using FVS), forest carbon offset programs and policies, and finally, forest fuel dynamics (model development for canopy fuel density). Please reach out to me (lmkaarak@calpoly.edu) with a short summary of your research interests and your background by December January 10 if you might be interested in working with me for your MS in ESM.

Step 2 - Prepare personal statement 

The personal statement tells the review committee about your education and professional background, professional and personal goals, intention of study emphasis, and potential faculty advisors.

Address all of the following prompts in your personal statement in 1,000 words or less: 

• Describe your interest in pursuing a Master of Science in our Environment Sciences and Management Program, including which area of study you would focus on. 
• How does your academic and professional background prepare you to undertake this MS program?  What academic and/or professional goals do you believe this MS program will help you to accomplish? 
• Based on your conversations with faculty advisors in Step 2, identify at least one potential faculty advisor and describe how your interests align with their project(s) and/or expertise.   

Step 3 - Submit application materials 

All application products are compiled in CSU Apply, see instructions here (https://admissions.calpoly.edu/applicants/graduate/process.html).   

Degree Requirements

*Elective course selections will depend on students’ interests and sub-discipline emphasis. Students in the research thesis option will consult with their research supervisor to ensure appropriate alignment of student learning objectives with selected courses. Students in the professional project option will consult with the graduate program coordinator for the selection of electives.

Typical course timing

1. Offered fall and winter terms.  
2. At least 27 units of the 45 units must be at 500 level.  
3. Thesis students arrange ESCI 599 credit with their advisers. 

Current Students

Members of the 2023-2024 cohort

Read about some of our current students and graduates ›

Created by Brent Flemmer, Jackie Morales, Grace Damaschino, Sara Sternberg, MS Candidates 2023

Recent MS ESM final reports (examples)

Completed MS reports are found on Digital Commons @ Cal Poly   https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/nres_rpt/ 

Julia Ridgeway, 2019, An analysis of changes in stream temperature due to forest harvest practices using DHSVM-RBM (adviser: Dr. Surfleet)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2093/ 

Devin Pritchard-Peterson, 2018, Field Investigation of Stream-Aquifer Interactions: A Case Study in Coastal California (adviser: Dr. Malama)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1870/  

Cody Morse, 2018, Quantifying the Environmental Performance of a Stream Habitat Improvement Project (adviser: Dr. Chiu)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1972/ 

Graduate Studies Information at Cal Poly

Please visit the University's Graduate webpage for more information including financial opportunities.

MS ESM coordinator