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 purpose of the Masters of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management program is to provide advanced education in management of the environment and natural resources. Advanced study in environmental science, management of the environment, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and communication is the core of the degree. The degree allows an emphasis in a wide range of areas of study, listed below. Through the emphasis of study students have flexibility in creating elective coursework to suit their professional goals. The culminating experience of the degree is a professional project or traditional thesis that allows students to explore, seek solutions, or provide research on environmental challenges.
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Students pursuing the professional project option should plan on a minimum of 15 months of study (4 academic quarters) for completion
- Students pursuing the thesis option should plan on two academic years of study for completion.
Areas of Study Emphasis
FOREST SCIENCE
The forest science emphasis in the Master of Science of Environmental Sciences and Management provides coursework, projects, or thesis in forest protection and diseases, silviculture, wildland fire, forest ecology, and forest measurement. Potential project work at the Swanton Pacific Ranch is a highlight of this emphasis.
Potential Forest Science Electives (number of units):
NR 474 - Forest Stewardship Practices (at Swanton Pacific Ranch) (8)
NR 402 - Forest Health (4)
NR 414 - Sustainable Forest Management (4)
NR 418 - Applied GIS (3)
NR 455 - Wildland Urban Fire Protection (4)
SS 440 - Forest and Range Soils (4)
STAT 419 - Applied Multivariate Statistics (4)
STAT 523 - Design and Analysis of Experiments (4)
STAT 524 - Applied Regression Analysis (4)
STAT 531 - Statistical Computing with R (4)
Some courses have prerequisites that not all students will meet; instructors can waive course prerequisites for qualified graduate students.
HYDROLOGY
The hydrology emphasis in the Master of Science of Environmental Sciences and Management provides coursework, projects, or thesis in watershed management, hydrologic change due to land use, groundwater resources, groundwater measurement or contamination.
Potential Hydrology Electives (number of units):
NR 420 - Watershed Assessment and Protection (4)
SS 440 - Forest and Range Soils (4)
SS 424 - Soil Physics (5)
SS 423 - Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry ( 4)
SS 440 - Forest and Range Soils (4)
SS 422 - Soil Ecology (4)
SS 431 - Digital Soil Mapping (4)
ERSC 442 - Applied Env. Groundwater Hydrology (4)
ERSC 443 - Applied Env. Contaminant Transport (4)
NR 404 - Environmental Law (3)
NR 408 - Water Law (3)
NR 418 - Applied GIS (3)
CE 536 - Computer Applications in Water Resources with GIS (4)
CE 435 - Engineering Hydrology (4)
CE 434 - Groundwater Hydraulics and Hydrology (4)
BRAE 532 - Water, Wells, and Pumps (4)
GEOL 420 - Applied Geophysics (3)
STAT 419 - Applied Multivariate Statistics (4)
STAT 523 - Design and Analysis of Experiments (4)
STAT 524 - Applied Regression Analysis (4)
STAT 531 - Statistical Computing with R (4)
Some courses have prerequisites that not all students will meet; instructors can waive course prerequisites for qualified graduate students.
SOIL SCIENCE
The soil science emphasis in the Master of Science of Environmental Sciences and Management provides coursework, projects, or thesis in soil morphology, soil pedology, soil fertility, ecology, soil physics, or soil chemistry.
Potential Soil Science Electives (number of units):
SS 440 - Forest and Range Soils (4)
SS 422 - Soil Ecology (4)
SS 423 - Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry ( 4) SS 424 Soil Physics (5)
SS 431 - Digital Soil Mapping (4)
SS 440 - Forest and Range Soils (4)
SS 522 - Advanced Soil Fertility (3)
GEOL 401 - Field-Geology Methods (4)
GEOL 402 - Geologic Mapping (4)
GEOL 415 - Structural Geology (4)
GEOL 420 - Applied Geophysics (3)
ERSC 442 - Applied Env. Groundwater Hydrology (4)
ERSC 443 - Applied Env. Contaminant Transport (4)
NR 404 - Environmental Law (3)
NR 418 - Applied GIS (3)
STAT 419 - Applied Multivariate Statistics (4)
STAT 523 - Design and Analysis of Experiments (4)
STAT 524 - Applied Regression Analysis (4)
STAT 531 - Statistical Computing with R (4)
Some courses have prerequisites that not all students will meet; instructors can waive course prerequisites for qualified graduate students.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
The policy emphasis in the Master of Science of Environmental Sciences and Management provides coursework, projects, or thesis in Environmental governance, regulations, and policies on environmental topics at the local, regional, and national levels.
Potential Environmental Policy Electives (number of units):
POLS 471 - Urban Politics (4)
POLS 427 - Politics of the Global Economy (4)
POLS 452 - Technology and International Development (4)
POLS 515 - Public Policy (4)
POLS 518 - Public Policy Analysis (5)
POLS 540 - Leadership and Management in Public Policy (2)
POLS 550 - Regulatory and Economic Policy (4)
AGB 412 - Advanced Agricultural Policy (4)
NR 404 - Environmental Law (3)
NR 406 - Indigenous Peoples and International Law and Policy (4)
NR 408 - Water Resource Law and Policy (3)
NR 413 - Agricultural Law (4)
NR 416 - Environmental Impact Analysis and Management (4)
NR 425 - Applied Resource Analysis and Assessment (4)
NR 435 - Environmental Policy Analysis (4)
ECON 431 - Environmental Economics (4)
ECON 432 - Economics of Energy and Resources(4)
ECON 435 - Economics of Land and Water (4)
BUS/COMS458 - Solving Big World Challenges (4)
COMS 435 - American Political Rhetoric (4)
COMS 422 - Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Medicine (4)
GSB 513 - Organizational Behavior (4)
JOUR 412 - Public Relations and Crisis Management (4)
JOUR 413 - Public Relations Campaigns (4)
JOUR 415 - Advanced Public Relations Practice: CCPR. (4)
MSCI 428 - Marine Conservation and Policy (4)
MSCI 440 - Communicating Ocean Sciences to Informal Audiences (4)
Some courses have prerequisites that not all students will meet; instructors can waive course prerequisites for qualified graduate students.
SUSTAINABILITY
The sustainability emphasis in the Master of Science of Environmental Sciences and Management provides coursework, projects, or thesis in life-cycle assessment, sustainability analysis, promoting sustainable agriculture, and land and urban principles of sustainability.
Potential Sustainability Electives (number of units):
CRP 440 - Climate Action Planning (4)
CRP 504 - Sustainable Communities (4)
CRP 545 - Principles of Environmental Planning
AGED 404 - Agricultural Leadership (3)
EDES 406 - Sustainable Environments (4)
RPTA 413 - Tourism and Protected Area Management (4)
BUS/COMS 458 - Solving Big World Challenges (4)
NR 418 - Applied GIS (3)
NR 445 - Systems Thinking in Environmental Management (4)
NR 465 - Ecosystem Management (4)
BIO 446 - Ecosystem Ecology (4)
CE 527 - Sustainable Mobility (4)
CM 425 - Sustainability and Environment (1-6 units)
ECON 431 - Environmental Economics (4)
ECON 432 - Economics of Energy and Resources (4)
EDES 408 - Implementing Sustainable Principles (4)
EDES 410 - Advanced Implementation of Sustainable Principles (4)
EE 420 - Sustainable Electric Energy Conversion (4)
ENVE 450 - Industrial Pollution Prevention (4)
LA 432 - Landscape Ecology Applications (4)
MATE 485 - Materials and the Environment (4)
Some courses have prerequisites that not all students will meet; instructors can waive course prerequisites for qualified graduate students.
Program Overview
The Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management (MS ESM) degree is an interdisciplinary degree designed to provide core knowledge in research methods, environmental science, and environmental management, while providing for environmental specialization through directed electives. The program prepares students for a broad range of careers in science, research, and environmental management.The MS ESM program: (1) provides core knowledge in research skills and scientific literacy; (2) provides advanced knowledge in both environmental sciences and environmental management; (3) allows students to specialize in an environmental science or management sub-discipline through choice of electives, (4) is flexible, providing options for student to apply their knowledge through both a traditional thesis or a professional project.
The program is open to students from any undergraduate major who have demonstrated high academic achievement. The program requires completion of a core curriculum (research skills, sciences, management) and directed electives for a total of 45 units. Students admitted to the program are expected to begin their studies in the fall quarter as a cohort, but students with prerequisite coursework deficiencies may be admitted in other quarters.
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 2023 admission will be available this fall. The deadline for fall 2023 applications is April 1, 2023. Applications will be reviewed in February and then again in April. Only complete applications will be reviewed (all letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and official transcripts submitted).
Degree Requirements
|
Catalog number |
Course title |
Units |
Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Research skills core |
|||
|
ESCI 501 |
Research Planning |
4 |
Graduate standing or consent of instructor |
|
ESCI 502 |
Research Methods and Data Analysis |
4 |
Graduate standing or consent of instructor |
|
ESCI 581 |
Graduate Seminar in Environmental Sciences |
2 |
Graduate standing or consent of instructor |
|
ESCI 599 or ESCI 500 |
Thesis Independent Study |
9 2 6 |
|
|
Environmental Sciences core |
|||
|
ESCI 550 |
Advanced Environmental Sciences |
4 |
Graduate standing or consent of instructor |
|
Environmental Management core |
|||
|
ESCI 590 |
Advanced Environmental Management |
4 |
Graduate standing or consent of instructor |
|
Total required coursework |
29 |
|
|
|
Directed electives (must be 400 or 500 level)* |
16 |
|
|
|
Total units |
45 |
|
|
*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.
Suggested Courses (1 Year)
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
Fall Year 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ESCI 5011 (4) ESCI 550 (4) ESCI 500 (2) Electives2 (4-8) |
ESCI 5011 (4) ESCI 502 (4) ESCI 590 (4) ESCI 500 (2)
|
ESCI 581 (2) ESCI 500 (2) Electives2,4 (4-8) |
ESCI 5963 (5) |
- Offered fall and winter terms.
- At least 27 units of the 45 units must be at 500 level.
- Thesis students arrange ESCI 599 credit with their advisers.
Current Students
Read about some of our current students and graduates ›
Created by Jazlyn Guerrero, MS Candidate 2020
Project and Thesis Examples
Professional projects consist of an advanced learning experience in environmental sciences or management. The professional project and coursework can be completed in as little as 15 months, assuming a significant summer effort on the project. Students are admitted and assigned a project and project adviser based on their academic interests as stated in their application. The final project completion and grade will be determined through project course (ESCI 596) with advisement from the faculty adviser.
A thesis consists of an advanced learning experience under the advisement of a major professor adviser and thesis committee. Typically a 2+ year educational experience. The student’s thesis committee determines if the thesis meets the requirements of an MS degree.
Thesis committee comprises of 3 individuals: 1) major adviser, 2) NRES faculty member, 3) faculty member or professional with interest or intimate knowledge of the project.
All culminating experiences (theses and projects) require a written report. The report will follow the University guidelines for preparation of a thesis located on the Graduate Education web site.
Completed Project Reports
Completed Project Reports are found on Digital Commons @Cal Poly https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/nres_rpt/
Recent Thesis Examples
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/
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Potential research assistant, teaching assistant, tuition waiver awards through Graduate Education
Graduate Studies Information at Cal Poly
Please visit the University's Graduate webpage for information on financial resources and graduate studies information at Cal Poly Graduate Information or our College's webpage at CAFES Graduate Information
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.
There are additional requirements for foreign students. Questions concerning applications from foreign students should be directed to the Cal Poly Admissions Office.
Program specific requirements:
- 3.0 GPA in final 90 quarter units
- Transcripts from degree granting institution (other transcripts optional)
- Three letters of reference
- Statement of Purpose*
*Statement of Purpose: Please use this statement to tell the review committee about your education and professional background, professional and personal goals, intention of study emphasis by addressing the prompts below. This information will allow us to pair you with a professional project to assist with your education goals. If applying for a thesis option, include the name of your potential adviser and project description.
- 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?
For more information contact:
Dr. Chris Surfleet
