Environmental Science Masters Degree
Our Master's degree in Environmental Sciences provides a holistic, integrated approach to interdisciplinary environmental research and education. Learn to confront complex environmental issues with an education that combines rigorous scientific and analytical training with a deep understanding of policy, planning and law. Our program is flexible, offering both a Thesis and Professional option.
Our Masters Degree options
No matter which option you select, you will take courses on all aspects of environmental science, including natural and social systems, the relationships between the two, and the analytical and assessment tools used to better understand them.
THESIS OPTION
Our Thesis option offers a traditional two-year Master's degree. As you complete coursework, you will select a research topic and complete an original academic thesis, written under the direction of one of our distinguished faculty members.
Interested students are encouraged to reach out to faculty whose research interests align with their own to discuss potential funding and advising. We ask that students do not submit an application until funding and an advisor have been identified.
PROFESSIONAL OPTION
Earn a Master’s degree while you work with our Professional option. In addition to coursework, you will complete an exam and write a capstone paper on a topic of your choosing.
This degree is available in-person or online.
Admissions Requirements
To be admitted to a Department of Environmental Sciences Master's degree program, you will need the following courses:
- Chemistry (C or higher)
- Statistics (C or higher)
- Biology (C or higher)
You will need a GPA of 3.0 or higher. GRE scores are optional.
Suggested Coursework
The Department’s course offerings reflect the priority areas identified by the 2003 National Science Foundation’s report on environmental research and education (NSF 2003: Complex Environmental Systems: Synthesis for Earth, Life, and Society in the 21st Century).
These are:
- Biophysical Systems (Coupled Biological and Physical Systems)
- Environmental Planning and Management (Coupled Human and Natural Systems)
- Environmental Assessment and Analysis (Coupled People and Technology)
ENVS 7700 Integrated Environmental Issues
ENVS 7995 Environmental Seminar (1 credit hour)
ENVS 4010 Applied Ecology
ENVS 4035 Aquatic Pollution
ENVS 4101 Environmental Chemistry
ENVS 4045 Air Pollution (proposed)*
ENVS 4477 Environmental Toxicology – Introduction and Application
ENVS 4500 Health Effects of Environmental Pollutants
ENVS 4600 Global Environmental Change
ENVS 7110 Toxicology of Aquatic Environment
ENVS 7112 Concepts in Marine Ecotoxicology
ENVS 7151 Watershed Hydrology and Floodplain Analysis
ENVS 7623 Toxicology I
ENVS 7626 Genetic Toxicology
ENVS 4261 Energy and the Environment
ENVS 4262 Environmental Hazard Analysis
ENVS 4264 Regulation of Environmental Hazards
ENVS 4266 Ocean Policy
ENVS 7040 Environmental Planning/Management
ENVS 7041 Environmental Policy Analysis
ENVS 7042 Environmental Conflict Resolution
ENVS 7043 Environmental Law and Regulation
ENVS 7061 Water Quality Management and Policy
ENVS 7044 Regulation of Toxic Substances
ENVS 7045 Land Use Law and Regulation
ENVS 7046 International Environmental Law
ENVS 7047 Environmental Economics and Policy
ENVS 4145 Remote Sensing Fundamentals for Env. Scientists
ENVS 4149 Design of Environmental Management Systems
ENVS 4900 Watershed Hydrology
ENVS 7050 Spatial Modeling of Environmental Data Or EXST 7003; 7004; or 7005 Introduction to Statistical Methods
Graduate Courses by Area
Suggested Course Sequence
| Year | MS Thesis | MS Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 |
ENVS 7700 (3 hours) ENVS 7995 (1 hour) Group A (3 hours) Group B (3 hours) Group C (3 hours) Priority Group (3 hours) Electives (ENVS/outside) (3 hours) |
ENVS 7700 (3 hours) ENVS 7995 (1 hour) Group A (3 hours) Group B (3 hours) Group C (3 hours) Priority Group (3 hours) Electives (ENVS/outside) (3 hours) |
| Year 2 |
Group A (3 hours) Group B (3 hours) Group C (3 hours) Electives (ENVS/outside) (3 hours) ENVS 8000–Thesis research (6 hours) Thesis Defense |
Group A (3 hours) Group B (3 hours) Group C (3 hours) Electives (ENVS/outside) (6 hours) ENVS 7997*–Team/Intern Project (2 hours) Exit Examination |
MAT-S Certification Pathway
Share your passion for environmental science with a career teaching at the secondary level.
With this program you earn:
- A Master of Environmental Sciences
- A Master of Teaching
- A certification to teach Environmental Science for grades 6 - 12 in Louisiana
You will need to:
- Be accepted and enroll as a student in the LSU DES Master Program
- Fill out the LSU Dual Enrollment paperwork
- Complete required MAT-S courses and a residency as a student teacher
Interested students should contact the Lutrill and Pearl Payne School of Education or Dr. Brian Snyder of the Department of Environmental Sciences.