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The Graduate Curriculum

The Environmental Science curriculum is designed to provide the interdisciplinary training needed to help students excel in education and research roles while allowing each individual the flexibility to customize her/his program of study.

Descriptions of specific graduate-level courses are listed at the Web link provided below.

2007-2009 Environmental Science Graduate Courses

General Guidelines

Courses applied to meet the Environmental Science requirements listed below for each degree must be selected from the program course listings in the 2007-2009 Iowa State University Course Catalog.  Please consult the URL above or a hard copy of the catalog when selecting courses for your program of study.

Students who began their study at Iowa State prior to the effective date of the current catalog may apply courses to their degree program from the catalog(s) in effect at the time of their matriculation.

All Environmental Science majors are expected to register for and attend EnSci 690, Seminar in Environmental Science, each semester of their enrollment.

Additionally, all Environmental Science majors must make a public presentation of their graduate research project prior to the completion of their degree.  This presentation may take the form of a seminar within the framework of EnSci 690 or a separate research seminar associated with the final MS or PhD defense.

The POS Committee and POS

The Program of Study (POS) Committee is a panel of faculty members, selected by each individual graduate student to supervise her/his academic program.  The chair of the committee will normally be an individual's major professor. The student, in consultation with her/his POS Committee, formulates a Program of Study (POS).  The POS is a list of courses that constitutes the essential conditions for obtaining a graduate degree.   Establishing a POS Committee and POS are two of the most important steps in making progress towards graduation.   For more information, please consult the ISU Graduate College Handbook or contact the Environmental Science program coordinator at enscigradoffice@iastate.edu.

Requirements for MS Degree, Thesis Option

Majors and co-majors pursuing the MS in Environmental Science with the thesis option must successfully complete at least 30 graduate credits of course work and research, not less than 22 of which must be earned at Iowa State. Students must also write a thesis that demonstrates the ability to conduct independent and creative research.

The following minimum numbers of credits in the indicated areas are required to complete the MS with thesis:

• 12 credits of Environmental Science courses,
• 6 credits of courses related to the student's area of focus,
• 6 credits of thesis research (EnSci 699), and
• at least 6 additional elective credits (courses or research) to total at least 30 credits.

Requirements for MS Degree, Non-Thesis Option

Majors and co-majors seeking the MS in Environmental Science with the non-thesis option must complete at least 33 graduate credits of course work and, in place of a thesis, must also complete a "Creative Component."   The Creative Component may take the form of a special report, a capstone course, an annontated bibliography, a research project, or some other product.  A student wishing to pursue the non-thesis MS must gain approval from her/his POS Committee to do so and must consult with the committee to determine the form of the Creative Component.

The following minimum numbers of credits in the indicated areas are required to complete the non-thesis MS:

• 18 credits of Environmental Science courses,
• 12 credits of courses related to the student's area of focus, and
• 3 credits of EnSci 599, Creative Component.

Requirements for PhD Degree

Majors and co-majors seeking the PhD in Environmental Science must successfully complete at least 72 graduate credits of course work and research, not less than 36 of which, including all dissertation research, must be completed at ISU.  

The following minimum numbers of credits in the indicated areas are required to complete the PhD:

• 18 credits of Environmental Science courses,
• 12 credits of courses related to the student's area of focus,
• 15 credits of dissertation research (EnSci 699), and
• at least 27 additional elective credits (courses or research) to total at least 72 credits.

Requirements for Minors

MS students wishing to minor in Environmental Science must complete 9 graduate credits of Environmental Science courses.  PhD students wishing to minor in the program must complete 12 graduate credits of Environmental Science courses.

Examinations

All MS and PhD students must pass a final oral examination to graduate.  PhD students must also pass a preliminary oral examination for admission to candidacy.  For more information on examinations and graduation requirements, please consult the ISU Graduate College Handbook or contact the Environmental Science program coordinator at enscigradoffice@iastate.edu.

EnSci Graduate Program Office

Charles R. Sauer
Program Coordinator
1126L Agronomy Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa  50011-1010  USA

voice:  515.294.6518
fax:  515.294.8146
e-mail:  enscigradoffice@iastate.edu