Environmental Sciences Professional, PSM
UMass Boston's Environmental Sciences Professional Master's (PSM) program is designed for working professionals and for individuals seeking to an advanced, non-research-based graduate degree. This program is an outgrowth of the need for science enterprises to put science savvy individuals into important positions that require a breadth of skills and knowledge.The PSM is open to those with baccalaureate degrees in a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and math fields, as well as students from other fields who have some undergraduate or professional experience in those areas. The program includes evening and online courses to be convenient to working professionals.
Application Deadlines:
Deadlines: June 1 for fall, December 15 for spring
Letters of Recommendation: 2
Other: 3.0 undergraduate GPA
What You Can Take
Current students in all track programs should refer to the graduate student handbook for the year they enrolled in the program.
The Environmental Sciences Professional Science MS degree directly addresses the need for environmental science enterprise to place cross-trained environmental science and business management professionals into important roles that require a breadth of skills and knowledge.
Learning Objectives for this program can be viewed here.
Students complete 30 credits of which 3 credits are internship credits which serves as the Capstone experience for this degree.
Program of Study
Required Courses (choose 1): ENVSCI 654 Professional Science Communication (online), BIOL 650 Scientific Communication, MBAACM 681 Analytical Writing in Management, MBAACM 682 Oral Communication for Managers
Envlronmental Policy, Law, and Management Core (choose 1): ENVSCI 616 Environ. Policy & Admin., ENVSCI 670 Environmental and Energy Economics, ENVSCI 674 Climate and Energy: Law, Policy and Management, ENVSCI 675 Economics of Renewables, ENVSCI 718 Environmental Law and Policy, ENVSCI 726 Coastal Zone Management, MBA AF 631 Environmental Accounting and Finance
Quantitative Analysis Core (choose 1): ENVSCI 601 Intro. Prob. & Applied Stats, ENVSCI 611 Applied Statistics, ENVSCI 623 Introduction to GIS, ENVSCI 662L Chemometrics
Environmental Sciences Core (choose 2): ENVSCI 630 Biological Oceanography, ENVSCI 635 Environmental Toxicology, ENVSCI 640 Chemistry of Natural Waters, ENVSCI 641/642 The Geochemistry of a Habitable Planet, ENVSCI 646 Global Ecology, 650 Physical Oceanography, ENVSCI 657 Fluvial Hydrology, ENVSCI 665 Ecological Risk Assessment, ENVSCI 670 Remote Sensing
Business Management Core (choose 1): MBAMGT 650 Organizational Analysis and Skills, MBAMGT 651 Personnel and Human Resource Management, MBAMS 651 Project Management
Electives (choose 3): Choose from any 600+ course offered through ENVSCI, UPCD, BIOL, MGT to complete the required 30 credits
What You Will Learn
After completing your Environmental Sciences Professional Science MS you will be prepared to serve as in administrative and management roles that require combined skills of science and business. You will have deep and practical knowledge of the environmental sciences as well as project management and communication.
What You Can Do with an Environmental Sciences Professional Science Masters
Environmental Sciences Professional Science alumni are employed as sustainability officers, team leaders, department heads, and managers across multiple employment sectors from federal and state environmental agencies to nonprofits to industry. All share in common skills that integrate the environmental policy and science disciplines with management and communications training. These skills are in high demand through the environmental workforce and with these skills alumni are able to maintain professional growth throughout their careers.
Application and Admission
Application Information
Deadlines: June 1 for fall, December 15 for spring
Test Scores: GRE
Letters of Recommendation: 2
Other: 2.75 undergraduate GPA and Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education
Students seeking funding should apply no later than January 15 for fall and October 15 for spring. Students should also review graduate student aid information below.
Information for International Graduate Applicants
English Language Proficiency: Any applicant that has not completed at least two academic years of full-time study (excluding ESL or test-prep) at an approved English-speaking college or must submit official score results for one of the following:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
International English Language Testing System academic version (IELTS Academic)
Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)
Countries exempt from English Language Proficiency requirement: Applicants may be exempt from submitting these test scores if they have received at least four years of education (including their undergraduate program) at an English-speaking college or university in the United States or in Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Ghana, Grand Cayman, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Trinidad/Tobago, Singapore, and United Kingdom.
Required Minimum Score for Environmental Science Professional Science MS: TOEFL PBT = 550, TOEFL IBT = 79, IELTS Academic = 6.0, PTE Acdemic = 53.
Institutional Code for UMass Boston: When submitting official scores, which must be sent electronically or in hard copy directly to UMass Boston from the testing agency, use institution code 3924.
VISA Information: Once admitted, applicants will be contacted by the International Student & Scholar Office with information on the visa process. Please email international@umb.edu if you have questions or need assistance. More information is available online at the International Student & Scholar Office website.
Cost of Attendance
General Information
For full costs see Graduate Tuition and Fees on the Bursar's Office webpage.
Each year the University awards more than $150 million in financial aid to our students. Financial aid funds are awarded on a first come, first served basis.
US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for federal financial aid. Massachusetts residents (US citizens, permanent residents, and international students) may also qualify for state financial aid in addition to reduced tuition rates. UMass Boston and alternative private lenders are two additional sources of funds to assist in covering educational costs.
To get started on applying for financial aid complete the FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
Tuition and Fees
The Bursar’s Office issues online bills for tuition and fees, and collects the payments to apply into the student accounts.
Make sure to log into your WISER account where you manage every aspect of your university account which includes your bills, financial aids, and To Do List.
Approximate Cost to Attend UMass Boston: Information on cost of attendance is found on the Bursar's Office webpage. Actual tuition and fees vary according to residency, number of credits taken, program and whether students enroll through campus or through Continuing and Professional Studies (CAPS).
Housing
UMass Boston does not provide on campus housing for graduate students.
For information about off-campus housing, how to find a room mate, how to locate available apartments or rooms, and information about meal plans visit the Office of Student Housing webpage.
Graduate Student Aid
University-funded Graduate Assistantships
As a professional program limited assistanships are available for graduate students in the Environmental Sciences Professional Science MS program. These limited assistantships, awarded as teaching assistantships in the School for the Environment, are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
University-funded Graduate Assistantships are not awarded by Financial Aid Services. They are formal service contracts between you and the School for the Environment. Teaching Assistants, awarded to full-time graduate students with the expectation of 18.5 hours per week of teaching effort, receive a stipend, waiver of some fees, and full tuition credit.
The number of graduate assistantships for Urban Planning are limited based on budget. Contact your Graduate Program Director for more information. Financial Aid Award Packages may be adjusted for students receiving assistantships.
International Students: May apply for assistantships and must be enrolled full-time (9 credits) to comply with immigration regulations to receive assisantship support.
Grant-funded Research Assistantships
Many of the School for the Environment faculty have active grants and contracts which provide financial support for graduate students appointed as research assistants in the School for the Environment. Also our research centers and institutes hire graduate research assistants on a regular basis. Graduate students appointed as research assistants receive stipends as well as fee waivers and tuition credits.
Students can explore research assistantship opportunities prior to enrolling in the Environmental Science Professional Science MS program by contacting the Graduate Programs Coordinator.
Additional information about available research assistantships is available at the School for the Environment Academic Achievement Services Center (AASC@SFE) webpage.
Off-campus Internships and Cooperative Education
The Environmental Sciences Professional Science MS program requires an internship to complete the degree. Many students complete this internship at their current place of employment.
The School for the Environment has strong connections to local municipalities, community organizations, and agencies who support paid internships and cooperative education positions. Students funded through these types of appointments may be eligible for tuition credits and fee waivers.
Students can explore research assistantship opportunities prior to enrolling in the Environmental Sciences Professional Science MS program by contacting the Graduate Programs Coordinator.
Additional information about available research assistantships is available at the School for the Environment Academic Achievement Services Center (AASC@SFE) webpage.
Program Faculty
Program Contact
For questions about the PSM program, contact sfe@umb.edu or Professor John Duff at john.duff@umb.edu.
