George Mason University
AC-4: Graduate Program

The MS in environmental science and policy meets the increasing need for trained environmental professionals who can address the problems of land and water management, land use and urbanization, wetland loss, microbial ecology, bioremediation, conservation biology, and ecosystem preservation. These professionals will also contribute to the analysis and resolution of global problems, such as deforestation, insufficient world food supplies, acid deposition, population growth and public health, global climate change/warming, and depletion of the stratospheric ozone. Areas of specific departmental focus include ecosystems; conservation; environmental biocomplexity; molecular ecology; sustainability science; environmental policy and management and human/environmental interactions. Six concentrations are available in the master’s program: aquatic ecology, environmental science and policy, conservation science and policy, environmental biocomplexity, Earth surface processes and environmental geochemistry, and environmental management. The first four concentrations, designed for students who wish to obtain a research oriented master’s degree, can serve as a training ground for students wishing to further their education by pursuing the PhD in environmental science and public policy at Mason or doctoral programs at other universities. The environmental science and policy concentration is the largest and serves as a home for a broad array of research foci. The conservation science and policy concentration is designed to be an interdisciplinary, research-oriented degree focusing on the conservation of threatened species and habitats, integrating biological sciences and the human dimensions of conservation practice. The environmental biocomplexity concentration is designed for students who wish to obtain a research-oriented master’s degree in population genetics, microbial ecology, and molecular systematics. The concentration in Earth surface processes and environmental geochemistry provides a specific research focus in the Earth science area.

This interdisciplinary program draws on faculty and expertise from the Environmental Science and Policy departmental core faculty, as well as faculty from across the university. This includes the Departments of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences; School of Systems Biology; Public and International Affairs; Chemistry and Biochemistry; Economics; Geography and Geoinformation Science; and Sociology and Anthropology; as well as the School of Public Policy, the Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering, and the College of Education and Human Development.

This concentration is particularly relevant for students who are pursuing or interested in pursuing careers in energy and environmentally related applications in the law, national and international policy, government, print and media journalism, public and social service, teaching, advanced graduate studies, ethics, business, and basic and applied research. Sustainability by definition aims to meet our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. A sustainability education lies within the intersection of environmental science and engineering, economics and business, public policy, and many other areas. Energy is a crucial component of sustainability.

See full list at: http://sustainabilitystudies.gmu.edu/green-leaf/academic-programs/

The School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR) and the Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) jointly offer a 15-credit graduate certificate in environmental conflict resolution and collaboration. This certificate is intended for mid-career professionals working in federal, state and local government as well as others whose positions involve negotiating environmental conflicts. The Conflict Resolution and Collaboration Graduate Certificate focuses on a systems approach to environmental conflict to understand how it is embedded within formal legal, regulatory, and ecological systems as well as informal networks of governance. Coursework focuses on the strategic thinking that is required for assessing and designing appropriate ECR processes; as well as understanding the public interest and questions of social justice and sustainability that make environmental conflict particularly important and challenging.

The graduate certificate allows students to expand their knowledge of the environment and environmental management beyond their undergraduate training. It offers a professional credential to students who might not have the time or background to enroll in a graduate degree program requiring a thesis or dissertation. Students who later obtain admission to the graduate degree programs in environmental science and policy may be able to use credits earned during the certificate toward their graduate degree program. The curriculum provides a substantive exposure to the biological, physical, and social aspects of environmental problems, and methods for their analysis and resolution.

The principal focus of this advanced certificate is to provide a detailed understanding of evolving real estate concepts, particularly as relating to land development, sustainability, and the impact of evolving development on the environment. The five course series will give the student a detailed understanding of land analysis and valuation, engineering concepts related to land development, the impact of the environment on development, and the key concepts of sustainable development.

Data is for FY14 All data available at the Green Leaf site below. http://sustainabilitystudies.gmu.edu/green-leaf/academic-programs/