Graduate Study
Environmental Science
Program Overview
Habitat loss, global climate change, water and air pollution, ozone depletion, loss of biodiversity and the accumulation of toxic wastes are outcomes of human behaviors that stem from a general belief that the environment is infinitely renewable. It is not.
Environmental science careers focus on environmental sustainability and sustainable development, which, according to a 1987 United Nations report titled Our Common Future, is defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Environmental scientists must understand the complexity of problems that pit environmental limits against economic development, diverse cultures, ethics, values and social stability. They must use integrated and holistic approaches to find solutions to these problems.
Built on the concept that environmental issues are inherently interdisciplinary, the program is offered jointly by the department of biological sciences in the College of Science and the department of science, technology and society in the College of Liberal Arts. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the complex set of circumstances that impact environmental issues, and how environmental decisions and policies attempt to find a balance between environmental conservation and economic development. The program offers students a unique opportunity to prepare for careers in environmental science. Students combine their hands-on classroom work with experiential learning experiences (co-op, research, internships). These experiences give students the chance to work on real-world environmental problems under the guidance of talented and skilled environmental scientists.
Curriculum Review
The master’s program includes a core curriculum and electives chosen to reflect the student’s background and career goals. A minimum of 51 quarter credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree is required.
Required courses include:
1001-475 Conservation Biology
1006-450 Raster Applications of GIS
1006-711, 712, 713 Environmental Science Graduate Study I, II, III
1006-710 Environmental Science Graduate Readings Seminar
1015-720 Environmental Chemistry
0307-712 Fundamentals of Statistics II
1006-879 Environmental Science Graduate Research
Environmental science core graduate elective
Environmental policy core graduate elective
Environment and society core graduate elective
Graduate professional electives (four to eight credit hours)
1006-890/891 Thesis/Project (five to nine credit hours)
Changes to the curriculum are pending NYS approval.
Five-year combined BS/MS programs
The combined BS/MS program in environmental science allows undergraduate environmental science students to acquire an MS degree with only one extra year of study. Undergraduate majors are considered for entrance into the BS/MS program at the end of their third year of undergraduate study.
External research credit
The employment experience of a number of environmental scientists employed in the environmental community includes independent, creative research. This experience may be applied toward the completion of the MS degree in environmental science on either a full- or part-time basis.
Thesis or project
All students enrolled in the environmental science graduate program must propose, conduct and report on an original research project.
Equipment
Monitoring, mapping and field equipment
ArcGIS 9.2 and IDRISI Kiliminjaro/Andes GIS software, Garmin and Trimble GPS receivers, pocket PCs with ArcPad software, soil sampling equipment, soil analysis equipment, water sampling devices, multisonde water quality probes, wet labs for water quality analysis, ponar dredges, plankton samplers, macroinvertebrate nets/samplers and a library of field reference texts
Other equipment
Fluorimeter, Raman Spectrometer, UV-Vis, GC-MS, ICP, atomic absorption, polarimeter, TGA’s Micro-extruder, centrifuge, electrochem equipment, gas chromatography, HPLC detectors, viscometer, ESR (built in-house), incubators, infrared spectrophotometers, capillary electrophoresis, DSCs, DMA, Asher, 300 MHZ NMR, drying oven, leaf area index meter, digital clinometer and a Wiley mill
Facilities for research
The environmental science program provides a wide range of research opportunities. Many environmental science faculty members are engaged in field-based projects. We also have excellent laboratory facilities in support of field research, including wet laboratories and computer facilities (traditional and geographic information systems). For a list of past and present projects and faculty research interests, please see the program website at www.rit.edu/~envsci/ro/index.php.
Additional information
More information may be obtained by contacting Karl Korfmacher, environmental science program director, (585) 475-5554, or the department website, www.rit.edu/~envsci/.
Career Outcomes
Job TitlesEnvironmental Consultant, Energy Auditor, Water Pollution Investigator, Air Quality Inspector, Wetlands Ecologist, Solar Energy Research Scientist, Recycling Coordinator
Functions
To solve significant environmental problems using an interdisciplinary team based approach and to engage in environmental research
Recent Employers
Governmental regulatory agencies, private environmental organizations, engineering firms, manufacturing firms
Admission Requirements
Admission to the program will be granted to qualified graduates who hold a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, the biological sciences or a related field of study. The admission decision is based on:
Applications are due by February 15th. Later applications will be reviewed on a space-available basis.