Environmental Sciences

Environmental Sciences is a multidisciplinary study of the natural/physicalenvironment. Academic fields involved in environmental sciences include chemistry,biology and ecology, physics, geology, geography, anthropology, engineering, politicalscience, law, economics and the health sciences. Students planning to pursue the MS inEnvironmental Sciences must either have earned a bachelor’s degree or have taken significant course work in the natural/physical sciences or engineering andcompletedseveral other prerequisites.

Environmental careers encompass a broad range of professions, from those with astrong foundation in the natural/physical sciences or engineering to those based in thesocial sciences and/or humanities. Students interested in environmental issues andcareers should investigate the whole field before deciding which path to follow. At CU Denver, the MS in Environmental Sciences emphasizes the natural/physical sciencesand engineering with the addition of the social sciences and humanities.

The MS in Environmental Sciences degree is designed to provide training inengineering, natural/physical sciences and social sciences. The goals of the programare (1) to enhance the interdisciplinary communication and analytical skills of thestudent, and (2) to provide a multidisciplinary approach for more intensive study of a particular environmental issue. Students will receive instruction in the physical andbiological dynamics of various ecosystems, environmental engineering andsocioeconomic issues associated with environmental analysis.

Graduates of the MS in Environmental Sciences program are involved in many different areas, such as reviewing environmental impact statements, monitoring groundwaterquality and communicating with the public. Many students have found employment invarious agencies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey,Colorado State Department of Public Health and Environment) and private­sectorenvironmental and engineering firms.​

The MS in Environmental Sciences is a 39 hour program that provides students with two alternate plans: Plan I requires athesis, while Plan II is a non­thesis program. Generalrequirements for the program include a set of core courses (12semester hours) and elective courses (24­27 semester hours minimum). Students choosing to complete the thesis optionmust also complete 3 hours of thesis credit, while thosechoosing the non­thesis option must complete 3 hours of additional elective coursework.

The degree is offered through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the cooperation ofthe College of Engineering and Applied Science. In addition, some courses offered by theCollege of Architecture and Planning, the School of Public Affairs and the Business School arerelevant and applicable to the program.​

The Non-thesis option is composed of the following:

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The Thesis option is composed of the following:

Requirements for Admission

A baccalaureate degree in one of the natural/physical sciences or engineering (or equivalent background) is required for admission into the environmental science master's program. In addition, the minimum undergraduate science and math requirements for admission are:

• two semesters general chemistry or biology with lab
• one semester physics (may be algebra-based)
• one semester of upper division statistics

If only two semesters of the prerequisite courses are lacking, students may be admitted, butmust take them in the first year in the program.​ If the prerequisite course is not completed in the first year, the student will be dis-enrolled from the program. Some of the core or elective courses offered in the program may require additional prerequisite courses. The prerequisites will not count towards the MS degree. Applicants who have fulfilled all of the prerequisites have a better chance of acceptance into the program.

The University of Colorado Denver has a minimum requirement of 3.00 undergraduate grade point average (GPA) for applicants to the graduate school. The program admits new studends for the fall semester only; and the number of students admitted to the program depends, in part, on space availability. 

TEST SCORES: TOEFL, IELTS, OR PTE

​SCORE REQUIREMENTS:

TOEFL

Minimum TOEFL Score Accepted: 75 IBT / 537 PBT

IELTS

Minimum IELTS Score Accepted: 6.5

The TOEFL/IELTS requirement can be waived if an applicant has graduated from the ESL Academy. Information regarding other considerations for exemption, including country of citizenship/origin, and special circumstances can be found here. Please note that some graduate level programs will require a higher score on the TOEFL/IELTS and applicants should consult the department for additional details

PTE ACADEMIC

Minimum PTE Academic Score Accepted: 51

TThe Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) is currently in a pilot review at the University of Colorado Denver. We will accept a 51 PTE Academic score with the following subscores:

There are three types of financial aid available: student hourly teachingassistantship; research assistantship positions funded by grants to specific programfaculty; and the regular package of financial aid (primarily loans) available throughthe financial aid office on the Denver campus. Incoming students will beautomatically considered for program­distributed assistance at the time ofadmission to the program. Continuing students will be regularly apprised ofavailable aid and positions.