Graduate Programs

MS Env Sci | MS Geography | MS Env Ed | Coop Programs

1. M.S. in Environmental Science

Program Adviser: Dr. John Rybczyk

The objective of the M.S. in Environmental Science is to integrate chemical, physical, biological, and other specialized knowledge in order to understand, predict, and/or manage environmental responses brought about by natural and man-made events. Present rates of industrialization, urbanization, power consumption, and the development of new chemical substances have led to unforeseen environmental consequences. As a result, the public demands greater protection of environmental quality and better techniques for evaluation, management and restoration. Because scientific disciplines by themselves have not adequately addressed the training of professionals who are prepared to deal with the complex array of environmental problems, the environmental science program seeks to bring together various disciplinary insights and skills to address these more fully.

Students pursuing this degree will engage in advanced education and training. The following program objectives will help prepare students for careers in environmental work and, if they choose, for further academic training: current environmental conditions and legislative requirements; laboratory and field techniques for monitoring, measurement, and analysis; interpretation and evaluation of scientific data; systems design for environmental monitoring, analysis, and assessment; synthesis from disciplinary sources and communication of final results in management plans; community service experience applicable to individuals, corporations, industries, schools, and government agencies which could provide needed scientific data and lend perspective to environmental problems; special skills needed for employment by government agencies, consulting firms and industry.

Program Specializations:

• Freshwater Ecology focuses on the study of physical, chemical, and biological processes in freshwater systems, including lakes, streams and watersheds. See the Institute of Watershed Studies home page.  Primary research advisers are Professors Bodensteiner, Matthews and Rybczyk.

  Specialization courses: Esci 502, 503, 522, 529, 530a,b, 533, 534, 538, 540, 559

• Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry focuses on the transport, fate and toxic effects of chemicals in the environment. Laboratory testing and field work. Chemical analytical measurement of pollutants and the influence of nutritional factors on pollutant toxicity. Studies of chemical fate and toxicity at the biochemical, organismal, population and ecosystem levels. Primary research advisers are Professors Cancilla, Harper, Landis and Matthews. For more information about the Institute for Environmental Toxicology see the  Environmental Toxicology homepage.

  Specialization courses: Esci 502, 503, 533, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 590

• Regional, Global and Terrestrial Ecosystems focuses on terrestrial ecosystems and on large-scale regional and global environmental problems and the examination of natural ecosystems, resources, and the effects of large-scale change. Primary research advisers are Professors Bunn, Homann, McLaughlin and Wallin.
  

  Specialization courses: Esci 502, 503, 507, 533, 535, 536, 539, 542, 562, 590, 592; Egeo 510, 535, 552

• Marine and Estuarine Science. See MESP program below.  

Prerequisites. A bachelor's degree and college-level course work including a minimum of one year of general chemistry plus one quarter or semester of organic chemistry, one year of general biology, one course each in ecology, calculus and statistics. Specific test requirements: GRE-general test.

Program Requirements (45 credits minimum)

Core Requirements (16 credits)

• Esci 501 (4)
• Esci 690a (12)

Specialization Courses

• Courses selected under advisement from within one area of specialization (12 cr. minimum)
• Electives selected under faculty advisement (to total 45 cr. minimum)

Comprehensive written thesis (includes a public presentation and an oral defense)

Application. Students will be admitted into the M.S. in environmental science program fall quarter only. Review of materials will begin after February 1 and will continue until the enrollment limit is reached or June 1, whichever comes first. To be considered for a graduate teaching assistantship, applicants should submit their application materials by February 1.  All applicants must indicate in the statement of purpose how the prerequisites listed above have been or will be met before starting the program. An applicant must include a one- to two-page statement of purpose indicating which specialization the applicant is most interested in, explaining why the applicant wishes to pursue graduate studies in environmental science, and what future expectations s/he has for the M.S. degree. The statement may indicate a preferred faculty adviser. Students are encouraged to review faculty research interests as described on the Huxley Web Site prior to contacting potential faculty advisers. Students are admitted into the program only upon agreement of a faculty adviser.

1a. M.S. in Environmental Science, Marine and Estuarine Science

Program Advisers: Dr. Brian Bingham, environmental science; Graduate Program Adviser, biology.

The purpose of the Marine and Estuarine Science program (MESP) is to provide a coherent program of study in coastal marine and estuarine sciences at the M.S. level. This program focuses resources of existing Master's programs in Huxley College and the Department of Biology. It is a research-oriented program in the marine and estuarine sciences. Human impact on coastal marine and estuarine systems cannot be properly evaluated without a scientific understanding of their fundamental physical, chemical, and biological processes. The goal of the MESP is to produce specialists qualified to study fundamental features of these systems and the relationship between natural processes and perturbations from human activity. Graduates will be qualified for entry-level positions in the profession and will be competitive in pursuit of the doctorate.

The Shannon Point Marine Center, located in Anacortes, WA, is an important facility supporting this program. The on-site Sundquist Marine Laboratory houses teaching labs and research facilities including wet laboratories supported by a running seawater system and dry laboratories suited for analytical operations, and a fleet of research vessels well suited to sampling the local marine environment.

Application:
Students participating in this program option must apply and be admitted through either the Environmental Sciences Department or the Biology Department. The application process allows students to be considered by either or both academic units. The designation of advisers to serve as potential thesis chairs determines which unit(s) will consider an application. When an applicant indicates potential faculty advisers from only one academic unit (environmental science or biology) the completed application is forwarded only to that unit. When an applicant expresses interest in working with faculty from both units the completed application is forwarded to both Department of Environmental Sciences and the Department of Biology. It is critical to the application process that an applicant be familiar with the research interests of the faculty. Students in both programs work with the faculty and staff at the Shannon Point Marine Center. 

Master's candidates applying for an M.S. in Environmental Science are admitted fall quarter only and must meet prerequisites [one year general biology and chemistry, one quarter organic chemistry, statistics, ecology and calculus] and program requirements [Esci 501, Biol 505, 12 cr. specialization courses, 16 cr. electives, 12 cr. thesis]. The 12 credits of specialization courses shall be selected from the following: Specialization courses: Esci 502, 503, 522, 533, 534, 540, 542; Biol 503, 508, 545 (when a marine topic)

For a complete list of participating faculty from both academic units, their research interests and the application insert on which to designate potential faculty advisers, write to or call the Shannon Point Marine Center, 1900 Shannon Point Road, Anacortes, WA 98221 (360-293-2188) or visit the Marine and Estuarine Science homepage.

2. M.S. in Geography

Program Advisor:   Dr. Michael Medler

The focus of the M.S. in geography is on the development and management of environmental resources. The program is designed to allow students to develop and integrate social and natural science course work in a regional context. Students are provided with an opportunity to understand the spatial, ethical, and societal (cultural) basis for the protection and management of resources. The program prepares students for careers in business, government, planning, consulting, teaching, and research.

Program Specializations

• Resource Conservation and Management. Study of biophysical and socioeconomic processes in natural systems. A variety of perspectives and techniques are used to investigate and assess management and development policies. Primary research advisers are Professors Berardi, Levy, Medler, Miles, Myers and Rossiter.
• Regional Development and Environmental Policy. Study of regional economic development processes in the context of development and planning. Environmental elements--natural and human--are examined in framing development plans and policies toward improving regional community service. Primary research advisers are Professors Buckley and Mookherjee and Rossiter (regional development) and Professors Levy, Melious, Wang and Zaferatos (environmental policy and planning).
• Earth Surface Processes. Study of physical processes occurring at the earth/atmosphere interface. Coastal, glacial hillslope, eolian, fluvial and soil environments are examples of the complex and dynamic systems which are examined under conditions of alteration by human or natural forces. Primary advisers are Professors Bach, Levy, Medler and Terich

Prerequisites. Students with a degree in geography or allied fields, who meet the requirements of the Graduate School and who show evidence of superior scholarship, are particularly encouraged to apply. Students with degrees in fields other than geography will be considered but must acquire background, under advisement, through coursework or other approved methods in introductory human or cultural geography, introductory physical geography, regional geography, a GIS course and two upper-division courses or equivalent in physical geography/geographic information systems or urban/economic geography. Knowledge of intermediate-level statistics is required of all students either through satisfactorily completed coursework or as assessed by the program adviser. A plan for completion of any outstanding prerequisites must be described in the statement of purpose. Specific test requirements: GRE-general test.

Program Requirements (45 credits minimum)

• Core Requirements (28 credits)
• Egeo 501 (3)
• Egeo 502 (5)
• Egeo 503  (4)
• Egeo 504 (4)
• Egeo 690 (12)
• Elective courses selected under advisement to total 45 credits
• Comprehensive written thesis (includes a thesis proposal presentation, public presentation and an oral defense)

Application. Students generally will be admitted into the M.S. in geography fall quarter only. Admission for subsequent quarters will be considered on a space-available basis. To be considered for a graduate teaching assistantship, applicants must have their application materials submitted by February 1. The Graduate Program Committee will begin reviewing application materials after February 1 and will continue to review materials until the enrollment limit is reached or June 1, whichever comes first. Because maximum student enrollment is limited, all applicants are strongly encouraged to submit application materials by February 1. Applicants must include a one- to two-page statement of purpose indicating whichspecialization the applicant is most interested in, explaining why the applicant wishes to pursue graduate studies in geography, and what future expectations s/he has for the M.S. degree. The statement may indicate a preferred faculty adviser. Students are encouraged to review faculty research interests as described on the Huxley Web Site prior to contacting potential faculty advisers. Students are admitted into the program only upon agreement of a faculty adviser.

3. M.Ed. in Environmental Education

Elementary, Secondary and Environmental Education Residency Programs in Environmental Studies

Program Adviser: Dr. John C. Miles

A single philosophy underlies this and all other options available to a teacher or other education specialist seeking an M.Ed. in environmental education at Huxley College. These programs encourage persons to pursue their area of interest in science plus develop their own background and ideas in a manner that makes them better educators in their own teaching situation. Graduate students are expected to develop creative projects that will aid their own teaching and then implement the projects with the guidance and advice of the program adviser and other teachers. The residency option is aimed at students who will approach environmental education more broadly and do so in settings outside the K-12 classroom. NOTE: This program is under curricular revision; information below may not be reflected in the 2004-05 WWU catalog (confer with program adviser for more complete information).

a) ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (non-residency), Thesis or Field Project (I, 49-59 credits) or Non-Thesis (II, 49-59 credits)

Prerequisites. An applicant should be a practicing public school teacher or be teaching in an educational enterprise with a focus on environmental or outdoor education. The applicant should have completed a minimum of a natural science education sequence with grades of B or better. Each applicant's background will be examined to determine if one or more additional courses, besides those prescribed for the master's degree, are needed to remove deficiencies in background preparation.

• Requirements in Elementary, Secondary and Environmental Studies (non-residency) (21 credits)
• Estu 571 (4)
• Estu 575 (4)
• Estu 587 (4)
• Estu 588 (4)
• Estu 589 (5)
• Estu 598 - Research Project (II:6-12) or Estu 690a or 690b - Thesis or Field Project (I:6-12)
• Electives: courses selected under advisement, at least 10 credits from environmental studies, geography or environmental science (I or II: 20-24)

Application. Students are accepted in these specializations all quarters. Initial application with all supporting materials must be received in the Graduate School by June 1 for fall, October 1 for winter, February 1 for spring and May 1 for summer.  Applicants must submit a statement of personal career goals and reasons for seeking admission to the M.Ed. program. 

Specific test requirements: GRE-general test or Miller Analogies Test.  Primary advisers in these specializations are Professors Miles and Myers.

b) ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESIDENCY (w/North Cascades Institute), Non-Thesis (53 credits)

Prerequisites. An applicant for this option need not be a practicing public school teacher as the goal of the option is to prepare professionals who will practice environmental education outside formal classrooms. The applicant should have completed a minimum of a natural science education sequence with grades of B or better. Each applicant's background will be examined to determine if one or more additional courses, besides those prescribed for the master's degree, are needed to remove deficiencies in background preparation.

• Core Requirements (49 credits)
• Estu 571 (4)
• Estu 572 (4)
• Estu 573 (4)
• Estu 574 (4)
• Estu 575 (4)
• Estu 576 (4)
• Estu 577 (4)
• Estu 578 (3)
• Estu 581 (5)
• Estu 587 (4)
• Estu 588 (4)
• Estu 589 (5)
• One elective course selected under advisement (3-5)
• A written and oral comprehensive examination

Application:
Students are accepted in this specialization summer quarter only. Initial application with all supporting materials must be received in the Graduate School by February 1 for priority consideration. After you have submitted your graduate school application to WWU, you will be asked to send the Professional Residency Application and Questionnaire directly to the North Cascades Institute.  Additional information and application materials for this specialization can be requested through the North Cascades Institute, 2105 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA  98284-9394, (360) 856-5700, ext. 209, or nci@ncascades.org.  Specific test requirements: GRE-general test or Miller Analogies Test (MAT).  Primary advisers in this specialization are Professors Miles, McLaughlin and Myers.

Cooperative Graduate Program Options

M.A. - POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Environmental Studies

Program Advisers: Dr. Debra Salazar, Political Science; Dr. Jean Melious, Huxley College

The political science/environmental studies curriculum is a joint offering of the Political Science Department and Huxley College leading to an M.A. in Political Science (thesis and non-thesis options are available). The program emphasizes environmental policy and especially the political, economic and social factors which affect environmental policy making processes. Entering students should have completed undergraduate course work in American political processes and social science methodology. Admissions preference is given to students with course work in environmental studies, natural science or a related field. Students will be admitted to this program fall quarter only.

Specific Test Requirements: Graduate Record Exam (general test). For complete information call the Department of Political Science (360-650-3469). WWU graduate office webpage.