Master's Degree Program in Environmental Science

ST. PETERSBURG – USF The College of Arts and Sciences in St. Petersburg is already accepting applications for their new "Master of Science" degree program in environmental science, policy and geography that will begin this fall.

The college received separate accreditation for its applied environmntal science graduate program from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. And the "Applied Environmental Science" Master's Degree program is the first new academic program being offered on the USF St. Petersburg's campus.

Career Potential is High: Graduatese of this program will be fully prepared to become environmental professionals in local, state and federal environmental resource agencies; or they could choose to serv in the private sctor as environmental consultants or enter doctoral programs in environmental science and related fields.

Students will acquire a solid background in the foundational concepts in environmental science, as weell as design and conduct an original piece of applied research.

Graduates of the program will have the necessary skills to critically assess and evaluate a wide range of environmental issues, develop well-thought out strategic plans for sound ecosystem maintenance and program management.

“This program offers students an extraordinary opportunity to take advantage of the cluster of federal and state environmental science agencies right on our campus,” said Christopher F. D’Elia, regional associate vice chancellor for research and graduate studies, in a recent press release about the new program.

A unique distinction of the USFSP degree is its emphasis on problems related to inland waters and their resulting impact on coastal and estuarine resources. Additionally, because of its focus on the value of research and the production of publishable work, the USFSP program requires completion of a thesis.

In addition to scientific direction from USFSP researchers, D’Elia said student research could conceivably engage campus colleagues at the U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Wildlife Research Institute, National Oceanographic Atmospheric Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and the USF College of Marine Science, as well as regional cooperators such as the Southwest Florida Water Management District, other state water management districts and the Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club.

Call Melanie Reidinger-Whitmore at USF-4971 to find out more.