Environmental Studies and Middle Grades Education Specialization, MS EVS/Middle Grades Education Specialization, MAT Dual Degrees

The dual degree program is offered jointly by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Environmental Sciences and Watson College of Education’s Middle Grades Education Program. Students completing this program will earn two separate degrees:

1.    Master of Science in Environmental Studies - Environmental Education and Interpretation concentration
       [henceforth MS EVS]
2.    Master of Arts in Teaching Middle Grades – Science Concentration [henceforth MAT]

Students will earn both degrees in two years as opposed to four years if enrolled separately. This degree option is specifically for students who wish to work in in environmental science education – a discipline at the intersection of environmental science and public education. Potential post-graduation opportunities associated with the program include careers in: (a) nonprofit organizations focused on environmental issues; (b) nonformal science settings (such as zoos, nature centers, museums, aquariums, etc.); and (c) teaching Middle Grades Science in public schools (identified as an area of high need in the state of North Carolina).

The dual MS EVS/MAT degree program requires two academic years of full-time study (including summers) consisting of a minimum of 48 credit hours. This is accomplished by 9 hours of EVS electives being satisfied by MAT courses, and 6 hours of MAT science electives and 3-hour research requirement being satisfied by EVS courses.