Environmental Studies and Public Administration, MS EVS/MPA Dual Degree

The dual degree program is offered jointly by the Departments of Environmental Sciences and Public and International Affairs. Full-time students will earn two degrees – a Master of Science in Environmental Studies (M.S. EVS) and a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) – in three years as opposed to four years if enrolled separately. This degree option is specifically for students who want to bridge the communication gap between environmental science and public policy. Potential post-graduation opportunities associated with the program include: career tracks in coastal planning and management and other environmental programs at the federal, state, or local level; careers in nonprofit organizations focused on environmental issues; and private sector jobs focused on consulting or regulatory compliance. The dual M.S. EVS/M.P.A. degree program requires three academic years of full-time study consisting of a minimum of 60 credit hours. Students complete the degree requirements for both programs with the exception that they share 12 credit hours that count towards both sets of program requirements. EVS 518 - Fundamentals of Applied Environmental Research (3 credit hours) serves as the methods requirement for the students in the EVS-MPA dual degree program so students are not required to take MPA 501 – Quantitative Methods. Students in the EVS-MPA dual degree program are only required to complete one internship or practicum by completing either MPA 598 – Internship in Public Administration or MPA 594 – Practicum in Public Administration (3 credit Hours). Accordingly, students are not required to complete the EVS degree’s 3 credit applied learning requirement. Students are required to select a concentration from each degree. One EVS concentration course will serve as an elective in the MPA program for either a concentration or applied skill-based elective. Similarly, one MPA concentration course or applied skill-based elective will serve as an elective for the EVS concentration. This results in sharing 6 additional credit hours.