Students seeking admission into the Master of Science in degree program in Environmental Sciences must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the specific program requirements. The Environmental Sciences master's degree program accepts students with a variety of undergraduate and graduate majors, including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Preparation for the required program coursework should include the following courses:

Mathematics - applied statistics and introductory calculus tests
Sciences - three quarters or two semesters in any combination of chemistry, biology, physics, earth science, or atmospheric science. At least one semester/quarter must be in chemistry.

Students lacking some of this preparation may be accepted for admission, but expected to address such deficiencies prior to entrance by means of formal coursework or other arrangements agreed upon by the applicant and the Graduate Program Committee. Potential students must have a sponsoring graduate faculty member within Arkansas State University, who will act as advisor until a thesis topic or practicum is designated. For advisor selection suggestions, contact the program office or go to the departmental web pages to research faculty research interests and then contact them directly and relate your interests.

Applicants are also expected to have a working knowledge of computer systems and software.

For unconditional admission, academic proficiency must be established through satisfaction of either of the following admission selection criteria:

International student applicants must demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency in the English language if English is not their native language. To do so, they must submit a score of 213 (computer based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language or must satisfactorily complete Advanced Level II of the university's Center for English as a Second Language program.

As a reflection of the interdisciplinary nature of the program, a course of study will be tailored to each student's own scholarly interest ,research, and proposed career direction. The specific quantity and content of each student's course of study will acquire approval by the student's Master's Advisory Committee. General course requirements are outlined below and in the section of this Bulletin entitled Program of Study for the M.S. in Environmental Sciences. Applicants re advised that admission to the Graduate School Does not imply admission to the M.S. in Environmental Sciences Program.

Each student is expected to identify a master's advisory Committee chair during the first year of their program of study. The Master's Advisory Committee will consist of members of the graduate faculty and other professionals as deemed appropriate and approved by the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program Committee and the Graduate Council. Each committee must have at least three members and at least one member must be from outside the student's emphasis area. Committee membership is subject to the approval of the Environmental Sciences program director, review by the dean's office, and final approval by the Graduate Dean. The committee is to review the student's thesis or practicum proposal and to provide guidance toward the successful completion of the research of practicum project. Students in the program without a designated committee chair during their first semester will be assigned an interim adviser by the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program Committee. The primary role of the interim adviser will be to establish a tentative curriculum for the student pending establishment of the Master's Advisory Committee. An interim adviser may serve for a maximum of one year until the student selects a permanent Advisory committee chair.

Membership of advisory committees may be changed if either the student or a member of their committee feels that such a change is appropriate and the requested change is approved by the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program Committee and the Graduate dean. Such a change will not be approved except in clearly unusual circumstances. If approval is given, the student will be notified in writing by the Graduate School. A Master's Advisory Committee chair must be a member of the graduate faculty and must be approved to direct the research of doctoral students by the Graduate Council and the graduate dean.

A program of study, to be developed by the student in consultation with the Master’s Advisory Committee, is to be submitted to the Director of the Environmental Sciences Program for approval no later than one calendar year after admission to the program. Programs of study must change to meet course requirements and match the student’s academic goals, scholarly aspirations and career preparation needs. Each Master’s Advisory Committee will meet at least once a semester to review and provide record of the student’s progress.

Students are required to earn a grade of “B” or better in all graduate courses. Any student who receives a C must repeat the course (or equivalent) regardless of GPA. If a student receives a C and is placed on academic probation they will have one semester to increase the GPA above a 3.0 or will be removed from the program. A student who receives 2 C’s in one semester or who received an additional C prior to re-taking the course in which the first C was earned or who receives a C while on probation will be terminated from the program. Any student who receives an F or D in any course will be removed from the program. If the GPA is below 3.0 students will not be eligible for program support.

A minimum of four semesters of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree is required. All requirements for the degree must be completed within eight calendar years of admission to the program. A student exceeding the time limit may be required to repeat the qualifying examinations, replace out-of-date credits with up-to-date ones, and/or show other evidence of being current within both the core curriculum and the student’s emphasis area. Extension of the eight-year requirement will be granted only if a student has obtained prior approval from his or her Master’s Advisory Committee, the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program Committee and the Arkansas State University Graduate School.

One year of full-time residence at Arkansas State University normally will be required. This requirement may be waived under special circumstances if approved by the student’s Master’s Advisory Committee, the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program Committee and the Arkansas State University Graduate School.

This examination is required by the Program, but takes a variety of forms in the case of individual students. The precise requirements is determined by the student’s choice of emphasis area and the student’s advisory committee and approved by the Director f the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences. The goal of the examinations is to assess the student’s preparedness for master’s level study and assess the student’s potential in their chosen field. The examination of may be written or oral in part or in whole. The subject(s) of the examination may include core course work and/or work relevant to the student’s specialty area. Possible outcomes of the examination are (i) pass, (ii) fail with the option to retake (one time only) the examination, or (iii) fail. Students who fail initially or after the second attempt will be removed from the program. It should be noted that there is a Program. Requirement that ten calendar weeks must pass before a retake of this examination may be scheduled. This examination must be taken prior to the end of the third semester in residence.

Each M.S. Thesis track student must pass the oral research proposal defense examination. Possible outcomes of the examination are (i) pass, (ii) fail with option to retake (one time only) the examination, or (iii) fail. The oral defense of the research proposal occurs after successful completion of the comprehensive examination. Students who have not defended their proposal by end of their third semester or who have not passed by the end of their forth semester will no longer be in good standing in the M.S. Program. It should be noted that there is a Program requirement that ten calendar weeks must pass before retake of the oral proposal defense may be scheduled.

It is imperative that each student register the time and date of the oral proposal defense with the Graduate School two weeks in advance of the proposal defense seminar. Announcements of the public portion of the proposal defense must be posted a minimum of two weeks in advance of the presentation. The timing of this examination shoul be in coordination with the student’s advisory committee.

Students on the M.S. Practicum Track must complete their internship no later than the fourth semester in residence. Internships must be approved by the Graduate Program Committee and internship supervisors must complete the required paperwork no later than the semester prior to the internship. Students will complete an internship report to be defended to their internship supervisor and M.S. committee. Internship reports, once approved, must be submitted to the Program Office no later than the forth semester upon completion of the internship. The Internship examination will follow the defense of the report. Possible outcomes of the examination are (i) pass, (ii) fail with option to retake (one time only) the examination, or (iii) fail. Students who fail initially or after the second attempt will be removed from the program. It should be noted that there is a Program requirement that ten calendar weeks must pass before a retake of this examination may be scheduled. This examination must be taken prior to the end of the forth semester in residence. The final internship approval will be based on the supervisor’s report, approval of the report by the M.S. committee, and passing the internship examination.

The Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences has a continuing enrollment policy. Students must enroll for a minimum of 1 hour of dissertation credit each semester after passing qualifying examinations to remain in the program (Fall or Spring) and must only register for these hours during the summer sessions if graduating during a summer session.

After the research is completed, the student will submit a draft of the thesis to his or her advisory committee. Upon the recommendation of the committee, the candidate will arrange with the chair of his or her advisory committee to schedule and conduct a presentation of the results. The candidate will also be required to orally defend the thesis before the Master’s Advisory Committee, members of the faculty, students, and interested persons. Arrangements for the thesis defense will be made through the Environmental Sciences Program Office, but announced by the Graduate School. Students are advised to be aware of the deadlines set by the Graduate School for submission of defense results and theses. The defense must occur at least four weeks before the date of graduation. A successful defense receives no more than one negative vote by the members of the Master’s Advisory Committee. Failure of the defense requires a one semester probation before a second defense can be scheduled. A second failure of the defense constitutes elimination from the program.

Students will complete a written internship report to be defended to their internship supervisor and M.S. Committee. Internship reports, once approved, must be submitted to the Program Office no later than the fourth semester or upon completion of the internship. The Internship examination will follow the defense of the report. Possible outcomes of the examination are (i) pass, (ii) fail with option to retake (one time only) the examination, or (iii) fail. Students who fail initially or after the second attempt will be removed from the program. It should be noted that there is a Program requirement that ten calendar weeks must pass before a retake of this examination may be scheduled. This examination must be taken prior to the end of the forth semester in residence. The final internship approval will be based on the supervisor’s report, approval of the report by the M.S. Committee, and passing the internship examination.

The completed thesis must follow the style and format requirements of the Graduate School as contained in the Guide for Writers of Dissertation and Theses. Before submission to the graduate dean, the completed thesis must be approved by the advisory committee. Candidates will also be responsible for the preparation of an abstract of the thesis, not to exceed 300 words, which will be submitted with the completed thesis. Four copies of the completed dissertation will be submitted by candidates for approval by the graduate dean and for binding. The bound copies will be on file with the ASU Library, the Environmental Sciences program office, and the chair of the advisory committee. The remaining copy will be given to the student.

The final internship approval and award of degree will be based on the supervisor’s report, approval of the report by the M.S. committee, and passing the internship examination.

Programs and Courses

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE
IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE
IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES

MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE
MAJOR IN BIOLOGY

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE
MAJOR IN BIOLOGY

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE
MAJOR IN CHEMISTRY

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE
MAJOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE
MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION DEGREE
MAJOR IN BIOLOGY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION DEGREE
MAJOR IN CHEMISTRY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION DEGREE
MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

SPECIALIST IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE TEACHING

GRADUATE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS