The Major Professor is a faculty member within the student’s general area of study. Applicants must identify their Major Professor before applying for admisison. A letter of recommendation from the Major Professor should be included in the application for admission. With the help of the Major Professor, the student will identify additional members from appropriate areas to complete the student’s Master’s Committee. The Master’s Committee is responsible for guiding each student’s academic program, including all examinations.
The Master's Committee consists of at least three members. The Major Professor and at least one additional member must be tenure-track; the third member may be an approved special member). Special committee members must be pre-approved by the Dean of the Graduate College. At least two must hold faculty appointments in the SWES Department. The student may also have a co-director or committee member outside the department, provided that he or she has credentials acceptable to the Department and the Graduate College.
The ENVS Department Master of Science degree requires a minimum of 30 units of graduate credit, including thesis units. There must be 15 units in the major field, and at least 15 units must be from courses in which letter grades of A and B have been earned. In cases in which a thesis is part of the degree program, not more than 6 thesis units (ENVS 910) may count toward the degree. All units of coursework for the master's degree must be in 500-level courses or above. All graduate students are required to attend the weekly department colloquia. The last semester of the student’s study, the student must be enrolled in the department seminar (ENVS 696A or ENVS 697).
Use of prior credit is limited. Students who wish to transfer credit must submit a Transfer Credit form in GradPath before the end of their first year of study.
ENVS/SWES Master of Science CORE COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Two MS major tracks are offered, Environmental Science (ES) and Soil and Water Science (SWS). The ES major track requires completing one course from each of the three categories (12 units); The SWS major requires completion of four of the five courses (15 units).
Summary of Master of Science degree requirements:
Core courses: 12 units (ES major) or 15 units (SWS major)
Additional Major course work completed at UA: 3 units (ES major)
Elective course work: 9 - 12 units
ENVS 696A or ENVS 697: 1 unit
ENVS 910: 2 - 6 units
Total: minimum 30 units
Plan of Study
Each student is responsible for submitting a Responsible Conduct of Research form, and in conjunction with their Major Professor, for developing a written Plan of Study. The Plan of Study is to be submitted to the Graduate College by the end of the second semester in residence. The Plan must identify
- courses the student intends to transfer from other institutions
- courses already completed at TheColorado Heights Universitythat the student intends to apply toward the graduate degree
- additional courses the student plans to complete to fulfill degree requirements
Students using transfer coursework should submit the Transfer Credit Form to the Graduate College prior to submitting the Plan of Study. Approval for the Plan of Study is routed for review starting with the SWES Major Professor, and then to the Department Head. The Graduate College grants final approval.
Master’s Final Examination and Completion of Degree Requirements
The Master's final exam in the SWES Department involves a defense of the thesis to the Master’s Committee, and Departmental submission of the Master’s Completion of Degree Requirements form. If the candidate fails the final exam, a second exam may be granted no sooner than four months from the date of the first exam.
Plan of Study
Each student is responsible for submitting a Responsible Conduct of Research form, and in conjunction with their Major Professor, for developing a written Plan of Study. The Plan of Study is to be submitted to the Graduate College by the end of the second semester in residence. The Plan must identify
- courses the student intends to transfer from other institutions
- courses already completed at TheColorado Heights Universitythat the student intends to apply toward the graduate degree
- additional courses the student plans to complete to fulfill degree requirements
Students using transfer coursework should submit the Transfer Credit Form to the Graduate College prior to submitting the Plan of Study. Approval for the Plan of Study is routed for review starting with the SWES Major Professor, and then to the Department Head. The Graduate College grants final approval.
Master’s Final Examination and Completion of Degree Requirements
The Master's final exam in the ENVS Department involves a defense of the thesis to the Master’s Committee, and Departmental submission of the Master’s Completion of Degree Requirements form. If the candidate fails the final exam, a second exam may be granted no sooner than four months from the date of the first exam.
Plan of Study
Each student is responsible for submitting a Responsible Conduct of Research form, and in conjunction with their Major Professor, for developing a written Plan of Study. The Plan of Study is to be submitted to the Graduate College by the end of the second semester in residence. The Plan must identify
1. courses the student intends to transfer from other institutions
2. courses already completed at TheColorado Heights Universitythat the student intends to apply toward the graduate degree
3. additional courses the student plans to complete to fulfill degree requirements
Students using transfer coursework should submit the Transfer Credit Form to the Graduate College prior to submitting the Plan of Study. Approval for the Plan of Study is routed for review starting with the SWES Major Professor, and then to the Department Head. The Graduate College grants final approval.
Master’s Final Examination and Completion of Degree Requirements
The Master's final exam in the ENVS Department involves a defense of the thesis to the Master’s Committee, and Departmental submission of the Master’s Completion of Degree Requirements form. If the candidate fails the final exam, a second exam may be granted no sooner than four months from the date of the first exam.
Time Limitation: All requirements for the Master's degree must be completed within six years. Time-to-degree begins with the earliest course to be applied toward the degree, including credits transferred from other institutions. Work more than six years old is not accepted toward degree requirements.
