Admission to the Environmental Science (MS) program is competitive and selective. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements for consideration may not necessarily be admitted into the program.
Prerequisite Courses
General Ecology
Introductory Statistics
Minimum Requirements
A cover letter of introduction including your academic and career goals, and how FGCU can help you meet these goals.
A statement of research goals (two page maximum; intended to identify a potential research discipline).
A four year undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
Official copies of undergraduate transcripts and scores from the General Graduate Record Examination (GRE). GRE subject exam is not required. A minimum of 400 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE and a combined minimum score of 1000.
A minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) for international students from countries where English is not the primary language.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for upper division undergraduate coursework or graduate coursework up to a maximum of the last 60 hours of coursework.
At least two letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and research potential.
Program Requirements
Prerequisite Courses
General Ecology
Introductory Statistics
Required Courses in the Major (16-18 hrs)
Select 3 hours from the following:
OCB 6635 Estuarine Ecology (3)
PCB 6064C Advanced Ecology (3)
Complete the following:
EVR 6022 Environmental Research Methodology (3)
EVS 6920 Graduate Seminar in Current Topics (1)
EVS 6970 Master's Thesis (total of 6-8 credits)
Select 3 hours from the following:
EVR 6322 Concepts and Applications of Sustainability (3)
EVS 6937 Environmental Policy (3)
PAD 5620 Environmental Law (3)
URP 6421 Environmental Planning (3)
Electives in the Major (18-20 hrs)
Select a minimum of 18 hours from the following:
EVR 5145 Ecotoxicology (3)
EVR 6907 Independent Graduate Study in Environmental Science (this course may be taken more than once subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Coordinator) (1-3)
EVR 6936 Special Topics in Graduate Study in Environmental Science (this course may be taken more than once for other topics) (3)
EVS 6941 Environmental Practicum (3-6)
GLY 5575 Coastal and Estuarine Sediment Dynamics (3)
GLY 5658 Geobiology (3)
GLY 6566 Carbonate Sedimentology, Petrology and Stratigraphy (3)
OCB 6646 Marine Biogeography (3)
OCB 6931 Special Topics in Ichthyology (3)
OCC 5115C Advanced Marine Chemistry (3)
OCG 6053 Coastal and Watershed Geology (3)
Policy / Management / Education Electives
None are required. At most 6 credit hours may be counted toward degree requirements.
EVR 5414 Interpreting the Environment (3)
EVR 5925 Environmental Education for a Sustainable Future (3)
EVR 6322 Concepts and Applications of Sustainability (3)
EVS 6937 Environmental Policy (3)
PAD 5620 Environmental Law (3)
URP 6421 Environmental Planning (3)
Alternative electives must be approved by the student's Graduate Committee.
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS REQUIRED: 36 HRS
Additional Graduation Requirements
A minimum of 36 credit hours.
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework in program.
Successful completion of each core course requires a grade of B or better.
Elective courses require a grade of C or better.
Provide two signed, bound copies of the student's thesis, one to the FGCU library and the other to the Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences.
Each student must have a Graduate Committee composed of a minimum of three individuals, two of whom must be part of the graduate faculty in Environmental Science.
Submit an application to graduate to CAS Advising by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
Transfer Notes and Acceptable Substitutes
A maximum of 9 credits of course work may be transferred from other institutions or from pre-degree enrollment at FGCU, if those courses are appropriate to the program of study. These are subject to approval of the Graduate Studies Coordinator.
