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CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 NOTICE

Mason will start the fall semester as scheduled on Monday, August 24, with a mix of in-person instruction, expanded online classes, and research activities. Review Mason's Safe Return to Campus Plan and explore College level resources. 

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George Mason University

MS Students

Requirements for students admitted before Fall 2020

The Master’s program in Environmental Science and Policy meets the increasing need for trained environmental professionals who can address the problems of land and water management, land use and urbanization, wetland loss, microbial ecology, bioremediation, conservation biology, and ecosystem preservation. These professionals will also contribute to the analysis and resolution of global problems, such as deforestation, insufficient world food supplies, acid deposition, population growth and public health, global climate change/warming, and depletion of the stratospheric ozone. Areas of specific departmental focus include ecosystems, conservation, environmental biocomplexity, molecular ecology, sustainability science, environmental policy and management and human/environmental interactions.

There are seven MS concentrations offered:

Aquatic Ecology (AQEC) – 33 credits
Conservation Science and Policy (COSP) – 33 credits
Earth Surface Processes and Environmental Geochemistry (ESEG) – 33 credits
Environmental Biocomplexity (EVBC) – 33 credits
Environmental Management (EVM) – 33 credits
Environmental Science and Policy (EVSP) – 33 credits
Environmental Science Communication (ESCM) – 33 credits

Requirements for students admitted Fall 2020 and later

The MS program structure has been modified so that all concentrations share a common core and then have different electives. This new structure will appear in the 2020-21 University Catalog and will be in effect for ESP students admitted starting in Fall 2020.

Another change is that the Earth Surfaces Process and Environmental Geochemistry (ESEG) and Environmental Biocomplexity (EVBC) concentrations are being phased out and incoming students will no longer be admitted into those.

Finally, a new concentration in Energy and Sustainability Policy and Science has been approved to begin in Fall 2020.

There are six MS concentrations offered (33 credits each):

Aquatic Ecology (AQEC)
Conservation Science and Policy (COSP)
Environmental Science and Policy (EVSP)
Environmental Management (EVM)
Environmental Science Communication (ESCM)
Energy and Sustainability Policy and Science (ESPS)

—>View the new Environmental Science and Policy (MS) Program Structure starting Fall 2020