Admissions and Program Requirements

Admission to the EVSS Program requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Students with any major are encouraged to apply, but must have a sufficient background in the natural sciences. Other minimum admissions requirements are listed below. Some applicants may not satisfy all requirements.  Every effort will be made to accommodate such applicants through preparatory classes at the College of Charleston. Exceptions can be made on an individual basis, depending on a candidate's background or experience.

Prospective students may apply online through the Graduate School at the College of Charleston.

Minimum Admissions Requirements

  • An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4)

  • Updated Resume

  • Applicants must have undergraduate coursework in biology (two courses with labs), chemistry (two courses with labs), and statistics (one semester). One year of another physical or natural science may be substituted for either biology or chemistry. The admissions committee recognizes that some applicants with exceptional backgrounds and training in other areas – either another science or social science – may wish to enter the program. These applicants are encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but should understand that they may be required to take one or more additional courses to meet the prerequisites of the program.

  • Two letters of recommendation that specifically address the applicant's academic qualifications and career potential in environmental studies.

  • A statement of goals should be 1-2 pages single-spaced with 1-inch margins in Times New Roman or similar font. Please briefly explain your past experience and professional achievements that pertain to this program. This statement should focus on not only your academic goals for the research, classes, and experience you want to gain in this master’s program but also your professional goals, such as the career field you want to pursue and how this program will play a role in your career trajectory. If you have any questions about the statement of goals, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Program Coordinator, Lucy Davis, davislh@cofc.edu

Also, as a prerequisite to the core course EVSS 659: Environmental Statistics (offered in the Spring), applicants must either take MATH 250: Statistical Methods I (an undergraduate course offered by the College of Charleston) or an equivalent college-level statistics course. The core course EVSS 624: Biometry may be taken in the place of EVSS 659: Environmental Statistics in order to fulfill the EVSS Program statistics requirement. Both courses require a background in statistics as a prerequisite.
In order to meet this prerequisite, students MUST have successfully completed one of the following:

  • MATH 250: Statistical Methods I (an undergraduate course offered by the College of Charleston)

  • A college-level statistics course, taken at another institution, that is equivalent to MATH 250

Program Requirements

Students in the EVSS Program must complete 38 credit hours and either a thesis or internship. Core classes serve to offer students a background in environmental science and policy; course topics include environmental studies, statistics, policy & social science, and natural science. Elective classes cover a wide range of topics that align with the student's specific program of study. The Graduate Catalog includes information on all core and elective classes. 

The 38 required credit hours can be broken down as follows:

  • Core classes: 18 credit hours
  • Elective classes: 14 credit hours
  • Thesis / Academic Internship: 6 credit hours

The EVSS Program’s coursework is designed to be completed within two years. However, students may require extra time in order to complete their research for their Academic Internship or Thesis projects. In general, students take two to three years to complete their requirements. In most cases, the first semester is dedicated to designing one’s Program of Study and choosing between either an Academic Internship or Thesis, in addition to completing coursework. The second semester and following consist of submitting proposals and presenting the work done as it corresponds to either Thesis or Academic Internship in conjunction with finishing classes. All EVSS students must fulfill the program requirements within five years of matriculating. The EVSS Steering Committee and the Dean of the Graduate School will consider petitions for extensions in extenuating circumstances