Degree Requirements - Environmental Studies - Student Handbook 2006-2007 - Antioch University New England
Degree Requirements
Department of Environmental Studies, 2006/2007
Master of Science in Environmental Studies
MS—50 credits
The MS in Environmental Studies degree, with or without certification, is a 20 month program, requiring a minimum of 50 credits.
In addition to completing a minimum of two semesters of an appropriate practicum, you are expected to develop basic competencies in the areas listed on the following pages. If you enter the program with little or no background in biology or environmental studies you should expect to take the maximum number of credits indicated for each competency area; if you enter with some of these competencies developed through previous experience or training you may expect to adjust your program accordingly, concentrating on areas of special interest. All students must fulfill each competency area for the number of credits indicated or submit a request for a waiver form to the Department of Environmental Studies.
Together with your advisor, you will develop a program plan during your first semester which will:
- describe planned practica;
- list the specific courses to be taken to develop needed competencies;
- indicate courses or requirements to be waived and why;
- indicate other special arrangements such as advanced standing, general education requirements which need to be met, etc.
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Master of Science in Environmental Studies with Biology or General Science Certification
MS—50 credits
To earn the MS degree with certification in either Biology or General Science you must meet the general education requirements, satisfy the prerequisites listed below, and successfully complete a minimum of 50 credits, distributed as follows, in the section following the prerequisites:
Biology Certification Prerequisites
You must satisfactorily complete ("C" or better) the following courses from an accredited undergraduate or graduate institution (within the last 10 years) or obtain a passing score on an equivalent CLEP exam before you complete your Antioch program:
- two semesters of Basic Biology with lab (molecular and cellular, not available at Antioch; CLEP accepted)
- one semester of Chemistry with a lab (not available at Antioch; CLEP accepted)
- one semester of Mathematics (not available at Antioch; CLEP accepted)
- one semester of Physics (available at Antioch summer 2007; CLEP not accepted)
General Science Prerequisites
In addition to a solid academic background in at least one science area, you must satisfactorily complete ("C" or better) the following) courses from an accredited undergraduate or graduate institution (within the last 10 years), or obtain a passing score on an equivalent CLEP exam before you complete your Antioch program:
- one semester of Basic Biology (molecular and cellular, not available at Antioch; CLEP accepted)
- one semester of Chemistry (not available at Antioch; CLEP accepted)
- one semester of Mathematics (not available at Antioch; CLEP accepted)
- one semester of Physics (available at Antioch summer 2007; CLEP not accepted)
Course and Practicum Requirements
Required Courses are Listed Under Each Competency Area
| Foundation Areas |
18 credits |
Civic Ecology (6 credits)
- Choice from 3-credit courses with ESP prefix
|
Natural Communities (6 credits)
- Community Ecology of the New England Landscape
- Choice from courses with ESF prefix
|
Biosphere Science (6 credits)
- Earth Systems Science
- Choice from 3-credit courses with ESS prefix
|
Specialization Area Requirements
- Foundations of Science & Environmental Education (3)
- Conceptual & Human Development (3)
- Curriculum Design (3)
- Biological Concepts (2)
- Teaching Exceptional Children (2)
- School Law (1)
- Problem Solving & Inquiry-Based Science Teaching (3)
- Science Teaching Methods (3)
- General Practicum & Seminar (2)
- Student Teaching & Seminar (6)
A full-time, 15-week student teaching practicum at an approved site in the subject of your certification track.
- Electives (4)
|
32 credits |
Total Credits for MS in Environmental Studies
with Biology or General Science
Teacher Certification |
50 credits |
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Master of Science in Environmental Studies with a Specialization in Conservation Biology
MS—50 credits
To earn the MS degree in Environmental Studies, you must earn a minimum of 50 credits distributed as follows:
Required Courses are Listed Under Each Competency Area
| Foundation Courses |
18 credits |
Civic Ecology (6 credits)
- Geographic Information Systems (3)
- Choice from 3-credit courses with ESP prefix
|
Natural Communities (6 credits)
- Community Ecology of the New England Landscape
- Choice from New England Flora (3)
OR Field Mammology (3)
OR Ornithology (3)
|
Biosphere Science (6 credits)
- Earth Systems Science
- Choice from 3-credit courses with ESS prefix
|
Specialization Area Requirements
- Conservation Biology (3)
- Ecological Research Design (3)
- Natural Resource Inventory Vegetation or Wildlife (3)
- Wetlands Ecology (2-3)
OR Wildlife & Forest Management (2)
OR Forest Ecosystem Analysis (2)
OR Wildlife Research Techniques (2)
- Any additional ESF course (2)
- Masters Thesis (3) and Seminar (2)
- Practicum and Seminar (8)
Minimum of two semesters of practicum with practicum seminar is required.
- Electives (5-6)
|
32 credits |
Total Credits for MS in Environmental Studies
with a Specialization in Conservation Biology |
50 credits |
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Master of Science in Environmental Studies with a Specialization in Environmental Advocacy & Organizing
MS—50 credits
To earn the MS degree in Environmental Studies, you must earn a minimum of 50 credits distributed as follows:
Required Courses are Listed Under Each Competency Area
| Foundation Areas |
18 credits |
Civic Ecology (6 credits)
- Choice from 3-credit courses with ESP prefix
|
Natural Communities (6 credits)
- Community Ecology of the New England Landscape
- Choice from courses with ESF prefix
|
Biosphere Science (6 credits)
- Earth Systems Science
- Choice from selected 3-credit courses with ESS prefix
|
Specialization Area Requirements
- Organizing Social Movements and Campaigns (3)
- Non Profit Leadership and Management (3)
- Diversity and Coalition-Building (3)
- Advocacy Clinic I (3)
- Advocacy Clinic II (3)
- Practicum and Seminar (8)
A minimum of 2 semesters of practicum is required.
- Electives (9)
|
32 credits |
Total Credits for MS in Environmental Studies with a
Specialization in Environmental Advocacy & Organizing |
50 credits |
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Master of Science in Environmental Studies with a Specialization in Environmental Education
MS—50 credits
Required Courses are Listed Under Each Competency Area
| Foundation Courses |
18 credits |
Civic Ecology (6 credits)
- Choice from selected courses with ESP prefix
|
Natural Communities (6 credits)
- Community Ecology of the New England Landscape
- Choice from selected courses with ESF prefix
|
Biosphere Science (6 credits)
- Earth Systems Science
- Choice from selected courses with ESS prefix
|
Specialization Area Requirements
- Foundations of Environmental Education (3 credits)
- Learning Development & Theory (3 credits)
- Curriculum Design, Nonformal (3 credits)
- Environmental Education Methods (8 credits)
Student selected Environmental Education Methods Courses
- Practicum and Seminar (8 credits)
- Minimum of two semesters of practicum with seminar is required.
- Electives (7 credits)
|
32 credits |
Total Credits for MS in Environmental Studies with
an Environmental Education Concentration |
50 credits |
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Master of Science in Environmental Studies with an Individualized Specialization
MS—50 credits
This program is designed for students with strong academic backgrounds in their concentration and significant work experience in the environmental field. Students interested in an individualized specialization must submit a program title, description and course plan to the program director for approval upon matriculation. The approved plan must then be placed in your academic record in the Registrar’s Office.
To earn an MS in Environmental Studies, Individualized Concentration, you must earn a minimum of 50 credits distributed as follows:
Required Courses are Listed Under Each Competency Area
Foundation Areas
Civic Ecology (6 credits)
- Choice from 3-credit courses with ESP prefix
Natural Communities (6 credits)
- Community Ecology of the New England Landscape
- Choice from courses with ESF prefix
Biosphere Science (6 credits)
- Earth Systems Science
- Choice from 3-credit courses with ESS prefix
|
18 credits |
Specialization Area Requirements
Individualized (12 credits)
Practicum with Seminar (8 credits)
Master’s Thesis & Seminar (4 credits)
OR
Special Project (3 credits)
Electives (8-9 credits)
|
32 credits |
Total Credits for MS in Environmental Studies with
an Individualized Specialization |
50 credits |
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Master of Science in Resource Management & Conservation
MS—50 credits
To earn the MS degree in Resource Management & Conservation you must earn a minimum of 50 credits distributed as follows:
Required Courses are Listed Under Each Competency Area
Foundation Areas
Civic Ecology (Environmental Issues) (6 credits)
- Choice from 3-credit courses with ESP prefix
Biosphere Science (6 credits)
- Earth Systems Science
- Choice from selected courses
Natural Communities (6 credits)
- Community Ecology of the New England Landscape
- Choice from selected courses
|
18 credits |
| Specialization Area Requirements |
32 credits |
Professional Skills (11-12 credits)
- Building Sustainable Organizations or Management Theory (3)
- Financial Administration (3)
- Proposal Writing and the Grants Process or GIS (2-3)
- Conflict Resolution or Group Dynamics or Dispute Resolution (2)
- Advanced Seminar in Resource Management (1)
Science OR Natural Communities Electives (4 credits)
- Additional courses with prefixes ESS or ESF
Policy Electives (4 credits)
- Additional courses with prefixes ESP
Practicum and Seminar (8 credits)
- Minimum of two semesters of practicum is required
Masters Thesis (3 credits) & Seminar (2 credits)
OR
Special Project (3 credits)
Electives (0-2 credits)
|
Total Credits for Master of Science
in Resource Management & Conservation |
50 credits |
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Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Studies
PhD—81 credits
The doctoral program in Environmental Studies is at minimum a four-year, full-time program. Students are required to attend classes for a two-week summer session during each of the four years of the program. They are also required to attend monthly weekend seminars during the first two years of the program, and bimonthly weekend seminars during the third and fourth years. The program also requires a weekly online conference commitment for specific classes. All of the courses described below are required courses, unless otherwise indicated.
Students have a maximum limit of ten years from the date of entry to complete all degree requirements, including the dissertation, and 81 to 90 semester-hour credits beyond the master’s. The student must complete the Service Project, and the Integrated Essay, and Dissertation Proposal before admission to Dissertation Candidacy.
Required Courses are Listed Under Each Competency Area
| Phase One: Foundation Courses |
22 credits |
- Research Design (3)
- Ecological Thought (3)
- Comparative Ecological Analysis (4)
- Global Environmental Change (4)
- Political Economy of Environmental Issues (4)
- History of Ecological Consciousness (4)
|
Phase Two: Research Strategies and Learning Domain
- Research Strategy: Theory, Method, and Design (6)
- The Learning Domain and Environmental Leadership (6)
- Individualized Learning Contract: The Learning Domain (12)
- To be selected from:
- Approved Antioch master’s program courses
- Independent study
- Online courses
|
24 credits
|
Phase Three: Integrated Projects
- Theory and Practice Seminar (6)
- The Service Project (4)
- The Integrated Essay (4)
- Dissertation Proposal Seminar (4)
|
18 credits |
Phase Four: The Dissertation Process
- The Dissertation Seminar (9)
- The Doctoral Dissertation (8)
|
17 credits |
Total Credits for PhD in Environmental Studies |
81 credits |
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