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Master of Science in Environmental Science

The graduate program in Environmental Science is designed to help meet the national needs of government, business and industry for professionals in the field of environmental sciences. The faculty emphasize preparing students for the professional world of environmental science, ecology and natural resources management with a sound scientific technical background based upon contemporary economic and political realities. The program enhances the breadth and depth of students' knowledge and experience. Research projects usually address local and regional concerns and provide experience in evaluating issues in a holistic approach. Students will develop oral and written communication and advocacy skills for assuming leadership roles in a wide variety of interdisciplinary professional settings.

Kentucky residents may be eligible for in-state tuition (Information about the Academic Common Market).

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Program Requirements

To earn the M.S. degree, students must successfully complete 38 semester hours in the thesis option, internship option, or literature review option with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Core courses:

ESC 502 - Mechanisms in the Environment (3)
ESC 505 - Biodiversity and Natural Resource Conservation (3)
ESC 511 - Applied Statistics for Environmental Scientists (3)
ESC 514 - Environmental Law and Regulations (3)
ESC 570 - Seminar I (1) (must be taken in the first year of graduate program)
ESC 571 - Seminar II (1) (must be taken in the first year of graduate program)  

Research: (must take a minimum of three hours)


ESC 599r - Master Thesis (6) [For thesis option]
or
ESC 598r - Internship (6) [For internship option]
or
ESC 597r - Individual Research (3) [For literature review option] 

          Designated Electives: (18 hours minimum for thesis and internship option; 21 hours minimum           for literature review option) 

BIOL 530r Population Interactions (Advanced Topics in Population Ecology) (3-4)
BIOL 532 - Toxicology (3)
CHEM 512 - Environmental Chemistry (3)
CHEM 516 - Hazardous & Toxic Wastes (3)

ESC 506 - Advanced Ecology (3)
ESC 521 - Seminar in Environmental Ethics (3)
ESC 533 - Environmental Genetics (3)
ESC 561 - Advanced Applications of Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems (3-4)
ESC 565 - Environmental Toxicology & Risk Assessment (3-4)
ESC 503 - Microbial Ecology (3)
ESC 504 - Bioremediation (3)
ESC 517 - Advanced Environmental Law (3)
ESC 518 - Case Studies in Environmental Problems (3)
ECON 527 - Topics in Economics (3)
GEOG 515 - Regional Environmental Management (3)
GEOG 525 - Regional Land Use and Transportation (3)

GEOG 560 - Topics in Remote Sensing (3)
POLS 524 - Public Policy (3)

Program Faculty Internships

An internship normally involves a minimum six-month, full-time work commitment to an appropriate external sponsoring agency. Students must provide monthly progress reports signed by their supervisor within the agency. The internship provides students with invaluable work experience and professional contact outside the university and additional opportunities to become acquainted with current environmental problems. Examples of sponsoring agencies includes: 

  • Advanced Waste Management Systems, Inc. 
  • Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau
  • Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency
  • Chattanooga Nature Center 
  • Laidlaw Environmental Services 
  • Moccasin Bend Sewage Treatment Plant 
  • Tennessee American Water Company 
  • Tennessee Aquarium 
  • Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
  • Tennessee River Gorge Trust 
  • Tennessee Valley Authority 
Application Procedure:

An applicant for admission to the graduate program in Environmental Science must meet the following requirements: 

  • Graduation from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a 2.75 GPA overall or a 3.0 in the last 60 hours. 
  • Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (general test) 
  • A background knowledge of environmental science concepts equivalent to UTC's undergraduate courses ESC 150 and 151 (Introduction to Environmental Problems) or an undergraduate or graduate class in ecology. 
  • A dossier which documents written and oral communication skills and includes the following:
    • a resume
    • prior publications or sample research paper
    • a written account of prior educational and professional experience in environmental science, including laboratory competencies, career goals and reasons for pursuing graduate study 
  • Recommendations from a minimum of three individuals familiar with the applicant's scholastic ability and professional work background.  

Applicants are recommended to have completed:

  • Two academic years background in laboratory sciences at the junior or senior level (i.e., four semester laboratory courses at the 300 or 400 level).
  • A course in environmental ethics.
  • Mathematics course equivalent to UTC's MATH 136 or 150, one course each in introductory statistics and computer science.
  • An introductory course in Environmental Law equivalent to UTC's ESC 410.

Environmental Science Forms:

Supplemental Data Form
Letter of Recommendation

For more information:
Dr. John Tucker,

Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Dept. 2653
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403-2598
Phone: (423) 425-2316
Email: John-Tucker@utc.edu 

Last Updated:11/20/06