I agree, the two degrees are more or less synonymous in the US. The =
difference is more often an institutional matter (i.e., which school =
within a university or university system) conferring the degree and the =
school's national accreditation(s).
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
E. Ann Poole, Ecological & Environmental Consultancy
PO Box 890, 741 Beard Rd, Hillsborough, NH 03244
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 603.478.1178 www.eannpoole.com
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Malcolm McCallum=20
To: E. Ann Poole ; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 12:58 PM
Subject: RE:env studies or env sciences or..
Whether it is a MS in Environmental Sciences
Or a Masters of Environmental Studies/Science
Is not as important as what your degree actually is when you look at =
the
transcript. Many schools have thesis and non-thesis versions of both =
of
these names. =20
Probably the most important thing is whether the degree is really
environmental science? Many schools offer a degree in environmental
science, but what they are really teaching is an environmentally =
skewed
biology or chemistry program or policy program. =20
A true Environmental Science program is multidisciplinary and should
train students to be interdisciplinary team members with their own
specialization. In a modern Environmental Sciences Program students
will take key courses in environmental policy and law, biology,
chemistry, and economics.
For example, a sample of a typical core curriculum for a bonified
environmental sciences MS might compose the following:
A named course in each of the following:
Environmental Policy (taught taught by a Pol. Sci)
Environmental Chemistry (taught by a chemist)
Environmental Economics (taught by an economist)
Enviornmental Biology (taught by a biologist)
Then, a series of electives such as the following (some of these =
should
be present!):
Environmental Risk Assessment=20
Environmental Remediation
Environmental Impact Assessment
Ecotoxicology
Environmental Toxicology
Atmospheric Chemistry
Water Chemistry
Public Health
Conservation Biology
Geographic Information Systems
Ecology
And of course other typical and specialized graduate courses in
Political Science, Economics, Biology, and Chemistry. =20
Add to this specializations in environmental psychology, sociology,
anthropology, archaeology. =20
Basically if there is a degree in it, you can add "environmental" to =
the
front and you have a specialization within the area of environmental
science/studies. =20
By no means have I covered all of the courses, but if you are =
interested
in the biology end of environmental sciences, those are key courses =
that
should be in your curriculum.
Malcolm L. McCallum
-----Original Message-----
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of E. Ann Poole
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 11:09 AM
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: what is in a name?
In my experience, a "Masters in Environmental Studies" refers to a =3D
Master of Arts in Environmental Studies and focuses more on geography, =
=3D
socioeconomics and/or policy where as an MSc (Master of Science) in =
=3D
Environmental Science focuses on science (chemistry, biology, geology, =
=3D
etc.). To my knowledge, no school confers a "Master of Environmental =
=3D
Studies" (MEnvSt?).
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
E. Ann Poole, Ecological & Environmental Consultancy
PO Box 890, 741 Beard Rd, Hillsborough, NH 03244
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 603.478.1178 www.eannpoole.com
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
----- Original Message -----=3D20
From: Lauchlan Fraser=3D20
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 7:59 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] what is in a name?
We are developing a thesis-based masters program in environmental
studies. Ecology, social sciences and economics are equally =
important
in the development of our program. We are considering two names:
1. Masters of Environmental Studies
2. MSc in Environmental Studies
Some of us think that a 'Masters of Environmental Studies' has the
perception of lacking rigour and that it will automatically be =
thought
of by others as a degree without a thesis. Some of us think that an
'MSc in Environmental Studies' is biased towards science and =
therefore
lacks the true spirit of the multidisciplinary nature of =
environmental
issues. I am very interested to hear the lists thoughts on this =3D
issue.
Sincerely,
Lauch Fraser
Thompson Rivers University
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
