Program Director
Dr. William Sturrus
2023 Ward Beecher Hall
330-941-3616
wgsturrus@ysu.edu
Program Description
The Environmental Science program offers a multidisciplinary, interdepartmental graduate program leading to a Master of Science degree. The program office is housed in Ward Beecher Hall and is administered by the Department of Physics, Astronomy, Geology and Environmental Sciences. This program is intended for individuals who have undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science, other natural or social sciences, engineering, or health professions. It is designed to meet the needs of students and working professionals preparing for supervisory roles in environmental science (research and management), with emphasis on a risk-based approach to the solving of environmental problems. The curriculum requires students to broaden their knowledge with core courses in Environmental Science, and related disciplines to deepen their expertise with elective courses, and to demonstrate their abilities to prepare a scholarly thesis or participation in an internship. This degree will benefit students who are planning careers with regulatory agencies, regulatory compliance and management, research facilities, and consulting firms providing state-of-the-art assessment, management, and remediation.
Admission Requirements
A cumulative undergraduate minimum grade point average of 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale) is required for admission.
GRE not required
Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or related field
Graduate Faculty
Felicia P. Armstrong, Ph.D., Professor
Environmental chemistry of soils; water quality; ecotoxicology; soil remediation
Thomas Jordan
Environmental geophysics; archaeo-geophysics; hydro-geophysics; exploration; geophysics and hydrogeology
Colleen McLean, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Aqueous and environmental geochemistry; paleolimnology; biogeochemistry
Ian J. Renne, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Plant community ecology; invasive species; community structure; allelopathic systems; avian ecology
Bradley A. Shellito, Ph.D., Professor
Applications of geospatial technology (Geographic Information Science, remote sensing, global positioning systems, and 3D Modeling)
Josef B. Simeonsson, Ph.D., Professor
Analytical atomic and molecular spectroscopy; trace and ultratrace analysis; laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy; laser ionization spectroscopy; Raman spectroscopy; environmental analysis
Degree Requirements
Environmental Science program provides coursework designed to provide breadth in environmental science and understanding of environmental issues and regulations. Each student admitted to the program will meet with the program director to choose initial coursework and to meet graduate faculty. Each thesis-track student is required to assemble a thesis committee with the recommendation of his or her thesis advisor upon admission.
All students in the Environmental Science graduate program must have their course schedules approved by the program director every semester. A proposed course of study must be approved by the the program director (and thesis committee for students in the thesis track). The course of study will be based on the student’s area of specialization, background, and career interests.
The thesis committee will consist of three to five faculty members in appropriate fields of expertise and one non-faculty professional. The non-faculty member must qualify for appointment as an adjunct graduate faculty member at YSU. Research proposals and proposed course of study must be completed and approved by the thesis committee by the end of the second semester of full-time graduate study.
The thesis shall advance knowledge in environmental science and be applicable to the solving of environmental problems. The thesis requirement includes a formal document and a draft article in journal format suitable for journal submission. A draft of the thesis must be reviewed by the thesis advisor then submitted to the thesis committee two weeks before the thesis defense. The thesis defense will comprise an oral presentation before the thesis committee for final thesis approval.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ENST 5810 | Environmental Safety | 3 |
| ENST 5860 | Environmental Regulations | 3 |
| ENST 6900 | Advanced Environmental Studies | 3 |
| BIOL 5853 | Biometry | 3 |
| GEOG 6901 | Introduction to Geographic Information Science | 3 |
| ENST 5830 | Toxicology and Risk Assessment | 3 |
| OR | ||
| Ecological Risk Assessment | ||
| Required Course Total | 18 | |
| ELECTIVES | ||
| Non-thesis students select 9sh from the following: | ||
| Thesis students select 6sh from the following: | ||
| Environmental Impact Assessment | ||
| Sustainability, Climate Change, and Society | ||
| Soil Quality and Analysis | ||
| Sources of Contamination | ||
| Environmental Compliance | ||
| Special Topics in Environmental Science | ||
| Environmental Geochemistry | ||
| Groundwater Resource Evaluation | ||
| Geology of Ohio and Pennsylvania | ||
| Ecology of Lakes | ||
| Stream Ecology | ||
| Ecosystems Field Ecology | ||
| Environmental Biotechnology | ||
| Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory | ||
| Environmental Engineering Design | ||
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | ||
| Hydrology | ||
| Advanced Geographic Information Science | ||
| Elective hours | 6 or 9 | |
| Experiential Component | ||
| For thesis students (6sh) | ||
| Thesis | ||
| For students on TA (1sh) | ||
| Teaching Methods in Geology and Environmental Science | ||
| For non-thesis students (3sh) | ||
| STEM Graduate Internships | ||
| OR (If internship not taken ENST 6991 Master's Project) (3sh) | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
No more than nine (15) semester hours from the 5800 level (swing course) may be counted towards the Master of Science degree. (Note: More courses at the 5800 level can be taken, but only 15 s.h. count towards the 30 s.h. required for the Master's degree). Additional background courses (undergraduate or graduate) may be required as prerequisites for some of the graduate courses. Prerequisites may be waived at the recommendation of the instructor of the course.
Credits earned for the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Studies may be applied to the Master of Science degree to the extent allowed by the College of Graduate Studies (normally nine semester hours). Students in the certificate program, who intend to pursue the Master's degree, must apply to and meet all the requirements for the Environmental Science Master of Science program.
Learning Outcomes
Communicate effectively using the language, concepts, and models of environmental science in written, visual, and numerical formats.
Properly apply the scientific method to research environmental problems and formulate conclusions and recommendations.
Demonstrate ability to apply appropriate field-and laboratory-based methods (of acquiring, quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing and interpreting environmental data and information).
Apply environmental science research as demonstrated by the successful completion of a Master’s thesis or Environmental Science-related internship.
Graduate Courses
ENST 5810 Environmental Safety 3 s.h.
The proper use of environmental monitoring instruments and personal protective gear. Participation in a series of realistic, hands-on simulation exercises that address a variety of waste clean-up situations. Topics include chemical and physical hazards of chemical compounds and toxicology and adverse effects of chemical exposure. Class meets three hours per week. Successful completion of the course earns OSHA Hazwoper 40 hour training certificate.
Prereq.: ENST 2600, equivalent experience or permission of instructor.
ENST 5820 Sustainability, Climate Change, and Society 3 s.h.
This course explores environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainable development, with an emphasis on economy and society. Through topics such as water, food, and climate change, we examine the role of humans and institutions in sustainable development and possibilities for reconfiguring relationships between our institutions and the natural world.
Prereq.: junior, senior or graduate level standing.
ENST 5830 Toxicology and Risk Assessment 3 s.h.
A study of environmental toxicology of chemicals, primarily anthropogenic pollutants, and their effect on humans and ecosystems. Includes transportation of pollutants in the environment, biochemical reactions, toxicity testing methods, and dose-response assessment. Continues with an introduction in the process of estimating risk and the perception of those risks including how risk is used to set environmental standards.
Prereq.: ENST 1516 and 9 sh >3700 in ENST, CHEM, BIOL, GEOL or CEEN, junior, senior or graduate standing.
Gen Ed: Capstone.
ENST 5860 Environmental Regulations 3 s.h.
An examination of federal and state regulations that relate to cleanup of abandoned waste sites, management of waste from current waste generators, development of new hazardous products and chemicals, safety and health issues, and control of pollution into air and water.
Prereq.: ENST 2600 or equivalent.
ENST 6900 Advanced Environmental Studies 3 s.h.
A study of the principles and issues of environmental science, health, technology, and affairs. Topics will include contaminant chemistry; terrestrial and aquatic ecology; risks to human health; waste management; conservation; and sustainable development, energy, and pollution. Local, regional, and global issues will be studied.
ENST 6901 Sources of Contamination 3 s.h.
A study of the sources and fate and transport of air, water, and soil contaminants that have potential to adversely affect human health and the environment. Topics will include measurement of environmental parameters, data collection and reporting, interpretation of results, compliance issues, and economic implications.
ENST 6905 Teaching Methods in Geology and Environmental Science 2 s.h.
A required course for all Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences graduate teaching assistants. This course will provide guidance and instruction in teaching introductory laboratories in the department.
ENST 6910 Environmental Management Systems Standards (ISO 14001) 1 s.h.
Introduction to establishing a program to set internal industrial standards to identify, measure, and control the environmental impact of their activities, products, and services, including environmental policy, communication, legal requirements, training, documentation, and emergency preparedness.
ENST 6920 Environmental Compliance 3 s.h.
Regulatory compliance concerning operations of environmental and health and safety departments. RCRA permitting (NPDES and air emissions), landfilling, Right to Know, waste generation, storage, shipping (manifests and placarding), disposal of wastes, MSDS, OSHA regulations, safe work practices, hiring consultants (technical and legal), writing requests for proposals, and documenting and report writing.
Prereq.: ENST 5860, ENST 6900, or equivalent.
ENST 6921 Industry/Institutional Management for the Environmental Professional 3 s.h.
A comprehensive background in management principles and operations relating to the environmental professions. Topics include budgeting, staffing, scheduling, leadership, and quality assurance/control. The student will learn to write, evaluate, and implement technical and cost proposals for contracts and grants, scopes of work, operations plans, sampling and analysis plans, health and safety plans, job descriptions, resumes, statements of qualifications, mission statements, meeting agendas (for professionals and the general public), and other written and oral communications (reports, memoranda, memoranda of understanding, policy briefs, press releases, fact sheets, requests for information).
Prereq.: ENST 6900 or equivalent.
ENST 6931 Ecological Risk Assessment 3 s.h.
The student will examine environmental risks to nonhuman populations. Topics will include the study of measurements of adverse effects due to one or more stressors by examining population communities and ecosystems. Also, the class will study the following issues: threatened and endangered species, wetlands, endocrine disruption, multiple stressors, sediment and soil toxicity, conservative screening versus site-specific studies, and natural resource damage claims.
Prereq.: ENST 6900 and ENST 5830 or equivalent.
ENST 6990 Thesis 1-6 s.h.
Hours arranged. Applicable to master's degree in environmental studies. Research selected and supervised by departmental advisor and approved by graduate faculty of environmental studies program and graduate dean. May be repeated.
ENST 6995 Introduction to Environmental Science Research 2 s.h.
This course introduces the student to the fundamental and practical aspects of research, especially as they apply to environmental sciences. The course emphasizes research methodologies and ethics, how to review the literature, how to write a research proposal, and how research results are presented. The course will include presentations of the faculty research interests.
Prereq.: graduate standing or permission of instructor.
ENST 6999 Special Topics in Environmental Science 1-3 s.h.
Environmental science topics selected by faculty from fields of current research interest or of special emphasis. May be repeated with a different topic up to a total of six semester hours.
Prereq.: Permission of director.