University of San Francisco - College of Arts & Sciences
MS in Environmental Management
San Francisco, USA
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 26,560 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for living on campus and living in off-campus housing
Key Summary
About: USF’s Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM) builds science-based management skills for climate, air, water, and environmental health challenges. The interdisciplinary 30-unit curriculum combines environmental science, engineering, policy, and management, offers multiple concentrations and an optional GIS certificate, and uses the San Francisco Bay Area as an extended classroom.
Career Outcomes: Students access extensive alumni networks for career opportunities in public, nonprofit, and consulting sectors. Employers include Bay Area air and water agencies, state and federal regulators, utilities, consultancies and Tesla. Graduates work as environmental managers, consultants, policy analysts, water specialists, GIS analysts, and climate or health professionals.
USF’s Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM) develops students' skills to provide science-based management strategies for the environmental challenges the world faces, from stabilizing global climate to ensuring equitable access to clean air and water. Our interdisciplinary program helps students advance their careers in environmental agencies, consulting firms, industry, and nonprofit organizations.
Our 30-unit program offers a rigorous yet flexible mix of courses that integrate environmental science and engineering with policy and management knowledge. MSEM includes the option for a concentration in Ecology, Water Management, Environmental Health & Hazards, or Energy and Climate, as well as the option for a GIS certificate. Graduates gain practical skills along with an understanding of theory, preparing them to be environmental leaders throughout their careers.
Major Requirements (30 units)
The program consists of 30 units, which include 3 required courses, a master’s project or thesis, and 10 electives. Students typically take four courses per semester, with one elective and a master’s project in the final semester.
Concentrations
Students can concentrate in one of the following areas:
- Environmental Management, Ecology Concentration, MS
- Environmental Management, Energy & Climate Change Concentration, MS
- Environmental Management, Environmental Health & Hazards Concentration, MS
- Environmental Management, Water Management Concentration, MS
Required Courses (6 units)
- ENVM 601 - Environmental Chemistry (2 units)
- ENVM 602 - Ecology (2 units)
- ENVM 603 - Quantitative Methods (2 units)
Master’s Project (4 units)
- ENVM 698 - Master’s Project or
- ENVM 695 - Thesis Design (2 units) followed by ENVM 697 - Thesis Completion (2 units)
Electives (20 units)
Students select 10 electives (2 units each) from the following:
- ENVM 605 - Environmental Ethics
- ENVM 607 - Environmental Policy: Design & Implementation
- ENVM 609 - Environmental Law
- ENVM 610 - Environmental Law II
- ENVM 612 - NEPA & CEQA Compliance
- ENVM 614 - Environmental Economics I
- ENVM 615 - Natural Resource Economics
- ENVM 621 - Restoration Ecology
- ENVM 623 - California Ecosystems
- ENVM 624 - Wildland Fire Ecology & Management
- ENVM 626 - Wetland Ecology
- ENVM 627 - Wetland Ecology Lab
- ENVM 628 - Stream and Riparian Ecology
- ENVM 629 - Wetland Delineation I
- ENVM 630 - Wetland Delineation II
- ENVM 632 - Marine Resources
- ENVM 634 - Field Survey Management
- ENVM 635 - Environmental Engineering I
- ENVM 638 - Environmental Engineering II: Contaminant Transport in Water
- ENVM 639 - Hazardous Waste Engineering
- ENVM 640 - Air Quality Assessment & Management
- ENVM 643 - Environmental Health
- ENVM 644 - Environmental Toxicology
- ENVM 646 - Environmental Risk Assessment
- ENVM 647 - Environmental Risk Management
- ENVM 649 - Aquatic Pollution
- ENVM 650 - Water and Wastewater Treatment
- ENVM 652 - Watershed Management
- ENVM 653 - Introduction to Hydrology
- ENVM 656 - Water Policy
- ENVM 657 - Soil & Groundwater Remediation
- ENVM 659 - Energy Resources & Environment
- ENVM 660 - Renewable Energy
- ENVM 662 - Energy Auditing
- ENVM 663 - Sustainable Design
- ENVM 665 - Climate Science
- ENVM 667 - Climate Change Mitigation
- ENVM 668 - Urban Resilience in Climate Change
- ENVM 670 - Introduction to Geospatial Technology
- ENVM 673 - Accelerated Introduction to GIS
- ENVM 674 - Accelerated Intermediate GIS
- ENVM 675 - Advanced GIS
- ENVM 676 - Introduction to LiDAR Technology
- ENVM 677 - Introduction to Google Earth Engine
- ENVM 678 - Advanced Data Analysis
- ENVM 680 - Special Topics in Geospatial Technology
- ENVM 680L - Laboratory
- ENVM 685 - Special Topics in Environmental Management
- ENVM 686 - Special Topics in Ecology
- ENVM 687 - Special Topics in Health & Hazards
- ENVM 688 - Special Topics in Water
- ENVM 689 - Special Topics in Energy & Climate
- ENVM 690 - Research Methods
- ENVM 691 - Directed Study
Master’s Project/Thesis
The master’s project focuses on an in-depth study of an environmental issue, developing key management skills, such as problem identification, research, analysis, and the development of recommendations.
Students graduating from the MSEM program will be able to:
- Demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach in the analysis of environmental issues and management strategies
- Utilize both theory and applied knowledge to evaluate and recommend management strategies for environmental issues
- Choose and apply appropriate tools, techniques, and technologies to analyze environmental issues
- Skillfully communicate environmental management issues through written reports and oral and visual presentations
The MSCS program offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships to incoming and current graduate students, both domestic and international, on a competitive basis.
MSCS Admission Scholarship
Awarded to incoming MSCS applicants with outstanding applications from all backgrounds. Approximate awards range up to $5k over the first year of study.
MSCS Merit Scholarship
Awarded to incoming MSCS applicants with outstanding applications from all backgrounds, or current MSCS graduate students who demonstrate outstanding skills and leadership. Approximate awards range from $5–10k over one to two semesters.
The Dean's Scholarship
An award of up to $15,000 to use toward tuition, research, and conference travel. Connect with other Dean's Scholarship recipients and leaders across the College of Arts & Sciences. Serve as a program representative to USF donor initiatives to help transform the lives of other USF students. For more information please see the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Scholarships website.
Double Dons Scholarship
USF Alumni and current students can be awarded the USF Double Dons Scholarship upon admission. The scholarship covers 20% of the program tuition, and may not be stacked with other USF scholarship awards. Exceptions may apply.
With hundreds of MSEM graduates — and a large number of current students and faculty — students have outstanding opportunities to build an extensive professional network that spans a wide range of environmental management careers in the public, nonprofit, and business/consulting sectors.
Employers
- Bay Area Air Quality Management District
- Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Delta Stewardship Council
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- California State Water Resources Control Board
- San Francisco Department of the Environment
- San Francisco Public Utility Commission
- Santa Clara Water Valley District
- Horizon Water and Environment
- Tesla