Curriculum

The MES curriculum consists of three closely integrated components.
Required core programs are taught by faculty teams trained in the social, biological and physical sciences; electives provide opportunities for students to develop more specialized training in subjects related to environmental studies; and thesis work, which often takes the form of applied research.

Students must complete 72 credits, which at Evergreen are recorded as quarter-hours.
They earn 32 credits by completing the sequence of four core programs. They earn the other 40 credits by combining electives and thesis work. The exact mix of elective credits and thesis credits will vary according to which of two thesis options a student selects.

All admissions to the MES program are provisional through the first two quarters of core programs.
Students are recommended for "candidacy," i.e., full admission, upon satisfactory completion of all requirements of the first two core programs. Recommendations for candidacy are based on the faculty's judgment of the student's ability to complete the degree requirements successfully.
Students enrolled full time (12 hours per quarter) can complete degree requirements in six quarters. These students take the core programs plus one elective for the first four quarters.

The MES program is designed so working students can attend part time.
Core and elective programs meet in the evening and late afternoon. Students who enroll for eight hours per quarter require a minimum of nine quarters to complete the MES degree. These students usually take the four-quarter core sequence before enrolling in electives or beginning the thesis project. Electives and thesis work are also available in the summer.

View 2006-07 Master of Environmental Study Curriculum

View Master of Environmental Study Electives in the Evening and Weekend Catalog