Dear Prospective ES-MS Applicant:

The ES-MS program is designed to help students develop an interdisciplinary perspective on environmental science research. The curriculum for the degree is inherently trans-disciplinary blending courses from biology, chemistry, geography, philosophy, and other disciplines. By the end of their degree program students are expected to become independent researchers through the writing of a MS thesis under the guidance of a major professor and a thesis committee. MS students often (but not always) work on projects that are part of ongoing large-scale research programs in the lab of their major professor.

The ES-MS program application is a competitive process that includes application to the UNT Toulouse Graduate School and the ES-MS Program (see www.ias.unt.edu). To be considered for admission for entry into the program, all application materials must be submitted by January 15th. Meeting all of the application requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program, which is at the discretion of the ES faculty. All environmental science graduate students must have a major professor who helps the student design her/his degree plan (coursework) and thesis research. Students will not be accepted to the program if they do not have a major professor, a role that is at the discretion of the ES faculty member.

ES faculty members, staff, and the program coordinators do not advise applicants during the process of "finding a major professor." Being accepted into an ES faculty member's lab is the sole responsibility of the applicant, requiring research into the program by the applicant. Faculty members choose whether or not to admit a student into their lab based on a variety of criteria including the intellectual match of the applicant to the professor, the opportunities currently available to work with students, and the qualifications of the applicant in ES.

Information on the prerequisites for ES programs can be found through our website. Please direction application and academic questions to our Graduate Program Coordinator.