Environmental Science and Policy

Course Structure

1. [\'Geographic Information Systems for Non-Majors\', \'Advanced Geographic Information Systems\', \'Computational Statistics I\', \'(or other statistics course approved by the Graduate Director,\', \'such as PCB 6456 or GEO 6166)\', \'Biometry\', \'Multivariate Statistical Analysis\', \'Seminar in Environmental Science (varying special topics)\', \'ESP Capstone Seminar (taken after a minimum of 24 program credits have been completed)\', \'Seminar in Environmental Science (varying special topics)\', \'Seminar in Environmental Science and Policy (varying special topics)\', \'Advances in Water Quality Policy and Management\', \'Geomorphology for Environmental Scientists\', \'Wildlife Ecology\', \'Natural Hazards\', \'Hydrologic Systems\', \'Advances in Water Resources\', \'Soils Seminar\', \'Karst Geomorphology Seminar\', \'Geomorphology Seminar\', \'Physical Geography Seminar\', \'Technological Hazards and Environmental Justice\', \'Air Pollution Research Seminar\', "Ecology 12 credits primarily from courses offered within the ES&P Program in the Department of Geography, and courses in the Department of Biology, to be selected in consultation with the student\'s major professor and Supervisory Committee. This area features a particular concentration in landscape ecology, wildlife ecology and management, conservation biology, ecological modeling, and field methods, including the use of GIS, GPS, and remote sensing technologies.", \'Environmental Policy and Management 15 credits (only 12 hours can be applied towards the MS program) guided by the guidelines for the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Policy and Management. Credits will be applied to the core and elective requirements for the M.S. program as described above.\', "Geology 12 credits primarily from courses offered within the ES&P Program in the Department of Geography and courses in the Department of Geology to be selected in consultation with the student\'s Supervisory Committee. This area features a particular concentration in karst geology and public policy planning in karstic environments: and a concentration in paleogeology.", \'Hydrogeology 15 credits (only 12 hours can be applied towards the MS program) as required by the Graduate Certificate in Hydrogeology, as specified by the Department of Geology.\', "Hazards Assessment and Mitigation 12 credits primarily from courses offered within the ES&P Program in the Department of Geography, and courses in the Department of Geology, and Civil Engineering, to be selected in consultation with the student\'s major professor and Supervisory Committee.", "Urban Environment 12 credit hours primarily in the Department of Geography, to be selected in consultation with the student\'s major professor and Supervisory Committee.", "Water Quality and Policy 12 credits drawn from relevant courses offered within the ES&P Program in the Department of Geography, and courses in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the School of Public Affairs, to be selected in consultation with the student\'s major professor and Supervisory Committee. This area features a particular concentration in urban runoff water quality, watershed-based water quality assessment, and watershed planning and management for water quality protection.", \'Other 12 credits in other areas of concentration are also considered. The student may select an area of concentration that is strongly supported by graduate studies at USF and by one or more faculty members in the Department of Geography. The student should be able to describe how the courses form a coherent area of concentration relevant to his or her scholarly interests, research objectives, and/or career goals, and prepare a brief statement to that effect for the approval of the Graduate Director. The student should then select courses in consultation with his/her major professor and Supervisory Committee.\', \'EVR6920 Thesis Preparation 6\', \'GEO6970 Geographic Research Design 3\', \'GEO6930 Research Colloquium 1\', "The examining committee will be comprised of the student\'s Supervisory Committee.", \'Non-thesis students are required to complete a six-hour long, written, closed book, comprehensive exam, which typically consists of series of questions that are prepared by the examination committee. Students are not allowed any outside materials during the exam, which is to be hand-written on paper supplied by the examination committee.\', \'The exam can be completed during the spring or fall semesters, but not during the summer.\', \'Students are encouraged to complete the exam during the last semester of their coursework. The exam must be completed no later than one semester after the student completes the coursework for the degree. You must be registered for two credits in that semester in the semester that the exam is completed.\', \'All non-thesis examinations will be scheduled for the same day each semester (i.e. all students will sit for the exam at the same time), the date being set by the Graduate Director. Students must coordinate with their major professors when they will take the exam.\', "Questions are solicited and organized by the student\'s major professor in consultation with the student\'s examination committee.", "The answers to the questions are evaluated by the student\'s Supervisory Committee within two weeks of the exam.", \'If the answer to any question is determined to be incorrect or incomplete, the student may be required to retake that portion of the exam in the form of an oral exam that is only open to the committee. Students are encouraged to complete the oral exam in the same semester they completed the first written exam.\', \'If the student fails all portions of the exam, they will have one opportunity to retake the entire exam. This second exam must be completed no later than the semester after the student receives notification that a second exam is necessary.\', \'If it is determined that the student did not successfully complete his/her comprehensive exam after their second attempt, he/she will be dismissed from the program.\', \'The student is required to present his/her thesis research at a public thesis defense.\', "As part of the thesis defense, an oral comprehensive exam is also administered. The defense and oral exam is scheduled and organized by the student\'s major professor, in consultation with the student\'s Supervisory Committee and the Graduate Director.", \'As part of this process, a Presentations Form (available in the department office) needs to be completed one week prior to the defense date.\', \'The exam can be completed only during the spring and fall Semesters.\', \'A copy of the thesis must be made available in the department office one week prior to the defense for public review.\']