Enviromental Science and Technology
(ENST)
Abstract
The Department of Environmental Science and Technology (ENST) offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. ENST students can choose to work within one of four specializations: Soil and Watershed Sciences, Ecological Technology Design, Wetland Science, or Ecosystem Health and Natural Resource Management.
Admissions Information
Students seeking admission should have strong training in the basic sciences and mathematics. To be admitted with full admission status, a student must have completed a minimum of one semester of Calculus and a total of at least 20 credits in some combination of Chemistry, Physics, Biology or Mathematics (beyond Calculus I). It is also helpful for applicants to have completed other courses in science and engineering. Applicants to the M.S. program must have earned a B.S. degree in a related field with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants to the Ph.D. degree program must have earned an M.S. Degree in a closely related field. In special cases students may be admitted to a Ph.D. program without first completing an M.S. degree provided these students have: 1) an exceptional academic record and test scores; and 2) have demonstrated significant research experience during their B.S. program (such as completion of a research based honors thesis.) Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE - General Test) are required of all applicants. International applicants must also submit TOEFL scores.
Application Deadlines
Type of Applicant Fall Spring Domestic Applicants; US Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials; International Applicants seeking admissions under A, E, G, H, I and L visas and immigrants
Deadline: January 15
Preferred: January 1Deadline: August 15
International Applicants seeking admission under F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas
Deadline: January 15
Preferred: January 1Deadline: June 1
Application Requirements
- GRE General Test
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
Degree Requirements
Master of Science (M.S.)
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Graduate School Requirements: To earn an M.S. degree, the University of Maryland Graduate School requires that a student to complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate level classes (400 lever or above) beyond the B.S. degree, plus an additional six hours of thesis research credit (799). Of the 24 hours required in graduate courses, at least 12 must be earned in a major area and a minimum of 12 credit hours must be 600 level or above. Defense of a thesis based on the student's research is required for the degree.
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ENST Departmental Core Requirements: All ENST M.S. students are required to complete ENST 602 and 702, two semesters of Graduate Seminar (ENST 798), and one graduate level statistics course.
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Specialization Requirements: The Soil and Watershed Sciences specialization requires that M.S. students complete a total of twelve credits of graduate level soil science courses among any four of the following five areas: soil chemistry, soil physics, pedology, soil biology, soil fertility. The Ecological Technology Design specialization requires that M.S. students complete a total of twelve credits of graduate level courses that have been approved by the student's advisory committee. Six credits must be in ecology and six credits must be in ecological design or related engineering courses. The Wetland Science specialization requires that M.S. students complete a total of twelve credits from a list of approved graduate level courses . A minimum of three credits must be earned from each of these groups: Ecology, Soil Science, Hydrology; the Ecosystem Health and Natural Resource Management specialization requires that students complete a total of twelve credits from graduate level courses approved by their advisory committee. Students are required to take ENST604 (3 credits) and 9 additional credits in Ecosystem Health and Natural Resource Management.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
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Graduate School Requirements: To earn an Ph.D. degree, the University of Maryland Graduate School requires that the student complete a minimum of 12 credits of dissertation research (899) and complete and successfully defend a dissertation based on original research.
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ENST Departmental Core Requirements: All ENST Ph.D. students are expected to complete a minimum of 50 credits beyond the B.S. degree (in addition to research credits 898 and 899) and are required to complete ENST 602, 702 and two graduate level statistics courses (these can be taken during either the M.S. or Ph.D. program), and two semesters of Graduate Seminar (ENST 798).
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Specialization Requirements: ENST Ph.D. students are expected to have completed all of the M.S. requirements for the particular specialization chosen. In addition to having met the M.S. requirements, the Soil and Watershed Sciences specialization requires that Ph.D. students complete one semester of graduate level physical chemistry or biochemistry and one additional graduate level course in chemistry, biochemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, or computer science; the Ecological Technology Design specialization requires that Ph.D. students complete one semester of graduate level systems modeling, and one additional graduate level course in ecology, ecological design or ecological engineering; the Wetland Science specialization requires that Ph.D. students complete one graduate level course in modeling, and two additional graduate level courses from within the areas of Ecology, Soil Science, or Hydrology; the Ecosystem Health and Natural Resource Management specialization requires Ph.D. students to complete three additional graduate level courses in Ecosystem Health and Natural Resource Management.
Facilities and Special Resources
The Department has many well-equipped laboratories designed to carry out basic and applied research in Soil and Watershed Sciences, Ecological Technology Design and Wetland Science. Laboratories are located on the College Park campus in H.J. Patterson Hall and the ANSC/AGEN Building. New state-of-the-art greenhouse facilities on campus and a statewide network of research and education centers as well as our proximity to Chesapeake Bay provide access to a wide range of environmental conditions for research. Students have access to computer resources in the department and a comprehensive computer center located on campus. The University Libraries on campus and the National Agricultural Library located nearby, supplemented by the Library of Congress, make the library resources accessible to students among the best in the nation. Many ENST projects are conducted in cooperation with other departments on campus and with professionals at various scientific centers in the area. Scientists at the USDA-ARS, US Geological Survey, the National Academy of Sciences, NASA, National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, Smithsonian, and National Park Service, as well as other agencies, have cooperated with ENST faculty on various projects. Scientists from some of these agencies have adjunct appointments in the Department, have taught special courses at the University, and participate on graduate committees.
Financial Assistance
ENST offers a number of graduate assistantships to qualified applicants that are awarded on a competitive basis. To apply, use the form for requesting financial assistance included in the Graduate School application packet. In addition to a competitive stipend, graduate assistants receive tuition remission and are offered excellent health benefits by the University of Maryland.
Contact Information
ENST Grad. Pgm. Admin. Asst./Tina Scites
Dept. Environmental Science and Technology, 1426 An.Sci./Ag.Eng. Bldg.,
University of Maryland, College Park
MD
20742
Telephone: 301-405-1198
Fax: 301-314-9023
tscites@umd.edu
http://www.enst.umd.edu/graduate/index.cfm
ENST Director of Graduate Studies/Dr. Martin C. Rabenhorst
Dept. Environmental Science and Technology, 1109 H.J. Patterson Hall,
University of Maryland, College Park,
MD
20742
Telephone: 301-405-1343
Fax: 301-314-2763
gradstudies-enst@umd.edu
http://www.enst.umd.edu/graduate/index.cfm