Environmental Studies, Accelerated 4+1 BA/MA

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Through the BA+MA in Environmental Studies program, students may complete a BA in Environmental Studies and an MA in Environmental Studies through the Levin College of Urban Affairs in five years, instead of the six academic years normally required of full-time students. High performing undergraduate students may apply to the 5-year program during the third year of undergraduate study and, if accepted, complete MA coursework during the fourth year and a transition term. Students may then complete all remaining MA coursework in two semesters of full-time graduate study.

Degrees Granted

Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Environmental Studies

Additional Information

The five-year B.A.+ M.A. is a fast-track program designed for high-performing undergraduates in the Environmental Studies program. By accelerating the completion of two degrees, students can jumpstart their careers as professionals in environmental management, environmental planning or other related fields.
Admitted 4+1 students follow a set curriculum to ensure proper sequencing of courses. Students may only register for courses after consultation with the designated program advisor. Any student who deviates from the required curriculum risks forfeiture of program eligibility and may return to the conventional BA program.

Admission to program

In addition to meeting the admission requirements for the conventional MA in Environmental Studies program, students applying to the 5-year BA+MA program must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and submit two letters of recommendation from Cleveland State University faculty. Upon successful completion of the fourth year and transition term, students are awarded the BA in Environmental Studies. In order to be admitted to the final year of the BA+MAES Program, students must complete the BA with a cumulative GPA of 3.0, receive grades of B or better in designated coursework, and take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with scores that meet standard MAES admission.

For more information and curriculum plans, please consult the Levin College Office of Student Services, at 216-687-3884.

Students who are accepted for an accelerated 4+1 program may apply or transfer a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours taken while an undergraduate. No additional graduate credit hours taken as an undergraduate may be applied or transferred to the graduate record.

Students submit an application for admission to the BA+MA program through the Levin College advising office.
A complete application is comprised of the 4+1 application form, official Graduate Record Exam scores, and two letters of recommendation from faculty.
Minimum qualifications: 90 hours earned, grade-point average of 3.25 or better, GRE scores at the 40th percentile (verbal and quantitative combined) or higher, and an Analytical Writing score of 4.0 or higher, plus completion of core competencies with grades of B or higher in UST 300, UST 404, UST 436, and CVE 450.

Program Requirements

B.A. Program

Phase I

College Requirements (3 Courses)

UST 200 - Introduction To Urban Studies
UST 404 - Urban Data Analysis
UST 405 - Methods of Research and Evaluation

Major-Field Requirements (14 Courses)

UST 300 - Economics Of Policy Analysis
UST 435 - Environmental Policy & Administration
UST 436 - Urban Sustainability
UST 485 - GIS Principles
UST 489 - Advanced Senior Seminar
UST 553 - Environmental & Sustainability Planning
CVE 450 - Environmental Technology
ENG 509 - Technical Writing
EVS 506 - Ecosystem Science
PHY 570 - Environmental Physics
PHY 221 - College Physics I OR PHY 241 - University Physics I

UST 289 - Physical Geography AND EVS 302 - Biological Features of Ecosystems/EVS 303 - Biological Features of Ecosystems Laboratory
OR
CHM 251 - College Chemistry I/CHM 256 - College Chemistry Laboratory I AND (CHM 255 - Principles of Environmental Chemistry OR CHM 407 - Environmental Toxicology)

Phase II Transition

UST 490 - Urban Internship
UST 516 - Public Sector Economics (4 credits)
UST 540 - Environment and Human Affairs (4 credits)

Note(s):

The B.A. in Environmental Studies is awarded with 120 credit hours earned and completion of all General Education, college and major-field requirements. In order to advance to Phase III, the cumulative GPA must be at least 3.0 with grades of B or better in all 500-level courses.

M.A., Environmental Studies

Phase III

Core (12 Credit Hours)

UST 595 - Environmental Seminar (1 hr.) OR BIO 595 - Environmental Seminar
UST 601 - Applied Quantitative Reasoning I (4 hrs.)
UST 652 - Environmental Policy and Administration (4 hrs.)
LAW 671 - Environmental Law and Regulation (3 hrs.)

Elective (6-8 Credit Hours)

Exit Requirement (4 Credit Hours)

UST 698 - Exit Project

Note(s):

The M.A. in Environmental Studies is awarded upon completion of a minimum of nine graduate courses taken during Phase II (B.A.) and Phase III (M.A.) for a minimum of 30 credit hours. All Graduate College and M.A. in Environmental Studies program rules regarding academic standing and graduation apply.