Prospective Grad Students

Introduction

The Environmental Science and Management (ESM) program at Portland State University offers a Master of Science degree, a Master of Environmental Management degree, a Peace Corps Masters International in Environmental Management degree and a School of the Environment ESR PhD degree. In addition, the program offers a Graduate Certificate of Hydrology.

For more information about the application process, please review the Frequently Asked Questions.

For general information regarding Graduate Assistantships, please click here. Please consult with your potential advisor for information regarding specific assistantships available through the ESM department.

Thinking of Applying to Graduate School in Environmental Science? If you are considering getting a graduate degree in environmental science, this is a great guide to read before making your final decision.

Admission Requirements

Prospective doctoral applicants click here for application deadline and requirements.

PhD APPLICANTS SHOULD NO LONGER APPLY THROUGH THE ESM DEPARTMENT.

Application deadline for the ESM Masters degree program is Fall 2012 is February 1, 2012. (Note: applications must be postmarked no later than 5:00 pm on February 1)  No exceptions are permitted except occasionally for PhD applicants. Please note that this is a departmental deadline; the application for PSU in general is not the same.

Admission requirements include a science-based baccalaureate degree or equivalent training and evidence of course work in biology, chemistry, geology, physics and mathematics (including calculus). All applicants must pre-identify a major advisor (see info regarding this below).

The department application includes the following components:

1. Statement of interest (including professional interests and career goals).
2. Departmental Application Form (Note: this form is embedded in the general university application packet)
3. Current resume or CV.
4. Copies of transcripts of college and university work.
5. Three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess the applicant's promise as a grad student (no departmental form is required). It is preferred that applicants have their letters mailed directlly to them in a sealed envelope to be included along with the remaining application materials.
6. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) aptitude test scores (general GRE test acceptable).  A satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for international students.
7. Identification of potential advisor (see "Finding a Major Professor" listed below)
8. Teaching Assistant/Graduate Assistantship Application (optional)

Please mail ALL of the above to:

Additionally, formal acceptance into the University's graduate program requires students to submit to the Graduate Admissions Office:

1. A PSU graduate application and
2. Official transcripts of all college and university course work

ESM informs the Admissions Office when students are accepted.

Students with deficiencies in particular areas can be admitted as post-baccalaureate students or with departmental conditions which must be satisfied within the first one or two quarters after admission.

International Student Admissions:

For more information regarding international student admissions, please visit International Admissions.

Finding a Major Professor

Selecting a major professor to mentor you through your studies at PSU is one of the most vital steps in the graduate school process. Your major professor will help you plan your courses, guide you with your research, and serve as one of your committee members. Please note that you cannot be admitted without having found a major professor, so we recommend you begin the search as soon as possible.

You can find a list of ESM faculty and their interest areas under the People tab on our website. After reviewing the list and identifying who has interest areas similar to your own, you should contact them via email. Let them know what you are interested in studying and how your interests and their research are related. It is also good to ask if they know other professors working in your area of interest that you might contact.

When making an initial contact with a prospective advisor, it is recommended that you email him/her a copy of your CV and include a paragraph or two about your interest areas and how you see them aligning with those of the faculty member.  If you do not receive a response within a week or so, try emailing again or calling. If you still don't hear a response, it is likely because the faculty member does not feel it is a good match.

When you find professors that you would like to work with, you will probably discuss funding sources. The ESM Graduate Program has limited funding and very few Teaching Assistantships (TA) or Graduate Assistantships (GA) available. Most students have funding through their major professor or through private sources. The Financial Aid office is a good source of information for funding your graduate studies.

Questions to Consider before Choosing a Major Professor