Admissions | Masters of Environmental Management

MEM students will complete a project with scope and effort similar to a thesis but with more flexibility of topic and design, including in-depth study of an appropriate problem. Typically, MEM students develop a project in consultation with an agency or organization outside the university. 

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

Application Materials

Below is the list of the information and materials you will need to provide as part of your application. We recommend preparing these materials in advance of submitting your application.

• Graduate Advisor: Please note that you cannot be admitted without having found a graduate advisor, so we recommend you begin the search as soon as possible. 
  • After reviewing our faculty directory 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 them 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 for Teaching Assistantships (TA). Please inquire with your potential advisor about opportunities for TAs or Research Assistantships through their research grants. 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.
• Current CV
• Statement of Purpose: In no more than 1,100 words, describe the following:
  • The academic and professional experiences that have prepared you for graduate school. (We recognize that many types of experiences can contribute to an applicant's readiness for graduate study, and encourage you to make clear connections between whatever prior experiences you feel are relevant and your intended next steps.)
  • The professional skills you seek to develop, and the sectors (e.g., government, private, nonprofit) and/or types of projects in which you would most like to gain experience
  • Your career goals for the next 5-10 years
  • The ESM faculty member(s) you would like to work with
  • Any contributions you would make to diversity, equity, and inclusion in environmental science and management
  • Please be as specific as possible, avoiding vague/universal statements (such as descriptions of your desire to learn environmental science and/or management). Note that the statement of purpose is also an opportunity to provide relevant context for any areas of weakness in your application (e.g., a low undergraduate GPA due to working multiple jobs).
• References: Submit contact information for at least three individuals who qualified to assess your promise as a grad student. Portland State University will contact your references and provide them with instructions for submitting recommendation forms.
• Copies of transcripts from each college or university attended
• Proof of English Language Proficiency (if applicable)

Financial Aid and Teaching/Research Assistantships

We have a limited number of Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) each year. These are very competitive and typically go to students with strong academic records. Individual faculty may also have Research Assistantships and should be contacted directly regarding the availability of support. 

In order to be considered for a GTA position, applicants must note their interest on their graduate application. There will be a GTA section provided for applicants to complete. Note, all graduate applications along with interest in being considered for a GTA position are due January 15th. Teaching assistantships are variable but include tuition that covers 9 credit hours of course work (some also include a small stipend). Pay for Research Assistantships varies by project. Academic year Research Assistantships must include tuition, per the Graduate Employee Union contract.

Contact

If you have questions regarding the online application, please contact the Environmental Science & Management department at 503-725-4982 or esmoffice@pdx.edu. You may also contact Graduate Admissions at 503-725-8410 or gradschool@pdx.edu.

If you have questions regarding general program information, please contact the ESM department. If you have more specific questions, you may contact prospective graduate advisors you would be interested in working with, or Dr. Jen Morse, Chair of ESM Graduate Committee at jlm8@pdx.edu.

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