Master of Science in Environmental Studies (Sciences)

Address today's environmental challenges with your Master's in Science (M.S.) in Environmental Studies with options in Atmospheric Science or Environmental Geoscience.

At a Glance

Flexibility

Part Time | Full Time
Delivery Options

On Campus
Degree

MS

MS in Environmental Studies

Options in Atmospheric Science and Environmental Geoscience

With UMass Lowell's Master of Science in Environmental Science, you will gain the knowledge and practical skills needed to address issues related to the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere.

Choose an option to align your degree with your academic interests and career goals.

Atmospheric Science Option — Designed for students interested in weather forecasting, atmospheric pollution, wind energy and related topics. In addition to courses in meteorology and atmospheric sciences, the curriculum includes requirements in environmental policy, economics, energy and the environment.
Environmental Geoscience Option — Designed for students to gain knowledge and skills to conduct research and act as consultants in environmental sciences and geosciences. Courses are distributed across two areas – Policy/Economics and Environmental Geoscience.

Interested in an engineering focus area? Visit our M.S. in Environmental Studies, Environmental Engineering Studies Option.

Program Quick Facts

GRE Not Required
Scholarships & Financial Aid Available
STEM-Designated Degree Program
F1 Visa Eligible

Environmental Studies Curriculum

The M.S. in Environmental Studies is a 30-credit master's degree with an optional thesis. Numerous opportunities for experiential learning in the field are available.

This is a 30-credit program.

Area I. Policy / Economics (choose 1)
Course Number	Course Name	Credits
PUBH.5500	Environmental Law and Policy	3
ECON.6150	Environment and Natural Resources Economics	3
ENVI.5200	Methods in Environmental Impact Assessment and Analysis	3
Total		3

Area II. Core Courses
Course Number	Course Name	Credits
Total		9
ATMO.5010	Boundary Layer Meteorology	3
ATMO.5080	The Climate System	3
ATMO.5100	Regional Weather and Climate Modeling	3

Area III. Elective Courses (Select 4 from either IIIA or IIIB - 12 credits)
Course Number	Course Name	Credits
Total		12
XXXX.XXXX	Course from IIIA or IIIB listed below	3
XXXX.XXXX	Course from IIIA or IIIB	3
XXXX.XXXX	Course from IIIA or IIIB	3
XXXX.XXXX	Course from any area III	3

IIIA. Atmospheric Science

ATMO.5020 Advanced Synoptic Meteorology (3 credits)
ATMO.5030 Remote Sensing (3 credits)
ATMO.5110 Solar Terrestrial Relations (3 credits)
ATMO.5150 Atmospheric Structure and Dynamics (3 credits)
ATMO.5160 Mesoscale Atmospheric Dynamics (3 credits)
ATMO.5240 Simple Atmospheric Models (3 credits)
ATMO.5290 Advanced Forecasting (3 credits)
ATMO.5400 Tropical Meteorology (3 credits)
ATMO.5500 Satellite & Radar Meteorology (3 credits)
ATMO.7330 Master's Research in Atmospheric Science (1-6 credits)
GEOL.5010 Paleoclimatology (3 credits)

IIIB. Energy and Environment

ATMO.5230 Air Pollution Control (3 credits)
ATMO.5710 Air Pollution (3 credits)
ATMO.6740 Air Quality Modeling (3 credits)
ENVI.5720 Energy and Environment (3 credits)
PUBH.6191 Measurement of Chemical Exposures (3 credits)
MECH.5210 Solar Fundamentals (3 credits)
MECH.5810 Advanced Fluid Mechanics (3 credits)
RADI.5240 Environmental Health Physics (3 credits)

Other Appropriate graduate level courses within or outside the department may be substituted for the above with the approval of the student's advisor and the Graduate Coordinator or designee.

Area III. (Select 1)
Course Number	Course Name	Credits
Total		6
Total Credits = 30 credits
ATMO.7430	Thesis Track: Master's in Atmospheric Science Thesis	1-6
XXXX.XXXX Non Thesis Track: 2 courses from any Area III 6

This is a 30-credit program.

Area I. Policy / Economics (Elect 1)
Course Number	Course Name	Credits
Total		3
ENVI.5200	Methods in Environmental Impact Assessment and Analysis	3
PUBH.5500	Environmental Law and Policy	3
ECON.6150	Environmental and Natural	3

Area II. Environmental Geoscience (Elect 6)
Course Number	Course Name	Credits
Total		18
XXXX.XXXX	Choose from the list below	3

Additional Credits
Course Number	Course Name	Credits
Total		9
XXXX.XXXX	Elective from any Area (Elect 1)	3
XXXX.XXXX	Thesis (6 credits) OR 2 courses from the above Areas for the non-thesis pathway	6

Elective List

ENVI.5000 Graduate Seminar
ENVI.5040 Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
ENVI.5100 Environmental Pollution
ENVI.5160 Climate Change: Science, Communication, and Solutions
ENVI.5180 Climate Change: Science, Communication, and Solutions Lab (1 cr)
ENVI.5720 Energy & Environment
GEOL.5010 Paleoclimatology
GEOL.5020 Quantitative Geomorphology
GEOL.5100 New England Geology
GEOL.5150 Topics in Environmental Geochemistry
GEOL.5130 Exploring the Solar System
GEOL.5200 Structural Geology
GEOL.5220 Structural Geology Laboratory (1 credit)
GEOL.5250 Groundwater Modeling
GEOL.5310 Isotopes in Environmental and Geosciences
GEOL.5560 Applied Geophysics
GEOL.5580 Advanced Geochemistry
GEOL.5930 Special Topics in Environmental Geoscience
GEOL.7310 Master's Research in Environmental Geoscience
ATMO.5010 Boundary Layer Meteorology
ATMO.5050 Atmospheric Measurements and Data Analysis
ATMO.5080 The Climate System
CIVE.5310 Advanced Soil Mechanics
CIVE.5610 Physical and Chemical Treatment Process
CIVE.5620 Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology
CIVE.5670 Environmental Aquatic Chemistry
CIVE.5680 Environmental Fate and Transport
CIVE.5690 Micropollutants in the Environment
CIVE.5720 Marine and Coastal Processes
CIVE.5730 Solid Waste Engineering
CIVE.5780 Biological Wastewater Treatment
CIVE.5950 Hazardous Waste Site Remediation
ENVS.5010 Wetlands Ecology
RADI.5240 Environmental Health Physics

Any other GEOL or ENVI course at the 5000-8000 level can be taken. Course of relevance in the other departments may be accepted with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator.

*Up to 9 credits of coursework may be taken in other departments. The sum of core and elective courses must total at least 30 credits.

Total Credits = 30

Last updated: 6/25/20

Why Study Environmental Studies at UMass Lowell?

Hands-on Research

Gain a competitive edge by conducting research with faculty in forecasting, climate modeling, hydrology, surface processes or geochemistry/petrology.

Christopher Skinner points at the pyranometer.

Laboratories & Resources

UMass Lowell has a range of laboratories and resources for teaching and research, including the UMass Lowell Weather Station; fully equipped weather, environmental geoscience and modern gamma ray spectroscopy laboratories; a research reactor; ground-penetrating radar equipment and extensive rock, mineral and fossil collections.

Environmental Studies Career Outlook

+6%

Projected new job growth in environmental scientist careers
(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)
$102,700

Average salary for environmental scientists
(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)

Environmental Science student Abraham Mudoola harvests peppers on O’Leary Library rooftop garden at UMass Lowell.

Where Our Graduates Work

NOAA National Weather Service
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Energy
United States Geological Survey
Environmental consulting firms
Teachers at local high schools
MIT Lincoln Labs

Tuition and Admissions

Eligible students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial assistance.

Complete the FAFSA

View Estimated Annual Tuition and Fees for the 2025 - 2026 Academic Year

As a graduate student, you may qualify for federal student aid and other need-based scholarships. To be considered for financial assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more at UMass Lowell Graduate Aid.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and certain eligible non-citizens. Please visit Financial Aid if you have questions about your eligibility.

Application:
- Summer 2025-Spring 2026,
- Summer 2026-Spring 2027
Application Fee: $50
Statement of Purpose: Outline goals, experience and achievements (maximum 2 pages).
Letters of Recommendation: Two (2) for master's, three (3) for doctoral applicants.
Transcripts: You may apply with unofficial transcripts, but if accepted, official transcripts are required. We do not accept opened, photocopied, emailed PDFs or faxed official transcripts.
Test Scores: UMass Lowell’s school code is 3911. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are only required for the following programs:
- Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science,
- Medical Physics and Radiological Sciences.
- Some programs will waive the test score requirements under certain conditions.

All materials must be received before your application is reviewed. To add documents before review, log in and select “Program Materials.”

Chemistry and Polymer Science Ph.D. Applicants

All required documents are due to the Office of Graduate Admissions by February 15 for full Fall consideration. Applications received after this date will be reviewed for the next semester.

International Applicants

A transcript evaluation is required for the M.S. in Biological Sciences and Ph.D. in Applied Biology.

International transcripts must indicate completion of a four-year bachelor’s degree (equivalent of an American bachelor's degree) before an application will be processed. The Office of Graduate Admissions reserves the right to have any application credentials evaluated. Baccalaureate verification may be obtained for a fee from:

English proficiency is required. If English is not your country’s national language, please submit one of the following scores:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 79+
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5+
Duolingo: 115+
ASC English: Level 6+
Pearson Test of English (PTE): 53+

Please note:

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is not required.
Statement of Purpose: EEAS recognizes that students have encountered hardships and barriers that may have impacted their academic performance. We welcome all prospective students to address these in their Statement of Purpose.
Applications for the Master of Science (MS) in Environmental Studies, Atmospheric Science and Environmental Geoscience Options, are accepted year round, but it is recommended that completed application be submitted several months before expected matriculation.

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At a Glance

MS in Environmental Studies