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College of Science

Environmental Science MS

Admissions

Applications are due on February 1 for the upcoming Fall semester program start date. 

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please do not hesitate to contact us.

How to apply

All applications and supporting documents, except for unofficial transcripts, are submitted through Cal State Apply, an online application portal used by All CSU campuses. Please see the Cal State Apply Application Guide for frequently asked questions.

Undergraduate preparation

The M.S. in Environmental Science is a graduate degree program in the Department of Applied Environmental Science (AES). The program accepts students from a wide range of related undergraduate majors, provided they have a strong scientific and quantitative background including significant upper division coursework. 

A bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required. Applicants with a strong application and a GPA of 2.75 to 2.99 may be considered under exceptional circumstances if their GPA in their final two years of undergraduate or postgraduate studies is above 3.0. Regardless of undergraduate major, the following minimum prerequisite requirements & coursework must be completed by the times indicated below for admission to the graduate program. 

  • A science degree OR completion of significant upper-division science coursework.  
  • Calculus. 1 course (not including pre-calculus); must be completed BEFORE enrolling in the fall.
  • Statistics. 1 course; college statistics for science majors (preferably using R statistical software); must be completed BEFORE enrolling in the fall.
  • Biology. 1 course; college biology for science majors (e.g., ecology, botany, population biology, ecosystems); must be completed BEFORE enrolling in the fall.
  • Physical Earth Science. 1 course for science majors (e.g., geology, soils, geomorphology, hydrology, oceanography); must be completed BEFORE enrolling in the fall.
  • GIS. 1 college-level GIS course or basic ESRI ArcGIS certification; may be completed during fall semester of the first year in the program.
  • Economics. 1 course (e.g., microeconomics, environmental and natural resource economics); may be completed during fall or spring semesters of the first year in the program.

Conditional Admission

Applicants who lack any of these required courses may be accepted for conditional admission. Applicants should outline in their Statement of Purpose how they plan to complete all missing requirements in the appropriate time frame.

Required application documents

The following documents must be submitted during the application process:

CV/Resume: uploaded through Cal State Apply

Transcripts: All original, final (graded) transcripts must be submitted directly to our Admissions Office by February 1, 2024 (for Fall 2024 admission). The address for electronic transcripts is admprocessing@csumb.edu. The address for paper transcripts is:

Graduate Admissions
Office of Admissions
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA  93955

Recommendation packets: submitted online through Cal State Apply. Three letters of recommendation are required from individuals who can speak to your ability to succeed in a rigorous master of science program. At least one of these letters should be from current or former college or university faculty familiar with your academic performance and relevant experience.

Statement of Purpose: submitted online through Cal State Apply. Your Statement of Purpose should clearly identify potential faculty advisors and provide details on:

  • Your professional goals and how they are aligned with the Environmental Science MS program;
  • Your particular area of specialization within the Environmental Science MS program (including requested degree track and emphasis) and reasons for wanting to pursue a M.S. degree in this area;
  • Your past academic work as it relates to your desired area(s) of study;
  • Any additional research or professional experience that may assist the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study.
  • Any additional steps you are taking to meet program prerequisites.

*GRE scores will not be required for this academic year. For following years, please check back later for updates.

Contacting potential advisors

Direct communication with potential faculty mentors is a key component of the application decision process for both PSM and Thesis applicants. We strongly encourage prospective students to visit our faculty directory and read about their areas of interest and ongoing research. Once you are familiar with their areas of specialty, please email professors to set up a time to either talk on the phone or meet with them here on campus.

Out-of-state students

Out-of-state students may be eligible for in-state tuition rates. ENSCI is a member of the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). WRGP is a tuition-reciprocity arrangement coordinated through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) that enables students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming to enroll at CSUMB and pay the resident tuition rate, instead of the nonresident rate that an out-of-state student would normally pay. See our Funding web page for more details.

International students

Please visit the International Programs website to make sure you meet all the requirements for international students.

Financial Aid Information

For priority consideration to receive financial aid, submit a Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All applicants are encouraged to submit a FAFSA application regardless of their application status.

Please visit CSUMB's Financial Aid Website for additional information on financial aid, FAFSA, and scholarships.

To help determine the costs associated with this program, take a look at CSUMB's Cost Calculator.

Funding

Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships

Frequently Asked Questions about Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships

Scholarships

All current and prospective CSUMB students are encouraged to complete a CSUMB Scholarship Application. Applications will be open in mid-fall.

Office of Graduate Studies and Research 

The Office of Graduate Studies and Research has all the information you need to succeed as a graduate student at CSUMB. Their website offers resources on paying for the admissions process, graduate school, activities around Monterey County, housing, campus resources, and overall support.

Contact

Your success is important to us. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the Environmental Science MS program or the application process, please contact Kierra Rambonga, Graduate Student Services Coordinator (krambonga@csumb.edu).