Environmental Science
Master of Science Environmental Science (MSES): 45.0 quarter credits
Doctor of Philosophy: 90.0 quarter credits
About the Program
Environmental science is a multidisciplinary field in which we try to understand environmental problems and find solutions to them. This field requires understanding of a number of disciplines.
The program's areas of focus include: ecology, biodiversity, conservation, environmental assessment, and paleoecology-geology. A student may alternatively craft a specialized plan of study outside of these strength areas under the guidance of an academic advisor.
The master's degree may be completed with either a thesis or non-thesis option. Those choosing to prepare a thesis must complete 45.0 credits (up to 12.0 credits may be research). Students choosing the non-thesis option must complete coursework totaling 45.0 credits (6.0 of which may be research). Most courses carry three credits.
Part-time Study
The MS degree may be completed on a part-time basis. Most courses are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening, usually on a rotating basis from year to year. Part-time students should plan to take courses in the appropriate sequence to comply with the necessary prerequisites. Scheduling of course is dependent on student demand and faculty resources; however, most prescribed courses are offered at least once every other year (schedules are published each term). Required courses should be taken at the first opportunity.
Additional Information
For more information, visit the Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science website.
Susan Cole is the Graduate Coordinator for Environmental Science. Susan Cole can be reached by telephone at 215.895.2905 or e-mail at coless@drexel.edu.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general entrance requirements for all applicants, entrance to the MS Program in Environmental Science requires a bachelor of acience degree in science, mathematics, or engineering. Minimally, students must have completed a year each of calculus, general biology, general chemistry, physics, and, preferably, a semester of organic chemistry.
PhD Program
Applicants to the doctoral program are judged on the basis of academic excellence and the alignment of their research interests with those of the faculty in the department. Prospective PhD students are welcome to contact the program to discuss their research interests.
Additional information about how to apply is available on the Graduate Admissions at Drexel University website.
Degree Requirements: MS in Environmental Science
The Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES) program requires three core courses that form the basis for further specialization. Students choose to complete the remainder of the program with elective courses based on interest.
| Core Courses | ||
| ENVS 501 | Chemistry of the Environment | 3.0 |
| ENVS 506 | Biostatistics | 3.0 |
| ENVS 511 | Evolutionary Ecology | 3.0 |
Elective Areas
Please see Course Descriptions for a list of Environmental Science (ENVS) electives. Students may also take Environmental Policy (ENVP) and Environmental Engineering (ENVE) courses with prerequisites. Other departmental courses with approval.
Degree Requirements: PhD in Environmental Science
The following general requirements must be satisfied in order to complete the PhD program in Environmental Science:
- 90.0 (post-bachelor's) or 45.0 (post-master's) quarter credits
- qualifying exam
- establishing a plan of study
- 3 core courses recommended, not required
- additional courses dependent on advisor or committee recommendations
- candidacy exam/approval of dissertation proposal
- dissertation/thesis
- defense of dissertation/thesis
- a graduate research seminar presentation once a year for second, third, and fourth-year students.
Thesis Advisor/Plan of Study
For students admitted without an identified Thesis Advisor, the Thesis Advisor must be selected by the end of Winter term in the first year. All students are asked to submit a Plan of Study (that has been agreed upon by Thesis Advisor and student) by the end of Winter term first year. It is anticipated that the graduate coursework will be completed during the first two years or less. Generally there is no prescribed coursework -- students must take courses needed to complete their research under guidance of an faculty advisor.
Curriculum
The following courses are recommended, but not required:
ENVS 501 Chemistry of the Environment
ENVS 506 Biostatistics
ENVS 511 Evolutionary Ecology
Candidacy Examination
The function of the Candidacy Examination is to test the breadth and the depth of the student's capabilities in their chosen area of study. The graduate student becomes a PhD candidate only after successfully completing the Candidacy Examination and completing 15 or 45 credits (for post-master’s or post-bachelor’s degree students, respectively). The candidacy exam is comprised of three parts whose order will be determined by the Candidacy Committee: written examination (or qualifying exam), dissertation research proposal, and oral examination.
Students entering the program with a master’s degree are expected to complete the candidacy examination by the end of the summer quarter of their first year. Students entering the PhD program with a bachelor’s degree are expected to complete this examination by the end of the summer quarter of their second year.
Thesis/Dissertation and Defense of Thesis/Dissertation
The student will finalize their dissertation only after approval to write is granted by the Dissertation Research Committee. Approval is based upon an evaluation of the breadth and depth of original research being conducted by the student. The dissertation must follow the format specifications set forth in the Drexel’s Office of Research and Graduate Studies. Research conducted for the dissertation must be presented in a lecture open to the public and then defended, privately, before the student's Dissertation Research Committee.
Facilities
Facilities include fully equipped research laboratories in microbiology, ecology, hydrology, and chemistry. Field ecology research augments lab facilities with field-specific equipment, including two boats (14- and 25-foot) and vans with towing capacity. Some additional research facilities in environmental biotechnology and atmospheric engineering are located in other locations on Drexel's campus.
Among the equipment available for student research are atomic absorption spectrophotometers, UV-visible spectrophotometers, gas-liquid chromatographs, ion chromatograph, ICP-Mass Spectrometer, GC-Mass Spectrometer, high performance liquid chromatographs, total organic carbon analyzer with sludge/sediment sampler, high-speed refrigerated centrifuge, ozone generators, and UV photochemical reactor.
Drexel University is a national leader in the use of computers for educational and research functions. Several facilities on campus are available for student use.
Courses
ENVS 501 Chemistry of the Environment 3.0 Credits
Covers principles of physical and organic chemistry applicable to the study and evaluation of environmental conditions, especially the pollution of air, water, and soil (including chemical changes and reactions in the environment).
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 506 Biostatistics 3.0 Credits
Covers measures of biostatistics, including central value and dispersion, sampling and distribution, statistical inference, analysis of variance, regression and correlation, and time series. Emphasizes application.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 511 Evolutionary Ecology 3.0 Credits
Studies the basic principles of evolution and ecology, including natural selection, the ecological niche ecological succession, and the food web, and effects of human activities on ecosystems. Views humans as a species.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 520 Field Methods of Paleoecology 3.0 Credits
This course is based around student participation in an ongoing excavation of a Cretaceous vertebrate fossil locality. Students learn excavation techniques and principles of paleoecology through analyses of collected data. This meets for one full day per week. Transportation provided. May be repeated twice for credit.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 2 times for 6 credits
ENVS 528 Conservation Biology 3.0 Credits
This course will detail the loss of biodiversity and explore related issues, including the theories and practices of conservation biology and the solutions currently being formulated to enhance the preservation of species on our planet. The course will explore potential limitations to these strategies and provide an appreciation of the relevance of ethics, economics and politics to biodiversity conservation while promoting the potential for individual action to influence conservation efforts.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 538 Biodiversity 3.0 Credits
This course explores major patterns of biodiversity that biologists have documented across the planet. The course begins with an overview of major types of biodiversity, focusing on species diversity, and methods for measuring and analyzing biodiversity. Next it explores major patterns of biodiversity that are fundamental to ecology and conservation, and theories for the causes of biodiversity patterns.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 561 Introduction to Hydrology 3.0 Credits
This course offers an introduction to climate and weather, precipitation, evaporation and transpiration, drainage basins and hydrographs.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 564 Animal Behavior 3.0 Credits
The mechanisms, ecology and evolution of the activities of animals in relation to their natural environment. Topics include development and control (neutral and hormonal) of behavior, adaptations for survival, feeding, and predator avoidance, strategies of habitat selection, communication, reproduction, and social behavior.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Corequisite: ENVS 565
ENVS 565 Animal Behavior Laboratory 2.0 Credits
An observational study of the behavior of a captive group of social animals at the Philadelphia Zoo including species selection, background research, ethogram construction, 16 hours of quantified observations, analysis of data and written report. Graduate students supervise weekly assignment review sessions, organize peer review sessions and revise the laboratory manual.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Corequisite: ENVS 564
ENVS 575 Invertebrate Paleontology 4.0 Credits
This course focuses on the evolution of hard-bodied invertebrates from the Cambrian period to today. Topics include taxonomy, taphonomy, biostratigraphy, and paleoecology. Natural selection, functional morphology, extinction and adaption are emphasized. The lab focuses on hands-on fossil identification.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 577 Vertebrate Paleontology 3.0 Credits
This course focuses on the evolution of vertebrates from the Cambrian Period to today. Topics include cartilaginous and bony fishes, amphibians, turtles, crocodiles, pterosaurs, birds, and mammals. Natural selection, cladistics, functional morphology, adaptation and extinction are emphasized.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 582 Field Botany of the New Jersey Pine Barrens 4.0 Credits
This course focuses on plant identification skills that are necessary to conduct scientific botanical surveys. The vascular flora of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, including rare plant species, is emphasized with special reference to habitat and community analyses. Non-vascular species are examined but not emphasized.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 1 times for 5 credits
Prerequisites: ENVR 511 [Min Grade: C] or ENVS 511 [Min Grade: C]
ENVS 583 Ecology of the New Jersey Pine Barrens 4.0 Credits
Course focuses on the ecology of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Students learn field survey methods, identify index species (flora and fauna), perform community analyses, and use equipment for measuring abiotic variables (soil and water). Field exercises focus on key aspects of the regional ecology: fire, soil and water.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: ENVS 511 [Min Grade: C] or ENVR 511 [Min Grade: C]
ENVS 588 Marine Field Methods 4.0 Credits
Course focus is on the ecology of local marine environments. Students learn marine field survey methods, identification of marine organisms, habitat analyses, and use of equipment for measuring abiotic variables. Students sample fish, plankton and invertebrate species aboard the 25 foot Drexel research vessel, Peter Kilham.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: ENVS 511 [Min Grade: C] or ENVR 511 [Min Grade: C]
ENVS 601 Advanced Environmental Chemistry 3.0 Credits
Covers thermodynamic and kinetic principles and their application to the study of chemical changes and reactions in the water or air environments.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: ENVR 501 [Min Grade: C] or ENVS 501 [Min Grade: C]
ENVS 605 Atmospheric Chemistry 3.0 Credits
Introduces the principles of atmospheric physics and photochemical kinetics as a prelude to understanding the atmospheric chemical system. Examines the chemistry of the natural atmosphere to prepare for the understanding of how pollutants interact with natural species. Considers pollution of the stratosphere and the troposphere.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: ENVR 501 [Min Grade: C] or ENVS 501 [Min Grade: C]
ENVS 608 Fate of Pollutants in Air and Water 3.0 Credits
Theoretically delineates the physical and chemical mechanisms that define the fate of a pollutant and applies them to models and environmental systems.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: ENVR 501 [Min Grade: C] or ENVS 501 [Min Grade: C]
ENVS 613 Advanced Population Ecology 3.0 Credits
One of the greatest issues concerning life on Earth and human impact on the planet is whether species will survive or go extinct. This course explores how wild populations change over time and investigates the concepts and quantitative methods used to determine the viability of plant and animal populations.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 614 Advanced Community Ecology 3.0 Credits
Community ecology is the study of how populations of organisms interact with each other and the physical environment. Students will investigate the underlying principles that explain and predict interactions among populations of organisms, and how these principles can be used to conserve and manage wild animal and plant communities.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 624 Microbial Ecology 3.0 Credits
Studies the relationships of microbes with plants, animals, and the environment, both biotic and abiotic components. Examines the key role of microbes in the functioning of ecosystems affecting decomposition, disease, nutrient cycling, and energy flow. Studies these processes and the role of microbes in the natural functions of ecosystems.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: ENVR 516 [Min Grade: C] or ENVS 516 [Min Grade: C]
ENVS 626 Molecular Ecology 3.0 Credits
Through a combination of lecture, discussion, and computational exercises, students will learn how molecular tools have been used to study genetic variation. They will then learn how these studies have provided answers to previously unanswered questions in fields including ecology, evolution, behavior, conservation, and forensics.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 627 Molecular Ecology Laboratory 2.0 Credits
Through a combination of laboratory and computational exercises, students will develop a toolkit for applied molecular studies of ecology and evolution. The course will focus on initiating or continuing a novel research project relating to one of several topics within the field of molecular ecology.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 630 Aquatic Ecology 3.0 Credits
Studies the relationship between aquatic plants and animals and their environment. Introduces the study of the ecology of lakes, rivers, ponds and streams.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 636 Principles of Toxicology I 3.0 Credits
This course reviews general human physiology and the acute and chronic effects of toxicants on physiological mechanisms. Basic principles of dose-response relationships, target organ toxicity, and exposure characterization are incorporated. Students are expected to have had an introductory course in human physiology.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 637 Principles of Toxicology II 3.0 Credits
This course expands upon knowledge gained in Principles of Toxicology I by focusing on the absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion of toxic substances. Current advances in the study of carcinogenesis and mutagenesis are also discussed, as well as toxicological research methods, animal and plant toxins, food toxicology, and pesticides.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: ENVR 636 [Min Grade: C] or ENVS 636 [Min Grade: C]
ENVS 690 Marine Ecology 3.0 Credits
Studies major processes in the marine environment, especially relationships between organisms and the factors that influence their abundance.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 692 Ichthyology and Herpetology 3.0 Credits
Many species of fishes, amphibians and reptiles face extirpation from their former ranges and some face total extinction within our lifetime. This course investigates major regional and global issues concerning viability of these organisms and addresses solutions using concepts of population ecology, community ecology, physiological ecology and conservation biology.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 700 Evolution 3.0 Credits
Covers historical evidence for and principal mechanism of organic evolution, including the origin of life and new groups of organisms in the past and present, and the genetic basis for evolution. Discusses current research in evolutionary biology and ecology.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 708 Environmental GIS 3.0 Credits
This introductory course is technically oriented and will provide a foundational understanding of GIS in an environmental context. Covers GIS principles and practices and applies spatial investigation procedures to analyze geographic data, including mapping and computer systems, attribute and spatial data models, data organization in GIS, GIS data analysis, and future trends for this technology.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 710 Physiological Ecology 3.0 Credits
Examines mechanisms by which physiological factors affect and limit the distribution and abundance of animals, including physiological and behavioral thermoregulation, heat and cold tolerance, acclimation, metabolism, osmoregulation and dehydration tolerance, feeding strategies, digestion and feeding patterns, energy and water budgets, toxins, and optimality theory.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 711 Aquatic Toxicology 3.0 Credits
Applies the principles of toxicology to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Includes applications of laboratory and field tests to evaluate aquatic effects, and methods of data analysis.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 712 Biophysical Ecology 3.0 Credits
Covers energy balances and methods of heat transfer in organisms, including convection, conduction, radiation, evaporation, and metabolism, and stead-state and transient energy balances, including mass balances, water uptake, and evaporation.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 722 Tropical Ecology 3.0 Credits
Covers the ecology of tropical forests, including biogeography, history, current processes, and effects of economic developments of rain forest and dry forest of the Old and New World tropics.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 723 Tropical Field Studies 3.0 Credits
Ecology of tropical rain forests and dry forests. We will explore physical and biological factors that result in formation of these forests, effect of human impacts on these forests, effectiveness of management of these forests and the future of these forests in Costa Rica in the field.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: ENVS 722 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)
ENVS 726 Environmental Assessment 3.0 Credits
Examines the National Environmental Act of 1969 and its implementation according to the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality. Discusses air, water, noise, biological cultural, and socioeconomic impacts. Includes methods of impact analysis and means to compare alternative actions.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 751 Stream Analysis and Pollution Control 3.0 Credits
Covers the ecological response of natural waters to organic and inorganic pollution. Includes mathematical models for the analysis of the water quality of lakes and streams.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: (ENVR 501 [Min Grade: C] or ENVS 501 [Min Grade: C]) and (ENVR 516 [Min Grade: C] or ENVS 516 [Min Grade: C])
ENVS 757 Bioremediation 3.0 Credits
Examines the development of microorganisms and engineering technologies for the remediation of industrial and hazardous wastes. Includes government regulations and use of novel microorganisms.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: (ENVR 616 [Min Grade: C] or ENVS 616 [Min Grade: C]) and (ENVR 624 [Min Grade: C] or ENVS 624 [Min Grade: C])
ENVS 797 Research 20.0 Credits
Requires actual formulation and investigation of a research problem and a written report.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
ENVS 799 Independent Study 9.0 Credits
Provides independent study in environmental science.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
ENVS 864 Graduate Research Seminar 1.5 Credit
The BEES Graduate Research Seminar is a weekly series of scientific presentations by faculty, graduate students and outside speakers. The seminars are opportunities for learning about and discussing ongoing research in the Department and current issues in biodiversity, earth and environmental science.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 865 Special Topics 9.0 Credits
Covers topics of current interest to faculty and students. Specific topics for each term are announced prior to registration. May be repeated for credit if topics vary.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
ENVS 891 Research Methods I 3.0 Credits
Introduces research methods and literature, procedures for the collection and analysis of data, and preparation of technical papers.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
ENVS 898 Master's Thesis 20.0 Credits
Master's thesis.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
ENVS 998 Ph.D. Dissertation 20.0 Credits
Requires each student working on a dissertation to file a written report each term with his or her supervisory committee and the program graduate advisor.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
