Academic Catalog 2025-2026 Edition

Environmental Science (M.S.)

The Water SchoolDepartment of Marine & Earth Sciences

Website: https://www.fgcu.edu/thewaterschool/departments/mes/enviroscims/

(239) 590-7197

Program Admission Requirements

Admission to the Environmental Science (MS) program is competitive and selective. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements for consideration may not necessarily be admitted into the program.

  • Submit an FGCU Graduate Admissions Application and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
  • Earned baccalaureate degree from an institution that maintains accreditation by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting body (https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation) or equivalent foreign institution in a field relevant to the field of research the applicant wishes to conduct.
  • A curriculum vitae 1-3 pages in length listing your academic and professional experience.
  • A statement of purpose including your academic goals, career goals, and your research interests. It is strongly recommended that the statement of purpose identify a faculty mentor that you have discussed a potential project with and who has encouraged you to apply. The statement of purpose should be 1-2 pages in length.
  • Official copies of all undergraduate transcripts with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for the last 60 semester hours of upper division undergraduate coursework. GPA from previous graduate coursework (if any) may also be taken into consideration.
  • Official scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test (GRE Subject Test is not required).  Interquartile scores for students recently admitted to the program are available at: https://www.fgcu.edu/thewaterschool/departments/mes/enviroscims/. There is no minimum score requirement.
  • International students must demonstrate English language proficiency in accordance with University regulation.
  • At least three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and research potential.
  • Completion of the following is preferred but not required:
    • General Ecology
    • Introductory Statistics

Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements

  • Earn a minimum of 36 credit hours.
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework in the program.
  • Provide one signed, bound copy of the student's thesis to the Department of Marine & Earth Sciences.
  • Each student must have a Graduate Committee composed of a minimum of three individuals, two of whom must be part of the graduate faculty in The Water School.
  • Submit an application for graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
  • A maximum of 9 credits of course work may be transferred from other institutions or from pre-degree enrollment at FGCU, if those courses are appropriate to the program of study. These are subject to approval of the Program Coordinator.
  • Earn more than 50% of the credits through FGCU.
  • Students must register for a minimum of one credit during the semester in which they apply for graduation.
  • Submit one electronic copy of the completed thesis to ProQuest. Refer to the Graduate Studies website for guidelines.