Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science
at Florida State University
at Florida State University
***Important Notice for Fall 2022: The university has waived the GRE for MS applicants. ***
The department of Earth Ocean & Atmospheric science is proud to offer both a PhD program and several tracks toward Environmental Science degrees at the masters level.
The PhD program is called Physical Environmental Science, and the Masters Programs are currently in Aquatic Environmental Science. A Physical Environmental Science Program at the MS level is currently being developed.The PhD program in Physical Environmental Science is described in the Oceanography Program Handbook starting on page 9. Click Here for Physical Environmental Science Program described along with the Oceanography Degrees.The PhD program follows the general requirements and patterns of the Oceanography PhD program with a different schedule of classes as listed on page 20
The Aquatic Environmental Science (AQES) degree has several tracks leading to a MS degree.
1. A thesis MS program designed to receive undergraduate science majors. The program requires an MS thesis directed by an EOAS faculty member. These students are generally supported but positions are very limited.
2. A non-thesis track program designed to serve working professionals and undergraduate science majors. The program culminates in a capstone project. These students are not generally supported, but there are many spaces available.
3. A Professional Science Master’s degree for students who are looking for a more MBA-like program.This degree is a non-thesis terminal MS degree with a capstone course that will focus on a project or internship.These students are not generally supported, but there are many spaces available.
4. A joint non-thesis AQES graduate pathway with a the law school, JD/MS. These students are not generally supported but, there are many spaces available.
Aquatic Environmental Science|Professional Science Master’s|Law/Aquatic Environmental Science
EOAS offers three non-thesis MS degree tracks in Aquatic Environmental Science
Program Director
Non-Thesis AES program students are advised by the program director. The director offers guidance regarding course enrollment, progress toward degree, as well as capstone topics.
“The Aquatic Environmental Science Professional Masters degree is the first professional track degree in our department. We are excited about this degree and about the professional masters degrees program. These degrees offer students a non-traditional career path in the expanding opportunities in the geosciences. We plan to add professional master’s degrees in geology and meteorology.” — Dr. Lynn Dudley, Former Chair, Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science.
Students are now able to earn the equivalent of the MBA degree in the sciences with a Professional Science Masters degree.
This innovative program,originally sponsored by Former Dean Nancy Marcus with help from Associate Dean Lois Hawkes and Jennifer Buchanan in the Dean of Faculties office will prepare students for more management-oriented positions. The new major will have increased emphasis on an internship and the students must take 3 “plus” courses. These will be business, project management and communication courses.
The PSM is an innovative new graduate degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training in science or mathematics, while simultaneously developing workplace skills highly valued by employers. PSM programs consist of two years of academic training in an emerging or interdisciplinary area, along with a professional component that may include internships and “cross-training” in workplace skills, such as business, communications, and regulatory affairs. All have been devleoped in concert with employers and are designed to dovetail into present and future professional career opportunities.
This program is an adaptation of the Oceanography MS degree within the Department of Earth, Ocean Atmospheric Science. The PSM-AQES degree is a non-thesis terminal MS degree with a capstone course that will focus on a project or internship. This project or internship for the PSM students will be supervised collaboratively by FSU faculty and outside employers. A committee of outside advisors drawn from environmental consulting and engineering firms, state agencies, and centers has been formed. This group will form the basis of these outside employers.
Former Dean Marcus saw a bright future for this new degree, stating: “The Professional Science Masters degree is a nationally recognized degree type that prepares students to be successful in non-academic science sectors of the workplace, e.g. in industry, government, and non-profit organizations. It combines training in a basic science discipline with training in skills in high demand, e.g. communications, teamwork, and management.”
The Professional Masters Degree in Aquatic Environmental Science will serve as a parallel track to the Aquatic Environmental Science (AQES) MS degree.
To quote the FSU Graduate School “The Professional Science Masters (PSM) is equivalent to the MBA for the sciences and designed to integrate studies of natural sciences, mathematics, management and law to better prepare students for professional positions outside academia. This two-year degree includes four key elements: 1) industry advisory board; 2) in-depth study in a science-driven field; 3) industry internship (or project); and 4) professional development courses intended to emphasize written and oral communications, leadership, business, and team-building skills.”
The PSM AQES program is a non-thesis program and students are not generally supported by the department through teaching and research assistantships.
Joint Graduate Pathway Law and Aquatic Environmental Science/Oceanography
The College of Law and Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sceince (EOAS) joint graduate pathway in Law and Aquatic Environmental Science, J.D./M.A.E.S., permits students to complete both pathways concurrently after receiving prior written approval from the faculty adviser for each pathway for each program. All applicants must have completed or expected have completed a bachelor’s degree prior to Law School matriculation. All applicants who have taken courses in environmental science, biology, or chemistry will be more competitive for admission into the joint pathway.
Students who are applying for admission into the joint pathway, prior to their first year of Law School, will need to apply to each program separately. Additionally applicants are responsible for informing both departments of their desire to pursue a joint pathway. Applicants for the College of Law apply at www.lsac.org. applicants for the M.A.E.S program apply through the Florida State University graduate application portal at http://admissions.fsu.edu/gradapp. Upon admission to both programs, the students should immediately submit a letter of intent and a complete joint pathway application to the Admissions Office of the College of Law.
Students can also begin their study at the College of Law, and then apply for both the M.A.E.S program and the joint the way once enrolled for their first year in the Law program. Upon admission, they may concurrently take courses in both Law and aquatic environmental science. applicants desiring pursue the joint pathway in this fashion must submit all necessary documentation and the joint pathway application to the Admissions Office of the College of Law by May 15th of their first year in the Law program.
Applicant should contact the EOAS department directly to obtain the specific information on the necessary GRE requirements. EOAS may waive the GRE requirements based on the applicants LSAT score.
Application Checklist
Advisor: Jimmy Pastrano
(EOAS 3008C)
Email: jpastrano@fsu.edu
Phone: (850) 644-7443
University deadlines may differ. Please refer to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions for University deadlines. You are advised to submit your application and supporting materials at least three months in advance of the semester you wish to enter. You may apply later than these department guidelines, but there are less likely to be openings available.