Saturday, December 15, 2012 will mark an important milestone for the Graduate School of the College of Charleston, as it honors the first graduating class of the dual Master of Science in Environmental Studies (MES) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. The graduates started in fall 2010 with aspirations of holding professional level positions in public organizations that address environmental issues.
Research and scholarship on sustainability issues is one of the fastest growing fields in the country, and the College is the first institution in the Southeast to offer such a program. “There are only a handful of graduate programs in the country that offer the unique value of aligning environmental sciences with program and policy management,” says MPA Program Director Jo Ann Ewalt. “We are meeting the needs of employers who are looking for graduates with the scientific expertise along with the ability to manage programs, develop and implement policy, and manage people.”
MES Program Director Tim Callahan agrees. “These students are graduating with the knowledge of environmental science and policy and how to manage organizations, allowing them to navigate an increasingly complex landscape,” he says. “We look forward to seeing their success as leaders in government and nonprofit agencies, as well as in private enterprises.”
The Environmental Studies and Public Administration dual program requires a minimum of 56 credit hours and allows students to earn both Master’s degrees in just three years without compromising academic content in either program. The program includes a set of core courses, a series of approved electives and an internship or thesis. Students with any bachelor’s degree are encouraged to apply as long as coursework has been completed in biology (two courses with labs), chemistry (two courses with labs), statistics (one course) and American government (one course). Students currently enrolled in either the MES or MPA program are eligible to apply to the new dual program.
For more information, contact Tim Callahan at 843.953.2002 or callahant@cofc.edu or Jo Ann Ewalt at 843-953-6697 or ewaltjg@cofc.edu.
