The College of Charleston is the first institution in the Southeast to offer a Master’s program focused on a professional career in environmental and sustainability issues. Starting in fall 2010, the dual Master of Environmental Studies (MES) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) program will prepare students for professional level positions in public organizations that address environmental issues.

The College is among just a handful of institutions nationwide to offer a dual degree. The program will allow students to earn both Master’s degrees in just three years without compromising academic content in either program.

“Research and scholarship on sustainability issues is one of the fastest growing fields across the county,” says Tim Callahan, director of the MES program. “Our urban campus in the rapidly-growing Southeast U.S. makes for an ideal location to study human-environment interactions, such as how systems can function more efficiently and economically. The faculty of the College of Charleston’s Environmental Studies and Public Administration programs have many years experience on how people affect the environment and how environmental change impacts society. Linking our programs around the burgeoning field of sustainability issues will provide our students with unique career opportunities.”

“At a time when the job market is so competitive, people looking to get ahead will need every extra advantage they can get,” says Kendra Stewart, director of the MPA program. “Having dual Master’s degrees in Environmental Studies and Public Administration will provide graduates with both the skills and the credentials to be successful in public and nonprofit organizations dealing with environmental issues.”

The dual MES/MPA requires a minimum of 56 credit hours that include a set of core courses, a series of approved electives and an internship or thesis. Core courses include environmental statistics, case studies in environmental issues, energy production management and finance and personnel administration.

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 Kendra Stewart at 843.953.6691.