Environmental Sciences and Health, M.S.

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to allow the student an opportunity to design a curriculum to meet his or her disciplinary interests and professional aspirations. 

Outcomes include:

• a broad and deep factual and theoretical understanding of their area of specialization,
  
• awareness of modern research methods and technology,
  
• ability to independently design experiments to study scientific hypothesis, interpret experimental results, present their work through effective scientific communication,
  
• understand the societal and scientific significance of their work, and possess professional character as illustrated by their ethical behavior, continued educational pursuits and commitment to health and protection of the environment. 

Contact Information

University of Nevada, Reno
Environmental Sciences and Health Graduate Program
School of Public Health, Mail Stop 274
1664 North Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557
Dr. Wei Yang, Professor

Program Director
(775) 682-7094
weiyang@unr.edu

Graduate Handbook *

Admissions Requirement

Admissions Deadline

If you miss the admission deadline and would like to enroll in graduate special coursework that could be applied to the M.S. or PhD degree please contact Dr. Wei Yang at weiyang@unr.edu.

Admissions Requirements

A degree in a related science is desirable including courses in calculus, chemistry, physics, biology and health sciences. Applicants to the Environmental Sciences and Health Graduate Program for the Ph.D. degree must have

1) An undergraduate and/or Master GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale;

2) GRE score is not required, however, it is encouraged to provide GRE scores for those who are seeking an assistantship.  

3) International students need to meet one of the following Minimum score requirements:

• Duolingo: 115
• TOEFL: 79 IBT (including Home Edition and Paper Edition) or 8.5 (Essentials)
• IELTS: 6.5 (academic version)
• Pearson: (PTE): 59
• Cambridge: 176

3) Three letters of recommendation;

4) A letter stating goals and choice of disciplinary interest,

5) Documentation from an Environmental Sciences and Health faculty member who agrees to serve as your advisor. 

I. Program Requirements

M.S. students are required to complete a thesis (Plan A) or a professional paper (Plan B). Plan A students must complete at least 30 units in acceptable graduate courses, including 6 units for the thesis. Plan B students must complete at least 30 units in acceptable graduate courses, including 3 units for the professional paper.

• At least 12 units in the program must be at the 600-level.
• At least 9 units for thesis and 12 units for non-thesis in the program must be at the 700-level.
• At least 18 units must be earned in on-campus courses at the university.
• As many as three units of satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grade, including transfer are acceptable.
• Any transfer of credits from another institution must be recommended in the program of study by the advisory/examining committee and must be officially accepted by the Graduate School.
• As many as nine graduate units completed prior to admission to graduate standing may be applied toward the master’s degree.

All requirements for the master’s degree must be satisfied within the period of six years immediately preceding the granting of the degree.

II. Program Total Hours (35 units)

Undergraduate Prerequisites/Notes

A degree in a related science is desirable including courses in calculus, chemistry (organic chemistry), biology and physics. Upon admission to the Environmental Sciences Program and prior to beginning classes, each student and faculty advisor will design the academic course work for the first year. By the conclusion of the first year, the student in collaboration with their advisory committee will develop the rest of the program of study.

* Curriculum requirements in the catalog supersede the Graduate handbook.