Enrollment Requirements

All potential Environmental Dynamics students will apply to the Graduate School for admission, and must meet all Graduate School requirements. In addition, the ENDY program may require additional information to determine the appropriateness and suitability of applicants for advanced study and research leading to the Masters or Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Dynamics.

Applicants may have earned a bachelors or master's degree in an environmental field such as:

  • Anthropology,
  • Geography,
  • Geology,
  • Biological Science, or other allied subjects prior to admission into the ENDY program.

Further, applicants should have at least

  • A 3.2 GPA in graduate courses
  • Satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (this has been temporarily suspended due to the COVID pandemic)
    NOTE: applicants with GRE verbal + quantitative scores less than 300 are rarely funded.

All applicants are on an equal footing with regard to placement and funding within the Environmental Dynamics program and admission into the Environmental Dynamics program is by committee evaluation.

The program of study is designed with the expectation that the student will complete a minimum of 24 hours of course work beyond the master's level. There are four required courses (12 credit hours) including:

  • ENDY 6013: Environmental Dynamics
  • ENDY 5113: Global Change
  • ENDY 5053: Quaternary Environments
  • ENDY 6033: Society and Environment.

Additionally, students are required to take three semesters of ENDY 6991: Colloquium—this does not count towards the required 24 hours of coursework. In consultation with a student’s advisory committee, they shall select another 12 hours of coursework to fit their individual needs.

An additional 18 hours of dissertation research beyond the 24 hours of course work are also required. Dissertations in the ENDY program are based on original, innovative ideas and are expected to contribute significantly to knowledge of human interactions within the environment.

Students entering with a bachelor's degree are required to take an additional 30 credit hours decided on in direct consultation with their committee.

Student wishing to terminate with a Master's degree are required to take a total of 30 credit hours including the 12 hours of required core classes and one colloquium (which does not count toward the 30 hour).

For more information on policies and procedures of the ENDY program, view the ENDY Handbook.