What you need for the Master’s in Earth & Environment
Coursework
Students must complete 32 credits at the graduate level (8 courses at the 500-level or above). Students select their courses in consultation with their primary advisor and based on their previous experience, general scientific interests, needs for training, and goals for their original research.
A few courses popular among recent MA students include:
- EE 505 GIS
- Provides a theoretical and practical introduction to geographic information systems. Introduces the essentials in GIS, methods of data capture and sources of data, nature and characteristics of spatial data and objects, data structures, modeling surfaces, volumes and time, and data uncertainty. Emphasis is on applications.
- EE 516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers
- Applications of multivariate techniques to problems in spatial context, emphasizing interpretation. Review of regression and analysis of variance. Introduction to topics including canonical correlation, factor analysis, discriminant and clustering analyses.
- EE 519 Energy, Society, and the Environment
- Focus on applied political economy and the intersection of policy, energy systems, and environmental systems. Project based learning,with an emphasis on energy technology and obstacles to deployment
- EE 528 U.S. Environmental Policy
- Survey and historical overview of key environmental policies and regulations in the United States. Emphasis on policy development, including formulation and implementation of federal pollution control regulations since the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970. Considers possible future policy needs.
Four (4) of the required 32 credits are often fulfilled in the fourth semester with a 900-level directed study, for which students receive academic credit while completing the thesis.
Typical Timeline
| Year 1 | Year 2 |
| Fall: 3-4 courses | Fall 1-2 courses |
| Spring: 2-3 courses | Spring: 1 directed study |
Boston University may accept up to 8 transfer credits provided these credits were not applied to a prior master’s degree
Thesis
The thesis is the capstone of the MA in Earth & Environment. It is an extensive scholarly paper that allows students to explore your research interest in depth; it is based on a significant amount of original research conducted with the oversight of the primary advisor. Writing a thesis provides the invaluable opportunity to delve deep with passion and curiosity. The thesis is also a benefit to graduates’ professional careers: employers often prefer students with a thesis paper in their portfolio because it showcases their gained writing skills, authoritative awareness of the field, and ambition to learn. Defending the thesis will also fine-tune critical communication and public speaking skills, which can be applied in any career.
Some applicants enter the program with an idea for their thesis already in mind; some students develop their interest throughout their first semesters. While students will enter the program with a primary adviser, during the course of their studies each student will build a thesis committee comprised of the adviser and two additional thesis readers from the department faculty.
Between the end of the first and second semesters of study, students will submit a formal prospectus describing the intended thesis topic, relevant background information, and proposed methods of analysis to their thesis committee. This “prospectus defense” allows students to receive feedback and advice from the entire committee as they begin their deeper research and select courses to build necessary knowledge and skill sets.
Upon completion of the written thesis in the final semester of study, the thesis committee will conduct a formal thesis defense during which the student will present their research publicly and answer questions from the audience and then the committee (in private) to demonstrate mastery of the research area.
Recent theses include:
- Chistopher Gaulin, “Understanding Climate Change Risks to the United States Military”
- Aaron Korman, “Coastal Resiliency: Regional Climate Change Adaptation and Policy”