Environmental Science, M.S.

Igniting powerful careers promoting the preservation of healthy, safe, and sustainable natural ecosystems and environments.

Student and teacher outside research

As a student in the program you’ll prepare for a fulfilling career impacting decisions and policies that promote healthy and safe environments while also working to preserve natural ecosystems, better enabling human communities to live and thrive sustainably.

Empowering You to Excel in Your Chosen Profession

Through a leading-edge curriculum, state-of-the-art resources, and individualized mentorship, you’ll develop the highly marketable, competitive, and transferable skills to land your desired career position in research, resource management, environmental education, and other high-impact fields.

Our graduates are sought after every year by some of the most respected environmental organizations and agencies in California and across the country, some of which include:

  • Agricultural Commissioner’s Office
  • Big Sur Land Trust
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Burleson Consulting Inc.
  • California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • California Department of Public Health
  • California Depratment of Food and Agriculture
  • California State Parks
  • California State Water Resources Control Board
  • Connolly Ag Services
  • Deep Ocean Engineering
  • Driscoll's (berry farms)
  • Hemmera Consulting
  • Living Coast Discovery Center
  • Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
  • Monterey County Water Resources Agency 
  • Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
  • NASA Land-Cover / Land-Use Change Program
  • National Audubon Society
  • National Marine Fisheries Service
  • NOAA's Sanctuary Exploration Center
  • Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
  • Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans
  • Santa Lucia Preserve
  • Sequoia Ecological Consulting
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • U.S. Geological Survey

The depth of knowledge and advanced, transferable skill sets you’ll gain in the program offer the ideal preparation to embark on your career positively impacting environmental efforts in a wide range of professional roles, including:

  • Biological research technician
  • Conservation program coordinator
  • Data manager
  • Environmental planner
  • Environmental scientist
  • Field research scientist
  • GIS analyst
  • Hydrologist
  • Natural resources manager
  • Watershed scientist

Each year, program alumni looking to advance their academic preparation further are accepted into Ph.D. programs at some of the most prestigious institutions in the world, including:

  • Ohio University
  • UC Berkeley
  • UC Santa Barbara
  • University of Florida
  • University of Nevada, Reno
  • Washington State University
Aerial Image of Campus

Public University Price, Private University Experience

A Lifetime of Value

Environmental Science, M.S.

The Environmental Science program offers unparalleled preparation and will equip you with highly marketable and competitive skills that will set you apart – from geospatial technologies and advanced quantitative analysis, to collaborative and communication skills enabling you to communicate scientific information to specialized and non-science audiences.

Educational Objectives

Our hands-on experiential learning focus will position you for valuable work out in the field, as well as in our cutting-edge labs using R statistical software and other technologies used every day by environmental professionals.

Our emphasis on geospatial technologies and advanced quantitative analysis means you’ll take courses in GIS, remote sensing, and environmental modeling and use these technologies in course-based projects, preparing you to hit the ground running upon graduation.

Our Professional Science M.S. Internship Track is perfect for students looking to develop the specialized skills for a high-impact career within technology and applied-science based companies, resource management and planning agencies, scientific and environmental consulting firms, government agencies, and non-profits. 

Our M.S. Thesis Track is ideal for students who want to focus on independent research for professional publication, and then use the experience to advance their studies in a top doctoral program or enter a successful career in scientific research, resource management, education, and policy making. 

Our individualized and collaborative approach will allow you to customize your curriculum through electives at CSUMB, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and UC Santa Cruz.

Your graduate learning experience will unfold at the nexus of world-class research institutes, state and regional preserves, the Fort Ord National Monument, and the Monterrey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Our location will fuel an unparalleled experience where you’ll study the interconnection between watershed, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems.

You’ll also take advantage of the many parks and environmental reserves around CSUMB – including Fort Ord National Monument, Fort Ord Dunes State Park, Elkhorn Slough Reserve, Santa Lucia Conservancy, Andrew Molera State Park, and Garrapata State Park – which will serve as living laboratories for you to develop specialized, highly-sought after scientific skill sets.

Most of the course-based collaborative projects you’ll engage in throughout the program integrate meaningful community service with learning, synthesis, and reflection. You may help with surveying and mapping vegetation for agencies like California State Parks or the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which will expand and hone your knowledge and skills while also providing crucial data and service to our local community and region.

Faculty & Staff

Faculty in the Environmental Science M.S. program are accomplished and acclaimed experts and scholars who will challenge you, support you, and personally mentor you throughout your experience.

Susan Alexander

Susan Alexander

Professor

Susan Alexander

Susan Alexander

Department Chair AY

Susan Alexander

Susan Alexander

Special Consultant

Victoria Derr

Victoria Derr

Associate Professor

Victoria Derr

Victoria Derr

Special Consultant

Sharon Anderson

Sharon Anderson

Lecturer

Sharon Anderson

Sharon Anderson

Lecturer

Michelle Ericksen

Michelle Ericksen

Administrative Support Coordinator

Daniel Fernandez

Daniel Fernandez

Professor

Monica Galligan

Monica Galligan

Lecturer

Seth Gustafson

Seth Gustafson

Assistant Professor

Seth Gustafson

Seth Gustafson

Special Consultant

Scott Lydon

Scott Lydon

Lecturer

Carmen Ramirez

Carmen Ramirez

Academic Advisor

Daniel Shapiro

Daniel Shapiro

Professor

Jane Silberstein

Jane Silberstein

Lecturer

Suzanne Worcester

Suzanne Worcester

Professor

Questions? We’re Here to Help!

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you have about the Environmental Science, M.S. program.

Our experienced and supportive admissions staff is here to provide all the individualized guidance you need.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Environmental Science program at Cal State Monterey Bay.