The goal of the Department of Environmental Studies is to enhance society's ability to create an environmentally acceptable future that maximizes both environmental and human health. Faculty with diverse backgrounds in the social and natural sciences and in the humanities are committed to developing interdisciplinary approaches to environmental problem solving.
The curriculum is designed for students to gain an understanding of ways to evaluate the impact of human activities on the environment and human health, to balance social and economic needs with environmental realities, to learn how to use resources imaginatively for sustained yields, and to become aware of the role of values in issue formulation and policy making.
Our curricular objectives include the ability
to critically analyze environmental issues;
to research environmental problems and their impacts;
to evaluate human interactions with the environment; and
to compare, contrast, evaluate, and implement solutions that facilitate a sustainable environment.
In addition to completing the UIS application for graduate study, applicants are expected to submit a goals essay and two reference letters.
Submit supplementary application materials (goals essay and two reference letters) to:
Environmental Studies MA Admissions Committee - PAC 322
University of Illinois at Springfield
One University Plaza - PAC 322
Springfield, IL 62703-5407
To be eligible for full admission to the master of arts program in environmental studies applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants with GPAs between 2.5 and 3.0 will be considered for conditional admission.
See the Environmental Studies Program website for additional information.