FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: June 19, 2003
Contact: Donna McCracken, 206-6716
SPRINGFIELD – Beginning in the 2003 fall semester, students at the University of Illinois at Springfield will be able to earn a master of science degree in Environmental Science. UIS received approval for the new program from the U of I Board of Trustees at its May meeting.
The new degree will be offered in addition to the campus’ existing master of arts degree program in Environmental Studies.
The program was added in response to a frequently stated preference by students and academic advisers for a program leading to the master of science degree for those interested in environmental science and environmental risk assessment.
Presently, UIS’ Environmental Studies Department offers a master of arts degree with four concentrations -- environmental sciences; natural resources and sustainable development; environmental policy, planning, and administration; and environmental humanities.
Beginning this fall, students who enroll in the M.S. in Environmental Science program will take the same core of courses as students in the Environmental Studies program, as well as the courses that currently comprise the M.A. program’s concentration in environmental science. That concentration will be dropped from the master of arts curriculum, which will otherwise be unchanged.
With the addition of the new program, UIS will offer 19 master’s degree programs, along with 20 bachelor’s degree programs and one doctoral program.
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