Environmental Studies BA/BS + Sustainable Communities MS
The master's program in Sustainable Communities at Binghamton University integrates the three pillars of sustainability – environmental protection, economic vitality and social equity – to provide a balanced, holistic perspective to managing local governments, non-profit organizations and other parts of the community. The 4+1 program allows you to combine bachelor- and master-level courses into your fourth-year schedule and graduate with your bachelor's degree.
- Program Requirements
To apply, you must have completed a majority of your undergraduate major requirements and all or a majority of general education requirements
- You must show evidence of superior undergraduate academic achievement, normally signified by having a minimum 3.5 GPA in your undergraduate major and a minimum 3.2 GPA overall, or a 3.5 GPA overall.
- State your interest in the accelerated Sustainable Communities program and set up a pre-interview with Graduate Director George Homsy
Submit the following pre-admission materials to George Homsy via email:
- Professional or academic writing sample or essay of 500-800 words on a relevant sustainability topic. This can be something that you have already written for a class or in a work setting
- Personal statement (300-500 words stating your interests in the program and career goals)
- Current résumé
- A letter of recommendation from a University faculty member or instructor
Senior year (if accepted for pre-admission)
- You will be able to register for SUST courses during your first semester of your senior year
- During your senior year (88+ undergraduate credits), you must formally apply to the
Graduate School via the link on your BU Brain account and submit the online application
and all required application materials, including any required letters of recommendation
You can
Read more about the ENVI to Sustainable Communities Masters Program
Environmental Studies BA + Public Administration MPA
The requirements are 128 credits total, with 110 undergraduate credit hours plus 18 graduate credit hours of the Master in Public Administration program to complete a B.A. in Environmental Studies.
- Program Requirements
Program requirements and objectives specific to the Environmental Studies/Science & Public Administration 4+1 Program:
The Environmental Studies/Science & Public Administration 4+1 program restrict admission to students with exceptional academic records. Students should apply for the 4+1 program no later than beginning of junior year, and admission decisions for the 4+1 program will be made no later than spring of junior year. Application and admissions processes are through the MPA program and the Graduate School. Admission decisions for the 4+1 program will be based on course grades (normally, a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better and a GPA of 3.5 of better in Environmental Studies major courses are required).
In addition, submit GRE scores, at least two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and a personal statement of approximately 500 words (2 typewritten pages, double-spaced) that addresses the student's:
- Reasons for choosing public administration as a vocation
- The values and concerns he/she brings to the study of public administration
- Present and future professional goals
- Sense of what he/she will contribute to the field of public administration
Admission decisions to the 4+1 program indicate to the student that there are subsequent requirements that must be met to continue in the program: successful completion of the B.A. in year four (including both the General Education & Harpur College requirements for graduation); a "B" or better in graduate education coursework; and satisfactory completion of the other requirements of the MPA program.
Course offerings in the Environmental Studies & Public Administration 4+1 program will coincide with the normal offerings of the existing Environmental Studies and Master in Public Administration Programs.
Prior to senior year, undergraduates complete 96 credits that meet all of the undergraduate requirements for Harpur Arts & Sciences division, upper-level, writing, and general education, plus all but 12 credits needed for the Environmental Studies major. During the senior year, undergraduates complete 14 undergraduate credits and the remaining 18 credits needed for the undergraduate degree. The 18 credits of MPA courses in the senior year are double counted as undergraduate elective credits and MPA credits to complete the baccalaureate degree.
Students in the combined degree program must undertake 8 full-time semesters (or equivalent) for completion of the Environmental Studies B.A. degree and an additional 2 full-time semesters so that combined they will have 10 full-time semesters for the completion of the entire combined-degree program.
Other requirements for the MPA degree: Upon completion of 18 MPA credits (or with the approval of the program), students complete a 300-hour, fifteen week internship for 2 credits (PAFF 594). Internships are usually done within the area of concentration with a governmental, not-for-profit or for-profit organization. Students enroll in the Capstone Seminar (PAFF 595) after completing the program's core courses and the internship. Completion of the capstone project requires the approval of the project paper proposal and an oral defense of the completed project before a three-person committee comprised of two faculty members and the internship supervisor, or an appropriate organizational representative.
Environmental Studies BA/Environmental Science BS + Systems Science MS
The requirements are 127 credits total, with 118 undergraduate credit hours plus 9 graduate credit hours of the Master of Science in Systems Science program to complete a B.A. in Environmental Studies or a B.S. in Environmental Science.
- Program Requirements
Program requirements and objectives specific to the Environmental Studies/Science & Systems Science 4+1 Program:
The Environmental Studies/Science & Systems Science 4+1 program restrict admission to students with exceptional academic records. Students should apply for the 4+1 program no later than beginning of junior year, and admission decisions for the 4+1 program will be made no later than spring of junior year. Application and admissions processes are through the Systems Science program and the Graduate School. Admission decisions for the 4+1 program will be based on course grades (normally, a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better and a GPA of 3.5 of better in Environmental Studies/Science major courses are required).
In addition, submit at least two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and a personal statement of approximately 500 words that addresses the student's:
- Reasons for choosing systems science as the field of graduate study
- Values and concerns brought to the study of systems science
- Present and future professional goals
- Desire to contribute to the field of systems science
Admission decisions to the 4+1 program indicate to the student that there are subsequent requirements that must be met to continue in the program: successful completion of the B.A./B.S. in year four (including both the General Education & Harpur College requirements for graduation); a "B" or better in graduate education coursework; and satisfactory completion of the other requirements of the Systems Science program.
Course offerings in the Environmental Studies/Science & Systems Science 4+1 program will coincide with the normal offerings of the existing Environmental Studies/Science and Master of Science in Systems Science Programs.
Prior to senior year, undergraduates complete 98 credits that meet all of the undergraduate requirements for Harpur Arts & Sciences division, upper-level, writing, and general education, plus all but 29 credits needed for the Environmental Studies major. During the senior year, undergraduates complete 20 undergraduate credits and the remaining 9 credits needed for the undergraduate degree. The 9 credits of M.S. Systems Science courses in the senior year are double counted as undergraduate elective credits and M.S. credits to complete the baccalaureate degree.
Students in the combined degree program must undertake 8 full-time semesters (or equivalent) for completion of the Environmental Studies B.A. or Environmental Science B.S. degree and an additional 2 full-time semesters so that combined they will have 10 full-time semesters for the completion of the entire combined degree program.
Questions?
Carl P. Lipo
Professor; Associate Dean for Research and Programs
Anthropology; Harpur College of Arts and Sciences
