Dual Bachelor’s–Master’s Degree
Environment and Geography Dual Degree Program
M.A. in Geography and B.A./B.S. in Environmental Studies/Science
The program
This is a partnership program offered by the Environment, Ecology and Energy Program and the Department of Geography and Environment. After completing the program, students earn a B.A./B.S. in Environmental Studies/Science and a M.A. in Geography.
Through this program, students will gain knowledge of environmental science, topics and issues as well as geographic methods and theories. This program prepares students for careers at nonprofits, government agencies and environmentally-oriented businesses.
For more information about the Environment, Ecology and Energy Program components of the program, please visit their webpage here.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the program, applicants must be pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies (B.A.) or Environmental Science (B.S.). (The program is currently not open to students majoring solely in Geography and Environment, but this option will be added at a future date.) Students must also complete Geography and Environment prerequisites as part of their baccalaureate program as described below.
Curriculum
During the program, students will complete the following curriculum:
- 120 hours taken while pursuing a B.A. Environmental Studies or B.S. Environmental Science. This includes the required courses for the General College and 12 courses in the major. The major courses will provide a strong foundation in the basic sciences and additional track or concentration requirements.
o B.A. in Environmental Studies concentrations: Agriculture and Health, Ecology and Society, Environmental Behavior and Decision-making, and Population, Environment and Development
o B.A. in Environmental Studies – Sustainability Track
o B.S. in Environmental Science concentrations: Ecology and Natural Resources, Environment and Health, and Water and Climate
o B.S. in Environmental Science – Quantitative Energy Systems Track
- Students must also take Geography and Environment prerequisites as part of their baccalaureate program and have three options as listed below. These courses do not count towards the M.A. degree.
o At least three related Geography and Environment courses as approved by their adviser.
o A minor in one of the Department of Geography and Environment‘s three minors: Geography, GIS, or Environmental Justice.
o A second major in Geography and Environment.
- Pre-admitted students may also take up to 9 credit hours at the graduate level in their final year of the B.A./B.S. to count towards the M.A. degree. These should include GEOG 703 and GEOG 704 to ensure timely completion of the degree. These credits must be additional to any undergraduate major and credit requirements.
- 33 credit hours at the post-baccalaureate level, consisting of 30 hours of additional coursework at the graduate level (including GEOG 702, GEOG 703 and GEOG 704) and 3 hours of thesis credits. Students must also take comprehensive exams and complete a master’s thesis as described in the Department of Geography and Environment’s Graduate Handbook.
Admissions
Students should apply for pre-admission in the equivalent of their Junior year. In the Fall semester, they should identify a faculty sponsor in Geography and Environment and meet with Geography and Environment’s Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to discuss the program. The following pre-admission materials are then due by January 31st of the Junior year in an email to the DGS:
- CV
- Transcript
- Statement of purpose
- Personal history statement (see instructions here)
- Geography and Environment sponsor’s letter of support, sent directly to the DGS.
Pre-admitted students can then enroll in graduate courses in Geography and Environment for their senior year as described above. To be formally admitted to the graduate program, students must also apply for admission via the Graduate School by December of their senior year as described here.
Advising
Advising is a critical to successful completion of this dual degree program. Students interested in this program should contact advisors at E3P on a semester basis and the Department of Geography and Environment no later than the beginning of their third year of their undergraduate studies to plan their program of study and be sure that they will be able to meet the requirements.
For more information and advising for the E3P curriculum, contact the following:
- Amy Cooke: acooke@email.unc.edu
- Greg Gangi: ggangi@email.unc.edu
- Geoff Bell: gwbell@email.unc.edu
For more information and advising for the Department of Geography and Environment, contact the following:
- Clark Gray: cgray@email.unc.edu
