When you receive the MA in Earth & Environment, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate intermediate knowledge of the fundamental concepts and topics in a specific subfield of Earth & Environment.
  Demonstrate understanding of key research questions, the research design process, and the quantitative and/or qualitative methods used in a specific subfield of Earth & Environment.
  Communicate research questions and results to the scientific community and communicate about problems in Earth & Environment to a broader audience.
  Integrate, synthesize, and apply scientific knowledge to societal problems, such as the sustainable use of energy and water resources, the identification and mitigation of risks posed by climate change and natural hazards, and the consequences of human activities on the environment.

Official Bulletin

What you need for the Master’s in Earth & Environment

Coursework

Students must complete 32 units at the graduate level (500 level or above). Students pursuing the Master of Arts with Thesis may apply a maximum of 12 units of 900-level research courses toward this requirement. Students pursuing the Master of Arts via Examination may not apply 900-level research courses toward the 32-unit total. Appropriate coursework will be determined in consultation with the student’s major advisor, and will be dependent upon the student’s background and interests.

Professional Development

The professional development requirement ensures that students are well prepared for academic study at BU and for pursuing their ultimate careers. The requirement may be satisfied through coursework; cocurricular activities sponsored by the University; professional or community organizations; or through activities approved by the student’s advisory committee/major professor.

Professional Development Opportunities

Students pursuing a Master of Arts with Thesis must complete a written thesis, approved by at least three members of the department (usually the student’s advisor and mutually agreed upon second and third readers) and defend their research results in an oral presentation.

For information on the thesis writing timeline and other resources, check out our Thesis Planning Resource

Typical Timeline

Boston University may accept up to 8 transfer credits provided these credits were not applied to a prior master’s degree

The thesis is the capstone of the MA in Earth & Environment with Thesis. It is an extensive scholarly paper that allows students to explore your research interest in depth; it is based on a significant amount of original research conducted with the oversight of the primary advisor. Writing a thesis provides the invaluable opportunity to delve deep with passion and curiosity. The thesis is also a benefit to graduates’ professional careers: employers often prefer students with a thesis paper in their portfolio because it showcases their gained writing skills, authoritative awareness of the field, and ambition to learn. Defending the thesis will also fine-tune critical communication and public speaking skills, which can be applied in any career.

Some applicants enter the program with an idea for their thesis already in mind; some students develop their interest throughout their first semesters. While students will enter the program with a primary adviser, during the course of their studies each student will build a thesis committee comprised of the adviser and two additional thesis readers from the department faculty.

Between the end of the first and second semesters of study, students will submit a formal prospectus describing the intended thesis topic, relevant background information, and proposed methods of analysis to their thesis committee. This “prospectus defense” allows students to receive feedback and advice from the entire committee as they begin their deeper research and select courses to build necessary knowledge and skill sets.

Upon completion of the written thesis in the final semester of study, the thesis committee will conduct a formal thesis defense during which the student will present their research publicly and answer questions from the audience and then the committee (in private) to demonstrate mastery of the research area.

Students pursuing a Master of Arts via Examination must pass an examination during their last semester of study.  The examination takes the form of either an Examination Portfolio or an Examination Project.

Master’s Examination Portfolio

The Master’s Examination Portfolio presents a summary of the student’s academic accomplishments in their major field of interest for evaluation by the examination committee.  The portfolio consists of 3 components: 1.  a statement of purpose in which the student clearly articulates their academic and professional goals, 2. representative coursework including semester papers and projects, and 3. a statement of completion which demonstrates how the presented coursework advances the student’s academic and professional goals.   Students should develop their statement of purposes at the start of their first semester in consultation with faculty.

Examination Project

The Examination Project is completed via a 4 credit directed study course taken during the student’s final semester of enrollment. The directed study course consists of a supervised projected which demonstrates mastery of the skills and knowledge in the student’s major field of interest within Earth and Environment.  The directed study course is supervised by a rotating committee of faculty representing the diverse areas of scholarship within the Department of Earth and Environment. Students should carefully select their examination project with the advice of faculty to ensure alignment with their professional and academic goals.