Graduate Students

Program Requirements | Study Interests & Opportunities | Admission|AY 2008-09 Fufill Requirements

Program Requirements

The Environmental Studies Program is flexible; students, with their academic advisors, design their own study programs by choosing from courses throughout the University. Amidst this diversity of choice, and because we believe a well-rounded perspective and range of skills are needed to be an effective environmentalist, a limited number of foundational courses are required:

Natural Systems Ecology A biologically grounded ecology course taken either as an undergraduate or while in residence at EVST.

Scientific Approaches - Examines methods and limits of scientific inquiry and critical analysis of information. A 3-credit course from:

EVST 501 Scientific Approaches to Environmental Problems
EVST 540 Watershed Conservation Ecology

EVST 550 Pollution Ecology
EVST 551 Environmental Field Study

EVST 555 Research Methods for Social Change

Policy Approaches - Examines socioeconomic and political processes. A 3-credit course from:

EVST 560 Environmental Impact Analysis
EVST 575 Rhetoric and Environmental Controversy
EVST 594 Environmental Policy Analysis and Evaluation
EVST 594 Politics of Food

Thought and Writing - Explores environmental writing, literature and relationships between humans and the natural world. A 3-credit course from:

EVST 504 Colloquium in the Philosophy of Ecology
EVST 505 The Literature of Natural History
EVST 573 Environmental Writing
EVST 594 The Greening of Religion

Engagement - Develops leadership, organizational and participatory skills through civic and other forms of hands-on involvement. A 3-credit course from:

EVST 520 Environmental Organizing
EVST 531 Citizen Participation in Environmental Decision Making
EVST 537 Building Effective Environmental Organizations

Other Requirements:

Students have three options for demonstrating their critical and analytical abilities and their written communication skills: thesis, professional paper or portfolio. The formulation of a topic is encouraged by April of the first year of study.

1. Thesis Option:

Development of a substantive scholarly work that includes either the collection and analysis of data to answer a research question (as in original field or laboratory research in the natural sciences or survey research in the social sciences) or the production of an innovative, interpretive or critical work (as in the humanities or fine arts).

2. Professional Paper Option:

Development of a substantive report that targets a specific audience and demonstrates the student's ability to participate in professional discourse.

3. Portfolio Option:

In consultation with an EVST advisor, students select courses of classroom study, internship experience(s) and portfolio projects directed toward specific career goals. Portfolios include three discrete portfolio pieces, an internship experience, and demonstrated coherence between these pieces, the student's course of study and the student's goals. Upon completion of the portfolio, students are given a one-hour oral examination that focuses upon the integrity of each portfolio piece and coherence between the pieces.

Credits required for graduation:

Thesis option: 33 semester hours
Non-thesis options: professional paper: 33 hours; portfolio 36 hours.

Important:
EVST graduate students must register for a minimum of three thesis or professional paper credits. They must register for at least one of those credits in the semester that they defend. The minimum number of credits required for graduation with a thesis or professional paper is 33.

Portfolio-option students must take a total of 36 credits, but there are no semester specific credit requirements nor any portfolio credits per se. Their only requirement is that they must abide by the continuous registration rule of the Graduate School, registering for at least one credit each semester.

Academic Year 2008-2009 Courses that fufill EVST Grad Requirements

Fall 2008	Spring 2009
Scientific Approaches
EVST 501 Scientific Approaches to Environmental Problems	EVST 555 Research Methods for Social Change
EVST 540 Watershed Conservation Ecology
Policy Approaches
EVST 594.02 Politics of Food	EVST 560 Environmental Impact Analysis
EVST 594.04 MT Legislative Process
Thought & Writing
EVST 505 Literature of Nature Writing	EVST 573 Environmental Writing
EVST/PHIL 504 Topics in Environmental Philosophy
Engagement
EVST 537 Building Effective Environmental Organizations	EVST 594 Local Solutions to Climate Change

Study Interests & Opportunities

While fulfilling their program requirements as outlined above, EVST students also may pursue their particular study interests and related opportunities. For further information, contact the EVST faculty member indicated.

Camas: The Nature of the West:

Camas is an environmental journal with a national readership that is edited and published each semester by graduate students in EVST. Camas provides a forum for EVST graduate students and other emerging writers to publish alongside authors such as William Kittredge, David James Duncan, Janisse Ray, John Elder, & Ellen Meloy. The Camas website also maintains Greenwords, an online nature essay posting site for work from EVST students. Faculty contact: Phil Condon.

Environmental Education:

Students choose from courses offered in environmental and science education. Initially, students may take Foundations in Environmental Education, a review and exploration of the field. Also offered are environmental education curriculum development and methods courses and field-oriented science courses. Faculty contact: Fletcher Brown.

Environmental Justice:

Environmental Justice offers related opportunities for coursework, internships, and community-based participatory research in environmental health, community empowerment, and tribal environmental issues, including tribal sovereignty, sacred areas, and treaty rights struggles. Faculty contact: Robin Saha

Environmental Law:

The joint degree program in Environmental Studies and Law allows qualified students to obtain an M.S. in Environmental Studies and a J.D. from the Law School. Students earn EVST credit for Law School courses in public land and natural resources law, water law, environmental law, and land use law. EVST courses on environmental law and policy introduce students to environmental and legal issues. Faculty contact: Robin Saha

Environmental Science:

Students can work with science faculty from across the campus (e.g., chemistry, forestry, geology). Within EVST, emphasis is on ecosystem conservation, preservation and restoration; watershed protection; and conservation biology. EVST classes and students working on individual projects have access to the Clancy Gordon Environmental Science Laboratory, a regentially approved research and teaching facility that was established by Clancy Gordon, EVST's founder, 30 years ago. Faculty contact: Vicki Watson.

Environmental Writing:

Students focus on environmental writing in three annual Program courses, Environmental Writing, The Literature of Nature Writing, and Environmental Writing with the EVST Visiting Writer; as well as in courses in History, Philosophy, Journalism, and Creative Writing, as available. Related opportunities include Camas Magazine, The Environmental Writing Institute, and the Wild Mercy Reading Series. Faculty contact: Phil Condon.

Environmental Writing Institute

The Environmental Writing Institute is an annual residency writing workshop (now in its 16th year) sponsored by the EVST Program. Held in various locations near Missoula, the Institute brings environmental writers from across the country together with EVST students to work for several days in May under the direction of a nationally known writer. Past directors include Peter Matthiessen, Wendell Berry, Terry Tempest Williams, and Gretel Erhlich. Faculty contact Phil Condon.

Natural Resources Conflict Resolution Program

The University of Montana offers a unique program allowing certification in natural resources conflict resolution. After completing a set of courses and a supervised conflict resolution experience, a student is certified in the field. This program is aimed at students desiring to work as facilitators of collaborative processes. All questions about the program should be directed to Matthew McKinney, Public Policy Research Institute,The University of Montana, 516 N. Park Ave., Helena, MT 59601,406-457-8475, matt@umtpri.org.

Sustainable Food and Farming:

Students have the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary studies of our food system and participate in community-based action research projects. In addition, through the Program in Ecological Agriculture and Society (PEAS) students gain hands-on experience growing organic food for low-income people at an urban, community farm. Faculty contact: Neva Hassanein

Transboundary Initiative:

The Transboundary Initiative immerses students in the political, social, ecological, legal, and management cultures of both Canada and the U.S. Focusing on the trans-border ecosystem straddling the spine of the Rockies, students and faculty from EVST and the Environmental Design Program of the University of Calgary explore the possibilities for bioregionalism in an international context. Joint courses, including a field course each fall, student and faculty exchanges, and international internships in natural resource management, planning and environmental problem solving are all possibilities under the program. Faculty contact: Len Broberg.

Watershed Health Clinic

The Watershed Health Clinic matches UM students and staff with community groups that need technical assistance protecting their watersheds. Students assist citizen groups and governmental agencies with designing and executing watershed studies, monitoring and restoration plans; preparing grant proposals; conducting surveys; training volunteer monitors; developing educational materials and web pages. Some students have reported on their Clinic work at the Clark Fork Symposium web site. Faculty contact: Vicki Watson.

Renewable Energy Projects

Students can participate in periodic renewable energy projects, designing and constructing solar or wind energy systems for a variety of community uses. Faculty Contact: Len Broberg

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Other Information:

Advisors:When you are admitted into the program, an advisor is selected for you. This is not a fixed arrangement; if you should arrange to work with another person or in another area after you have been here for a while, that's OK. Just let the EVST office know who your new advisor is.

Graduate School Requirements: The Graduate School sets the deadlines and policies that EVST follows. Please visit their website for further information. Important EVST rules are included in a packet you will receive when you begin the program.