Lead Sustainable Change with an M.S. in Environmental Sciences Elevate your role in sustainable development and policy through our specialized M.S. in Environmental Sciences program. This concentration empowers you to drive transformative change towards a sustainable future.

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyze environmental issues in a logical manner by breaking down an issue into constituent parts, identifying players and relationships among players in those parts, describing these relationships, recognizing unstated assumptions, distinguishing facts from opinions and distinguishing statements of cause from statements of effect.
  • Critically appraise the value of data and information relevant to environmental questions and problems, including the appropriateness and adequacy of any qualitative or quantitative methods used in its compilation. In evaluating evidence or arguments, a student integrates key theories, information from works of recognized excellence and facts and generalizations germane to a field to verify the soundness of arguments.
  • Synthesize diverse ideas relevant to environmental science to form a coherent perspective on how best to further research in the field and/or create polices or practices designed to address environmental problems. The parts to be integrated may, to the extent necessary, come from a variety of disciplines.
  • Create a research proposal or applied plan of work that includes asking and answering questions relevant to environmental studies, testing hypotheses or assumptions based on previous research or observations, collecting information to analyze the factors involved, modifying the hypotheses or assumptions based on new factors or considerations and then making inferences and recommendations based on findings.
  • Design effective ways of presenting data and information from the environmental sciences to others through written, visual and oral means.

Quick Facts

Format
Online, On-campus
Duration
2 years
Credit Hours
40

Accreditation

Accredited by HLC. Ranked for strong integration of fieldwork and policy studies

Calendar

Don't miss an important date or deadline

Designed for working professionals, UIS programs feature multiple start dates per year, so you can begin at the time that best fits your schedule and complete your degree quickly. View the Academic Calendar

Now Enrolling

Apply by Date:
May 15, 2025

Start Date:
August 22, 2025

Apply Today!

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Tuition & Aid

UIS is the most affordable option to earning your University of Illinois degree. Earn a world-class education for less than you’d expect.

 

Value of a UIS Degree

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UIS is No. 5 for students graduating with the least amount of debt, Midwest Region (2021).

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Top 25 best value school, Midwest Region, and the only public university in Illinois on the list (2022, 2023, 2024).

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98% of students receive aid

The average graduate from UIS will see an increase in earnings of $31,700 - $69,000 each year compared to someone with a high school diploma working in Illinois.

< High School
$26,800
High School
$36,600
Bachelor's
$68,300
Master's
$87,200
Doctorate
$105,600

Admissions

Applying to UIS is simple

We've streamlined our admission process to save you time and effort. Just follow the steps below.

 

Review admission requirements

No specific admission requirements are listed at this time. Please contact the Office of Admission for more information.

International students, will you need an F-1 student visa to study on campus at UIS? Please review the International Applicants site for additional information.

Complete your application

An email address is required to create an account. To submit a paper application, visit the Resources & Forms page. Find more information about what type of student you are on the Student Types page. Applying for an online program is the same procedure as applying for an on-campus program.

Send your official transcripts

Email your official or certified academic records/transcripts to incomingtranscripts@uis.edu or through any of the major transcript platforms. Photocopies will not be accepted.

Submit required statements/writing sample

If you are a first-year student, a statement of 250-650 words is required for admission. We want to hear about your professional aspirations, intellectual interests, and personal experiences relevant to your choice of a specific academic program. You can upload the required documents on you're application status page.

Pay your application fee

You can submit your non-refundable application fee online, after completing the online application. Alternately, it can also be mailed to the university, payable to University of Illinois Springfield.

Domestic students: Undergraduate - $50, Graduate - $60;

International students: Undergraduate - $60, Graduate - $75.

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Voted No. 1 public regional university in Illinois
2020 - 2024

Courses & Catalog Information

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Career Opportunities

Exploring the following career paths can help you see how your degree opens up a wide range of exciting and rewarding opportunities in various fields.

  • Environmental Planner Assistant
  • Environmental Policy Analyst
  • Natural Resource Manager
  • GIS Specialist
  • Land Use Specialist
  • Environmental Researcher
  • Recycling Director
  • Environmental Researcher
  • Wildlife Manager
  • EPA Inspector
  • Professor
  • Conservation Auditor
  • Environmental Policy Analyst
  • Ecologist
  • Forester
  • Climate Change Analyst
  • Conservation Agent
  • Environmental Protection Specialist
  • Resource Management Specialist
  • Restoration Planner
  • Environmental Educator
  • Sustainability Specialist
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Waste Water Manager
  • Community Action Coordinator
  • Conservationist
  • Environmental Scientist
  • Land Use and Urban Planner
  • Air Quality Manager
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