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MA with Specialization in: Environmental Modeling & Analysis (Portfolio Option)

Rational: A student will be able to earn a professional MA degree in Geography with a concentration in Environmental System Analysis after completing 36 credit hours and a portfolio.

A large proportion of students interested in following the Environmental Analysis Masters portfolio aim at pursuing professional carriers in local, regional or national planning agencies or organizations, engineering consulting firms, GIS service providers, environmental companies, and other public or private organizations. For this group of students, the portfolio is a very attractive alternative to the MA degree with Project/Thesis, in that it will allow them to complete their degree in 18 months, while acquiring the practical experience required in environmental management positions.

Students are able to earn an MA degree in Geography with specialization in Environmental Analysis after completing a minimum of 36 credits and assembling a competency portfolio. They should expect to devote one year of full-time study to the program, although those students whose preparation in basic geography, computer science, statistics or mathematics is weak may require an additional semester.

Course Combination

The core requirements for graduate students wishing to specialize in Environmental Analysis assume previous coursework in univariate statistics (1 semester), calculus and analytic geometry or linear mathematics (2 semesters). Working knowledge of at least one high-level programming language such as Visual Basic or C++ is beneficiary. Students are welcome to satisfy deficiencies in these areas during their graduate tenure, and must realize this may extend the time to completion of the degree.

The department encourages students to consider internships, for example in environmental planning agencies and private consultancy and GIS firms, to expand their learning experience.

Students are required to take and select a course combination from Environmental Analysis courses offered within the Geography Department as well as in other Departments at UB that cover the core courses and basically three areas (minimum of 36 credit hours with a minimum of 24 GEO credit hours):

  1. Required Core Courses (8 credits with min. 8 GEO credits),
  2. Electives: Physical & Environmental Theory (12 credits with min. 8 GEO credit hours),
  3. Electives: Tools in Geographic Information Science (10 credits with min. 7 GEO credits), and
  4. Electives: Environment &Society (6 credits with min. 0 GEO credits).

Any addition to the elective lists (II, III and IV), an Internship (maximum of 3 credit hours; 1 credit hour = 30 hours) or Portfolio credit (1) requires approval by the advisor.

I. Required Core Courses


____ GEO 500 Introduction to Graduate Geography (3) 
____ GEO 501 Research Design (1) 
____ GEO 505 Univariate Statistics in Geography (3)
____ GEO 506 Geographical Information Systems (4)

 

II. Electives: Courses in Physical & Environmental Theory

Three of the following, with at least two GEO theory courses:

____ GEO 515 Biogeography/Landscape Ecology 
____ GEO 544 Environmental Change 
____ GEO 547 Advanced Earth System Science 
____ GEO 549 Fluvial Geomorphology 
____ GEO 560 Tree-like Networks 
____ GEO 575 Landscape Modeling with GIS 
____ GLY 514 Hydrogeology (with lab) 
____ GLY 539 Sedimentology 
____ GLY 562 Geochemistry 
____ GLY 563/4 Advanced Environmental Hydrogeology 
____ BIO 507 Advanced Ecology 
____ BIO 530 Population Biology 
____ BIO 552 Limnology 
____ CIE 535 Geoenvironmental Engineering 
____ CIE 550 Hydrology 
____ CIE 552 Water Resources Engineering 
____ MTH new Mathematics for Applications

 

III. Electives: Tools in Geographic Information Science

One of the following:

____ GEO 509 Multivariate Statistics (4)
____ GEO 597 Geostatistics (3)
____ GEO 605 Spatial Statistics (3)

 

Two of the following, with at least one GEO analysis course:

____ GEO 551 Cartography & Geovisualization (4)
____ GEO 553 Remote Sensing (4)
____ GEO 559 GIS & Environmental Modeling (4) 
____ GLY 560 GIS & RS Methods for Earth/Environmental Scientists
____ PD  570 GIS for Planners 
____ PD  571 GIS Applications of Planning 
____ CIE 507 GIS Applications 
____ MTH 568 Computational Science -Introduction for Graduate Students

 

IV. Environment & Society

Two of the following courses:

____ GEO 594 Geographic Information & Society 
____ PD  568 Environmental Planning and Policy 
____ CIE 552 Water resources planning and development 
____ CIE 569 Hazardous waste management 
____ LAW 672 Environmental Law 
____ LAW 866 Environmental Colloquium 
____ SOC 446 Environmental Sociology 
____ PACE    Personal Achievement through Competency Evaluation

                         (Application required, see http://www.mgt.buffalo.edu/pace/factsheet.shtm)

Content of the Competency Portfolio

Students selecting the portfolio option will be required to compile a set of materials that summarizes and displays his or her knowledge, skills, and problem-solving capabilities in environmental analysis. Unlike the project report option that requires research in a focused area, the portfolio option will assess the student's competence along several facets of environmental analysis. This option also emphasizes the student's ability to handle, analyze, and report on geo-spatial environmental data within the confines of a project, as both technical and project management skills are typically required for professional employment in this field. The portfolio itself may even serve eventually as part of a student's application package when he or she is seeking professional employment. The portfolio option also maintains a strong research component because the student must develop research projects and write research papers in selected environmental courses. This work will provide the student with the necessary research experience and allow the student to develop a balanced intellectual growth both in practical skills and in critical thinking.

The portfolio must contain the following five essential items besides any other related documents such as class projects/papers, internship report, conference paper, grant proposals, etc.:

  1. A statement of educational and professional goals achieved and perceived (2 pages).
  2. A resume (2 pages).
  3. A primary research paper on a topic of environmental analysis and management (at least 15 pages text; format according to report guidelines of a peer-reviewed journal).
  4. An original application study of authentic environmental analysis and management and necessary textual applications (at least 15 pages text; format according to guidelines of a peer-reviewed project report).
  5. An oral presentation of primary research paper or original application study in colloquium presentation (this event takes place once a semester; during or after the department colloquium).

Additional Rules Governing the Creation of the Portfolio

  • The statement of educational and professional goals is a requirement for the course "Research Design/Portfolio focus" and may be modified for the final portfolio.
  • The application study of environmental analysis and management presents an analysis at the local, regional, national or global scale. The case study will include the collection or compilation of primary or secondary data, their management and storage in a suitable spatial database environment, statistical and/or GIS analysis, spatial and/or graphic illustrations, and the necessary textual explanation.
  • The oral presentation may be coupled with the application study or research paper mentioned above. However, we recommend choosing material for the portfolio that illustrates a diverse and broad spectrum in environmental analysis.
  • The materials in the portfolio must be physically assembled in a manner that achieves a professional appearance. All elements within each required item must be organized cohesively and be self-explanatory. Although the paper and application study may be initially developed in courses, it is anticipated that further revisions will usually be required in order to ensure the quality of the portfolio at a level satisfactory for graduation. Both hard copy and digital copy must be submitted.
  • The major advisor is responsible for helping the student select courses appropriate for the successful completion of the portfolio. This should be a part of the planning in the advisement period prior to the first semester of class work. Every student must officially declare which option (portfolio or project) he or she will pursue no later than the end of the first semester of full-time coursework or upon completion of 12 credit hours if a part-time student. (Part-time students should similarly plan their portfolios prior to enrolling for courses each semester).
  • Upon completion of the portfolio the student's advisor and a second reader must evaluate the work, and, if it is satisfactory, they will approve the portfolio and submit an M[multipurpose]-form to the Graduate School granting permission for the student to graduate.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree (in any discipline)
  • Good GRE and TOEFL scores
  • Three letters of reference.
 

Core Environmental Analysis Faculty

Jared Alstadt, Assistant Professor, geojared@buffalo.edu

Sean Bennett, Associate Professor, seanb@buffalo.edu
Ling Bian, Associate Professor, lbian@buffalo.edu
Chris Larsen, Associate Professor, larsen@buffalo.edu
Scott Mackay, Associate Professor, dsmackay@buffalo.edu
David Mark, SUNY Distinguished Professor, dmark@buffalo.edu
Chris Renschler, Associate Professor, rensch@buffalo.edu
Michael Woldenberg, Professor, geomike@buffalo.edu


Department of Geography University at Buffalo