Fast Track Environmental Science, BS and Environmental Science, MS

Program Description

The university allows the opportunity for high-achieving students to count a select number of graduate credits toward their undergraduate degree and thereby obtain a graduate degree at an accelerated pace. Students interested in the Fast Track in Environmental Science must meet the following application criteria:

  • Currently seeking a BS in Environmental Science at A&M-Corpus Christi.
  • Minimum of a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 SCH (and a 3.0 GPA in all science and math courses) at the time of Fast Track application.
  • Classified as a Senior with successful completion of at least 90 SCH, including
    BIOL 1406Biology I4
    CHEM 1411General Chemistry I4
    CHEM 1412General Chemistry II4
    ESCI 1401Environmental Science I: Intro to Environmental Science4
    ESCI 3202Professional Skills2
    GEOL 1403Physical Geology4
    MATH 1442Statistics for Life4
    or MATH 2413 Calculus I
    PHYS 1401General Physics I4
    or PHYS 2425 University Physics I

Students accepted into the Fast Track program will be given permission to enroll in up to six hours of prescribed graduate courses during their last semester of undergraduate studies. The hours for these graduate courses will “double-count” toward both the undergraduate and graduate programs. The BS and MS degrees will be awarded sequentially (i.e., upon completion of each degree) and not simultaneously. Students will be allowed to continue enrollment in the graduate program upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must provide the following at the time of application:

  • A completed application form. Application fees are waived for Fast Track applicants.
  • Official transcripts of all college and university coursework.
  • An essay of at least 300 words describing their educational and career interests, goals, and challenges.
  • Three letters of evaluation from persons knowledgeable about their potential for success in graduate studies.
  • Identify a faculty member willing to serve as their graduate advisor. Applicants will not be admitted to the program without a graduate advisor.

No criterion is weighted more heavily than any other criterion. Applications received or completed after the deadline for admission during one semester may be considered for admission in the following semester at the applicant’s request. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by email.

Academic Preparation

Students accepted to the degree program with insufficient background in science, computer science, mathematics, or communication skills will be required to take undergraduate or graduate prerequisite courses prescribed by their advisory committees. These courses may or may not apply towards the total required for the master’s degree.

Fast Track Curriculum in the Senior Year

BS, Environmental Science students accepted in the Fast Track will have up to six hours of undergraduate elective credit replaced with six hours of graduate credit during the final semester of the senior year. A Fast Track student, in consultation with the faculty adviser, will be able to substitute six hours of undergraduate courses from BIOL, CHEM, COSC, ESCI GEOL, GISC, MATH, PHYS, or other disciplines as approved. 

In place of the six hours of undergraduate courses, the student will take the following graduate courses instead:

  • ESCI 6302 Federal Environmental Laws and Regulations (3 sch) or ESCI 6360 Coastal Management and Ocean Law (3 sch) or BLAW 5330 Environmental Law and Policy (3 sch)
    and
  • An approved graduate elective.

See the Graduate Catalog for a complete description of the degree requirements for the MS in Environmental Science.