Here you will find specific details about the Bren School's Master of Environmental Science and Management (MESM) program. This page includes notes about undergraduate preparation, the required Core Curriculum, the six Specializations, and the capstone Group Project. Course links lead to individual course web pages that include detailed course descriptions, syllabi, readings, and links to instructors. The Specialization links leads to information about courses specific to the various areas of concentration, and a sample Program of Study for each one. The MESM program is a two-year* professional degree designed for individuals who plan to enter or re-enter the workforce upon graduation. The MESM degree is not intended as an intermediate degree for the PhD; however, MESM alumni are adequately prepared for PhD studies in many disciplines, including environmental science and management. Bren MESM graduates are employed by government agencies (from the municipal to the federal level), corporations, nonprofit organizations, and environmental consulting firms. Please refer to the individual Specializations below or to our Career Development Placement Statistics for examples of the kind of employment obtained by Bren graduates. *It is possible to take more than two years to complete the program work or personal factors make it impossible for you to engage in full-time graduate study.
The Bren School accepts students having undergraduate degrees in a variety of majors, including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. In order to be adequately prepared for the required coursework, MESM applicants should have completed the following courses:
Students lacking some of this preparation may be accepted for admission, but it is expected that they will make up any deficiencies prior to entrance, either through formal coursework or by means of other arrangements agreed upon by the applicant and Bren administration. More about admissions requirements
Core Curriculum – Required Courses The Bren School program includes a core curriculum that provide graduates with a comprehensive knowledge of the physical, biological, social, political, and economic principles of environmental science and management, which are essential for environmental problem solving. The core courses are normally completed during the first year of study and are designed to accommodate varying levels of knowledge. ESM 200 – Case Studies in Environmental Science & Management (0.5 unit) ESM 201 – Ecology of Managed Ecosystems (4 units) ESM 202 – Biogeochemical Principles (4 units) ESM 203 – Earth Systems Science (4 units) ESM 204 – Economics of Environmental Management (4 units) ESM 206ABC – Statistics & Data Analysis (4 units) ESM 207 – Environmental Law & Policy (4 units) ESM 210 – Business and the Environment (4 units) ESM 251 – Introduction to Environmental Policy Analysis (2 units) ESM 241 – Environmental Politics and Policy (2 units) ESM 401 ABC – Group Project (12 units total) Click here for descriptions of the core courses and elective courses offered at the Bren School.
In addition to the broad training provided by the core courses, MESM students choose one of the following specializations during the winter quarter of their first year: Coastal Marine Resources Management Corporate Environmental Management Political Economy of the Environment Pollution Prevention & Remediation With faculty guidance, each student prepares an individual Program of Study (POS) of at least 36.5 elective units (of the 81 units required for the MESM). The POS is designed specifically for the chosen specialization and the student’s particular background and goals. An acceptable POS includes courses that build depth in a particular area of specialization and also develop technical skills. Your POS need not be limited to ESM courses alone. You are encouraged to include courses from other UCSB departments and programs. One unique aspect of the Bren School is the Group Project. Serving as the master’s thesis, the three-quarter, 12-unit Group Project begins during the spring quarter of the first year of study.The Group Project is capped by a final oral and poster presentation to the Bren community, Group Project stakeholders, and local professionals. Proposals for Group Projects are submitted by various agencies and companies having a local, statewide, nationwide, or even international presence. A selection committee comprising Bren students, faculty, and staff chooses the projects that best address current problems in environmental policy or management, where effective solutions require rigorous scientific investigation and analysis within a policy or management context. Each Group Project has 4-5 students and a faculty advisor. Students in each group work with theur faculty advisor, the project’s stakeholders, and other professionals to tackle the environmental problem. Groups must then defend their project, submit a final report and policy brief, and present a final presentation and a poster. (Please see the Bren School's Group Project Guidelines for detailed information). The Group Project experience provides Bren MESM students with real-world training unequaled at any other school and unparalleled preparation as leaders capable of solving the environmental problems of the 21st century. For many of our recent graduates, the Group Project experience was a key factor in being selected for their current jobs. Follow the link to view current and past Bren School Group Projects
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