GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

2008-2009 Academic Year

N.B. The application deadline is February 15 for admission the following Fall semester. Applications may be considered at other times at the discretion of the CSE Graduate Committee.

Welcome
The CSE Graduate Committee
Steps for Application and Admission
Faculty Advisors and the Student Graduate Program Committee
Requirements for the Master of Science degree in Environmental Sciences and Policy
Getting Started on Campus
Thesis
Evaluation of Progress and Grade Requirements
Application for Graduation
Incompletes
Independent Study
Transfer Credit
Time Limits
Credit Load
Teaching Assistantships
Research Assistantships
Duration of Support

Welcome

to Northern Arizona University and the Center for Sustainable Environments (CSE, formerly known as the Center for Environmental Sciences and Education). We recognize the challenges associated with relocating to a new place, institution, and program, and hope that this handbook will answer many of your questions and serve as a valuable source of information throughout your program.

NAU's Center for Sustainable Environments provides a technically rigorous education in the environmental sciences, preparing students for a career in research, industry, education, government, public service, or law. CSE is known campus-wide for its interdisciplinary approach to environmental issues and its pragmatic focus on environmental problem solving. Currently, our faculty comes from nine disciplines, including biology, chemistry, communications, engineering, education, environmental sciences, forestry, geology, and political science.

The objectives of our environmental sciences programs are to help students develop:

the scientific literacy needed to understand environmental processes
the technical skills necessary to work in the environmental sciences
the political literacy needed to understand the environmental policy process
the creative problem-solving skills required to deal effectively with environmental issues
an appreciation for the history and development of environmental issues
a familiarity with current trends in environmental thought in numerous disciplines

The Master of Science degree in Environmental Sciences and Policy will provide an advanced education for scientists and managers in the interdisciplinary environmental sciences. In-depth study of the environment has become increasingly dependent upon knowledge of the interactions between the natural world and human society. Neither today's environmental scientist, nor today's environmental policy analyst, can be content to specialize in a single field of study. Instead, environmental scientists and policy analysts are expected to be familiar with the interactions between disciplines such as ecology, geology, chemistry and politics. Graduates of the program will obtain the skills necessary to (1) analyze and understand environmental systems, (2) interpret and apply environmental rules and regulations, (3) predict the impact of human activities on our environment, and (4) develop effective methods for addressing environmental issues from a rigorous, interdisciplinary perspective.

The Master's Program in Environmental Sciences and Policy (Master's Program) is unique in its focus on interdisciplinary study. Students are encouraged and, in fact, required to think and learn across traditional disciplinary boundaries. The Master's Program involves significant cross-campus collaboration between a number of different departments and colleges, with Environmental Sciences and Political Science being the two most integral to the program. Research and teaching focuses on Arizona and Colorado Plateau issues, though knowledge gained will apply to national and international environmental issues as well.

The CSE Graduate Committee

Oversight of graduate studies in CSE resides with the CSE Graduate Committee, which is composed of a Chairperson, who also serves as Graduate Program Coordinator, the Director of CSE and selected fauclty members. The CSE Graduate Committee is responsible for periodic review of policies and procedures concerning the graduate programs of the department. The CSE Graduate Committee is also responsible for admission decisions and recommendations for different types of financial support.

Steps for Application and Admission

Entry into the Master's Program requires application to and acceptance by both the Graduate College and the Center for Sustainable Environmentals (CSE). Forms for application to both are available from the CSE office (P.O. Box 5694, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ 86011); the application form for CSE is available on-line at http://nau.edu/~envsci/msprogram/GradAppl.html. Applications to the Graduate College are available online http://home.nau.edu/gradcol/apply.asp, and also through their office, located in the Ashurst Building on the NAU campus (P.O. Box 4125, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ 86011). When applying by mail please give this letter of recommendation form to your recomenders to be filled out and turned in with your letter, Letter of Recommenation Form. If you would like to apply on-line to both the Graduate College and CSE applications are avialable at https://www.applyweb.com/apply/northazg/. After completing the application process, we suggest that all applicants verify that their files are complete at both the Graduate College and at CSE.

To apply for the Master's Program, a student must have an accredited bachelor's degree. General requirements for admission to the Graduate College are available in the Graduate Catalog (available on-line at http://www4.nau.edu/aio/AcademicCatalog/academiccatalogs.htm).

A completed application for admission will include:

An APPLICATION for admission to the NAU Graduate College, with the required application fee
TRANSCRIPTS of all undergraduate and graduate course work
An APPLICATION to CSE for the Master's Program in Environmental Sciences and Policy
Three LETTERS of recommendation from academic or professional supervisors
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) SCORES (the general test only; the advanced subject test is optional)
A STATEMENT of your interests and goals in environmental sciences and policy, and your reasons for pursuing a degree in this interdisciplinary program

The first two items are to be sent to the Graduate College; the last four to CSE.

A potential faculty advisor must be identified by the applicant before application to the program. This advisor will assist you in developing your program of study. A list of faculty, outlining areas of expertise and research interests, is available on-line at http://www.cefns.nau.edu/Academic/CSE/faculty.shtml. Applicants are encouraged to contact them directly with ideas and questions regarding graduate study at NAU. A meeting with one or more potential faculty advisors, prior to application, is strongly recommended. If this is not possible, consider contacting CSE faculty at professional meetings, or by letter, e-mail, or telephone. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their backgrounds, specific areas of interest, and career goals.

Students may enroll in coursework under the following classifications: Non-Degree Student, Provisional Graduate Student, or Regular Graduate Student.

A student who would like to take classe but has not yet been admitted to the Master's Program in Environmental Sciences and Policy must submit a Non-Degree Seeking Application to the Graduate College: Non-Degree Graduate Application.

A Non-Degree student is one who has been admitted to the Graduate College but has not yet been admitted to the Master's Program. No more than 12 hours of graduate credit earned under Non-Degree standing may be applied toward a graduate degree. Please note that students who have completed hours while on Non-Degree standing and who have fully completed application procedures for Regular Graduate standing are NOT assured admission to the graduate program. They must be considered for admission along with other applicants.

A Provisional Graduate Student is one who has been admitted to the Graduate College but who is identified by the CSE Graduate Committee to be deficient in undergraduate coursework. The CSE Graduate Committee will identify deficiencies and the coursework needed to eliminate them at the time of admission to the program. In such cases, the student will have up to one year to complete remedial coursework. Successful completion of remedial coursework will lead to advancement to regular standing.

Graduate degrees are awarded only to students holding Regular Graduate Standing at Northern Arizona University. This status is awarded when a student has fulfilled all requirements for admission to both the Graduate College and the Master's Program, and has been accepted by both the Graduate College and by the Master's Program.

The application deadline is February 15 for admission the following Fall semester. Applications may be considered at other times at the discretion of the CSE Graduate Committee.

Faculty Advisors and the Student Graduate Program Committee

Throughout your tenure in the program, you will work most closely with your faculty advisor. In addition, each student admitted to the program will also select a Student Graduate Program Committee (Program Committee) by the middle of the first semester of the program. The Program Committee Form is available on the CSE Web site, and should be submitted to CSE during the student's first semester in residence. Each student's Program Committee will consist of three or four faculty members, and all Program Committees must include at least one NAU faculty member representing the social sciences (e.g. sociology, political sciences, psychology) and another NAU faculty member representing the natural sciences (e.g. biology, geology, chemistry). Two Program Committee members must be NAU faculty members with appointments in CSE, including the Program Committee chair or one of the two co-chairs, if this responsibility is shared. In cases of deadlocked Program Committee decisions, the Program Committee chair or the CSE co-chair will have the deciding vote. Program Committees must be approved by the CSE Graduate Coordinator. Students may change their advisors or Program Committees during their program by resubmitting a revised Program Committee Form, but this practice is discouraged, and will be approved only under compelling circumstances. Program Committee changes may not occur within the final semester preceding thesis defense and graduation.

Students must develop a formal program of study detailing their intended coursework in consultation with the student's advisor and Program Committee by the end of the first semester of residence. A Program of Study Worksheet is available on the CSE Web site. Programs must be approved by the student's advisor and the CSE Graduate Coordinator. The Program of Study Worksheet must indicate a schedule for completion of 36 hours of graduate credit, including required core courses.

Requirements for the Master of Science degree in Environmental Sciences and Policy

The MS Program in Environmental Sciences and Policy combines study of required interdisciplinary core courses with a selection of specialized courses from across the University. The student must complete a thesis. This allows the graduate student to combine advanced academic training with original scientific research or with practical problem solving. The Program of Study is tailored to the specific needs and interest of each student.

The program consists of a twelve-credit-hour core, three credit hours of quantitative analysis, fifteen credit hours of graduate-level courses (specialty courses) selected by the student and his or her Program Committee, and a six-credit-hour thesis. Many of the courses in the M.S. program are drawn from existing graduate courses in biology, chemistry, forestry, geology, political science, and other NAU departments. The program core is designed to integrate environmental policy with course work from the natural sciences.

No more than two courses of 400-level credit will be accepted toward credit hour requirements; any 400 level courses must be approved by the advisor and the CSE Graduate Committee as part of the Program of Study. Courses previously applied to the requirements of a bachelor's degree cannot be used for graduate credit.

A) The Program Core (12 credit hours):

1) ENV 555: The Environmental Science/Policy Interface. 3 credit hours. This course brings together graduate students who have diverse interests, backgrounds, research projects, and career goals to study specific issues bridging environmental science and policy. The course explores the relationship between advances in the environmental sciences and the policy development process. The mission of this course is to set the tone for the core concepts of our program. A student will register for this course during his/her first semester in the program.

2) Advances in Environmental Sciences. 6 credit hours. Students will take one course each from two of the three areas listed below. While providing some flexibility to the student, the selected courses for each category provide the appropriate depth for advanced study in the environmental sciences. Additional courses may be added to these listings in the future, and students may propose substitutions in their Program of Study. Substitutions must be approved by the CSE Graduate Committee prior to student enrollment in the proposed substitute course.

a) Water Resources:

BIO 572: Limnology (3 units)
FOR 506: Watershed Restoration (3 units)
FOR 563: Watershed Hydrology (3 units)
GLG 451: Hydrogeology (4 units)
GLG 575: Geochemistry of Natural Waters (4 units)
GLG 670: Advanced Hydrogeology (4 units)

b) Atmosphere and Climate:

ENV 580: Atmospheric Change (3 units)
ENV 595: Global Environmental/Climate Change (3 units)
ENV 596: Quaternary Climate Change (3 units)
CHM 440/ENV 430: Environmental Chemistry (3 units)

c) Land Resources:

BIO 570: Plant Ecology, or BIO 573: Field Ecology (3 units)

BIO 660: Organic Evolution (3 units)

BIO 663: Biogeography

ENV 530: Arid Lands Geomorphology (3 units)

ENV 540 & 540L: Conservation Biology and Lab (3-4 units)

ENV 544: Landscape Ecology (3 units)

FOR 580: Ecological Restoration Principles, or FOR 582: Ecological Restoration Applications (3 units)

GLG 430: Geomorphology (4 credits)

3) Environmental Laws, Regulations, and Policy. 3 credit hours. Students will choose either an applied course in environmental regulations or a more theoretical course in environmental politics and policy.

CENE 540: Environmental Protection (3 units)

FOR 593: Natural Resource Economics (3 units)

FOR 605: Policy Process in Multi-Resource Management (3 units)

FOR 633: Ecological Economics (3 units)

GGR 574: Rural Economic Geography (3 units)

POS 659: Environmental Policy (3 credits)

B) Quantitative Analysis. 3 credit hours. One course from the following list:

STA 570/571: Statistical Methods 1 and/or 2 (3-6 units)
STA 676: Experimental Design (3 units)
BIO 682: Quantitative Biology (3 units)
GGR 525: Geographic Information Systems (3 units)
MAT 542/543: Wildlife Population Modeling and lab( 3-5 units)
POS 601 Research Methods/Analysis (3 units)
POS 605 Topics in Research Methods (3 units)

C) Specialty Courses. 15 credit hours. At least 15 additional hours of specialty courses, at the 500 level or above, will be chosen by students in consultation with their Program Committee. These classes will customize the program to individual needs. Courses may be drawn from graduate offerings across the NAU campus and may include courses listed in sections A and B, above. The Program Committee will ensure that the selection of specialty courses is appropriate to the student's research and career objectives.

Getting Started on Campus

Here are a few initial items requiring the student's attention upon arrival:

University ID Card (NAUcard): After registering for classes, your photo ID can be obtained at Room 115 of the University Union (Bldg. 30). Your ID card also serves as a library card.
Email: CSE utilizes e-mail for internal communications. You will need to let the CSE office staff know your e-mail address. All new students are automatically given an email account. From more information, visit http://www4.nau.edu/achd/publicdisplay.aspx?id=2141.
Mailbox: Graduate students in residence will have a mailbox available in the main CSE office (Bldg 19, rm 119).
Keys: Building keys and key deposits for the Physical Sciences building are handled by the CSE staff and can be collected in the main CSE office.
Office Space: Consult with your faculty advisor regarding office space. Teaching Assistants have first priority for office space, but CSE will make every effort to secure office space for other students, as-needed.
Parking: Permits to park on campus are purchased at Parking Services, Bldg. 91. Learn more about parking services on-line at http://home.nau.edu/parking/.
Residency Status: If you wish to establish Arizona residency for tuition purposes visit the office of the Registrar at http://home.nau.edu/registrar/az_residency.asp#res or call (928) 523-7683 directly with questions.
Orientation: Prior to the start of classes in the fall, the Graduate College sponsors a graduate student orientation. Students are expected to attend this orientation.

Thesis

When working on a thesis, students will work closely with the Program Committee Chair and other Program Committee members to conduct the required original research project (a minimum of 6 credit hours). In most cases this will require the student to maintain close physical proximity to the NAU campus. Writing the thesis as a research paper or papers for submission to a professional, peer-reviewed journal is strongly recommended. A thesis must be of publishable quality, as determined by the student's graduate advisor. A Thesis Proposal Form must be submitted to the Program Committee for approval. For Graduate College thesis format guidelines, please refer to http://www.nau.edu/gradcol/binderyandmicrofilmingchecklist.pdf. For other models and guidlines refer to http://home.nau.edu/gradcol/thesis.asp.

The thesis must be defended orally before the Program Committee. The final draft of the thesis is to be submitted to the Program Committee at least six weeks prior to the defense to provide time for thorough review and possible revision. Program Committee members must provide feedback on the thesis within two weeks if their changes are to be incorporated into the final draft of the thesis. A final copy of the thesis, incorporating changes and including all figures, tables, and references, must be distributed to all Program Committee members at least seven working days before the date of the oral defense. Any Program Committee member who considers that the thesis needs more work may demand that the oral examination be rescheduled. A unanimous affirmative vote of the Program Committee is required for passing.

The approved thesis, with Program Committee signatures (in blue ink) is to be submitted to the Graduate College before the deadline set for the term. Contact the Graduate College for format and timeline instructions.

Evaluation of Progress and Grade Requirements

An M.S. student must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better to complete requirements for the degree, and is expected to make significant progress in their program each semester. A grade of C or better is acceptable for graduate credit, but no more than 6 credit hours earned with a grade of C may be counted as credit towards a degree. Accumulation of more than 6 credit hours of course work with a grade of C or below will result in the termination of the student's M.S. program, regardless of the grade point average achieved.

All students receiving any form of financial assistance (teaching assistantships, graduate assistantships, or fellowships) must complete a Financial Request and Progress Report form and turn it in to the CESE Graduate Committee by the announced deadline for continued funding (usually 15 February).

Application for Graduation

Application for graduation should be made to the Graduate College by the end of the second week of the semester of graduation. The Graduate College can provide the deadline for receipt of this application; there is a graduation fee. Students, not advisors or Program Committee members, are responsible for keeping track of Graduate College guidelines and deadlines.

Incompletes

If unable to complete the work required in a scheduled course within a semester, a student may petition the instructor to receive a grade of Incomplete (I). If the instructor agrees to give an I, the student and instructor must complete a written agreement, a copy of which is filed with CSE, indicating the exact work needed to finish the course. This written agreement must also indicate the date by which the work must be completed, and that date cannot be longer than one calendar year from the end of the semester in which the student was enrolled in that course. By the end of the time agreed to in writing, the instructor must submit a permanent earned grade for the course. If no grade has been submitted then a permanent Incomplete is entered on the student's transcript.

Independent Study

A student can enhance his/her program through independent research and reading under a faculty member's direction. Such independent study is particularly appropriate where the subject is not available in regular seminars or where the student wishes to address seminar topics in greater detail. Students may include no more than 6 credit hours of independent study or directed research in their program of study, and all units would fall under the "Specialty Courses" section of the program. A topical outline and reading list for any independent study must be approved by the supervising professor, program advisor, and CSE Director prior to registration. Directed study cannot be used to substitute for regularly scheduled courses or seminars.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credits from other institutions are not accepted automatically, and in no case may the transferred credits exceed 9 credit hours (25% of the total minimum semester hours required for the MS degree). The student must petition the Graduate College to apply transfer credits toward the M.S. degree. Forms may be obtained from the Graduate College, and must be approved by the student's advisor and accompanied by official transcripts from the schools where the credits were earned.

Time Limits

All requirements for the M.S. degree, including courses accepted as transfer credit from other institutions, must be completed within a 6-year period from the date of enrollment in the first course on the program of study.

One extension of the time to complete degree requirements (of up to one year) may be granted if there are compelling extenuating circumstances. Extensions may be granted for a variety of reasons which may include, but are not limited to, job relocation, military duty, pregnancy, illness, a serious accident, divorce, or other personal tragedies within the immediate household.

Petitions for extension of the 6-year limit can be made in writing on forms available from the Graduate College. The petition must be supported by a letter from the Faculty Advisor and endorsed by the Director of CSE. The Director recommends the exception to the Dean of the Graduate College.

Credit Load

The minimum full-time credit load for a student is 9 hours. Students on assistantships (20 hours per week) are required to carry between 9 and 12 credit hours.

Teaching Assistantships

A limited number of Teaching Assistantships are available to graduate students in the Environmental Sciences and Policy program. These include an out-of-state Tuition Scholarship, which generally requires that in-state tuition be paid. A limited number of Tuition Scholarships waiving in-state tuition are also available, with eligibility limited to Arizona residents. A minimum semester and cumulative grade point average of 3.0, plus satisfactory progress in the degree program, are required for continued support.

Teaching Assistants are expected to devote 20 hours per week to their appointment, including teaching, office hours, preparations, testing and grading, and laboratory preparation. They should expect to have 6-12 student contact hours of teaching per week. They must have excellent command of spoken and written English and of the relevant subject matter. Teaching assistants must carry a course load of 9-12 hours per semester. All teaching assistants must attend the CSE and NAU Graduate Assistant Orientations each Fall, prior to the start of classes.

Teaching Assistants are expected to be in residence and available for assignment throughout the dates specified in their contract, beginning the first day and continuing through the last day of the contract. Faculty supervisors will complete a Graduate Assistant Evaluation at the end of each term of support; both supervisors and students are to review the evaluation, sign, and submit the form to the CSE Graduate Committee.

A Teaching Assistant's employment may be terminated for cause in the event of unacceptable performance or failure to make adequate academic progress that is not corrected after appropriate notice. Termination or any other disciplinary action is subject to the appeal process as stated in Graduate College policy documents.

Research Assistantships

A variable number of research assistantships are available from research funds granted to the university and under the direction of individual faculty members. Recommendations for these appointments are made by the faculty members who administer these funds. Inquiries about availability should be made to the faculty doing research in the area in which the student is interested. These appointments include out-of-state tuition waivers, and have a commitment of 20 hours per week during the academic year. Research assistants must carry a course load of 9-12 hours per semester. A minimum semester and cumulative grade point average of 3.0, plus satisfactory progress in the degree program, are required for continued support. Faculty supervisors will complete a Graduate Assistant Evaluation at the end of each term of support; both supervisors and students are to review the evaluation, sign, and submit the form to the CSE Graduate Committee.

Tuition Scholarships

A very limited number of scholarships waiving either in-state or out-of-state tuition are available from the Graduate College upon recommendation from the Center for Sustainable Environments. Requests for information should be directed to the CSE Graduate Committee Chair.

Duration of Support

Graduate students in a Master's Program may receive two full academic years (four semesters) of support, regardless of its source, as long as they are making satisfactory progress toward completion of their degree requirements and receive satisfactory job performance evaluations. Satisfactory progress is evaluated by the student's Program Committee and the CSE Graduate Committee.

Revised 11.26.08

Northern Arizona University

College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences