Q. Can I apply for admission any quarter?
A. We only accept applications for fall quarter admission. Under special
circumstance a faculty member may request admission of a new student
beginning Winter or Spring quarters.
Q. What are the application deadlines for
the ESR graduate program?
A. If you would like to be considered for departmental financial aid (Teaching Assistantship/Mentorship) the application
deadline is February 1. A decision will be made on your application
by the end of March.
If you are applying for a TAship you must complete the ESR Graduate Assistantship Application. We will accept applications for students who are not interested
in TAships until April 1, and will notify by the end of May. These are firm deadlines. Please make sure that your complete application packet is turned in by the appropriate date.
Q. What financial aid is available?
A. We have a limited number of Teaching Assistantships each year. These
are very competitive and typically go to students with strong academic
records. Individual faculty may also have Research Assistantships and
should be contacted directly regarding the availability of support.
Q. How much does a Teaching Assistantship pay?
A. Teaching assistants receive a minimum of $9,900 per academic year
for 0.30 FTE, plus tuition that covers 9 credit hours of course work.
Q. How much does Research Assistantship pay?
A. Pay for Research Assistantships vary by project. They typically include
tuition.
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Q. What is the difference between an MEM and
MS degree?
A. MS students complete lab or field thesis research. MEM students will
complete a project with scope and effort similar to a thesis but with
more flexibility of topic and design, including in-depth study of an
appropriate problem. Typically, MEM students develop a project in consultation
with an agency or organization outside the university. MS and PhD students
must arrange to work with a major professor before they can be admitted.
Q. What coursework is required for admission
to the ESR graduate program?
A. Students should have academic training sufficient for them to be
successful in graduate courses. An adequate background would include
the following:
One year of biology
One year of chemistry
One course in physics
Courses in differential and integral calculus
At least one course in statistics
Q. I don't have all the required courses. Can
I still apply?
A. Students with the coursework background outlined above will receive
first consideration. Students that lack some of the coursework are advised
to take courses as post-baccalaureate students prior to admission. ESR
may admit students with deficiencies in some of the background coursework
if the application otherwise indicates preparation that will allow the
student to succeed in graduate school.
Q. Can graduate courses taken as a post-baccalaureate
student be applied to the graduate program requirements?
A. No more than one-third of the required graduate course credits (15
credits in the case of the MS and MEM programs) taken by post-baccalaureate
students may be taken prior to admission and transferred into the graduate
program.
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Q. What is required in the application package?
A.1. Departmental application form (included in University Application) with resume attached
2. Copies of transcripts of all college coursework
3. Verbal and quantitative GRE scores (school code: 4610, ESR dept code: 0502)
4. Statement of education and career goals (please be specific about your interests)
5. 3 letters of recommendation (there is no specific form/format for these)
Additionally, formal acceptance into the University's graduate program
requires students to submit to the Admissions Office:
1. A PSU graduate application
2. Official transcripts of all college and university
course work.
3. Application fee
See the Graduate Admissions web site for forms and additional requirements: http://www.pdx.edu/admissions/grad_apply.html
Q. What GPA is required for admission to the ESR
graduate program?
A. A 3.0 in science courses taken prior to application is required.
While not a strict requirement, most successful applicants have a cumulative
GPA of at least 3.0.
Q. What GRE score is required?
A. We have no strict requirement for minimum GRE scores, however, most
successful applicants have combined verbal and analytical scores of
at least 1100.
Q. What are the codes for having GRE scores sent to ESR?
A. The school code for Portland State University is: 4610. The department code for Environmental Sciences and Resources is: 0502.
Q. Should I submit applications materials separately
or in a complete package?
A. All application materials should be submitted in one package. Letters
of recommendation should be submitted in sealed envelopes with the recommendor's signature over the seal. It is the
applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application is complete.
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Q. How do I identify a major professor prior
to my application to the PhD and MS graduate programs?
A. The best way to identify a major professor is to communicate directly
with faculty that may share your research interests. Information on
faculty research interests is given in the ESR Faculty section
of the ESR web page
Q. How can I learn more about the graduate student
experience in ESR at PSU?
A. You can communicate directly with graduate students currently in
the program. Contact the department for graduate student contact information.
Q. Where do I get information on the Master of
Science Teaching Program?
A. Go to the Center for Science Education web site Curriculum folder.
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