Core Courses | Specializations | Eco-Entrepreneurship | Group Project | Communications Center
The Master of Environmental Science & Management (MESM) is a two-year* professional degree designed for individuals who plan to enter or re-enter the workforce upon graduating from the program. MESM graduates have found employment with government agencies (regional, state, and federal), corporations, nonprofit organizations, and environmental consulting firms. Please refer to our Career Development Placement Statistics for examples of employment obtained by Bren graduates. 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 & Management. *It is possible to take more than two years to complete the program if work or personal factors make it impossible to participate in a full-time (or more) program. Students must pay full fees, GSHIP, and tuition (if applicable) each quarter no matter how many units are taken. A potential "3-year" schedule may be viewed here. If you are interested in this possibility, please let the admissions/student affairs office know.
The Bren School degree requires completion of a core curriculum that provide solid foundation in coupled human and environmental systems. Students become conversant in the language, knowledge, techniques, and methodologies of varied disciplines while developing general analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and the adaptability that is indispensable to professional success. Our objective is to provide a foundation of multidisciplinary knowledge and quantitative and analytical skills that will enable students to interpret, design, communicate and implement policy and management solutions. Students normally complete the core courses during the first year of study; the courses are designed to accommodate varying levels of knowledge.
Descriptions of the Bren School core and elective courses.
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. 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.
Coastal Marine Resources Management Corporate Environmental Management Economics and Politics of the Environment Pollution Prevention & Remediation
Any one of the above specializations can be enhanced by adding a special focus on Eco-Entrepreneurship (Eco-E), a joint initiative between the Bren School and the Technology Management Program of the College of Engineering. Eco-E students pursue additional coursework and activities that provide them with skills and support to launch new ventures, products, and technologies that address society's environmental and resource problems.
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 their 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
The Bren Communications Center supports students in developing their skills in a range of academic and professional communication tasks. Communications Center staff can help students generate ideas, organize information, visualize data, revise drafts, and polish your documents in a supportive one-on-one environment. We also offer workshops to enhance the clarity of your writing.
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MESM