The Master of Environmental Science and 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 and management. *It is possible to take more than two years to complete the program if work or personal factors make it impossible for you to engage in full-time graduate study. Core Courses 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, knowlege, techniques, and methodologies of varied disciplines while developing general analytical and problems solving abilities and the adaptability 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. The core courses are normally completed during the first year of study and are designed to accommodate varying levels of knowledge.
Click here for descriptions of the core courses and elective courses offered at the Bren School.
Specializations 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. Eco-Entrepreneurship Any one of the above specializations can be enhanced by adding a special focus on Eco-Entrepreneurship (EE), a joint initiative between the Bren School and the Technology Management Program of the College of Engineering. EE 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.
Group Project 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
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MESM