Coastal and Watershed Science Policy, M.S. Admission

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Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy, M.S. ~ Admission

Application Deadline

To start the program in the fall, you must apply no later than March of the same year. We do NOT accept new students for spring enrollment.

Undergraduate Preparation

The Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy, M.S. accepts students from a wide range of undergraduate majors. However, regardless of undergraduate major, you must complete the following prerequisites by the end of the first semester in the program:

  • Calculus (1 year) (must be completed BEFORE enrolling in the fall)
  • Statistics (1 quarter or 1 semester; must be completed BEFORE enrolling in the fall)
  • Biology (1 year of college biology for science majors; chemistry is typically a prerequisite; second semester may be completed in the fall)
  • Economics (at least one semester; macro and micro or resource economics; may be completed during fall semester)
  • ArcView certification from ESRI (may be completed during fall semester)
  • GPS certification from Trimble (may be completed during fall semester).

If you lack more than one of these requirements, you should state in your application letter how you plan to complete all missing requirements by the end of the fall semester.

Program Admission Requirements
  1. Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
    Applicants with a strong application and a GPA of 2.75 to 2.99 may be considered under exceptional circumstances if their GPA in their final two years of undergraduate or postgraduate studies is above 3.0.
  2. GRE general test scores
    When submitting scores, be sure to specify Institution R1945 (California State University, Monterey Bay) and Department 0502 (Environmental Sciences).
General Admissions Information and Procedures

All CSU campuses utilize an online application process that you will find on the CSUmentor.edu website.

As a prospective student, you should review faculty research areas and contact individual faculty members for current information about research projects and potential funding sources. Because Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy is a thesis-based M.S. program, you will not be admitted to the program unless you are accepted by a faculty thesis advisor.

A complete application includes:

  1. Electronic application via CSU Mentor
  2. Application fee (paid via CSU Mentor electronic application process)
  3. Three letters of reference from individuals who can provide a recent evaluation of your intellectual and analytical ability, creativity, initiative, and promise of success in the realm of science and policy. At least one of these must be a recent instructor.
  4. Two copies of a three to five page Statement of Purpose
  5. Two copies of your resume or curriculum vitae
  6. Two copies of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions and programs attended, including Education Abroad Programs if the grades do not appear on your undergraduate transcripts, with at least one copy of each in an unopened, sealed envelope
  7. GRE general test scores taken within last three years
  8. TOEFL scores taken within two years of the time of application for applicants whose native language is not English

Send items 2 through 6 to:

        Graduate Secretary
        CWSP, Building 53, 3rd floor, CSUMB
        100 Campus Center
        Seaside CA 93955
        Fax 831-582-4122

GRE TOEFL scores should be submitted directly to CSUMB.  The institution and program codes for GRE scores are:

  • Institution R1945 (California State University, Monterey Bay)
  • Department 0502 (Environmental Sciences).