Admission

Application Deadline

Last date to have all application materials submitted:
February 15.

Undergraduate Preparation

The M.S. in Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy (CWSP) is a graduate degree program in the Division of Science & Environmental Policy (SEP). The program accepts students from a wide range of related undergraduate majors. Regardless of undergraduate major, the following prerequisites must be completed by the times indicated below for admission to the graduate program.

  • Calculus (2 course sequence; must be completed BEFORE enrolling in the fall).
  • Statistics (1 course; must be completed BEFORE enrolling in the fall).
  • Biology (2 courses; college biology for science majors; second semester may be completed in the fall; e.g., organismal biology, ecology, etc.).
  • Physical Earth Science (1 course; e.g., geology, soils, geomorphology, hydrology, oceanography; may be completed during fall semester).
  • Economics (1 course; e.g., microeconomics, macroeconomics, resource economics; may be completed during fall semester).
  • GIS (1 college-level GIS course or basic ESRI ArcGIS certification; may be completed during fall semester).

Conditional Admission
Applicants who lack any of these required courses may be accepted for conditional admission. Applicants should state in their application letter how they plan to complete all missing requirements by the end of the fall semester.

Program Admission Requirements
  1. Bachelor's degree in related field 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).

Admission to the CWSP M.S. program will be based upon a holistic evaluation of all application materials, and the availability of a thesis advisor.

General Admissions Information and Procedures

All CSU campuses utilize an online application process using CSUmentor.edu

Prospective students 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, students will not be admitted to the program unless you are accepted by a faculty thesis advisor.

A complete application includes:

  1. Electronic application via CSUmentor.edu.
  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. CWSP Recommendation Form.
  4. Two copies of a one-to-two page Statement of Purpose. Please include the name(s) of the faculty member(s) you have contacted about your thesis project.
  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. At least one copy must in an unopened, sealed envelope).
  7. GRE general test scores (GRE must have been 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 3 through 6 to:

Graduate Secretary
CWSP, Chapman Science Center, 3rd floor, CSUMB
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955-8001
831-582-4739
Fax 831-582-4122

GRE scores should be submitted to CSUMB:

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