Master of Science in Environmental Science

Curriculum

MSES  students are required to finish these courses and number of units in two years or four semesters:

Core Courses (13 units)

All students, regardless of their chosen areas of specialization, are required to take these courses which provide them with essential knowledge to critically analyze environmental issues, applying the holistic systems thinking approach, and assess environmental impacts of human activities effectively. A total of thirteen (13) credits will be earned by the student from the following core/major courses.

CODE

TITLE

DESCRIPTION

UNITS

ENS 201

Ecosystems Structure and Dynamics

Ecosystem structure, function, energetics, nutrient cycles, population dynamics, ecosystem models.

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisite: BOT 150 or BIO 150 or COI)

3 units

ENS 211

Systems Analysis and Quantitative Methods in Natural Resources Management

Statistical concepts and data analysis; optimization techniques; stochastic modelling; application of the systems approach to resource-based problems

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisite: MGT 211 or COI)

3 units

ENS 275

Contemporary Issues in Environment and Development

Environmental issues, concerns, and opportunities; environment-economy interactions; environmental administration; sustainable development policies and issues; resource-use conflict and resolution

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisite: COI)

3 units

ENS 296

Environmental Impact Assessment: Perspectives from the Natural and Social Sciences

Framework and methodology for environmental impact assessment of the biophysical and socioeconomic systems; ecological, social and ethical bases of EIA; risk assessment and management; mitigation of negative impacts and enhancement of positive impacts; case studies

(3 class, 3 lab | Pre-requisite: COI)

4 units

Specialization Courses (12 units)

Students must earn twelve (12) credits from the following selection of specialization courses which will be taken with regards to the chosen area of specialization and the respective research topic each student will work on.

Students in the MS Environmental Science program can choose an area of specialization from among the following:

  • Community-based Resource Management (CBRM)
    CBRM is an approach wherein the people in a local community are given the opportunity and/or responsibility to manage the resources in their locality. 
  • Environmental Biology
    This area of specialization is focused on the application of the basic concepts and principles governing organismic and ecosystem structure and function. 
  • Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
    This area of specialization is focused on understanding the chemical nature, effects, and detection of environmental problems including the acquisition of basic skills in conducting water, soil, and air quality analyses, among others.

CODE

TITLE

DESCRIPTION

UNITS

BIO 241

Biogeography

The geographical distribution of plants and animals; mechanisms and modes of dispersal; dynamic changes of floral and faunal distribution patterns; continental and island biogeography; current theories on the origin of existing distribution patterns.

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisite: Bio 142 or COI)

3 units

BIO 263

Terrestrial Ecology

Composition and dynamics of terrestrial communities

(2 class, 3 lab | Pre-requisite: Bio 160 or COI)

3 units

Chem 217

Dynamics of Chemistry

Properties of gases and liquids, the laws of thermodynamics and equilibria in physical and chemical changes including electrochemistry and chemical kinetics

(3 hrs lec)

3 units

Chem 272

 Environmental Chemistry

Chemistry applied to the study of the environment, its pollution and control

(3 hrs lec)

3 units

Chem 274

Separation and Purification Techniques

Practical applications of various methods of separation and purification techniques, including distillation, solvent extraction and chromatographic separation techniques

(6 hrs lec | Pre-requisite: Chem 217)

3 units

ENS 202

Landscape Ecology

Principles, theories, research methods and application of landscape ecology in environmental and natural resource management

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisites: ENS 201, Bio 150 or COI)

3 units

ENS 203

Advanced Aquatic Ecology

Recent studies in aquatic environment-organism interactions; adaptive mechanisms; species displacement and extinction; modern approaches in the evaluation of production rates

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisites: COI)

3 units

ENS 204

Issues in Aquatic Resources Management

Problems and issues in the use of aquatic resources with emphasis on the Philippine situation

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisite: COI)

3 units

ENS 220

Institution and the Environment

Social science approaches to the study of man-environment interactions; analysis of the interrelationships between culture, population, and the natural environment, and human responses to changing habitats

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisite: COI)

3 units

ENS 221

Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Formulation

Theories, concepts, and issues in environmental and natural resource policy formulation, case studies with special reference to developing countries

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisite: COI)

3 units

ENS 242

Economic Valuation of Environmental and Natural Resource System

Approaches and techniques for economic measurements and valuation of natural resources and environmental impacts of development

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisite: COI)

3 units

ENS 265

Gender and Environments

Theories, research, and issues relevant to the analysis of gender relations in the home and work environments

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisite: COI)

3 units

ENS 270

Dynamics of Population, Resources and Environment

Interactions of human populations with resources and environment in different ecosystems; local, national, and global in scope

(3 hrs lec | Pre-requisites: HUME 2 or COI)

3 units

ENS 290

Special Problems

May be taken twice provided that total number of units to be credited to the student's program will not exceed 4 units.

(Pre-requisite: COI)

1-3 units

ENS 291

Special Topics

May be taken twice provided that total number of units to be credited to the student's program will not exceed 4 units.

(Pre-requisite: COI)

1-3 units

Other required courses

The following courses are required to be taken by all students regardless of their chosen areas of specialization besides the core courses. As a Master of Science program, a six (6) units Master’s Thesis (ENS 300), must be taken in two (2) terms for three (3) units each term. Another required course to be taken by all students is the Graduate Seminar (ENS 299), a one (1) unit course, which may be taken twice.