Master of Science in Environmental Studies
Conducting Research and Writing the Thesis
Conducting research for and writing the thesis can be one of the most enjoyable, and yet one of the most difficult tasks a graduate student undertakes. To facilitate student progress, the department requires that graduate students remain enrolled during the entire thesis process. For some students, thesis research begins the moment they set foot on campus, and they are able to complete the process by the end of their second year. Others use the first year as an exploratory period, during which they may be completing deficiencies or observing their environment, and therefore they may complete the thesis during or after their third year of study. In all cases, the department policy is that all students should finish their thesis within four years of achieving "classified" standing.
Thesis Research Funding
The department strongly encourages students to apply for scholarship and fellowship funding at the same time that they are applying to the graduate program at SJSU. Similarly, many students use the thesis proposal process to develop grant proposals that have potential for funding through both on-campus and off-campus sources. Although departmental research assistantships are not usually available, individual faculty members may have funding for particular projects at any given time. Graduate students are also eligible and strongly encouraged to compete for College of Social Sciences research funding. Finally, several SJSU Masters Students have obtained outside funding for their research from local agencies and through national and international sources.
The Range of Thesis Topics
Although all our theses must adhere to the department's interdisciplinary requirements, theses written range from those focused on the natural sciences (e.g., Andalusia Khechfe's "Benthic Microalgae as Bio-Indicators of Sediment Quality in San Francisco Bay") to more policy-oriented (e.g., Teri Patane's "Hazardous Materials Regulation and Small Business Compliance in Santa Clara County") to education-oriented (e.g., Susan Giles' "Ocean Conservation: A Baseline Study of Knowledge and Attitudes of Fifth Graders"). Our theses also range from local studies of San Jose, Santa Clara Valley, and Monterey (thus serving community needs) to studies requiring international field work (e.g., Paul Laris' "The Role of Gender and Resource Access in Women's Technology Interventions in Mali, Africa"). The diversity of theses written in the department accurately reflects the multi-interdisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies. A complete list of EnvS Masters of Science theses completed since the Graduate Program's inceptions is found elsewhere on this web site. Not only does this list demonstrate a wide range of thesis topics, but it also lists thesis committee members from SJSU, outside agencies, and from other universities and colleges.
