Program Description

The Master in Environmental Management (MEM) program was established in 2023 and is a shared program in the School of Public Service (SPS) and the School of Environment (SoE) within the College of Arts and Sciences at Boise State University. The faculty work in disciplines in the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities, and many engage in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, promoting understanding of social, ecological, and technical systems. 

The program prepares innovative and capable managers and researchers who understand the complexities of environmental challenges. The program offers three tracks that share common core courses, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary electives. Two coursework tracks — Human Dimensions and Biophysical Dimensions — emphasize professional skills, and the culminating activity is the development of a portfolio. The Research track emphasizes research skills, and the culminating activity is the defense of a thesis. In all tracks, the MEM develops communication skills and the effective use of collaborative approaches to synthesize material for diverse audiences. Students are highly encouraged to select a track as early as possible and are required to do so before enrolling in classes for their third semester in the program. Students can change their selected track through a written appeal to the Graduate Studies Committee.

All MEM students should take two core courses in their first fall semester: MEM 500 Fundamentals of Environmental Management and MEM 501 Methods for Environmental Management. In addition, students are encouraged to attend the MEM 598 Seminar throughout their time in the program and are required to take the seminar for credit in their last semester. In the last semester of the program, all students are required to take MEM 692 Portfolio. In the last semester, research track students will also take thesis credits, and the student’s thesis will be the focus of the culminating portfolio.

This handbook provides students in the MEM program with an overview of program policies, procedures, and resources. The handbook is designed to help you be successful in the MEM program. It answers the most frequently asked questions, and we encourage you to read this handbook carefully and refer to it as you plan courses. 

Each MEM student is supported by an advisor, the program faculty, a Graduate Faculty Committee, and the Program Lead. Research Track students will also be supported by a Thesis Supervisory Committee, chaired by a MEM faculty member who serves as their academic advisor. Students should meet with their advisor to plan courses, track progress, and ensure program and Graduate College requirements are being met. All graduate programs at Boise State are overseen by the Boise State Graduate College. The MEM program procedures described in this handbook align with the deadlines, policies, and guidelines set by the Graduate College. 

Many of the forms and deadlines referenced in this Handbook can be found in the resources listed below:

• Academic Calendars 
• Graduate Student Forms and Guidelines 
• MEM Program Website

Students are responsible for understanding and following the policies and procedures outlined in these resources, as well as the Boise State University Policy Manual, including the Student Code of Conduct.

The types of curriculum and research activities students undertake are expressed through the program’s learning outcomes (PLOs). Upon completion of the program, MEM students should be able to:

1. Recognize and identify the complexities of environmental management, including approaches from various disciplines.  
2. Develop skills and strategies for meaningful and productive relationships with stakeholders, rightsholders, and constituencies in varied social-ecological settings.
3. Integrate applied and theoretical contexts of environmental issues and problems.
4. Collect and analyze data to design research, draw conclusions, and generate solutions to challenges in environmental management.
5. Synthesize and translate research for the public in the context of environmental management.

The MEM program will provide the necessary tools and environment for a student’s growth and professional development. When you are first admitted to the program, the Program Lead will serve as your academic advisor and help connect you with professional development resources. Students in the Research Track will also have a Supervisory Committee Chair who will serve as the student’s primary advisor on their thesis.  

The student is responsible for meeting all deadlines and academic requirements and for initiating a process of regular communication with their academic advisor(s). For research track students, the thesis Supervisory Chair is the primary academic advisor. Students are responsible for ensuring that all degree requirements are met in a timely manner. 

Students in the Research Track should identify a Supervisory Committee Chair before enrollment in the second semester of the program. This advisor will provide academic advising and professional development mentoring and will serve as chair of the student’s thesis Supervisory Committee. See the Appointment of Supervisory Committee Instructions for more information on the Supervisory Committee appointment process. The Graduate College confirms final approval of all advisor selections.

All new graduate students are required to attend a program orientation held in the first two months of the semester. During the orientation, faculty will review program policies and answer questions.

MEM graduate students are required to enroll in the MEM seminar in their final semester and encouraged to participate in each of the other semesters of the program. The seminar provides students and faculty with opportunities to broaden their exposure to environmental research, expand their professional networks, and build community within and beyond Boise State.

The university’s goal is to foster an intellectual atmosphere that produces educated people who are skilled in the discipline of their choice. Because cheating, plagiarism, and academic misconduct as a whole are at odds with this goal, these actions shall not be tolerated in any form. You are expected to adhere to the rules and regulations as set forth in the Student Code of Conduct (Policy 2020). Therefore, all work submitted during the program must represent your own ideas and effort; when the work does not, you have engaged in academic dishonesty while preventing your own learning and skill development.

MEM has an email listserv, a group within the School of Environment Canvas Page, and you have an assigned Boise State University student email account. Students are responsible for checking their Boise State student email account (@u.boisestate.edu) for messages and announcements regarding the graduate program. All email communications from the University are required to be sent to your Boise State student email account. You should use only your Boise State email address for professional correspondence, and you should cc your advisor and/or other colleagues as appropriate.

There are a number of resources across campus designed to assist graduate students. Two such resources are: Grad Connect and the Graduate Student Success Center.

The University also has a variety of useful resources that you can turn to for help.

Emergency Assistance. If you face an EMERGENCY on campus, call (208) 426-691.

University Health Services, Counseling. Trained staff provide counseling and consultative, evaluative support.

University Health Services, Medical. Primary and urgent care medical health services.

Campus Security Services. Security escorts, lockouts, jumpstarts, and other security services.

Admission is competitive, and achievement of the minimum Graduate College and MEM requirements does not guarantee admission into the program.

Students wishing to enter the MEM program must satisfy the minimum requirements for the program and for the Boise State University Graduate College (see online information on Graduate College Admissions and Application Process). Applicants to the MEM program must have completed a baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 GPA or greater.

Applicants must submit all application materials to the University by January 15th for priority admissions for the following fall term and by September 15th for priority admissions for the following spring term. Consideration of admission applications to the MEM program requires acceptance to the Boise State Graduate College and the payment of application fees. 

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree, preferably in a field closely related to environmental management (e.g., environmental studies, environmental science, applied environmental humanities), from an accredited university or college. The program also recognizes the value of research and/or professional experience in the field of environmental management. Provisional admission is sometimes granted to promising applicants who do not meet GPA requirements or who have undergraduate coursework deficiencies. Students admitted provisionally must fulfill specific requirements before being advanced to regular status. Regular status is required before a student can submit an Application for Admissions to Candidacy.

After the admission deadline for a given term, the MEM program’s Graduate Studies Committee will evaluate all complete applications. The Graduate Studies Committee will forward its recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate College. The Graduate College Dean will make the final admission decision and notify the applicant and the Program Lead.

The Graduate College Application accepts applications year-round. All applications are subject to the Graduate College policy on Plagiarism and Accuracy of Application Materials. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application materials well in advance of the deadlines to ensure the application is complete. 

For the MEM application, students must submit:

1. Boise State University Graduate College Application
2. Letter of Application. Please write a cover letter of between 500 and 750 words that includes:
   1. A description of your overall academic interests and goals. Why do you seek graduate training? What are your career goals? Why are you applying to this program?
   2. A description of how your background, experience, or aptitude make you a good fit for this program. What specific courses or professional experiences make you a good candidate?
   3. A description of your goals within the program. Which MEM program track interests you? Why?
   4. If needed, please include a request to be considered for a graduate assistantship.
3. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
4. Letters of Recommendation. Three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional references. Letters should include an evaluation of your educational and career objectives as related to the MEM program. Applicants list recommenders in the application system, and recommenders provide an electronic upload.
5. Transcripts. Official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts should be sent to Boise State through the application system.
6. International Students Only. Submit English proficiency documentation. The minimum required scores are:  Duolingo English Test (115), IELTS (6.5),  or TOEFL iBT (80). 

International students must comply with the current rules and regulations of the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Please review the International Admissions Graduate Application Process and refer any questions you have about such rules and regulations to the International Advising.

Applicants who are not recommended for admission to the MEM program at Boise State University may appeal this decision initially to the MEM Graduate Studies Committee. From the day of notification that the program will not recommend admission, students have 14 working days to submit a written appeal to the Graduate Studies Committee outlining their rationale for challenging the Admission Committee’s decision. 

The Graduate Studies Committee, in consultation with the Program Lead, will review that appeal and notify the student of their decision to admit or to uphold the denial of admission. If the denial is upheld on appeal, then the applicant may appeal the program’s decision to the Graduate College. 

In most cases, students who are denied admission have the option to reapply once to the MEM program, but must offer substantive changes to their application materials so that the complete application file merits reconsideration. Admission is not guaranteed if a student resubmits a second application. Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission to the MEM program.

The current courses in the curriculum and the program degree requirements are listed in the Graduate Catalog and on the MEM program website.

After being admitted, students should schedule a time to meet with their advisor and plan their course of study using the MEM Program Development Plan (PDP) form. The form is sent to students by the MEM graduate program. The PDP maps out which courses the student will take when, given the student’s interests and the program’s course offerings. 

Understanding which courses are required, course progressions, and other program requirements can ensure students complete their coursework in a timely manner. Regularly meeting with your advisor (each semester or as you see fit) is suggested to ensure that students understand their requirements for graduation and can adjust their PDP accordingly. Students are encouraged to complete the PDP early in their course of study. The PDP must be completed before enrolling in the second semester of the program. It can be revised in subsequent semesters. 

The program provides flexibility to students when it comes to the selection of courses. The program is prescriptive, however, when it comes to the core curriculum. Students should plan to enroll in MEM 500 and MEM 501 during their first semester of the program (or second semester if a student begins taking MEM courses in a spring or summer term). These two core courses cannot be taken in conjunction with MEM 692 or in the same semester as your thesis defense.

Graduate students enrolled in 500-level courses that are offered simultaneously as an upper-division undergraduate course must complete all work required of students earning undergraduate credit, plus substantial work at the graduate level.

No more than one-half (1/2) of the total credits applied to a graduate degree or certificate can be from dual-listed classes.

In general, students are not allowed to make course substitutions for the program’s core courses. All course substitutions require approval and are evaluated by the Program Lead and the Graduate College using a Request for Academic Adjustment form.

All students are required to take experiential learning or thesis credits. Students in the Research Track are required to take a minimum of  7 thesis credits. Students in the coursework tracks (Human Dimensions and Biophysical Dimensions) are required to take a minimum of 3 experiential learning credits. 

Students who have at least one year of substantive professional experience in or with environmental management work in the public, private, or nonprofit sector may petition the Program Lead to substitute the experiential learning requirement with an additional elective course. This petition must be submitted after a student has been admitted to the MEM program and should consist of a letter detailing the basis for the petition, along with a recent copy of the student’s résumé or CV. 

Students may take no more than 10 credits from a combination of courses identified in the curriculum as experiential learning, Readings and Conference (595), Independent Studies (596), or Directed Research (696).

Graduate programs are required to adhere to the restrictions listed in Boise State University’s Graduate Catalog, and it is recommended that students review those requirements before application and admission into the program. 

A student in the MEM program must maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA. If a student fails to meet the cumulative GPA requirement, the student is placed on probation. At the end of the next semester, if the cumulative GPA is below 3.00 and the semester GPA is below 3.00, the student will be dismissed from the MEM program. If a student is dismissed from the program, the student may appeal for reinstatement through the MEM Program and then through the Graduate Dean. Transfer courses can only be listed if they are a B or higher. 

The MEM program does not generally authorize retaking a class. If extraordinary circumstances exist, admitted MEM students may use the Request to Repeat a Graduate Course form to submit an appeal of this policy to the Program Lead within 30 calendar days of when grades were made available to students. Students may only repeat a course once, and students who register for a class without approval will be administratively withdrawn. The following courses cannot be repeated to improve a grade: Practicum/Internship (590), Thesis (593), Independent Study (596), and Directed Research (696).

All credits earned from other institutions require approval from the Program Lead and the Graduate College. Such approval can be requested by submitting a Request for Approval of Transfer Credits form. 

The MEM program allows up to 9 credit hours of graduate-level courses to be transferred from another regionally accredited U.S. college or university, as long as the credits have not been applied to a previously earned degree of any type at another institution, and subject to the following guidelines:

1. A grade of B or better must have been earned in the course.
2. The course cannot represent effort for a graduate culminating activity, courses where the grade is based only on attendance, or for experiential learning.

In general, any course applied to a previously earned degree or certificate of any type at an institution cannot be applied to meet the credit requirements of a MEM degree. The MEM program provides an exception for graduate courses previously applied to meet the requirements of a Boise State Graduate Certificate, at the discretion of the Program Lead. Dual application of such courses must be approved by the Program Lead and the Graduate College. 

Graduate students must apply and be accepted into the MEM program before they have completed the requirements for the degree; no retroactive degrees will be conferred.

Students who have not yet been admitted to the program may take up to 9 credit hours. Non-degree seeking students must apply through the Graduate College and be admitted to take graduate courses. Once a student is admitted, and pending approval by the Program Lead, these credits may be used toward the student’s total required credit hours for the MEM program. These classes may be any combination of 500-level credits when space is available on the roster and with instructor permission. However, MEM 500 and MEM 501 are recommended.

Undergraduate students who have completed at least 75 undergraduate credits and have a GPA of 3.30 or higher, and a minimum GPA of 3.30 for all courses completed, can apply to the Accelerated MEM program. Students admitted to the Accelerated MEM program may register for up to 9 credit hours of graduate courses during their undergraduate program.  The graduate credits earned in these courses can be used to satisfy the degree requirements for both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree. To take graduate courses, students must complete a separate permission request for each course using the Permission to Take Graduate Courses form. 

Students who work toward an accelerated master’s degree are subject to all academic performance requirements of the MEM program and the Graduate College, including cumulative GPA, program GPA, and individual course grade requirements.

An undergraduate student who has been admitted to an accelerated master’s program is not eligible for a Graduate Assistantship until they have completed their undergraduate degree program and have matriculated into their graduate degree program.

The minimum duration of study for the MEM degree is one academic year after admission to the program. All requirements for a master’s degree must be started and completed within a single continuous interval of no more than seven years. This single continuous interval includes summers and any semesters in which you are not enrolled. In addition, it must encompass all courses applied to the degree, including transfer courses.

By the end of the first semester, Research Track students are required to establish a Supervisory Committee that is chaired by a faculty member in the MEM Program. The Supervisory Committee is charged with general guidance of the MEM student, including design and approval of the program of study, supervision of thesis research, and participation in the thesis defense. The Supervisory Committee consists of a chair and at least two additional members. All members must be members of the Graduate Faculty, and at least half must be from participating MEM departments/programs. Faculty who a student wishes to be on the committee but are not Graduate Faculty should consult with the Program Lead as early as possible.

All MEM students in the Research Track must prepare a thesis proposal that presents the background, objectives, scope, methods, and timelines of the thesis research. The thesis proposal must be approved by the student’s Supervisory Committee. 

Substantive work done before the appointment of the Supervisory Committee or work represented by credit other than 593 Thesis is not acceptable for the thesis.

All MEM students in the Research Track are required to defend their thesis in a final oral examination. The examination includes a public presentation, a public question and answer session, and a private question and answer session with the student’s Supervisory Committee. The Graduate Student Success Center provides additional guidelines and deadlines for thesis completion. Students are responsible for understanding and complying with these requirements and are strongly recommended to consult with the Graduate Student Success Center throughout the development and execution of the thesis research program, and during the thesis writing process.

A portfolio is a substantial collection of selected work that demonstrates efforts, progress, and accomplishments in one or more areas of the curriculum. The portfolio is a culminating activity, although graduate students should begin the portfolio process early by discussing with faculty how to plan and organize their portfolio. This is followed by the collection of examples of work throughout the graduate student’s academic career that demonstrate, for example, knowledge of a subject, mastery of a learning process, publishable scholarship, or completion of special projects, themes, and/or creative activity. A portfolio must contain a graduate student’s thoughts about the learning process, demonstrate the grasp of key information, and/or exhibit the development of crucial skills. All 592 Portfolio credits are graded either pass (P) or fail (F).

Admission to candidacy is required and serves as an essential intermediate check that reveals overlooked or misinterpreted program requirements. A student who has not been admitted to candidacy cannot apply for graduation. A student should apply for admission to candidacy once the student has satisfactorily completed at least one-half (i.e., 15 credits) of the total credits required for the degree using the Application for Admission to Candidacy form. 

Admission to candidacy must be approved by the Program Lead and the Graduate College no later than the semester preceding the intended semester of graduation. For example, during the fall semester for a student planning to graduate at the end of the spring semester. Once a student has been admitted to candidacy, the student should apply for graduation on my.BoiseState. 

The Graduate Student Success Center provides information and is the best contact for questions about Tuition and Funding, including opportunities and requirements for Scholarships, Fellowships, and Financial Aid.

A Graduate Assistant (GA) is a student financially supported by a graduate assistantship under the mentorship of a faculty advisor. MEM students may be supported through assistantships provided by the MEM program or by externally-funded projects. A GA may be provided for a single or multiple semesters.

The MEM program has a limited number of GAs. To qualify for a graduate assistantship, a student generally must be a full-time graduate student (enrolled in 9 credit hours). In special circumstances, students can petition the Program Lead to reduce the minimum number of enrolled credits to 5 credit hours. Typically, a GA is compensated for an average of 20 hours of work per week and receives a tuition waiver and health insurance. The responsibilities of a GA will vary based on the advisor and project. Graduate research assistantships are governed by University Policy 71070. 

Students interested in GAs are encouraged to indicate their interest to MEM faculty with aligned interests and to the Program Lead.

Workplace expectations. Timeliness is an important attribute of successful researchers. We expect MEM students to: 

• Complete research tasks on time, or provide notice that they will be late well ahead of time. 
• Be on time and engaged in research group meetings, classes, etc. 
• Notify your advisor about absences from meetings ahead of time. 

Assistantship termination or reduction. To maintain your GA, you must comply with all policies, procedures, and timelines outlined in this handbook, your GA contract, and the policies of Boise State University and the Graduate College. 

A Graduate Assistantship may be terminated or reduced at any time by the program for just cause, such as unsatisfactory performance of assigned duties, dereliction of duties, insubordination, unsatisfactory academic performance, unsatisfactory progress toward the degree, a felony conviction, or for any other cause of similar magnitude as determined by the graduate program and the Graduate Dean. 

Continued assistantship support is contingent on funding availability, financial need, and program review of performance in the assistantship and coursework. University and program policy prohibit students receiving GAs from accepting additional employment without the written approval of the MEM program. 

Information about pay, access, and tech support. The following links will take you to university support services. 

• Payroll and Human Resources 
• Payroll & Holiday Calendar 
• How To Get A Bronco ID Card 
• Boise State Help Desk: (208) 426-4357 or helpdesk@boisestate.edu
• Graduate Student Success Center

It is the policy of Boise State University to comply with all federal, state and local authorities requiring nondiscrimination, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Executive Orders 12898 (Environmental Justice) and 13166 (Limited English Proficiency). Boise State is an equal opportunity employer.

The university does not exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject any individual to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, income, protected veteran status, limited English proficiency, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law. For Boise State’s nondiscrimination policies and grievance procedures, please see Boise State Policies 1060, 1065, and 1070.

For more information or if you believe you have been subject to discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or on any other basis, please contact the Office of Institutional Compliance and Ethics: Riverfront Hall, Suite 306, 1910 University Drive, MS 1215, Boise, ID 83725, telephone: (208) 426-1258, email: reportdiscrimination@boisestate.edu.

You may also file a complaint with: Office for Civil Rights, Seattle Office, U.S. Department of Education, 915 Second Avenue, Room 3310, Seattle, WA 98174-1099, telephone: (206) 607-1600, fax: (206) 607-1601, email: OCR.Seattle@ed.gov.