Environmental science is more important today than ever before. American University's Master of Science in Environmental Science gives students the knowledge and leadership skills to confront pressing environmental challenges facing the world, from climate change to renewable energy to food and water security.

The program will prepare you for careers in science, research, environmental policy, and advocacy. With advanced coursework in climate modeling, geochemistry, conservation, and the statistics necessary to inform science-based policy, the program prepares students to engage in high-level environmental problem-solving and to develop innovative solutions to critically important environmental issues.

You will graduate as a scientist with political savvy. Grounded in rigorous scientific research and analysis, the program also delves into the politics, policies, and economics of environmental concerns.

AU's location in Washington, DC, gives you the opportunity to gain practical experience and network within your field through internships with public and private environmental organizations. Students can conduct research with faculty at AU or at one of the many renowned research institutions in the area. In recent years, students have published their work in peer-reviewed journals including Applied Geochemistry, Ecological Engineering, Ecological Research, Marine Ecology Progress Series, and Marine Pollution Bulletin.

AU graduates are a force for change. Eighty-two percent of graduates work in an environmental field, are in graduate programs, or are doing both. Graduates move on to highly successful careers with government and non-governmental organizations, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, Peace Corps, state environmental agencies, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.