COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science (MS) program in Human Environmental Sciences requires students to complete 30 semester hours of graduate coursework within disciplines offered by the College of Human Environmental Sciences, with a curriculum designed to support professional advancement and applied expertise in human-centered fields. All students must complete core requirements including HES 509 (Research Methods) and a culminating applied course such as HES 590 (Special Problems in Human Environmental Sciences), CSM 590 (Capstone in Consumer Quality Management), or CTD 590 (Special Problems in Clothing), depending on the student’s area of focus. The remaining 21 to 24 credit hours are selected from graduate-level courses within the student’s chosen specialization, which may include Human Environmental Sciences, Conflict Resolution, Clothing and Textiles, or related interdisciplinary areas within the college, provided appropriate prerequisites have been met. The program follows Plan II (non-thesis) as the standard completion pathway, although students may opt for Plan I (thesis) if aligned with their academic and professional goals. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation, and while grades below a “C” are calculated into the GPA, they do not count toward degree completion. The program emphasizes flexibility, allowing students to tailor coursework to their professional interests while maintaining a strong foundation in research methods and applied practice. The capstone requirement serves as the culminating academic experience and is completed during the final term of study through enrollment in a discipline-specific Special Topics or Capstone course. In this project, students identify a relevant issue, topic, or problem within their field and, under faculty mentorship, develop a comprehensive scholarly document that synthesizes knowledge gained throughout their coursework. The final capstone product demonstrates the student’s ability to integrate theory, research, and applied learning using appropriate disciplinary citation standards. The completed project must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the end of the term, ensuring timely evaluation and graduation processing.