Combined BA in Environmental Studies/MA-ESP

The Environmental and Sustainability Policy (ESP) program offers a combined Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts program that allows qualified GW undergraduate students in the Department of Geography's BA in Environmental Studies program to complete 12 master's credits as part of the undergraduate program, thereby completing both degrees on an accelerated schedule. 

Students in the combined degree track complete 12 ESP graduate-level credits and apply them to both their BA and MA in ESP degrees. After completing the bachelor's degree, students will be able to earn their master's degree by completing only one additional full academic year (summer, fall and spring semesters) of study.

Application Requirements

To be eligible to apply, students must have completed 75 undergraduate credits. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.5 or above in environmental studies courses or a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or above. Applicants are not required to take the GRE.

You may submit an application any time after grades are posted for the semester in which you reach the threshold 75 undergraduate credits. We review applications on a continuing basis with a preferred deadline of April 1 for summer and fall admissions, and October 1 for spring admissions. However, strong applicants will be considered at any time. Whenever you submit your application, we will return a decision within one month, and often much more quickly.

Note that to complete the degree within one calendar year of completion of the BA degree, you will have to take six credits during summer sessions. Contact Mindy Galvan to discuss options. 

To apply, submit the required materials to Mindy Galvan, the Trachtenberg School's Associate Director, Admissions and Recruitment, by April 1 (for summer and fall admission) or October 1 (for spring admission):

• A completed copy of the Combined Degree Application form, including the signature of your Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). This form can be downloaded from the Columbian College Combined Degree Website.
• Statement of purpose (500 words) describing your intellectual interests and academic and professional goals.
• Full transcripts of all undergraduate coursework (unofficial transcript of courses completed at GWU accepted).
• Recommendation letter written by a professor who instructs one of the courses required for the Environmental Studies major or the Director of the Environmental Studies program who can provide an informed assessment of the applicant’s work. The recommender should send this letter directly to the Director of Admissions and Recruitment
• Interview with the ESP Program Director.

We realize that some students may reach senior year out of sync with the standard 4-year program. We will work with you to develop a program of study that meets your circumstances.

Requirements for BA in Environmental Studies/MA-ESP

This combined degree program includes the general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs (36 credits, including 24 credits in required courses and 12 credits in elective courses). 

*Students who have done significant undergraduate coursework relevant to environmental sciences may be able to waive ENRP 6101 and ENRP 6102.  If you believe this situation applies to you, contact ENRP's director, Rachel Emas, to discuss further.
**Students who have done significant undergraduate coursework in applied statistics may be able to take PPPA 6013, Econometrics for Policy Research I (spring), instead of PPPA 6002. If you believe this situation applies to you, contact ENRP's Director, Rachel Emas, to discuss further.
***Students who have done significant undergraduate coursework in economics may be able to take PPPA 6015, Benefit-Cost Analysis (fall or spring), instead of ECON 6217. If you believe this situation applies to you, contact ENRP's Director, Rachel Emas, to discuss further.

In addition to the requirements for the BA in Environmental Studies, students must complete the MA requirements: