1. The program shall be administered by a Graduate Officer, who reports to the Dean of Graduate Studies. The Graduate Officer shall be appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Head of Social Science, Grenfell Campus and the Vice-President, Grenfell Campus. In making this recommendation, the Head of Social Science, Grenfell Campus and the Vice-President, Grenfell Campus may consult with the environmental policy community both within and outside the University.

2. An Executive Committee consisting of the Graduate Officer and the Head of Social Science, Grenfell Campus and the Vice-President, Grenfell Campus will be established to review administrative, resource, and strategic planning issues related to the program. This committee shall be chaired by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

3. The Graduate Officer shall consult with the Graduate Committee in Environmental Policy (GCEP) for the purposes of administering the academic elements of the program. The GCEP shall normally consist of seven members appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Graduate Officer. The GCEP will include the Graduate Officer, who shall chair the committee, approximately four faculty members from the School of Arts and Social Science, Grenfell Campus who teach core courses, the Head of Social Science, Grenfell Campus and one student representative, Grenfell Campus.

4. An Advisory Board in Environmental Policy (ABEP) shall be established for the purposes of consulting with and obtaining feedback from the environmental policy community. The ABEP will consist of a broad cross-section of members from the environmental policy community both within and outside the University who shall be appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Graduate Officer.

1. Admission is limited and competitive.

2. To be considered for admission, applicants shall have an undergraduate degree, with a minimum B standing, from an institution recognized by Senate.

3. In exceptional cases, applicants who have not completed an undergraduate degree may be considered for admission. Preference will be given to those who have a minimum of 10 years of full-time professional experience, including demonstrated success in environmental policy, and who have successfully completed substantial university course work including several courses at an advanced undergraduate level from an institution recognized by Senate. Applicants without an undergraduate degree must have completed one or more undergraduate courses in public policy, public administration or political science and one or more undergraduate courses in geography, biology or chemistry from an institution recognized by Senate, with a minimum B standing in each course. Applicants may also be required to successfully complete the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with an acceptable score and/or additional undergraduate courses before being considered for admission.

4. To be eligible for consideration for admission, applicants shall meet the English Proficiency Requirements described under General Regulation - Qualifications for Admission, English Proficiency Requirements.

5. Applicants will be assessed for admission to the M.A. in Environmental Policy based on their interests, their potential to produce meaningful research in the field of environmental policy, and the availability of supervisors in the area of the applicant’s interest.

6. Interdisciplinary study in the program is encouraged by the University. Applicants with an interdisciplinary background or whose background combines two or more fields of study (e.g., political science, public policy, environmental studies, geography, resource management, environmental science, public administration) would be an excellent fit for this program.

1. Applicants seeking full-time enrollment will normally only be admitted to the program in the Fall (September) semester.

2. Applications must be postmarked no later than February 15 for applicants wishing to enter full-time or part-time studies in the Fall (September) semester.

3. Applications must be postmarked no later than August 15 for applicants wishing to enter part-time studies in the Winter (January) semester.

4. Individuals submitting applications later than the above dates are not assured of consideration for admission to the program in the semester desired; their applications will be processed only if time and resources permit.

1. Applications for admission to the M.A. in Environmental Policy program must be made on the appropriate form and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies.

2. The following documents must be submitted in support of the official application form:

   1. Letter of appraisal from two referees, at least one of whom is capable of appraising the applicant’s academic potential as a graduate student, and at least one of whom is capable of appraising the applicant’s professional experience and/or actual or likely success in a career in environmental policy.

   2. Official transcripts from each university or other post-secondary institution previously attended, to be sent directly by its Registrar (or equivalent officer) to the School of Graduate Studies. If not recorded on the transcript, official evidence of completion of undergraduate degree must also be submitted.

   3. All applicants must submit a one page statement outlining their research interests and are strongly encouraged to identify a supervisor.

   4. Application files are normally evaluated after the deadline dates for application noted above and only when all required documentation has been received.

   5. Admission shall be by the Dean of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the GCEP. Upon notification from the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies of acceptance into the M.A. in Environmental Policy program, applicants must give written notice to the School of Graduate Studies of their intention to register.

1. Thesis Option: Students in the thesis-based program must complete 15 credit hours in graduate program as specified in Table 1, an internship (ENVP 6030) and a thesis. There are four required courses (representing 12 credit hours) as specified in Table 2. One elective, representing 3 credit hours, related to the student’s research specialty is to be completed and may be chosen from Table 3 in consultation with the student’s thesis supervisor.

2. Research Paper Option: Students in the research paper-based program must successfully complete 18 credit hours in graduate program courses as specified in Table 1, an internship (ENVP 6030) and a Research Paper (ENVP 6999). There are four required courses (representing 12 credit hours) as specified in Table 2. Two electives, representing 6 credit hours, are to be completed, of which at least one is to be from Table 2. The second elective, related to the student’s research specialty, may be chosen from Table 2 or Table 3 in consultation with the student’s research paper supervisor.

3. Further courses beyond the minimum number may be required, depending on the background and needs of the student.

4. Students are responsible for fulfilling all prerequisites.

5. All students are required to attend two Workshops:

   1. Policy and Science Orientation Workshop

      This workshop is held the first week of September each year. Its intent is to provide students with a limited policy or biophysical background with conceptual tools to frame each discipline in order to orient students to the program. The workshop is team-taught and is three full days in length.

   2. Pre-Internship Workshop

      This two-day workshop reviews the internship requirements, aids students in writing resumes and cover letters, discusses interviewing practices and examines student/employer relationships. It is held during the first week after classes end in December of each year.

6. Internship Requirements

   1. All students are required to complete an environmental policy internship (ENVP 6030) with a relevant government office, non-governmental organization, community group, or business. Internships are normally selected from a list of approved organizations that is maintained by the Internship Officer and Graduate Officer. Internship placements may be outside the Corner Brook area and possibly outside Newfoundland and Labrador. Final decisions for internship placements rest with the Graduate Officer in consultation with the Internship Officer.

   2. Internships are usually completed in the Spring semester of each year.

   3. Internships are for full-time employment hours for the duration of the semester (12 weeks). Part-time internships over longer periods may be considered and will require approval from the Internship Officer and the Graduate Officer.

   4. A competition for internships is organized by the Internship Officer. By entering the competition, students give permission for the Internship Officer to supply their university transcripts to potential employers. Students who do not wish to accept an internship arranged by the Internship Officer shall be responsible for finding an alternative acceptable to the Internship Officer in consultation with the Graduate Officer.

   5. Students must attend scheduled pre-internship orientation workshop, professional development, and exit meeting.

   6. Each internship placement is supervised and evaluated by the Internship Officer, the on-site Supervisor assigned by the employer and the Graduate Program Coordinator. The internship shall consist of two components:

      1. On-Site Student Performance as evaluated by the Internship Officer in consultation with the on-site Supervisor assigned by the employer.

      2. An Internship Report graded by the Internship Officer or the Graduate Officer in consultation with the on-site Supervisor assigned by the employer.

   7. Evaluation of the Internship shall result in one of the following final grades: Pass, or Fail.

      A student must obtain a Pass in both the On-Site Student Performance and the Internship Report to obtain a final grade of Pass.

      If a student fails to achieve the internship standards specified above, the student may be required to withdraw from the program. Such a student may reapply to the program after a lapse of two semesters, at which time the student will be required to complete a further internship with satisfactory performance before being admitted to any further academic term in the Faculty. An internship may only be repeated once.

   8. Students who voluntarily withdraw from the internship without prior approval from the Internship Officer and the Graduate Officer, or who conduct themselves in such a manner as to cause the host organization and the Internship Officer to terminate the placement, will normally be awarded a grade of Fail in the internship.

   9. Students are not permitted to drop internships without prior approval of the Internship Officer in consultation with the Graduate Officer. The Internship Officer will make a recommendation to the Graduate Officer who will make the final decision. Students who drop an internship without permission, who fail to honour an agreement to work with a host organization, or who conduct themselves in such a manner as to cause their discharge from the internship position will normally be awarded a failed grade for the internship. Permission to drop an internship does not constitute a waiver of degree requirements, and students who have obtained such permission must complete an approved internship in lieu of the one dropped.

7. Students in the M.A. in Environmental Policy shall meet the minimum residency of at least two semesters required under General Regulation, Registration - Period of Study of the University Calendar. Students are encouraged to meet this residency requirement in the first two semesters of their program.

8. All students will be required to present a seminar on their thesis or research paper in the final semester of their program as part of their thesis or research paper requirements. For applicable students, the thesis will be examined in accordance with the General Regulations - Theses and Reports of the School of Graduate Studies.

1. Students for the Master of Arts in Environmental Policy degree must obtain a grade of 'B' or better in all program courses.

2. Students who receive a grade of less than 'B' in a program course will be permitted to remain in the program, provided the course is repeated and passed with a grade of 'B' or better. Alternatively, the student may, on the recommendation of the GCEP, and with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies, substitute another graduate course. Only one course repetition or substitution will be permitted during the student’s program after which the student shall be required to withdraw from the program.

The schedule of courses for the Master of Arts in Environmental Policy is as follows: