Admissions for 4+1 MS in Environmental Health Sciences

Admissions to 4+1 BS/MS in environmental health sciences

The School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst offers a 4+1 MS degree in Environmental Health Sciences to eligible undergraduates. Admitted students begin graduate coursework in their senior undergraduate year, and then complete their MS degree with one additional year of full-time graduate study. 

The accelerated MS degree is typically completed in four semesters (two of which are taken in the senior undergraduate year, concurrently with other undergraduate courses) plus the intervening summer. A minimum of 42 credits is required to complete the MS degree requirements. 

Chart provides a visual representation of the 4+1 application timeline

Who the program is open to: 

  • This program is open to all UMass Amherst students, AND to students from the Five College Consortium.
  • Students from any major may apply.

Credits needed to apply:

  • Students interested in the 4+1 should have earned a minimum of 96 credits going into their senior year.

GPA needed to apply:

  • Students should have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.

What graduate classes need to be taken during senior year:

  • Students admitted to the Environmental Health Sciences 4+1 MS program are required to take two graduate courses each semester of their senior year. Students are advised to complete a minimum of 96 credits by the end of their junior year to ensure they have room in their schedule for this required graduate coursework.

Additional requirements:

  • Students must have prior research experience with an Environmental Health Sciences faculty member.
  • Students admitted to the 4+1 MS Program start working on their master's thesis research projects in their senior year.

Application deadline:

  • Application is due by February 1 during the student’s junior year; students should have earned at least 75 credits prior to applying to be on-track to enroll in the program. 
  • Admission to the 4+1 MS program does not entitle students to enter the MS program directly. In their senior year, 4+1 students formally apply to the Graduate School and must meet admissions requirements to continue in the MS program.
  • If accepted to the MS program, students enroll in graduate coursework during the summer term following their senior year.

Link to application portal:

Internship information if relevant to the program:

  • There is no requirement to have completed an internship prior to enrolling in the program.