The 小蝌蚪APP is now offering a .
The Louisiana Board of Regents approved the new degree program in December.
小蝌蚪APP淭his interdisciplinary degree program complements the discipline-specific graduate programs offered in the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences and is slated to begin in August 2017,小蝌蚪APP said Dr. Azmy S. Ackleh, dean of that college. It will be available through UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 School of Geosciences.
The new graduate program will produce highly trained environmental scientists who will address challenges primarily related to water and soil resources. Its focus is strategic for Louisiana and aligned with the state小蝌蚪APP檚 workforce needs.
Dr. David Borrok, director of the School of Geosciences, noted that 小蝌蚪APP淟ouisiana小蝌蚪APP檚 core economic sectors are direct reflections of the natural resources available in our state, and some of our most critical resources are water and soil.小蝌蚪APP
Dr. Durga Poudel, a professor in the School of Geosciences, noted that 小蝌蚪APP渙ur Gulf Coast setting in the hub city of Louisiana is the perfect location to study water and soil resources. With a strong agricultural industry, the petroleum industry, and the fact that our state hosts 40 percent of the nation小蝌蚪APP檚 freshwater wetlands, there is no shortage of local research and career opportunities in environmental science.小蝌蚪APP
Freshwater wetlands are critical to the seafood industry and mitigate coastal flooding and erosion, according to the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 proposal for the creation of the new program that was approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents. 小蝌蚪APP淟ike water, soil resources are fundamental to Louisiana小蝌蚪APP檚 agriculture and to coastal restoration efforts. Louisiana has 44 soil and water conservation districts that are dedicated to sustaining and conserving soil stability, croplands, woodlands and wetlands, and water quality of waterways throughout the state,小蝌蚪APP the proposal states.
Local businesses and governmental agencies related to environmental fields have provided letters of support for the program.
Substantial job growth in the environmental sector is expected in Louisiana. Job growth nationally is predicted to be around 11 percent over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Students with a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in a related scientific or engineering field can apply for admission into the program. The 35-hour curriculum includes thesis and non-thesis options. In addition to required core courses, students can choose from a variety of elective courses offered in the College of Sciences and the College of Engineering.
小蝌蚪APP淭his provides a great deal of flexibility for students as they can be actively engaged in tailoring the program to fit their interests and needs,小蝌蚪APP Borrok said.
Environmental resource science is a priority research area for UL Lafayette. The new master小蝌蚪APP檚 program will contribute to the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 environment, energy, coastal, and water areas of excellence and will play an important role in Louisiana小蝌蚪APP檚 economic development efforts.
Ackleh said this program will 小蝌蚪APP渇urther advance Louisiana as a national leader in environmental research and development.小蝌蚪APP
For more information on the master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in environmental resource science, contact geosciences@louisiana.edu.