MSc Environmental Science Syllabus & Subjects 2024

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biology, and geography to the study of the environment. Mainly, MSc Environmental Science subject studies the environment, environmental problems, and their solutions. The MSc Environmental Science course syllabus covers Ecology and Environment. Environmental, Biogeochemistry, Energy Resources, and Conservation Environmental Pollution, Hazards and Risk Management, Health Management Biostatistics and Computer Applications for the Human Population and the Environment, as well as Dissertations, Seminars, and Survey-based Projects. The MSc Environmental Science syllabus includes both core and optional subjects which help students understand the patterns and procedures of ecosystem investigation. 

The syllabus for an MSc in Environmental Science includes the following subjects:

• Environmental geology
• Biostatistics and Modeling
• Water Resource Management
• Air Pollution Control and Design
• Environmental Toxicology and Occupational Health
• Application of Biostatistics and Computer in Environmental Science
• Hazardous and Biomedical Waste Management 

The MSc Environmental programme approaches the study of environmental science from an interdisciplinary perspective. Natural resources, environmental biology, environmental microbiology, and biodiversity are all covered in the MSc Environmental Science syllabus. After completing the MSc Environmental Science curriculum, students can find work in the public and private sectors. Worldwide, this course is considered one of the best in environmental science for higher education. MSc Environmental Science students can pursue lucrative career opportunities both nationally and internationally. The MSc Environmental Science syllabus is designed to ensure that students learn as much as possible while also becoming skilled in the field. Moreover, MSc Environmental Science graduates can be hired by a variety of organisations. Private organisations such as food processing industries, refineries, distilleries, and fertiliser plants also provide employment opportunities.

Also Read: Best MSc Courses after BSc 

The MSc Environmental Science syllabus is prepared as per UGC guidelines. It is segregated into a total of 4 semesters. Two semesters are included in each year. Around six to eight MSc Environmental Science subjects are taught each semester. At the beginning of the course, students are introduced to the basic concepts like the Foundation Course in Ecology. Then they are gradually exposed to the more critical concepts related to the environment. By presenting the MSc Environmental Science course syllabus in this manner, the students get to easily form a strong basic understanding. After a few semesters, more advanced subjects are introduced. 

MSc Environmental Science course syllabus varies across the universities. Whenever a student wishes to pursue this programme, he/ she needs to be aware of the curriculum. In this respect, a general idea of the MSc Environmental Science course subjects and syllabus is presented to the students.

MSc Environmental Science 1st year Syllabus

Check out the first-year generic syllabus of the MSc Environmental Science here:

MSc Environmental Science 2nd year Syllabus

Tabulated below is the second year semester-wise MSc Environmental Science Course syllabus that a student can check:

The MSc Environmental Science subjects that are taught to the students help to understand several aspects like bio-physical diversity, and its contribution to the world environment, environmental problems and solutions to them. Each of the subjects of the MSc Environmental Science course syllabus is included to highlight various aspects of the subject. The core subjects provide strong conceptual learning while the electives strengthen knowledge of specific desired subjects.

Listed below are the MSc Environmental Science course subjects that are taught during their learning process. The course subjects can be different for different colleges/ universities. A general list of subjects that are a part of MSc Environmental Science Syllabus is provided here:

MSc Environmental Science Common Subjects for All Semester

Environment Science is the common subject for all semesters. All the MSc Environmental Science subjects are based on this topic. The course brings all the environment-related matters through the subjects. Whatever the subjects students are taught, they gain a new viewpoint through it. 
As a subject, Environmental Science develops awareness through critical understanding. The fieldwork is an important part of the MSc Environmental Science course syllabus. The subjects of fieldwork are also based on the Environmental Sciences which aid the students to gain hands-on learning on the field. 

MSc Environmental Science Optional Subjects

The optional subjects are an integral part of the MSc Environmental Science course syllabus. Students are free to choose the Environmental Science optional subjects offered by the institute. Every university presents a list of MSc Environmental Science course subjects from which students select their subjects as per their interest and study plan. The environmental science optional subjects are extremely crucial in expanding the knowledge of the students in a specific topic. 

Elective or optional subjects are usually introduced in the third or fourth semester of the curriculum when a basic understanding of the course has been developed. Here is a list of optional subjects that are incorporated into the MSc Environmental Science syllabus:

• Natural Resources and Management
• Environmental Pollution
• Ecological Restoration
• Society and Management

MSc Environmental Science Lab Subjects

The MSc Environmental Science course subjects that are taught in the practical training classes can be termed lab subjects. Through these subjects, students gain hands-on learning and appropriate skills. 

Usually, the universities or colleges that offer MSc Environmental Science courses offer lab training as the core subjects. For example, if a university teaches Aquatic Environment, Earth and its Atmosphere, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology as the core papers, it also teaches the lab work on the same subjects. Listed below are the lab subjects of the MSc Environmental Science course. It must be noted that these subjects may differ depending on the institute:

• Biostatics and Modelling
•  Biodiversity
• Ecological Studies and Toxicology
• Environmental Monitoring and Quantitative Analysis
• Soil and Solid Waste Analysis
• Water And Wastewater Analysis
• Air and Noise Pollution Monitoring & Analysis
• Environmental Management System, auditing, safety and risk analysis
   

MSc Environmental Science Distance education is popular among working professionals. In this mode of education, students complete the MSc Environmental Science syllabus at their pace. And this is the most important benefit the students enjoy through distance education. The MSc Environmental Science course syllabus is designed based on the educational requirements of the field. Like regular courses, distance-learning universities also offer practical training along with core subjects. 

The semester-based system is followed in distance education for the MSc Environmental Science course syllabus. Optional papers are also studied as important MSc Environmental Science course subjects. The aim of the distance Master of Science Environmental Science education is to teach the students through a convenient mode.

Tabulated below are the MSc Environmental Science subjects that are taught to the students at distance learning mode.

Also Read: Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India

In order to pursue this course, students need to learn about the entrance exam syllabus along with the MSc Environmental Science course subjects. Numerous entrance exams are conducted to offer MSc Environmental Science admission. Both the institute level and the national level entrance exams are conducted for this course. Each of the entrances has a definite exam pattern and syllabus. 

Some of the major entrance exams for MSc Environmental Science are CUET PG, ICAR AIEEA, BHU UET, UPSEE, PUBDET, TS EAMCET etc. The exam pattern and exam syllabus may vary from college to college. Tabulated below are the subjects majorly covered in the entrance exam syllabus:

Having the best resources for course preparation is mandatory. Books serve as the most useful resources for gaining knowledge about any subject. The MSc Environmental Science has different topic-related books that include age-appropriate materials, visuals, etc. These coursebooks provide a route map for learning the subjects. 

The Master of Science Environmental Science books presents the MSc Environmental Science subjects in a concrete form. Not all books have a course driven approach. Most of the books have a subject-driven approach. Hence, students need to be very selective in choosing the MSc Environmental Science books. Listed below are some of the books, students can take help from:

The MSc Environmental Science course structure is designed in a very organized manner. The sequencing in the MSc Environmental Science course syllabus is usually done as per the teaching and learning progress. The MSc Environmental Science course subjects are chosen according to the learning objectives of the course curriculum. The course structure of this post-graduate program includes all the necessary content that is required to provide complete learning of the course. 

The core subjects in MSc Environmental Science are taught in classroom training. The practical and theoretical classes help students to gain profound knowledge of the same subjects. The teaching strategies are maintained as per the learning capability of the students. The course structure of MSc Environmental Science includes the following important stages:

• Semester-wise MSc Environmental Science syllabus
• Core subjects
• Optional Subjects
• Practical training
• Seminars
• Fieldwork
• Projects

Some of the topmost colleges in India, for students to pursue MSc Environmental Science are listed below:

Note: The fees mentioned above are subject to change.

Also Read: Top Colleges in Delhi University Based on NIRF Ranking 2024