Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida

Distance Education Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Learning that takes place when instructor and student are not in the same physical location. Taking an online course might enable you to earn graduate credits or a M.S. degree when you are unable to come to a college campus.

If you applied to UF through the Office of Admissions and your application was accepted, then you were admitted to the degree-seeking MS Distance Education Track in Environmental Science offered by the Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida.

If you sent in a non-degree seeking registration through CALS, then you are a non-degree seeking student. You have not been admitted to the Distance Education Graduate Track in Environmental Science but you are able to continue your education and/or earn graduate credits. You can register for any of the distance education courses offered by the Soil and Water Science Department, and you are eligible to pursue Certificate Programs.

The successful completion of the graduate track offers opportunities in the following areas:

Environmental Consultants
Environmental Regulators
Environmental, Soil and Water Scientists
Extension Agents
City and County Government Officials and Decision-Makers

Potential employers include:

State agencies such as the Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service, water management districts
Federal agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), US Geological Survey (USGS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy, Nature Conservancy, Department of Fish and Wildlife Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Environmental consulting firms such as PSI Nationwide Consulting and Engineering Services, ENSR International, Environmental Assessments & Consulting Inc., Regulatory Compliance Associates Inc., Environmental Data Resources Inc., Environmental Simulations International, Water Research Center, Groundwater Services Inc.
Environmental research institutions such as the University of Florida, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Wildlife Federation, UNESCO, American Institute of Sustainable Science and Technology, World Watch Institute

According to the Graduate Student Guide you may need to visit the campus in Gainesville to give a seminar presentation, to defend your thesis and/or take an oral final exam, if required. MS professional (non-thesis) students are not expected to give a seminar. The orientation on-campus can be waived if you participate in the online orientation.

You can compete for assistantships. However, keep in mind that typically assistantships require that you work for up to 20 hours.

If you select the professional option your are required to work on a special topics project and write a report (15 to 20 pages) which is much smaller in scope than a thesis. To earn the MS professional degree you need to accumulate 34 letter-graded credits plus one non-letter graded teaching/service credit.

If you select the thesis option you are required to develop a thesis (80 to 100 pages) about a topic of your choice. The thesis shows that you can work on a scientific problem related to environmental science. You will conduct a literature review, and develop a thesis which include objectives, hypothesis, methodology, results, discussion of results and conclusions. The thesis degree requires 30 credits.

Floridians and non-Floridians (U.S. and international students) can register for SWS distance education courses. Tuition rates for out-of-state students have been set at a reduced "off-book" rate so that location is not a deterrent to enrollment.