Master of Science or Professional Science Masters in Coastal Zone Management - Virtual Information Session

Hello everyone. Thank you so much for joining us today. We'll give everyone just a moment to get logged in, check your sound, and we'll start in just a moment. But thank you again for joining us.

Alright, it looks like everyone is in. So good afternoon everyone. Or if you're watching this pre recorded good day to you whenever you are watching this. My name is Jen Radwanski and I'm the Associate Director for Graduate Admissions here at Stockton University and I am joined by my colleagues from the Coastal Zone Management Graduate program to tell you more about how you can apply and join us here at Stockton in this awesome program.

A few items before we get started. Uh, first of all, for those of you joining us live, there is a chat feature. Uh, we would encourage you to ask any questions you have in that chat feature with just two caveats. One, we do have a lot of information we're going to share with you today and we'd more than likely will cover your questions as we go through the session. Umm, but if we don't, then please by all means ask those questions in the chat and we will answer those at the very end.

Umm, if you have questions that are of a more personal nature, uh, this is being recorded and will be posted.

To our website, So please leave any personal information out of the chat feature as again, this will be shared with others later on. And then for those of you who are watching this prerecorded, we will also share all of our contact information with you so that you can reach out to us for any questions that you have. So without further ado, I'm going to turn it over to our Co chairs for the Coastal Zone management program. Doctor Sullivan and Doctor Khan, thank you so much for being here and take it away.

Thanks, Jen. Uh, hello everyone, wherever you are. Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening. It's a great opportunity for us to share, uh, uh, the program details with you. So today we will talk a bit about the program, uh, why it is so unique not only in the US, but also globally, uh, what you can expect out of it and what it can be a great way to, uh, prepare yourself for.

Future So as you know that coastal zone management is increasingly becoming more and more important.

And why we are moving toward this interdisciplinary area and why we are trying to integrate the knowledge from all different disciplines there. You probably know about that already.

Your attendance today shows that interest, so you know that basically from two different perspectives.

Coastal zone management is very important. One is the resources and livelihoods in the coastal regions like fisheries, energy, housing, recreation all these importance.

Has made this zone very important and critical for us to manage.

The second change importance is the change in.

The stresses globally, so it's not only climate change, but other, uh, changes like developmental changes, population growth, uh, environmental pollution, all these stressors are increasingly, uh, becoming more and more important in the coastal zone. And it is, that is why it is very important to, uh, look at these, uh, zone from an interdisciplinary perspective. And that's exactly what we have been doing.

And in a response in the US, you may have seen that there has been a Coastal Zone Management Act to preserve, protect and develop, uh, other resources and the zone.

So we are trying to prepare our graduates toward that direction.

To be a coastal manager with interdisciplinary knowledge who are able to integrate the social and ecological perspectives dimensions also bringing in the engineering principles, uh, policies and laws. So all these together will prepare them to look at.

This UH zone and manage it from an interdisciplinary and holistic perspective.

So in a way, we are trying to create this knowledge and prepare our future graduates to become more efficient coastal managers. So in this program we focus on these 4 domains of knowledge. So we on one hand, we prepare our graduates with physical science, engineering and technology knowledge.

Then ecology, also social science.

And a special focus on policy and law and regulations that are very important for a coastal manager to have these interdisciplinary and holistic knowledge.

So overall, our program, uh.

Has these three focal areas like our, uh, we want our students to have, uh.

And knowledge on physical, chemical, biological and geological processes in the coastal zone.

We want them to have a knowledge on human behaviors and policy, but also to have.

The skills to prepare themselves for professional communication.

Analytical skills and Twork. So these are the three areas where we focus in our curriculum and all the activities are designed in that way. So with that background, I now give it over to Doctor Mark Sullivan to discuss more about the program curriculum, different degrees.

Thanks, Doctor Khan. Uh, so I want to spend some time talking about the three degree options, uh, that we have available in the coastal zone management program, the Master of Science option, the professional science master option, and their certificate option. And each one of these options has, uh, subtle differences that I sort of want to go into, uh, to make sure folks understand.

Uh, what courses you're going to be taking and also what some of the expectations are for theses capstone, umm, and things of that nature.

So I'll start out with the Master of Science degree. This requires 4 core courses and five elective courses. In a couple of slides, I'll be going through what those core courses entail, as well as some of the electives that applicants can choose from.

Typically, when you are signed up for the Master of Science, you're going to be completing A thesis, which takes roughly 3 to 4 semesters. This involves putting together a thesis committee, submitting a proposal that has to be approved by your committee members, carrying out the thesis research, and then writing the thesis and having a formal public oral defense of that thesis research.

The Master of Science is really best suited for folks that are continuing in academic research or careers involving research.

The professional science masters options, so this is oftentimes abbreviated PSM consists of 6 core courses. So there's two additional core courses that folks are required to take for the professional science masters for electives, and folks wrap up the professional science masters component with a capstone project, which typically takes about one to two semesters to complete.

The professional science masters is really best for direct entry into applied careers or professionals wanting to add a graduate credential to their prior experience. It doesn't have a sequence of putting together a thesis committee, thesis proposal, formal thesis defense, but does have a research component that does tie into the core courses and the electives that folks will be taking as part of this option.

And then finally, we have a certificate option. This one is really best for working professionals who want to expand their knowledge base through additional classroom learning. There are 6 core courses that are required for the certificate. There's no capstone requirement and there's no formal thesis requirement as part of the certificate.

I've mentioned the core courses and different electives that folks can take as part of the Coastal Zone Management program. The four core courses that are required for the thesis consist of coastal Ecosystems, Coastal Physical Processes, coastal Zone Policy, Law and Planning, and Applied Geographic Information Systems.

For the PSM only students in addition have to take project management and professional writing.

Some sample electives that we offer, coastal engineering principles, hydrographic instrumentation and surveys, watershed management, statistical analysis, Environmental Quality. And we also have some electives that we share with the professional science masters program related to environmental science as well as the data science program that's offered at Stockton as well.

We have a number of affiliated faculty that advise students in the Coastal Zone Management program, and for those students in particular that are interested in pursuing the thesis option, we strongly encourage applicants to get in touch with potential advisors ahead of time in order to be accepted into the Masters track or the Masters component folks have to have.

A research project solidified with a faculty member.

As well as some initial ideas for the questions that are going to be pursued as part of that thesis. So I strongly encourage folks to go on to the Coastal Zone Management website, learn a little bit more about what the different faculty members have to offer. And if you are considering the masters option, reach out to those faculty members, get a feel for what types of projects they might have available, and then go from there with your application.

Some recent student research examples, uh, we have had uh masters students complete projects related to UH harbor seal diet analysis, uh prior to wind farm development. Uh, one of our current masters students is working on a project looking at heavy metal contamination in coastal marsh environments.

We have had several students working on projects related to shore protection structures. Some of these has have been in relation to horseshoe crab habitat.

We have a number of folks that are working closely with the Coastal Research Center at Stockton University, and that's been a really nice source of not only thesis projects, but also capstone projects as well. Again, I strongly encourage folks to go on to the Coastal Zone Management website, look into the different research avenues that are available with various faculty members.

Also check out the Coastal Research Center site that has additional information about.

Staff and and what they're pursuing at that venue and as I mentioned previously.

Theses and capstone projects can tie into some of the work that's available at the Coastal Research Center.

And with that, I'm going to turn things back over to Doctor Khan.

Uh, Doctor Connick, you're on mute, I think.

Yeah, thanks. Uh, sorry about that. Uh, thanks Doctor Sullivan Before, uh, I, we talk about the potential carriers, uh, let me mention just a couple of things very quickly, which you already mentioned, uh, the coastal Research Center and also main field station. We have great field facilities, research facilities up there and they have been engaged with us very closely to support our student research and.

Our graduate students have been working with them. Uh, main field station has great facilities, boats that you can go out to the field and do your research, uh, collect data, plan your uh, uh, uh, uh, data collection and sample collection, things like that. CRC is also, uh, very good in supporting students with their logistics and lab facilities. So these are the two, uh, affiliated facilities we have that work very.

With the program now, what our students have been doing and we see them doing after they graduate.

We already have students from.

Agencies, government agencies like, uh, NJDP, Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, they have interest in our program. So they see the value of sending their staff to get higher education from this program. Uh, uh, we also see interest from other agencies who are.

And organizations who are particularly interested in building knowledge and skills in interdisciplinary area of coastal.

Management, uh, it very specifically if you think about career, uh, areas or potential areas where you can pursue your future career, uh, that would include, uh, being an environmental scientist, for example, or coastal or main scientist or, or a project manager, uh, coastal Environmental Quality monitoring coordinator.

Or a marsh restoration manager.

Our estuarine management Co as a coastal ocean over and and so on. So we have a whole list of areas where you can pursue your career after your graduate, uh, from, from this program. And we are seeing this growing interest, uh, uh, around the country and coastal zone management has stopped on the university. Like I said earlier is just.

One of a very few programs like this.

Nationwide and this interest is also increasing globally. So I think you can think of other, uh, career objectives you have in mind and you can discuss with us if that this program would support that or not. We are happy to talk about that.

Uh, now I, with that, I give it back to Jan to discuss about the admission criteria and about the practical details. Thank you.

Awesome. All right, so you've gotten an opportunity to hear more about the program, the curriculum, the opportunities for research and, and really the the wonderful things that you could be a part of here at Stockton. So let's talk about how you go about applying.

So first and foremost, I am going to drop a QikLink into the chat for everyone. And this is the website for this program, which I'm sure you're all familiar with. Umm. However, there's a few things I want to highlight. There is a specific tab for the admission criteria. So you don't need to kind of frantically write all this down. It is all listed there for you along with the application due dates and, and all of that.

So first, you do need to have a baccalaureate degree or be in the last semester of of that degree in order to apply. You can still be in progress and apply for the program if you're in that last semester. We do something called a conditional admission. As long as you have meet all the other requirements. We will ask for a final conferral transcript from you in addition to the one you send with your application once your last term is complete.

Um, so if you are a Stockton student, you have a number.

Of different options too. First there is a direct entry application process which if you have a 325 and have graduated within the last year or are going to be graduating this upcoming year.

You can do a shorter application process that eliminates the letters of recommendation that we'll talk about in a second.

Excuse me, as well as the application fee. And so it's just your resume and your essay that you'll be uploading. I will also mention for current Stockton students who are still who still have a number of undergraduate courses to take, you may be interested in our higher flyer program. And that program is an opportunity that if you wish to start dabbling in graduate level coursework in your last semester or your last year at Stockton, you can take certain courses that may meet your electives within your.

Program at the undergraduate level, but will be graduate level courses that then can be then also used for the graduate program if you choose to apply after that. So this is something you can talk to your preceptor about specifically to see if you're eligible and to see what courses may be available for the upcoming term.

Uh, next we'll talk about the essay. The essay will populate after you have inputted your application fee or a waiver code for the application. If you're eligible for the waiver code, you will have received one. Umm, you can ask us for more details if you are eligible for one. Otherwise, there is a $50 application fee for, for, to start your application or to submit your application. You're not really submitting it to review, you're submitting it to move forward with that fee. Uh, so again, once you submit your application, you'll be able to see the essay prompt and load that as a PDF.

You'll also be able to load your 3 recommenders. You do not need to load the actual letters. The system, our electronic application system, will send an e-mail to your recommenders on your behalf and there's an electronic form that they will complete. Here's what you need to know that that's very helpful with that. Number one, you should always reach out to your recommenders first and ask if they're willing to be a recommender for you #2 you need to let them know the timeline for which you're.

And the due dates and three, it's always a good rule of thumb to supply them with a copy of your resume so that they can really speak to your abilities when choosing A recommender. These should also be people who could speak to your academic or professional success. So these should be people who, uh, are faculty who you've had as a professor in previous coursework. Uh, maybe if you already work in the field or a similar field in the sciences, uh, environmental science is someone who, uh, can speak to your work ability within, umm, this field in coastal zone.

Or environmental aspect, but even if you've known your next door neighbor for 20 years, you take in their trash cans for them, you mow their lawn, they can speak as a character reference. They wouldn't be able to be an academic reference. And we're really looking for that academic and professional reference, uh, for these recommenders. The last thing I'll share with you on that, please make sure that you copy and paste your e-mail at the e-mail address for your recommender in do not hand type it. I cannot tell you how many times we get folks where they.

Their entire application almost finished and all they're missing is one letter of recommendation because they wrote in.com insteadof.com umm on the on you know the e-mail. So copy and paste that straight from an e-mail that you already have from your recommender just to ensure the the accuracy.

Uh, you will also be able to load your resume as a PDF, uh, once you have submitted your application. And then what we will also need is copies of all of official copies of all of your transcripts. So these should be umm, any dual credit associates degrees, bachelor's degrees, other masters or doctorate, uh, degrees, doctoral degrees, umm, we need transcripts from any institution that you did, uh, collegiate work at. And they do need to be official transcripts now if.

For an international applicant, this is a little bit different. We do need to have your transcripts sent to us from an evaluating agency, either Wes ECE or Span Tran if you're not part of the British pattern system of, of Gpas. So if you have questions about that, you can find more information, uh, on our international applicant page, which can be viewed from the link that I sent you as well. It's on the left hand side. Umm.

There are a few other items international applicants would need to submit as well that you can view on that Internet international applicant page. And I will share with you. We do have a graduate admissions counselor who specializes in international applications and he would love to meet with you if you have further questions. Uh, his contact information is on the contact us button on our page and his name is Matt. Umm, so please feel free to schedule a meeting with Matt Shaw if you have questions as an international applicant.

Uh, if you have already taken the GRE, maybe for another application?

You are welcome to submit your GRE as additional supplemental material, but the GRE scores are optional and they're not required for a completed application. So with that being said, um, that gives you everything that you need to know about the program and to apply. So I want to turn it over to our audience who is joining us live. If you have additional questions, please feel free to drop them in the chat.

For those of you who are joining live or virtually and watching this pre recorded our contact information.

Here on the site, we would be more than happy to talk to talk with you individually to answer any questions you have, especially as it pertains to, you know, if Doctor Khan and Doctor Sullivan could speak with you about the research part of things. Me and my team would be happy to talk with you about the application process and what needs to be loaded to complete your application and your timeline for that. So we really work together on that process.

I'm not seeing any questions in the chat as of right now.

Umm, Dr. Khan and Doctor Sullivan, anything that we missed? Any other items you would like to add for our audience today?

We will be happy to answer any questions after you watch this video or maybe you're not, uh, thinking of something else, but something pops up later. We can always contact any of us, uh, later. So we can discuss those. Uh, we can also schedule a Zoom, Zoom call if you think that is more appropriate.

Excellent.

And.

Yeah, we're, we're very responsive over e-mail and there's a, a couple folks that we've chatted with already related to, you know, potential research projects, things of that nature. So if you have any questions about the program, if you have questions about faculty, faculty research.

Highly encouraged to to reach out to myself or Doctor Khan. If our research area isn't really what we're you're looking for, we can point you in the direction of other faculty members. We have faculty members in the Coastal Zone Management program.

The marine science program, the environmental science program, we have also had some students that have interfaced with the data science program as well. So we're drawing from a number of other programs, courses. If you have sort of a unique combination of research needs or interests where maybe you're interested in statistics, but applying that to a topic maybe related to hydrography or.

You know, coastal zone processes, things of that nature.

We can try and connect you with the appropriate faculty members.

Great. And you know, as someone that works with a number of people who are deciding whether or not to go to Graduate School, that's what I do on a daily basis. I get the frequent question, well, why should I come to Stockton? What sets Stockton apart from other institutions? And I can honestly say without hesitation, it is our amazing faculty and this program is a prime example of that. Both of the Co chairs you see here today, but also the additional faculty that are within their program and then also the folks that are working at.

Field station I had a great opportunity earlier this year to actually go and do a tour of the field station and it was amazing the, the, the things that they're doing out there and the dedication of the individuals that work there and the faculty that are doing research there. Umm, I don't, I do not have a science background and I was fascinated and I was also just really, umm, amazed by the enthusiasm by everyone out there and what, how much they love what they do, but also.

Thank you so much.

How much they care about the students and making sure that they have a remarkable experience, you know, working within these programs as well as our undergraduate. So I just want to put that personal plug in because I think that that's one of the things that makes us unique from other institutions and I'm really proud of. So I'll brag for you all. I know it's not easy to brag about yourselves, but I'm going to do it for you, OK?

Thank you so much.

Yeah, if, if, if potential applicants are interested in some visuals related to the Stockton Marine Field Station or the Coastal Research Center, we do have a program video on our website. And if you go to the the opening page, there's a, a link to a YouTube video and there's some really nice overhead aerial shots of the vessels that we have available at the field station. And it does give you a, a little bit of a sense of the, the field capabilities of our program. So I encourage you to watch that.

Video. Also, feel free to go on to the Marine Field Station website. There's a list of different pieces of equipment and vessels that are available for research purposes, and you can also go on the Coastal Research Center site as well.

Yep, and I just dropped the link for the video in there too, so everybody is able to watch that. So thank you for bringing that up, Mark. All right, with that being said, thank you all so much for joining us. Mark and Shaw. Thank you for Co hosting with me today and I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Take care everybody, Bye bye.

It is a pleasure. Thank you again. Bye, bye.

Great. Thank you.