“I work with students to match their passions with vital research topics. My students have produced excellent theses on vernal pools, oil spills, invasive marine species, second-hand smoke, ecotourism, sustainable construction, and the role of consensus building in environmental management negotiations.”
—George Buckley, Assistant Program Director
This page contains content from the 2008–09 academic year. For current information, visit the Harvard Extension School website at www.extension.harvard.edu.
Thesis and Capstone
Depending on which track you pursue, you complete either a master’s thesis or a capstone course. The requirements for each are described on this page.
Master’s Thesis
For students in the thesis track, the master’s thesis is an opportunity to synthesize skills and knowledge acquired through courses. You work with a thesis director to analyze and address significant environmental management issues concerning air, water, climate, sustainability, and ecosystems and produce a document of publishable quality.
Getting Started on Your Thesis
When you have completed seven courses, including ENVR E-200, consult George Buckley to define your topic, develop a research proposal, and secure a thesis director. Typically it takes six months and several drafts to develop an acceptable proposal with a minimum of two in-person thesis advising meetings with George Buckley. If you cannot produce an acceptable proposal within nine months of your first proposal submission, you may be required to withdraw from the program. Thesis directors can be Harvard faculty members, active Harvard principal investigators, or professionals. Complete the following steps once your revised proposal has been approved by the environmental management committee, your thesis director, and George Buckley:
- Submit your approved research proposal to Stephen Blinn.
- Register after receiving a letter of authorization from the Dean of Continuing Education. Tuition for the thesis is $1,875.
The thesis takes nine to 12 months to complete. Note the thesis deadlines for graduation in November, March, and June.
George Buckley ordinarily holds thesis writing workshops each semester. While not required, you are strongly encouraged to attend the on-campus sessions to garner support from faculty and fellow candidates regarding research methods and writing strategies.
When to register. International students with I-20 certificates from the Extension School should meet with George Buckley before completing the sixth course and must register for the thesis during the regular registration periods. All other students may register for the thesis throughout the year. To receive credit for the thesis in the fall term, register by December 7; to receive credit in the spring term, register by April 26. If you register after the April deadline, you will be registered in the summer term and may pay a higher tuition.
Examples of Thesis Topics
- Concentrations of Nicotine in Low-Income Housing: Associations with Smoking Behavior and Housing Characteristics
- Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline Project
- Bamboo Flooring: What Is Required to Make It a Sustainable Building Product?
- Decades of Exposure to Jet Propulsion-4: A Critical Examination of the Fuel Spill-12 Groundwater Plume Using a Risk Assessment Model
- Protecting Great Ape Taxa: Building a Legal Framework for a Culturally Significant Species
Capstone
For students in the capstone track, after you have completed at least eight courses you may enroll in the capstone course ENVR E-599 Capstone Projects in Environmental Management. In this course you work on a project built around an environmental topic of your choice. You then complete a report and present the project to the environmental management faculty. You might choose to work individually or as a team on a project that is related to your career, such as an environmental, media, or curriculum project.
In the semester prior to capstone registration, you must consult George Buckley in person to discuss your project idea.
When to Enroll in the Capstone
This course is offered only on campus in the fall term and during Harvard Summer School. Before registering for the capstone, you must demonstrate your analytical skills by completing STAT E-50 or by passing the statistics waiver exam. In addition, you must have completed the ecology and sustainability requirement (ENVR E-105), and pass the test of critical reading and writing skills.