video series 01 / 08
Applying to Graduate School
Why do you want to go to graduate school? What do you want to get out of the experience? Admissions officer Melissa gives an introduction to all your environmental master's degree options at Duke and shares tips and advice on how to make the right decision for you.
video series 02 / 08
Why is a GRE score not required?
If you are applying for fall 2022 admission to the on-campus MEM or MF programs, a GRE score is not required to apply. Admissions Officer Melissa, from Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, explains why we made the important decision to go GRE blind this year, and how it will impact the review of your application.
video series 03 / 08
How do I choose a program area?
Applying to the Master of Environmental Management (MEM), but unsure which program area to choose? Nicholas Admissions Officer Melissa explains how to decide your academic focus by evaluating your options through a lens of possibility.
video series 04 / 08
What are the prerequisites? How can I fill them?
Join Nicholas School Admissions Officer Melissa as she provides tips on how best to find the requirements and understand the prerequisites needed to apply for grad school to study environmental issues.
video series 05 / 08
What should I write in my statement of purpose?
What makes a strong Statement of Purpose for your grad school application? Nicholas School of the Environment Admissions Officer Melissa offers advice on how to identify and describe your "why".
video series 06 / 08
What do you mean by 15 random things?
Stymied by the 15 Random Things part of the Nicholas School of the Environment application for grad school? Admissions Officer Melissa provides tips on how to capitalize on this opportunity to let us know the unique perspective you will bring to your cohort.
video series 07 / 08
What's the difference between the priority and regular deadlines?
Learn about the difference between our priority and regular deadlines for applying for graduate school at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment from Admissions Officer Melissa.
video series 08 / 08
What are you looking for in my letters of recommendation?
Applying for grad school and wondering what makes a good letter of recommendation? Whom should you ask to write one? Watch this video to learn how to make the most of your letters from Admissions Officer Melissa, from Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment.
Application
Can I apply with a three-year bachelor’s degree?
We require that students who apply for admission to our master's degree programs have a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent. For some students (e.g., applicants coming from India where a three-year degree is the norm), that means a three-year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution as well as at least one additional year of master's degree level study to equal the four-year degree requirements.
Do you conduct interviews?
MEM, MF: If requested, you may be required to participate in a brief admissions interview as part of the application process. All interviews will be conducted in a virtual (online) setting. Details will be communicated to participants.
Any student whose first language is not English may be required to participate in a Skype interview to evaluate spoken English language ability. The interview results will be included in the application reviewed by the Admissions and Awards Committee.
DEL-MEM: All applicants are required to participate in an extensive admissions interview as part of the application process.
How do I make myself a strong applicant?
We review applicants very holistically, so each piece of the application is important.
MEM and MF applicants
- Be sure to review our programs, specifically the MEM program areas, to ensure a solid understanding of our curriculum.
- Think through whom you will approach for recommendations and ensure that they know you, why you are applying to this particular program, and your capabilities so that they can speak to your strengths and appropriateness for our program.
- Help us to know you, by including a well-thought out resume that highlights your accomplishments and gives us insights into what makes you a unique candidate and highlights your relevant experience. Also take advantage of the "15 Random Things" application item by describing yourself in a creative way. This is a unique opportunity for you to go beyond academic and professional credentials and really showcase how you will be a part of a large community of smart and active people who are working to make a positive impact in the world.
- Diversity is not about checking boxes. Diversity can be defined in many ways. We are interested in you as an individual, what you have accomplished, what adversity you have overcome, and the ways those experiences have enabled you to bring a unique perspective to the classroom and the professional environmental landscape. You have a story to tell, we'd love to hear how your background and experiences add diversity to our cohort.
- Ensure that you follow application guidelines.
DEL-MEM Applicants
- Write a concise, clear essay that allows us to see that you have a compelling interest in environmental leadership, a solid idea of how the degree aligns with your career goals, and that you have qualities and accomplishments that add value to your cohort. It's also important that you convey a plan to manage your academic, professional and personal priorities over the next two years.
- Think through whom you will approach for recommendations, and ensure that they know you, why you are applying to this particular program, your professional experience, and your leadership capabilities so that they can speak to your strengths and appropriateness for our program. We highly recommend that you consider recommenders from your professional circle, such as your supervisor, a client, co-worker, etc.
Is the application the same for the Master’s and PhD programs?
No. PhD admissions are handled through Duke’s Graduate School.
I'm interested in both the MEM and MF degree programs. Do I apply to both?
No. If you are planning to pursue only one degree, please select the program in which you are most interested and apply to it. If you change your mind, please contact the enrollment services office (nicholas-admissions@duke.edu) so that your application can be evaluated in light of the admissions criteria (e.g., prerequisites) for your new program preference.
If you change your mind post-admission, you would follow the same protocol as someone changing program areas within the degree.
When will I receive my admissions decision?
We anticipate releasing admissions decisions by mid-March.
GRE & Testing
Is the GRE required?
In past years, applicants were required, with few exceptions, to take the following standardized exams:
- The Graduate Records Examination (GRE, general exam) to apply to the MEM or MF program
- The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) to apply to the MEM/MBA or MF/MBA program, or
- The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) to apply to the MEM/JD or MF/JD program
However, the Nicholas School of the Environment recognizes that completing the GRE may be challenging due to the complications arising from COVID-19. Therefore, the GRE requirement for fall 2022 admission consideration remains suspended. Applications will continue to be reviewed holistically. During this time, the Nicholas School will also assess the continued need and value of requiring the GRE in future application cycles.
Career & Professional Development
For questions related to the Career & Professional Development Center (CPDC), email us at careers@nicholas.duke.edu or visit the Careers section of the website.
Where can I expect to work when I graduate?
While there are many factors that determine where you will work, a few of the bigger factors are the strength of your professional network, the quality of your professional experience and the breadth of your academic background. Nicholas School graduates can be found around the world in consulting firms, business/industry, non-profit and non-governmental organizations, federal/state/local governments, etc. Employers range from start-up ventures to boutique consulting firms to multi-national corporations and conservation organizations.
View Nicholas Alumni Employment Data
How many students have internships?
Each summer, about 95% of our students engage in internships or summer research projects around the world, providing valuable opportunities to gain career-related experience and build a professional network.
Although challenges caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic continued to affect professional students seeking summer experiences in the summer of 2021, 96% percent of Nicholas School professional master’s students seeking opportunities reported securing a meaningful summer experience.
What kind of benefits does the CPDC offer?
From the very beginning, students are presented with a Career-Readiness Curriculum, which outlines essential skills and experiences that students should pursue as they search for internships and their first job. While not an exhaustive list, below you'll see the kinds of things you can expect from the CPDC. Keep in mind on-campus students typically have 10+ distinctive interactions with the CPDC every year.
- One-on-one consultations for career advice and job search strategies
- Current job and internship postings
- Recruiting events
- Professional development workshops
- Weekly newsletters
- Access to our active alumni network
- Access to the Handshake career development platform for a wide range of job and internship resources
- Weekly resource listings for both employment and summer experiences
Tuition & Cost
What is flat-fee tuition?
The Nicholas School uses a “flat-fee” tuition structure, which means all master’s degree students pay the same tuition regardless of their specific program, number of credits registered for, or whether the work is done online or in-residence. You can take courses in one of our other graduate/professional schools (e.g. Fuqua, Pratt, Duke Law, etc.) at no additional cost.
What is the tuition structure for concurrent degrees?
Tuition for concurrent degrees will be based on a blended rate. Financial aid from the Nicholas School, if awarded, will then be adjusted accordingly.
View Tuition and Financial Aid Policy for Concurrent Degree Students
Financial Aid
For questions related to financial aid for master's programs, email us at nsoe-financialaid@duke.edu or visit the Financial Support & Aid section of the website.
What aid is available for international students?
We consider all admitted applicants, including international students, for school-supported aid: merit-based aid in the form of scholarships and/or modest assistantships (for MEM/MF only, valued at $3,000) and need-based grants.
International students are not eligible for federally supported loans such as the Stafford or GradPlus. Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible for federal loan programs.
Whereas the federally supported loan programs are not available to non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents, the Nicholas School’s need-based grant program is open to F-1 and J-1 visa holders, provided they can supply the necessary documentation to support their application.
Can I apply for financial aid after the admission deadlines?
Federal student aid (through the FAFSA) is not tied to our admission deadlines.
All applications received by the final application deadline will receive consideration for our merit-based scholarships. Your application for admission also serves as your merit-based scholarship application.
You will be considered for Nicholas School need-based grants, regardless of the deadline by which your application is submitted, as long as you complete your CSS profile and submit the proper documentation by its deadline.
Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisites for admission to the Nicholas School are outlined in the Statement of Prerequisite Coursework. In additional to the school-wide prerequisites in calculus and statistics, additional courses might be required or recommended depending on the student’s program area of study within the MEM or MF degree.
What should I do if I am missing a prerequisite course?
MEM, MF: We recommend that you take prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university. The class must be taken for college credit and you will need to submit the official transcript. You can take classes at a local community college wherever you live, or you can take classes from a list of pre-approved, online classes. A minimum grade of C- or better is required.
Coursera and Opencourseware courses are also accepted, and a certificate of completion is required at the end.
If your undergraduate transcript demonstrates that you received AP credit for classes taken earlier, that would suffice as well.
You will be expected to fulfill the prerequisites prior to arriving on campus. If necessary, you may matriculate with one required prerequisite deficiency.
For questions related to courses and prerequisites, please email us at nsoe-registrar@duke.edu.
Recommendation Letters
I’ve been out of school a while and don’t have any academic recommenders. Who should I ask?
Your recommenders should be able to write about your leadership potential, problem solving skills, maturity, personal integrity, etc.
MEM, MF: It is not required that you have an academic recommendation, though at least one academic recommendation is suggested. Nevertheless, if you find yourself unable to find an academic recommender that can still speak to these characteristics, think about someone that knows you well enough to rate your strengths and who can thoughtfully articulate them for us. Who you choose to write your recommendation is your decision, though we would prefer to hear from employers and/or supervisors from a work/professional setting.
DEL-MEM: Applicants are required to submit professional recommendations.
General
I've seen mention of the MEM curriculum changing. Will these changes apply to me?
We are making changes to our Master of Environmental Management (MEM) curriculum that will impact students matriculating in Fall 2023 and beyond. For details, please visit the new MEM curriculum FAQ page.
Do you offer part-time or evening classes?
MEM, MF: We do not offer part-time or evening classes.
DEL-MEM: While the DEL-MEM program is not part-time, it is a flexible, innovative format that allows you to update your education while maintaining a commitment to your job and family.
Do I need to be a certain age or have a certain amount of work experience?
MEM, MF: No, there is no specific age requirement. For those joining the MEM/MF program directly following the completion of an undergraduate degree, competitive applicants have often incorporated internships and experiential hands-on work to help distinguish them.
DEL-MEM: Applicants need not be a certain age, but five years of post-degree environmentally-related experience is required (professional OR a significant commitment to the personal/volunteer work in related fields). Evidence of leadership potential and an established background in fields directly related to the environment is also required.
What is the difference between an MEM (at Duke) and an MS (at other universities)?
Please check out this infographic for more information. One major difference is Duke MEM, MF and DEL-MEM students complete a master's project (MP) rather than a master's thesis. What distinguishes master's projects from master's theses is that, although they may include original laboratory or field research, they may also take the form of management plans, handbooks, educational curricula, or other such products.
Are the Master’s degrees STEM compliant?
Both the Masters of Environmental Management and the Masters of Forestry programs are STEM compliant.
We have had several international students take the one year OPT extension. There is a separate application and approval process for OPT. Additionally, students wanting to use the STEM designation for the 24-month extension to work in the United States will need to complete a third application and approval process. Please note that the full extension cannot be applied for or granted in advance. For more information, visit Duke Visa Services:
- F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT)
https://visaservices.duke.edu/categories/f1/opt - F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) 24-Month STEM Extension
https://visaservices.duke.edu/categories/f1/opt/stem-extension
Can I defer my enrollment?
Deferrals will be granted for Teach for America, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, City Year and military service. Deferrals are granted for one year (next fall admission cycle). Approved deferral requests require receipt of your tuition deposit; should you choose not to matriculate, you will forfeit your deposit and be required to reapply for future admission consideration. Any financial aid award(s) will be canceled and re-evaluated alongside the next admitted student class and a new FAFSA will be required.
I’m applying for a concurrent degree. Do I have to complete two applications?
Separate applications are required for concurrent degree programs with the only exception being the Master of Environmental Management/Master of Forestry concurrent degree. We will accept the recommendations and essays submitted to the complementary program, and you only need to submit your test scores once.
Tuition for concurrent degrees will be based on a blended rate. Financial aid from the Nicholas School, if awarded, will then be adjusted accordingly.
FAQ Video Series
In this series of short videos answering frequently asked questions (FAQs), gain insight into the many programs Duke Environment offers and how to choose what is right for you. Get tips and advice from Melissa Kotačka, one of our Admissions Officers, on how to set your application apart.
Applying to Graduate School
Why do you want to go to graduate school? What do you want to get out of the experience? Admissions officer Melissa gives an introduction to all your environmental master's degree options at Duke and shares tips and advice on how to make the right decision for you.
GRE score Not required
If you are applying for fall 2022 admission to the on-campus MEM or MF programs, a GRE score is not required to apply. Admissions Officer Melissa, from Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, explains why we made the important decision to go GRE blind this year, and how it will impact the review of your application.
choosing a program area
Applying to the Master of Environmental Management (MEM), but unsure which program area to choose? Nicholas Admissions Officer Melissa explains how to decide your academic focus by evaluating your options through a lens of possibility.
Satisfying prerequisites
Join Nicholas School Admissions Officer Melissa as she provides tips on how best to find the requirements and understand the prerequisites needed to apply for grad school to study environmental issues.
statement of purpose
What makes a strong Statement of Purpose for your grad school application? Nicholas School of the Environment Admissions Officer Melissa offers advice on how to identify and describe your "why".
15 random things
Stymied by the 15 Random Things part of the Nicholas School of the Environment application for grad school? Admissions Officer Melissa provides tips on how to capitalize on this opportunity to let us know the unique perspective you will bring to your cohort.
priority vs. regular Deadline
Learn about the difference between our priority and regular deadlines for applying for graduate school at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment from Admissions Officer Melissa.
Requesting Letters of Recommendation
Applying for grad school and wondering what makes a good letter of recommendation? Whom should you ask to write one? Watch this video to learn how to make the most of your letters from Admissions Officer Melissa, from Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment.
Still Have Questions?
The admissions team is here to help you through the application and enrollment process. We encourage you to attend one of our recruitment events, connect with us during virtual office hours and reach out with questions anytime.