Frequently Asked Questions

The Rosenstiel School Master of Professional Science degree is offered through an accelerated program designed to be completed in 12-18 months. Students must earn 30 credits to complete the MPS degree. This includes at least 24 graduate-level class credits, which are often completed within the first two (2) semesters of the program. Students must also complete at least two (2) internship credits throughout the duration of their internship project. The remaining four (4) credits can be applied towards class or internship credits, depending on the length and location of the internship. The internship component of the program can range in length from 3-9+ months, depending on the hosting organization’s expectations.

The time to completion of the degree can vary depending on the student’s enrollment status (i.e., full-time vs. part-time). You can learn more about full-time study in the Graduate Student Handbook.

The number of credits a student registers for each semester is dependent on their enrollment status (full-time vs. part-time) and approval from their Academic Advisor. On average, students will be enrolled in 9-12 credits (3-4 classes) in their first and second semesters. Commonly, students will complete the 24 class credit requirement by the end of their second semester.

Yes, but you will be offered guidance and advice via your Academic Advisor, Rosenstiel School Faculty, and the administrative offices. The MPS Office strives to provide resources to assist students with identifying internships that reflect their personal and professional goals.

To satisfy the MPS degree requirements, students must complete a combination of class and internship credits (see FAQ #1). Class credits are acquired through graduate-level, faculty-led courses. Students are required to attend lectures and/or field training sessions for class credits. It is most common that students complete their 24 class credit requirement before beginning their internship.

Internship credits are comparable to “research credits” in MS and PhD programs. Students must register for at least one (1) internship credit per semester once they begin their master’s project with an internship host organization. Students may register for more than one (1) internship creditper semester.

Enrollment in at least one (1) internship credit designates "full-time" student status. Financial aid, scholarships, and host organizations may require full-time enrollment in a graduate program. All students should plan on remaining fully enrolled during their internship.

No, there are no research or teaching assistantships available to MPS students. The MPS program is a self-funded degree program.

The graduate student cost of attendance for domestic students can be found here. International students should refer to the International Graduate Student Cost webpage.

We currently offer merit-based tuition waivers to qualifying students. All applicants who submit their MPS application by March 1, will be invited to apply for the Rosenstiel Opportunity Award. To learn more about these funding opportunities, please see Financing Your Education.

There are a limited number of part-time employment opportunities at the Rosenstiel School reserved largely for MPS students. These opportunities can include office work, library assistance, marine operations support, and more. Notices for Rosenstiel School campus jobs are distributed via the Rosenstiel School mailing lists.

Students interested in employment at other schools/campuses at UM should also visit the Find a Student Job webpage.

Full-time enrollment in an accelerated graduate program involves a significant amount of course work and a large time commitment. Most graduate classes are hosted during the day. Thus, we do not recommend that students work full-time while enrolled full-time.

Yes, you can enroll in the MPS program part-time. You will register for less than nine (9) credits for the fall and spring terms and less than six (6) credits for any summer term. This results in part-time students taking approximately two (2) classes instead of four (4) during the fall and spring terms. Course selection will be discussed with your Academic Advisor. Please note that if you enroll in the program part-time, it will take approximately two (2) or more years to complete the degree.

No, we do not offer online courses at this time.

Experts in the field, as well as leaders from local businesses, NGOs, and government organizations, assisted in the design of the curricular and experiential structure of each track. Thus, you will be exposed to the theory and skills relevant and necessary to your development and professional success.

Each degree track has specific requirements as well as options for electives. Some course requirements may be waived with the approval of your Academic Advisor and MPS Director. For sample curricula, please visit the MPS Prerequisites webpage, and click on your preferred track(s).

Information regarding the application process can be reviewed on the Apply Now webpage.

The Graduate Record Examination Test (GRE) score is not required for admission to the MPS program. You may optionally submit your GRE score to be considered for a merit-based tuition waiver.

In order of preference, you may indicate your top two tracks of interest on your application. For track selection guidance, click here to sign up for a virtual information session with one of our staff.

If you identify a secondary track choice in your online application, include a statement on this preference within your Statement of Purpose. 

We cannot evaluate your application until it is complete. If you have questions about whether or not your application is complete, please contact the MPS Office: mps@earth.miami.edu. Application evaluations for all applicants begin December 1st and roll through June 15^th.

The admissions prerequisites for tracks within each department can be reviewed here.

We are not accepting applications for the spring term at this time.

A Master of Science (MS) degree typically requires a 2-3 year time commitment, whereas the Master of Professional Science (MPS) degree is designed to be completed in 12-18 months. In addition, an MS is based on an independent research project, or thesis, while the MPS is skill-and internship-based and culminates in a scientific final report.

The MPS degree prepares students for science careers in industry, government, and non-profit organizations, where employment demands are growing. Professional science programs were developed and implemented nationally in response to employer demands for well-rounded, highly trained employees. MPS graduates use their breadth of knowledge and practical skills to address emerging environmental issues and improve the management of natural and cultural resources. The curriculum is structured to implement the training and real-world experience necessary to prepare them for careers in today’s professional science job market.

Most of our students become marine/atmospheric resource managers, policy consultants, program coordinators, educational/outreach directors and more. Several of our graduates work with government agencies, NGOs, and environmental consulting groups. Some students are employed by the internship hosting organizations after the termination of their internships, and the potential for this is something we consider heavily in the identification of and commitment to specific internships. Our students have interned and been employed with (list is not exhaustive): the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Royal Caribbean (Environmental Department), Everglades National Park, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, the Billfish Foundation, PBS&J, Biscayne National Park, SeaGrant, the Army Corps of Engineers, the New England Aquarium, Mote Marine Laboratory, and the Department of Environmental Resource Management.

To check out our Alumni Careers Page, please click here.

Applications for the fall term close on June 1 at 11:59PM for all applicants (domestic and international).

International Students: A Statement of Financial Responsibility form, bank/sponsorship letter (issued within the past 6 months), passport, and I-94 travel log (if applicable) is not required for review purposes. If accepted to the MPS program, international applicants must submit a color copy of his/her passport, current visa (if available), and I-94 travel record (if applicable) . This is required for processing orupdating student Visas. Therefore, on the application, please type in your name as it appears on your passport.

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit official English language testing results from either TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo. An exception to this rule is an international student who will have earned a degree in the US or select other English-speaking countries (click here for details) prior to enrollment at the Rosenstiel School.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores can be submitted using institution code 2919. There is no department code for score submission. A minimum score of 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test), 80 (iBT) is required for admission. 

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) using institution code 4862. There is no department code for score submission. A minimum score of 6.5 for the IELTS is required for admission.

Duolingo English Test  (DET) select “University of Miami - Graduate School” from the Duolingo English Test’s institutional list. A minimum score of 125 is required for admission. 

Please use institution code 7690 for the GRE scores, 2919 for the TOEFL, and 4862 for IELTS. International applicants should select “University of Miami - Graduate School” from the Duolingo English Test’s institutional list.

Yes, all full-time domestic graduate students are required to obtain adequate health insurance. Domestic students with adequate healthcare coverage of their own can request to waive the University-sponsored health insurance. However, students with limited out-of-area coverage or otherwise inadequate coverage are urged to carefully review their options before requesting to waive this plan.

Health insurance waivers must be resubmitted every fall semester. All waiver deadlines for the fall, spring, and summer terms are available here.

All international students are required to enroll in the University-sponsored health insurance program regardless of credit load.

To learn more about the University of Miami’s health insurance, visit the Student Health Service’s Insurance Information webpage.

Visit the Student Health Service’s Insurance Information webpage to review the insurance rates and coverage dates.

There are no graduate housing facilities on the Rosenstiel School's Virginia Key campus or on the main campus of the University. Graduate students must obtain rental housing in the Miami area. Since Miami is a large metropolitan area and traffic can be a problem, most students choose to live fairly close to the Rosenstiel School campus.

Housing offerings are usually broken down into neighborhoods. The neighborhoods closest to the campus are:

• Brickell
• The Roads
• Shenandoah
• Coral Way
• Coconut Grove
• Key Biscayne
• Coral Gables

Once admitted, the best place to start looking for housing is the off campus housing website.

New student registration for fall classes begins in early June. You will receive instructions for academic advising and course registration from the MPS Office in May.

No, applicants are not required to submit all documents at one time. An applicant may submit official test scores from ETS (GRE, TOEFL), IELTS, and Duolingo transcripts, and letters of recommendation at separate times. However, an applicant’s admissions file will not be reviewed by Track Leaders until all required materials have been received by the MPS Office.