During the first semester of the junior year, all DES students must complete and submit a written Program of Study. The Program of Study is submitted to the DES faculty for approval. The Program of Study is intended to encourage students to tailor their academic studies based on their chosen concentration and personal interests. The Program of Study should be completed with the assistance of your advisor.
The Program of Study is a one-page document. The first section briefly describes the student's experience in the department including their concentration. The second section describes the student's interests (e.g., water resources, environmental compliance, natural resources management) and likely future goals (e.g., graduate school, law school, or professional employment). The third section describes the USM and DES courses (at least four of the courses must be DES courses at the 200 level or higher) offered by USM that will support the student's current interests and future goals. A key component of this section is a brief description of a possible internship (job title and location), which is generally completed during the summer following the completion of the junior year. The final section is a time-line of the courses to be taken.
After approval, the Program of Study may be amended with the approval of the advisor. Any significant changes, such as course substitutions, may require DES faculty approval.