FAQ

Admissions

  1. Are there prerequisites to get into your program?

    Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program, there are no specific requirements in terms of your prior field of study. However, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution before matriculation. Your undergraduate course work must include one semester of chemistry, plus one other semester of chemistry, biology, physics, or earth science. In addition, you need to have one semester of college statistics, plus another semester of college math or microeconomics, and be comfortable with precalculus algebra.

  2. What are the average GRE scores and GPAs of students who attend?

    We review all aspects of the application as opposed to focusing on a preset GRE score or GPA as a basis for decision. For example, grades in individual courses are looked at with greater scrutiny than an applicant's overall GPA.

  3. I have been out of school for some time, do I have to include letters of academic recommendation, or can I just use professional letters of recommendation?

    We accept professional letters of recommendation, but ask that you contact our office first before requesting them.

  4. What are the qualifying undergraduate majors to get into BCEP?

    There are no particular "qualifying undergraduate majors." Some of our best students have come from non-scientific backgrounds. Those students lacking scientific or quantitative backgrounds filled those gaps by taking appropriate courses prior to matriculation.

  5. I do not have a strong science/economic/policy background; will this affect my ability to get into your program?

    Students lacking an economics or policy background or a basic understanding of chemistry and biology are encouraged to apply for admission, and if accepted will work with BCEP faculty to identify appropriate courses to fill these gaps before entering the program.

  6. I am applying to the M.S./J.D. program; can the LSAT be submitted in place of a GRE?

    Yes.

  7. I am interested in doing the dual degree with Pace Law School, do I have to apply now, or can I do that once I get into BCEP? How many years will I have to go to school for the M.S./J.D. dual degree?

    The M.S./J.D. program is open to new applicants, to those in their first or second year at Pace Law School, and to those in their first year in the BCEP program. Upon completion of the first-year BCEP curriculum, students enroll at Pace Law School for five semesters, and then return to Bard for a final spring semester with BCEP. The M.S./J.D. dual degree is a four year program consisting of one and a half years at BCEP, two and a half years at Pace.

  8. I am interested in applying for the MI program at BCEP. Do I have to get into the Peace Corps before I apply? How long will I be in the program?

    The Peace Corps advises students to apply simultaneously to the Corps and BCEP. Your acceptance into the MI Program is contingent upon the results of your Peace Corps application; however, applicants accepted into BCEP but not the Corps may still enter into the two-year M.S. program. After completing your first year at BCEP, MI students go on assignment for two years, then return to Bard for their final spring semester.

About the Program

  1. If I attend BCEP, can I still work and go to school?

    Generally, BCEP students do not work during their first year, as the intensive course load requires a full-time commitment. During their second or final year, students may be able secure a paid internship or work at a part-time job.

  2. Do students generally live on campus, or off-campus?

    On-campus housing and off-campus housing are available. BCEP students are usually evenly divided between these two options.

  3. What is the percentage of foreign students that come to BCEP to study?

    BCEP usually has a strong international presence, with an average of 25% of each incoming class being foreign nationals. Additionally, the Bard undergraduate demographic is made up of nearly 18% foreign students.

  4. What kind of subjects do we cover during the first year at BCEP?

    The first-year courses link natural ecosystems and their functioning to the impact of socioeconomic activities, and to the political, institutional, and legislative responses that address environmental problems. Emphasizing analytical frameworks and basic principles through examples and case studies, the courses are designed to focus on the topic specified in each of several subject themes (e.g. urban systems; industrial ecology).

  5. What are the courses like?

    Each class is lecture-based with an emphasis on student participation and discussion. Students also get the chance to lead the course through individual and group presentations.

  6. Do you have visiting lecturers; who are they; where are they from?

    Throughout the year, BCEP hosts a variety of guest lectures and visiting professors from the public, private and non-profit sectors, as well as from the undergraduate college. We have hosted experts such as Walter Mugdan of EPA Region 2; New York Times columnist Andrew Revkin; lawyer and environmentalist Zygmunt Plater; architect and green designer Bob Fox; and various other industry and government representatives.

  7. What is the average class size?

    Our ideal class size is 18-22 students. We believe that a small cohort of students enables stronger student-faculty bonds, and a more intimate classroom setting for discussion.

  8. Do you go on any field trips; and if so, where to?

    Yes, BCEP students go on a number of field trips. For instance, we visit the United Nations during the summer workshops and alternative energy facilities in New York State during the year.

  9. Where do students do their internships?

    Students intern at well-known institutions such as the UN, the EPA, and NRDC. Students also work in Washington DC, New York City, or go back to their home states to work for local non-profits or their local municipality.

  10. What types of internships are available to BCEP students during their second year?

    Although students have access to a comprehensive list of internship sponsors to which they can apply, they are free to choose where they would like to work. The internship must be full-time (30+ hours a week), at least four consecutive months in length or longer, and broadly grounded in environmental policy. For example, they might work on sustainable natural resource management in a developing country; emission standards for coal-powered plants in China; or integrated pest management practices on New York State farms.

  11. Are students still taking classes while they are on their internships?

    No.

  12. What are some examples of master's theses topics?

    Sample topics can be found here.

  13. How much guidance and advice will I receive during the thesis writing process?

    Students chooses primary thesis advisor to work with them during the initial proposal writing stages all the way through final revisions. Students also have a second reader, generally another BCEP faculty member, and a third reader, typically the internship supervisor or other outside reader. During the final semester, students meet weekly with their primary advisors; they also attend the Master's Thesis Seminar, which focuses on thesis presentation and allows students to work with peers to refine their ideas and arguments as well as practice presenting their work.

  14. Where do BCEP graduates work?

    BCEP graduates are high-employable when they finish their master's degree and have a large and varied number of job opportunities available to them, both in the United States and overseas. Our alumni are employed in different government agencies, such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the NYC Soil and Water Conservation District. BCEP grads work at well-known research and scientific institutions such as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Earth Institute at Columbia University as well as for organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation, the Blue Ocean Institute, the Land Trust Alliance, and the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation and Environmental Defense in China. Some graduates work for the United Nations, multi-national corporations like the World Bank, or advocacy organizations such as the Clean Water Network or Environmental Advocates of New York. Our graduates even become founders of their own companies; for example the Apple Leaf Corporation was co-founded by Robert Koch, a 2004 BCEP graduate.

Tuition/Financial Aid

  1. Are there Teaching Assistantships and/or Research Assistantships available to students coming to BCEP?

    The possibilities vary from year to year, but generally students are encouraged to focus on their studies during their time at BCEP.

  2. What kind of financial aid do you offer and how do I apply for it?

    Financial aid is available in the form of need- and merit-based fellowships, federal loans, and external funding. All students who apply are considered for fellowships. Most BCEP-awarded fellowships constitute only a portion of the total tuition costs. A complete explanation of financial aid can be found here.

  3. What types of fellowships are available to foreign students?

    The Luce Fellowship, a part of the BCEP Learning Across Borders program funded by the Henry Luce Foundation, offers a tuition and housing award to international students selected in coordination with academic institutions and other professional organizations in their home countries. The fellowship is for the one-year course of study resulting in a professional certificate. Students wishing to continue study at the Center for the second year must secure external funding for tuition and living expenses.

  4. How do I know if I qualify for financial aid?

    All applicants are considered for fellowships. To qualify for federal aid, applicants (U.S. citizens only) must fill out the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), available here. International students must fill out the International Student Financial Aid Application and Certificate of Finances, both available online here.

  5. How much is tuition, and does tuition include room and board?

    Tuition for the current year can be found here. Tuition does not include room and board.

  6. Are meal plans and campus housing available?

    There is limited campus housing available to graduate students in Robbins House. In total there are 37 graduate rooms available, 11 rooms on the first floor and 13 rooms each on the second and third floors. Accepted students requesting a room in the graduate dorm should contact BCEP as soon as possible. Meal plans are available for graduate students; most opt for a "flex account," which allows them to add funds to their Bard ID for use at food service locations around campus. Those wishing to signup for the "flex" should contact BCEP.