The Master of Environmental Data Science (MEDS) degree at Bren is a one year professional degree program focused on using data science to advance solutions to environmental problems.
What is Environmental Data Science?
Environmental Data Science is the application of advanced data analysis and computational tools to address and solve complex environmental challenges. This interdisciplinary field combines environmental science with cutting-edge data techniques such as statistical modeling, machine learning, and data visualization to uncover patterns, generate insights, and inform evidence-based decisions. Environmental data scientists work with vast and varied datasets—from ecological surveys to climate models—to identify trends, predict outcomes, and communicate findings in ways that drive actionable solutions to issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, resource management, and environmental justice.
In today’s world, environmental problems are increasingly data-driven. Solving them requires professionals who can integrate scientific expertise with data science skills to produce effective, scalable, and impactful solutions.
About the MEDS Program
Data science is a rapidly expanding discipline with a growing market in need of highly skilled, interdisciplinary professionals. As a MEDS student, you will be immersed in a collaborative environment supported by expert faculty and researchers from the Bren School and the National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis (NCEAS).
Supplementing your background in environmental science, you will:
- Gain leading-edge data science skills.
- Receive foundational training in R, Python, and SQL programming.
- Learn to apply data visualization to share compelling scientific narratives.
Through the program’s capstone group project, you will gain real-world experience applying data science to environmental issues, preparing you to bridge the gap between scientific inquiry and practical solutions.
The MEDS program is full-time, with courses offered at the UC Santa Barbara and NCEAS campuses. Currently, the Bren School does not offer online degree options.
Admissions
Bren’s Master of Environmental Data Science degree is ideal for students looking to gain a strong foundational training on data science tools used within the environmental field. Students should have some experience within the environmental field either through coursework or professional work experience. No coding or programming experience is required. The 1 year MEDS program begins in Summer Quarter and students are enrolled full-time.
Program Start
Summer Quarter
Application opens
September 1
Application Deadline
December 1
Are you ready to solve environmental problems?
Request more information, get to know the Bren School, and start planning your application today.
Learn from researchers and experts at two renowned institutions
A joint endeavor of the Bren School and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), the Master of Environmental Data Science program was crafted by environmental data scientists to be at the forefront of integrating environmental science and data science.
Academics
The MEDS program consists of 44 units of core coursework plus an additional 8 units of capstone project coursework for a program total of 52 units. The master's program begins with a six-week full-immersion bootcamp in the summer to develop a strong foundation of basic programming skills. Continuing into the academic year, MEDS students take a deep dive into the field of environmental data science including spatial analysis, environmental modeling, machine learning, and data visualization. In Winter and Spring Quarters, small groups tackle a real-world environmental data science problem through the Capstone Project.
Capstone Project
Spanning Winter and Spring quarters, MEDS students participate in a small-group, client-driven Capstone Project. Capstone Projects provide real-world experience for students to create data-driven solutions for a business, public agency, or non-profit organization in the environmental field. Through their Capstone Project experience, students obtain transferable professional and technical skills, a polished project portfolio, and an expanded professional network.
A handful of our most recent cohort's Capstone Projects are featured here. Explore all the MEDS Capstone Projects in the project directory.
Career Development
At Bren, prioritizing your career development isn’t just an available perk—it’s a way of life steeped into our ethos as a professional program and community of change-makers serious about solving environmental problems.
From day one of orientation, to graduation and beyond, we prepare you to enter or re-enter the workforce and thrive in a competitive, ever-changing job market. We’re here to guide you every step of the way with personalized advising, workshops, online resources, job/internships opportunities, alumni connections, and more.
Visit our Bren Student Data Explorer to view MEDS initial career placement data and learn more about Career Services at Bren below.
Alumni Network Access and 24/7 Career Resources
From your first day at Bren, you’ll have access to BrenConnect, Bren’s unique career resources and alumni networking platform, where you can peruse fresh job listings, find and connect with Bren alumni, and access Bren-specific career guidance articles. Want to talk to a Bren grad who works at your dream company? More than 75% of alumni are BrenConnect users, and over 70% of Bren grads land their initial job through a Bren School contact.
Career Programming and 1-on-1 Guidance for Your Unique Journey
MEDS students will take part in a structured job search process that includes workshops and one-on-one career advising sessions from the Bren School’s dedicated staff of career support professionals. This career training builds the specific professional skills needed to thrive in a competitive and changing marketplace. Over 95% of Bren master’s students rate the Career Development team’s services as “Excellent/Good” (with 88% of those students picking “Excellent”)—which means we walk our talk! Through personalized advising and targeted career workshops, our goal is to leave you feeling confident and comfortable navigating any professional setting.
Bren Life
MEDS students often form a tight bond with people in their cohort, a source of career connections and meaningful relationships for life. Bren is collaborative, inspiring, and supportive. Your fellow students are your community, capstone project partners, and friends who make grad school fun!
Affording Your Bren Education
Tuition and fees for Bren’s master’s programs are similar to other public institutions in California. Bren aims to offer the highest possible return on your investment of money and time. Bren has offered recruitment fellowships to over 70% of incoming Masters of Environmental Data Science (MEDS) students. Over the past three years, Bren has provided $1.2 million dollars of funding in student aid to MEDS students. Funding packages have ranged from $5,000 to full-ride scholarships.
Bren students can take advantage of on-campus employment opportunities, including teaching assistantships, graduate student researcher positions, tutor positions, and other student positions.
The UCSB Financial Aid office and the UCSB Graduate Division support graduate students in applying for Federal Student Aid, Federal Work-Study, and pursuing other funding opportunities, including benefits for veterans.
Are you ready to solve environmental problems?
Request more information, get to know the Bren School, and start planning your application today.