IGNOU MSc Environmental Science Syllabus 2026: Year-wise Subjects, Credits and Study Blocks
Part of IGNOU Syllabus: IGNOU Syllabus 2026: Programme-wise Course Structure
IGNOU MSc Environmental Science syllabus structure: 2 years, 72 credits
The IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme requires 72 credits for completion, spread over a minimum duration of two years. Each year costs Rs. 8,700/- for the July 2026 session, making the total programme fee Rs. 17,400 for the minimum duration, excluding other charges.
The for starters year of the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme carries 32 credits, comprising six theory courses and two lab courses. MEV 11, Fundamentals of Environmental Science and Ecology, provides foundational knowledge for later courses. The second year includes 24 credits, with three theory courses, one lab course, and an 8-credit dissertation/project, MEVP 11. The programme description states that it aims at generating skilled manpower to tackle environmental and developmental problems.
MSc Environmental Science structure at a glance
| Semester / group | Courses | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | 8 courses | 32 |
| 2nd year | 5 courses | 24 |
| Elective Courses | 9 courses | 36 |
Syllabus for other programmes: IGNOU syllabus, programme by programme.
IGNOU MSc Environmental Science 1st year subjects: Fundamentals of Environmental Science and Ecology, Earth Processes
The first year of the IGNOU Master of Science (Environmental Science) programme covers foundational concepts in environmental science. Students complete 32 credits across eight courses in the first year. This includes core subjects like MEV 11 Fundamentals of Environmental Science and Ecology and MEV 12 Earth Processes, each carrying 4 credits. The programme also includes two lab courses, MEVL 11 Environmental Science Lab Course -1 and MEVL 12 Environmental Science Lab Course -2, both worth 4 credits each. These lab courses provide practical application for the theoretical knowledge gained in subjects such as MEV 13 Environmental Chemistry and MEV 15 Environmental Pollution, Control and Management.
All first-year courses, including MEV 14 Sustainable Natural Resource Management and MEV 16 Environmental Impact Assessment, are worth 4 credits. The first year establishes the base for advanced topics in environmental science. Students must complete assignments for these courses and appear for the term-end examination (TEE).
IGNOU MSc Environmental Science 1st year: courses and credits
| Course code | Course title | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEV 11 | Fundamentals of Environmental Science and Ecology | 4 | |
| MEV 12 | Earth Processes | 4 | |
| MEV 13 | Environmental Chemistry | 4 | |
| MEVL 11 | Environmental Science Lab Course -1 | 4 | Lab |
| MEV 14 | Sustainable Natural Resource Management | 4 | |
| MEV 15 | Environmental Pollution, Control and Management | 4 | |
| MEV 16 | Environmental Impact Assessment | 4 | |
| MEVL 12 | Environmental Science Lab Course -2 | 4 | Lab |
IGNOU MSc Environmental Science 2nd year subjects: Environmental Legislations, Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology
The second year of the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme focuses on advanced topics and practical application. MEV 17 Environmental Legislations and MEV 18 Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology each carry 4 credits, providing theoretical foundations. These courses prepare students for the practical components that follow.
Research skills are developed through MEV 19 Research Methodology for Environmental Science, a 4-credit course. The programme includes a significant practical component: MEVL 13 Environmental Science Lab Course – 3, which is a 4-credit lab. The heaviest course is MEVP 11 Dissertation/Project, an 8-credit project that requires independent research and application of learned concepts.
IGNOU MSc Environmental Science 2nd year: courses and credits
| Course code | Course title | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEV 17 | Environmental Legislations | 4 | |
| MEV 18 | Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology | 4 | |
| MEV 19 | Research Methodology for Environmental Science | 4 | |
| MEVL 13 | Environmental Science Lab Course – 3 | 4 | Lab |
| MEVP 11 | Dissertation/Project | 8 | Project |
IGNOU student services
IGNOU MSc Environmental Science Elective Courses subjects: Global Climate Change, Environmental Management
The IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme includes nine elective courses, each carrying 4 credits. These electives cover specialised areas such as MEVE 11 Global Climate Change and MEVE 15 Disaster Management.
MEVE 12 Environmental Management is one of the available electives, also worth 4 credits. This course uses eGyanKosh blocks covering topics from Block 1: Introduction to Management to Block 4: Tools for Environmental Management. Other electives include MEVE 13 Environmental Biotechnology and MEVE 18 Instrumentation Techniques for Environmental Monitoring, providing diverse options for specialisation within environmental science.
IGNOU MSc Environmental Science Elective Courses: courses and credits
| Course code | Course title | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEVE 11 | Global Climate Change | 4 | Elective |
| MEVE 12 | Environmental Management | 4 | Elective |
| MEVE 13 | Environmental Biotechnology | 4 | Elective |
| MEVE 14 | Biodiversity Conservation and Management | 4 | Elective |
| MEVE 15 | Disaster Management | 4 | Elective |
| MEVE 16 | Urban Environment | 4 | Elective |
| MEVE 17 | Environment and Society | 4 | Elective |
| MEVE 18 | Instrumentation Techniques for Environmental Monitoring | 4 | Elective |
| MEVE 19 | Environmental Issues | 4 | Elective |
MEVE 12 Environmental Management: study blocks
- Block 1: Introduction to Management
- Block 2: Key Areas in Environmental Management
- Block 3: Introduction to Sustainable Development
- Block 4: Tools for Environmental Management
IGNOU MSc Environmental Science assessment: assignments, term-end exams and pass marks
The IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme assesses learners through assignments, term-end examinations, and practical components like lab courses and a dissertation. Assignments are compulsory for all courses. Learners must submit their assignment responses to the Coordinator of their Learner Support Centre before appearing for the Term-End Examination (TEE).
IGNOU conducts Term-End Examinations twice a year, in June and December. The examination fee is Rs. 200 per theory course (December 2026 TEE). For practical and project components, the fee is Rs. 300 for courses up to 4 credits and Rs. 500 for courses above 4 credits, applicable from the January 2023 admission cycle. The MEVP 11 Dissertation/Project carries 8 credits, incurring the Rs. 500 fee.
Learners can write their TEE in Hindi even if registered for the English medium, except for language programmes. Hall tickets for the TEE are uploaded on the University website and are not sent by post. The University provides numerical marks and division (I, II, or Pass) for master’s degrees upon request. Only term-end theory exams are eligible for re-evaluation; projects, practicals, workshops, assignments, or seminars cannot be re-evaluated.
Exam and assignment guides: IGNOU assignment format; IGNOU TEE date sheet and IGNOU result and grade card.
IGNOU MSc Environmental Science study material: printed blocks and eGyanKosh
IGNOU does not publish the full IGNOU MSc Environmental Science syllabus as a single PDF document. Instead, the programme description and year-wise course structure are available in the July 2026 prospectus. The prospectus lists the first year’s eight courses, including MEV 11 Fundamentals of Environmental Science and Ecology and MEVL 11 Environmental Science Lab Course -1, totalling 32 credits.
For the second year, the prospectus details five courses, such as MEV 17 Environmental Legislations and MEVP 11 Dissertation/Project, which accounts for 8 credits. The total credits for the second year are 24. In addition, nine elective courses are available, including MEVE 11 Global Climate Change and MEVE 12 Environmental Management, each worth 4 credits.
Learners receive printed self-instructional study material as a print book or e-book. A 15% discount on the programme fee applies for those who opt for soft copies instead of printed material for the July 2026 admission cycle. Over 3923 courses from 384 programmes are available on eGyanKosh, IGNOU’s digital repository. For example, the eGyanKosh study blocks for MEVE 12 Environmental Management include Block 1: Introduction to Management and Block 4: Tools for Environmental Management.
Study support: IGNOU study material status; IGNOU previous year question papers and IGNOU regional and study centres.
Notices and Documents from IGNOU
Common IGNOU Questions
What is the total fee for the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme?
The total programme fee for the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science is Rs. 17,400 for the minimum two-year duration. This amount is calculated at Rs. 8,700 per year, as stated in the July 2026 prospectus. This fee excludes additional charges like registration, development, and examination fees.
Which courses in the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme include lab work or a project?
The IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme includes three lab courses and one project. These are MEVL 11 Environmental Science Lab Course -1, MEVL 12 Environmental Science Lab Course -2, MEVL 13 Environmental Science Lab Course – 3, and MEVP 11 Dissertation/Project. The project carries 8 credits, while each lab course carries 4 credits.
How many credits must a learner complete in the first year of the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science?
Learners must complete 32 credits in the first year of the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme. The first year covers foundational subjects and two lab courses.
Which year of the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme has the heaviest credit load?
The first year of the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme has the heaviest credit load, with 32 credits. The second year requires completion of 24 credits. The total credits for the programme are 72, including elective courses.
What are the eligibility criteria for the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme?
To be eligible for the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme, a learner must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline of Science, Engineering, Agricultural Science, Forestry, or Veterinary Science from a recognised University. The programme is offered in English medium.
Where can I find the study blocks for the elective course MEVE 12 Environmental Management?
The study blocks for MEVE 12 Environmental Management are available on eGyanKosh. These blocks cover Introduction to Management, Key Areas in Environmental Management, Introduction to Sustainable Development, and Tools for Environmental Management. eGyanKosh hosts self-learning material for over 3923 courses.
What is the minimum and maximum duration to complete the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science?
The minimum duration to complete the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme is 2 years. Learners have a maximum duration of 4 years to finish all programme requirements. This flexibility allows learners to manage their studies alongside other commitments.
How many elective courses are available in the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme?
The IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme offers nine elective courses. These include MEVE 11 Global Climate Change, MEVE 12 Environmental Management, and MEVE 13 Environmental Biotechnology, among others. Each elective course carries 4 credits.
What is the examination fee structure for the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science courses?
The examination fee for theory courses in the IGNOU MSc Environmental Science programme is Rs. 200 per course. For projects and practicals, the fee is Rs. 300 for courses up to 4 credits and Rs. 500 for courses above 4 credits, applicable from the January 2023 admission cycle.
Can I get a discount on the programme fee if I opt for digital study materials?
Yes, learners who choose soft copies instead of printed study materials receive a 15% discount on the programme fee. This option is available at the time of admission. All self-learning material is also accessible on the eGyanKosh repository.