Ecology (Environment and Society) - MS

S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources

Department of Environment and Society

The Department of Environment and Society offers an M.S. degree in Ecology administered by the interdepartmental Ecology Center. Ecology majors who are housed in the Department of Environment and Society also have the option of adding a specialization in Climate Adaptation Science. For this optional specialization, please see the Climate Adaptation Science Specialization Program Page .

Interdepartmental Program in Ecology

Director: Dr. Peter Adler
Location: Natural Resources 208B
E-mail: peter.adler@usu.edu

Correspondence for catalog questions should be sent to the Ecology Center/CAS Program Coordinator:

Program Coordinator: Dr. Lexi Turano
Location: Natural Resources 208
Phone: (435) 797-2555
E-mail: alexandra.turano@usu.edu

Graduate Program in Ecology

The Ecology degree programs at Utah State University are administered by the interdepartmental Ecology Center. The Ecology Center aims to promote research and graduate education in ecology and to provide expert, professional information and advice for decision-makers. The research carried out by the center’s associates covers the full spectrum of ecology. Students earn their degrees in Ecology while maintaining residence in one of the participating home departments (BIOL, ENVS, PSC, WATS, WILD); the Ecology Center itself does not grant degrees. The candidate must select a major professor from their home department, appropriate to their interests.

Ecology (Environment and Society) – M.S. Requirements

Requirements for graduate degrees in Ecology include the graduate school, home department, and Ecology Center program requirements, outlined below.

Graduate School and Home Department Requirements:

A cumulative GPA of 3.0.
No grades of C- or lower.
Presentation at the Department’s Pre-Project Graduate Research Symposium.
Completion of the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training
Completion of other trainings required by the Graduate School.
Approval of a thesis proposal.
Successful defense of the thesis.
Submission of thesis to the School of Graduate Studies and library for review and approval.
Completion of academic forms required by the School of Graduate Studies.
- Supervisory Committee Approval
- Program of Study
- Master’s Thesis Proposal/Project Approval
- Appointment for Examination
- Record of Examination
- Graduation Check
- Application for Graduation

Environment and Society& Ecology Center Credit Requirements:

The Ecology M. S. degree requires a research thesis (M. S. Plan A Thesis).

30 required credit hours (minimum), including:
- 1 credit of ENVS 6840 - Graduate Introductory Seminar for Environment and Society
- 1 credit of ENVS 6841 - The Socio-Environmental Research Process
- 1 credit of ENVS 6842 - Methodology for Socio-Environmental Research
- 1 credit of ENVS 6800 - Environment and Society Departmental Colloquium
- 2 credits of BIOL /ENVS /PSC /WATS /WILD 6870 - Ecology Seminar
  - M. S. students must pass this 1-credit course at least two times during their program of study
- 6-15 credits of ENVS 6970 - Thesis Research
- 6 credits of a demonstrated breadth of knowledge in Ecology
  - M. S. students must take 3 credits from at least two of the five Ecology Blocks
    - Block #1: Biophysical Ecology
    - Block #2: Organismic, Population, and Evolutionary Ecology
    - Block #3: Community, Ecosystem, and Landscape Ecology
    - Block #4: Quantitative Ecology
    - Block #5: Human Ecology

Students are advised to discuss course options with their Graduate Program Coordinator to fulfill block requirements.

Remaining credits to reach 30 credit hours (minimum)
- Fulfilled via:
  - Graduate level course work (6000 and above)
  - No more than 12 credits of 5000-5990 level courses

Optional Climate Adaptation Science Specialization:

Ecology majors who are housed in the Department of Environment and Society have the option of adding a specialization in Climate Adaptation Science to appear on their transcript upon completion. To opt for this specialization, students must declare this to their home department (Environment and Society). Please use specialization code CLAD.

For course requirements, please see the Climate Adaptation Science Specialization Program Page .