Ecology (Watershed Sciences), PhD

Interdepartmental Program in Ecology

Director: James A. MacMahon
Location: Natural Resources 314
Phone: (435) 797-2555
FAX: (435) 797-3872
E-mail: jim.macmahon@usu.edu
WWW: http://www.usu.edu/ecology/

Associate Director for Administrative Affairs:

Marvin C. Bennett, Natural Resources 314B, (435) 797-2090, marv.bennett@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the following departments: Biology; Environment and Society; Plants, Soils, and Climate; Watershed Sciences; and Wildland Resources

Graduate Program

The ecology program at Utah State University is administered by the interdepartmental Ecology Center. Its goals are to promote research and graduate education in the science of ecology and to provide expert, professional information and advice for decision makers considering actions that affect the environment. The research carried out by the center’s associates covers the full spectrum of ecology on several continents, but most of it is centered in the montane and desert regions of the western United States.

Students earn their degrees in ecology while maintaining residence in one of the participating departments; the center itself does not grant degrees. The candidate selects or is assigned a major professor from the department appropriate to his or her interests.

Degree Requirements

Requirements for graduate degrees in ecology include the University and departmental degree requirements, as well as the Ecology Center requirements outlined below, which are formulated by the Ecology Center Faculty Advisory Committee. This committee is comprised of faculty representatives designated by the respective department heads from the departments of Biology; Environment and Society; Geology; Plants, Soils, and Climate; Watershed Sciences; and Wildland Resources. The Ecology Center director chairs the committee.

The ecology MS and PhD are research degrees requiring a research thesis or dissertation. The following course requirements for each of these degrees fall into two categories. The first is a general science category. Students receiving graduate degrees in ecology are expected to have some breadth and sophistication in modern science. The second category includes ecology course requirements. These are, for the most part, general requirements, with the specific courses taken by each student selected by his or her graduate committee and tailored to his or her needs and professional goals.

Ecology MS and PhD Degrees General Science Requirements

For further details, see the USU Ecology Center website: http://www.usu.edu/ecology/

Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry

By its very nature, ecology must draw upon knowledge from most branches of science. As a result, at least a reasonable facility with fundamental mathematics and physical sciences must be attained by students, since these concepts have expression throughout the sciences. In order to assure a minimal comprehension in these areas, students receiving graduate degrees in ecology are required to have had the following at some point in their university careers:

1. Equivalent of mathematics through one semester of calculus.
2. Equivalent of at least a one-semester overview course in physics.
3. Chemistry through organic.
4. One year of introductory statistics and one graduate-level statistics course.

These courses are the minimum requirements for the MS and PhD degrees. The committee strongly recommends developing greater facility by taking at least a full year of calculus; one or more courses from the set of three including linear algebra, differential equations, and multi-variable calculus; and a full year of professional-level physics.

Biology

The following are required of all ecology graduate students, and must be taken at some point during their university career:

1. Genetics or evolution, one course.
2. One course in animal physiology for students emphasizing animal ecology.
3. One course each in plant physiology and soils for students emphasizing plant ecology.

Degree Programs

A Master of Science degree in Fisheries Biology, Ecology, or Watershed Science, with emphasis on the management of fisheries or watershed resources directed toward decision-making roles in natural resource agencies, is offered for the applicant with previous agency experience and for the student motivated toward an administrative career. A Doctor of Philosophy degree in Fisheries Biology, Ecology, or Watershed Science is provided for students interested in pursuing a research or academic career.

A thesis or dissertation based on original research performed by the student is required. Written comprehensive examinations are required of all students pursuing the PhD degree. At the discretion of the student’s graduate supervisory committee, an additional oral examination may be required.

The minimum requirement for an MS degree is 30 credits, including at least 24 credits in residency and 6 credits of thesis research. The minimum requirement for a PhD degree is 60 approved graduate credits in addition to an MS degree, or 90 approved graduate credits with no MS degree. At least one year (a minimum of 32 credits), including a minimum of two consecutive semesters, of full-time registration must be in residence at USU.

With committee approval, graduate credit may be transferred from accredited graduate schools, provided the minimum residency requirement (including thesis and dissertation credit) at USU is met. Transfer credit, which must not have been used for any other degree, will be shown on official USU transcripts at completion of the degree.

Specializations

The MS and PhD degrees in Fisheries Biology allow students to specialize in Aquatic Ecology, Conservation Biology, or Fisheries Management. The MS and PhD degrees in Ecology allow students to specialize in Aquatic Ecology.