Ecology (Environment and Society) - MS

Interdepartmental Program in Ecology

Director: Nancy Huntly
Location: Natural Resources 314
Phone: (435) 797-2555
FAX: (435) 797-3872
E-mail: nancy.huntly@usu.edu
WWW: http://www.usu.edu/ecology/

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. 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 departments; the Center itself does not grant degrees. The candidate selects a major professor from the department appropriate to his or her interests.

Ecology MS and PhD Degree Course Requirements

Requirements for graduate degrees in ecology include the university and departmental degree requirements, as well as the Ecology Center requirements outlined below.

The ecology MS and PhD are research degrees requiring a research thesis or dissertation. Students receiving graduate degrees in ecology are expected to have some breadth and sophistication in modern science as well as depth in ecology.

A. Required Departmental Core (4 Credits)

• ENVS 6800 - Environment and Society Departmental Colloquium 1 credit(s)
• ENVS 6840 - Graduate Introductory Seminar for Environment and Society 1 credit(s)
• ENVS 6841 - The Socio-Environmental Research Process 1 credit(s)
• ENVS 6842 - Methodology for Socio-Environmental Research 1 credit(s)

B. Committee-Approved Plan of Study (minimum of 26 additional credits) that Includes

1. All Interdepartmental Program in Ecology Requirements (8 credits)
2. Thesis research (only Plan A is available) ENVS 6970 - Thesis Research  (6 credits for Plan A)
3. Elective courses (12 credits for Plan A)

C. Complete the Following Graduation Requirements

1. Responsible Conduct of Research training (ideally by the end of the first semester)
2. Approved supervisory committee
3. Approved plan of study
4. Presentation at the Department’s Pre-Project Graduate Research Symposium
5. Approved proposal for the thesis (Plan A)
6. Successful thesis (Plan A)
7. Submission of the thesis (Plan A)
8. GPA of 3.0 or higher

D. School of Graduate Studies General Graduation Guidelines

• Degree Verification

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.

• Overall Graduate GPA at least 3.0 and no grades of C- or lower;

Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.

• Course Number Acceptability

The Program of Study for a master’s degree must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above.

Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 3000.

• Matriculation Start Semester

A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.

• Coursework Validity

Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.

• USU Residency Requirement

At least 24-semester credits for a master’s degree must be from a committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study from Utah State University.

The Plan A option for a master’s degree requires the preparation and defense of a thesis. Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 semester credits of thesis research (6970) with a maximum of 15 thesis credits applied toward a Program of Study.

• Successful defense and submission of the thesis or dissertation to the library.

• Approval of academic forms required for master’s students by the School of Graduate Studies:
  • Supervisory Committee
  • Program of Study
  • Thesis/Project Approval
  • Appointment for Examination
  • Record of Examination
  • SGS and library review and approval