Mar 04, 2025  
2025-2026 General Catalog 
  
2025-2026 General Catalog

Ecology (Biology) - MS


College of Science

Department of Biology

The Department of Biology offers an M.S. degree in Ecology administered by the interdepartmental Ecology Center. Ecology majors who are housed in the Department of Biology 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 (Biology) – M.S. Requirements

Requirements for graduate degrees in Ecology include the graduate school, home department, and Ecology Center program requirements, outlined below. Please also visit your home department catalog page to confirm that all degree requirements have been met.

 

Graduate School and Home Department Requirements:

  • Submission of Thesis to the School of Graduate Studies and library for review and approval
  • Comprehensive Exams
  • Thesis Defense
  • Completion of academic forms required by the BIOL Program and the School of Graduate Studies
    • Supervisory committee approval form
    • Program of Study form
    • Master’s Thesis Proposal
  • Completion of academic forms required specifically by the School of Graduate Studies
    • Appointment for Examination
    • Record of Examination
    • Format & Style Form
    • Authorship & Copyright Form
    • Title Page Form
    • Graduation Check Form
    • Application for Graduation
  • Completion of required trainings
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • No grades of C- or lower

Biology and Ecology Center Credit Requirements:


The Ecology M.S. degree requires a research thesis (M.S. Plan A Thesis) and a minimum of 30 credits.

Program Requirements (9-18 credits)


Ecology Requirements (6 credits)


M.S. students must take 3 credits from at least two of the five Ecology Blocks. Students must complete 6 total credits of a demonstrated breadth of knowledge in Ecology from the following 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

For a list of courses qualifying under these blocks, please visit the Ecology Center website.

Elective Credit (6-15)


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 Biology have the option of adding a specialization in Climate Adaptation Science to appear on their transcript upon completion. To opt for this specialization, you must declare this to your home department (Biology). Please use specialization code CLAD.

Total Credits: 30 minimum