Curriculum
The ESE curriculum is designed to create a foundation where students develop the knowledge and tools necessary for sustainable management of natural resources and to reduce the "ecological footprint" of human society. As an ESE graduate student you will be exposed to large-scale ecological issues (e.g. global warming, loss of biodiversity, sustainable food production) and the scientific principles that help design solutions. The ESE program aims to train practitioners (consultants, policy makers, regulators, industry) at the MS level, and researchers and educators at the PhD level.
Pre-requisites
MS Program
PhD Program
Theme areas and courses
Pre-requisites include: 1 year of college level calculus, 2 years of college-level science (chemistry, physics, and biology), a microeconomics course or environmental economics, and a statistics course. Students lacking any of these courses may be accepted for admission with a plan developed between the student and the ESE graduate committee to resolve deficiencies. Please note that students do not need to have an engineering background to enter the ESE program, unless they are considering an M.S.E or PhD that focuses on engineering research.
Students entering the ESE Program may seek Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.), or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. Graduates of the M.S. and M.S.E. programs will have a solid scientific background and knowledge of public policy to effectively compete for positions in federal and state government, industry, and private-sector organizations, among others. The Ph.D. program will emphasize interdisciplinary research, with projects supervised by faculty from more than one department. These students will develop the skills needed to make contributions to both research and teaching in their chosen field of study.
Masters Programs
The M.S. and M.S.E. degrees will be awarded after the student successful completes 32 credit hours within a flexible pedagogical framework. A tradiational two-year Masters thesis research option is available, as well as a Masters, non-thesis option, with all 32 credit hours available within a one year time frame (or part-time). The core curriculum will ensure a broad training in various components of ecological sciences and engineering, while the electives will enable students to develop expertise in areas of specific interest and allow them to fulfill other departmental requirements. A series of seminars and a keystone project will be used to help students achieve a more diverse understanding of ecological system and environmental problems. The Plan of Study for M.S. and M.S.E. students will consist of:
- Ecology (BIOL 585) and one course from each of the five of the seven tracks listed below
- a required 2 credit integrating course “Co-listed: Ecological Science and Engineering” to be offered during Maymester
- total of two 1-credit ESE seminar courses taken during each academic year semester
- additional elective courses to fulfill additional departmental or school requirements or for further specialization in areas of interest
Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. degree program is flexible, and includes 2 one-credit seminar courses (one available each fall and spring); BIOL585 (Ecology); and an ESE Maymester course (2 credits).
The ESE program integrates seven core areas (below). Summer of 2008 we are updating core areas and course offerings for the program.
Ecological & Biological Sciences
Biogeochemistry
Hydrological Sciences
Ecological Engineering and Management
Environmental Policy and Institutional Analysis
Sustainable Design
Ecosystem Analysis & Design Support Tools