Reducing our ecological footprint
...through innovative discovery, life-cycle thinking, and sustainable management of natural resources. Understanding the dynamic, complex processes that link human activity and ecological systems is essential to improving the way we manage our natural resources and develop solutions to the environmental threats facing the world today. Effective discovery and learning in this area will require collaboration among biological, chemical, computational, physical, health, and social scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. The Ecological Sciences and Engineering (ESE) Program , directed by Purdue University's Center for the Environment, provides students with an interdisciplinary/interdepartmental educational experience that integrates the science and engineering concepts needed to address grand challenges in environmental sciences.
Read the program mission and overview
The program offers a research based thesis Masters, a Doctoral program, and a non-thesis Masters.
Download a print quality flyer about the ESE program (PDF)
ESE offers exciting opportunities for excellent students from a wide sprectrum of backgrounds. Engage in cutting edge research with diverse faculty, world-class facilities and resources, and an innovative curriculum that integrates five theme areas:
Program Themes
Earth Systems Interactions
Observe the dynamics of earth systems interactions through climate, hydrologic, and land use systems study at landscape to global scales.
Full Description
Green Technology
Innovate changes in daily life through material production and process development that provide a healthy quality of life without compromising the ecosystem, human health, or the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Full Description
Human Impacts on Biosphere Processes
Assess human activity on natural ecosystem health and resources including water quality, quantity, and movement, soil health, air quality, and biodiversity.
Full Description
Managed Ecosystems
Apply cross-disciplinary approaches to ecological and environmental assessment and management of complex ecosystems including agriculturally-dominant landscapes, forests, wetlands, conservation lands and refuges.
Full Description
Sustainable Urban Environments
Design urban communities that provide a high quality life-style that meets the needs of more people with a reduced carbon and ecological footprint.
Full Description
If this describes what you are looking for in a graduate program, start your admission process. At a minimum, you can join our prospective student list by completing the request for information form with the graduate school click here and under "program of interest" choose "Ecological Sciences & Engineering - Interdisciplinary"
Center for the Environment at Discovery Park
The ESE Graduate Program is directed by the Center for the Environment (C4E), one of ten centers at Discovery Park, Purdue University. Protecting environmental integrity is essential to prosperity and quality of life. To protect and enhance environmental integrity, C4E and its more than 130 associated faculty members focus on innovative multi-disciplinary research and education projects. Graduate students are an integral part of these research teams.
Discovery Park was established at Purdue University to create a combinational power greater than any individual strength, and to serve as a catalyst for drawing faculty, staff, and students to reach into other disciplines and projects in order to take Purdue to the cutting edge of academic work.
Graduate studies and life at Purdue University
Founded in 1869, Purdue University is a world class institution with a statewide system that includes five campuses and numerous teaching 
and research sites. The main campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana (126 miles southeast of Chicago, 65 miles north of Indianapolis) with an enrollment of more than 38,000 students from all 50 states and 130 countries. Purdue has a wealth of diversity in its faculty and student body. Purdue ranks in the top two academic institutions for international student enrollment. Learn more about student life and graduate studies at Purdue.
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