• A minimum of 2 credits of the ESE Seminar (preferentially in sequence). Incoming students starting with Fall 2008 must enroll in the seminar course their first and second semesters. The course abbreviation may vary between years depending on the lead instructor(s) and will often be co-listed with more than one other department including GRAD for grad school.
• Recommended for all students but required of all Non-thesis MS only: 2-credit integrating Maymester course or Summer Internship experience - recommended during the first Maymester or summer opportunity and preferentially immediately following the one-year of ESE seminar for incoming students starting Fall 2009 (exceptions to this requirement may be considered upon petition from the major advisor to the ESE Program Head).

All students must take during their degree program or have taken in their previous degree program* the following courses:

• Biology 585 (Ecology) 3 credits OR alternately with pre-approval of ESE Program Head, BIOL 652 (Review of Primary Fundamental Ecology Literature) 1 credit - Should be taken the first semester for incoming students starting with Fall 2008 (this also meets the minimum requirement for the Ecological & Biological Sciences Core)
• One course (3 credits) in the area of Environmental Policy, Economics, Human Dimensions, and/or Institutional Analysis
• ENTM 612 (Responsible Conduct in Research) 1 credit or comparable course - Should be taken within the first year in the graduate program.
• One course each from two of the four of the following ESE cores:
  • Life Cycle Thinking/Sustainable Design Core
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Hydrological Sciences
  • Ecosystem Analysis Tools
  * If a previous degree was not at Purdue University, transcripts will be reviewed by Program Head to identify if any previous courses (passed with a B or better) qualify to replace the require courses listed above.

  At least one professional development activity is required - Students are strongly encouraged to participate in professional development activities, such as planning the annual ESE Symposium, grant writing, teaching certifications, and experiential field trips.