Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
2016-2017 Graduate Studies Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Urban Ecology, MS


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Associate Professor Krause, Graduate Program Director, 516-463-6178
Professor Burke, Adviser, 516-463-5521

Urban Ecology is a subfield of ecology that deals with the distribution, abundance and interactions of plants and animals (including humans) within urban and suburban environments. Graduates with master’s degrees in urban ecology find employment in a wide variety of public and private institutions and agencies, including environmental education, environmental consulting, and natural resource management and conservation with both non-governmental and local/state/federal organizations. Some pursue advanced professional degrees.

Admission Requirements


  1. A baccalaureate degree (or the equivalent) in biology, environmental sciences, or closely related disciplines. We expect that incoming students will have completed introductory biology course work covering basic cell biology and genetics, organismal diversity, plant and animal biology, and ecology and evolutionary biology. In addition, students should have completed upper-level course work in ecology or environmental science, one year of mathematics and one year of chemistry. Any undergraduate deficiencies in the above must be rectified before enrolling in graduate courses where these courses are particularly relevant. Exceptions may be made with the permission of the graduate program director;
  2. A minimum GPA of 3.0;
  3. GRE General Test scores;
  4. A written personal statement demonstrating rationale for pursuing graduate studies in urban ecology; and
  5. Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential for graduate studies.

Program Requirements — Total Semester Hours: 30


Graduate students are expected to receive a grade of B or better in their biology courses. All students should meet with the graduate program director at least once each semester. A graduate course in urban ecology is required if no undergraduate courses in urban ecology were taken by the time of admission into the graduate program. Candidates must complete 30 semester hours of graduate biology courses numbered 200 or above . BIO 203  is recommended. Up to 9 s.h. of graduate courses may be taken in related disciplines outside biology with permission of the graduate program director.

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