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Master’s Degree in Ecology or Evolution
Complete your Master’s Degree in 3 semesters.
» Master of Arts (MA) in Biological Sciences, Concentration in Applied Ecology or Applied Evolution.
» Preparation for a doctoral degree, or to work in industry, NGOs, or public agencies.
» Master of Arts (MA) in Biological Sciences, Concentration in Applied Ecology or Applied Evolution.
» Preparation for a doctoral degree, or to work in industry, NGOs, or public agencies.
One of the first departments of its kind, we have notable strengths in:
Applied Ecology ✭ Conservation Biology ✭ Invasion Ecology ✭ Aquatic Ecology ✭ Research Synthesis ✭ Phylogenetics ✭ Molecular Evolution ✭ Evolutionary Genomics ✭ Biological Statistics ✭ Science Education
Applied Ecology ✭ Conservation Biology ✭ Invasion Ecology ✭ Aquatic Ecology ✭ Research Synthesis ✭ Phylogenetics ✭ Molecular Evolution ✭ Evolutionary Genomics ✭ Biological Statistics ✭ Science Education
The goals of the graduate program in ecology and evolution are to equip future scientists, educators, and leaders with the capacity to…
- use ecological and evolutionary knowledge to advance empirical and theoretical understanding of the natural world.
- identify and address societally-relevant problems in fundamental and applied ecology and evolution.
- employ appropriate quantitative methods and approaches to develop and test hypotheses, predictions and models.
- effectively communicate research findings by using written and oral disciplinary discourse practices and norms.
- use evidence-based practices to teach and inspire the next generation of scientists, environmental stewards, and citizens.
Our MA program has four components:
1 » Work closely with a faculty advisor on a capstone project. The capstone project is an opportunity for MA students to dive deeply into a specific line of intellectual inquiry that builds on their coursework, to hone their organizational and writing skills, and to produce a product that is evidence of their scholarly experience. The goal of the project should be inquiry into a topic of scientific interest in ecology or evolution, and may be composed of a literature review, systematic review, or original research, depending on the goals of the student and subject to the approval of the faculty mentor. Evaluation of the paper is conducted by the student's advisor and a second reader from the program faculty.
1 » Work closely with a faculty advisor on a capstone project. The capstone project is an opportunity for MA students to dive deeply into a specific line of intellectual inquiry that builds on their coursework, to hone their organizational and writing skills, and to produce a product that is evidence of their scholarly experience. The goal of the project should be inquiry into a topic of scientific interest in ecology or evolution, and may be composed of a literature review, systematic review, or original research, depending on the goals of the student and subject to the approval of the faculty mentor. Evaluation of the paper is conducted by the student's advisor and a second reader from the program faculty.
| Examples of recent capstone projects: ✭ Dry season feeding behavior & ecology of the black-and-white ruffed lemur across a gradient of habitat disturbance preceding a synchronous reproductive event ✭ Comparative analysis of phylogenetic and microbiome approaches to delimitation of Northwestern Pacific sea sponges ✭ Conservation and management of caribou in North America |
2 » Take core courses in ecology or evolution, and biostatistics.
3 » Participate in topical discussion seminars. Each semester, students may participate in faculty led, graduate discussion groups focused on critical topics in ecology and evolution.
3 » Participate in topical discussion seminars. Each semester, students may participate in faculty led, graduate discussion groups focused on critical topics in ecology and evolution.
| Examples of recent seminar topics: Speciation Genomics (Veeramah) ✭ Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Invertebrate Larvae (Padilla) ✭ Genomic Conflict (Eanes) ✭ Analyzing Data for Conservation (Davalos) |
4 » Develop a curriculum tailored to your interests. Course choices from across the university are available for a tailored curriculum
to meet each student's experience level and goals. Choose from elective courses in
Ecology and Evolution, or sister departments including Anthropology, Anatomical Sciences,
or Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.
Advanced certificates: Students may stay an extra semester and complete an advanced graduate certificate,
administered through their respective programs. Typical certificates our students
pursue are:
✭ Communicating Science (offered through SOCJ)
✭ Data and Computational Science (offered through IACS)
✭ Geospatial Science (offered through Geosciences)
✭ Communicating Science (offered through SOCJ)
✭ Data and Computational Science (offered through IACS)
✭ Geospatial Science (offered through Geosciences)
✭ Science Training and Research to Inform Decisions (offered through IACS)
A strong graduate student culture:In our small program, MA students interact with a faculty mentor and their lab group.
We offer a rich, scholarly environment with a strong focus on quantitative and computational
analysis. MA students have a shared office space, and participate fully in the life of the
department. Weekly colloquia, a weekly informal graduate student seminar, and weekly departmental soup lunches
are highlights in the departmental. A yearly departmental retreat and picnic are also important components.
Admissions criteria:
1 » Admission is dependent on a successful match with a faculty advisor. We suggest you contact a potential faculty advisor. You will be asked to rank up to 3 prospective faculty advisors. Possible faculty advisors can be found here, although not all faculty accept MA students in any particular year. Feel free to contact Krishna R. Veeramah, the program director, for advice.
2 » Likely success in our core courses. An important consideration for admissions is likelihood of success in our graduate level ecology or evolution courses. These courses require substantial intellectual engagement, fluency with the scientific literature, strong quantitative skills, and the ability to assimilate knowledge at a rapid pace. Students need to have strong study skills and the ability to address complex questions and problems on essay style exams in order to succeed. Similarly, we also consider the likelihood of success in our required biometry (biostatistics) course. This course requires very strong quantitative skills, including a working knowledge of calculus, and the ability to apply. In your essay, please comment on your preparation and likelihood of success in each of these courses.
1 » Admission is dependent on a successful match with a faculty advisor. We suggest you contact a potential faculty advisor. You will be asked to rank up to 3 prospective faculty advisors. Possible faculty advisors can be found here, although not all faculty accept MA students in any particular year. Feel free to contact Krishna R. Veeramah, the program director, for advice.
2 » Likely success in our core courses. An important consideration for admissions is likelihood of success in our graduate level ecology or evolution courses. These courses require substantial intellectual engagement, fluency with the scientific literature, strong quantitative skills, and the ability to assimilate knowledge at a rapid pace. Students need to have strong study skills and the ability to address complex questions and problems on essay style exams in order to succeed. Similarly, we also consider the likelihood of success in our required biometry (biostatistics) course. This course requires very strong quantitative skills, including a working knowledge of calculus, and the ability to apply. In your essay, please comment on your preparation and likelihood of success in each of these courses.
Ecology concentration:
Our program provides students with a strong foundation in ecological principles and theory. We offer opportunities to develop quantitative skills necessary for ecological research or for assessment of environmental issues in the nonprofit or government sectors.
Our program provides students with a strong foundation in ecological principles and theory. We offer opportunities to develop quantitative skills necessary for ecological research or for assessment of environmental issues in the nonprofit or government sectors.
| Required Courses (16 credits) BEE 550: Principles of Ecology BEE 692/693/695: Seminars (two required) BEE 552: Biometry |
WRT 621: Writing in the Academic Disciplines BEE 556: Research Areas of Ecology & Evolution BEE 599: Research (2-4 credits total) BEE 671/672: Ecology and Evolution Colloquium |
| Suggested Electives (14 credits) These courses vary in availability. BEE 520: Advanced Human Genetics BEE 521: Genomics Lab BEE 555: Mathematical Methods in Population Biol. BEE 560:Advanced Ecology BEE 562: Bayesian Data Analysis and Computation BEE 571: Ecology Laboratory BEE 572: Conservation Biology BEE 574: Landscape Ecology Laboratory BEE 577: Ecological Genetics BEE 585: Research Design and Analysis in Eco & Evol BEE 586: Introduction to Ecological Modeling BEE 587: Applied Ecology & Conservation Biol. Lab |
ANT 536: Adv. Biostatistics & Phylogenetic Comparative Methods GSS 513: GIS Fundamentals I GSS 525: GIS Fundamentals II GSS 526: Project Management JRN 501: Communicating Science: Distilling Your Message JRN 503: Communicating Science: Improvisation for Scientists JRN 505: Communicating Science: Connecting with the Community MAR 507: Marine Conservation MAR 522: Environmental Toxicology & Public Health MAR 536: Environmental Law and Regulation MAR 569: Programming Statistics in R MAR 581: Next Gen Sequencing Apps in Funct Genomics and additional courses as determined by the GPD. |
Evolution concentration:
Our program offers training in population genetics, phylogenetics, and evolutionary genomics. We also provide opportunities to develop skills that can be applied in evolutionary analysis.
Our program offers training in population genetics, phylogenetics, and evolutionary genomics. We also provide opportunities to develop skills that can be applied in evolutionary analysis.
| Required Courses (16 credits) BEE 551: Principles of Evolution BEE 690/691/692: Seminars (two required) BEE 552: Biometry |
WRT 621: Writing in the Academic Disciplines BEE 556: Research Areas of Ecology & Evolution BEE 599: Research (2-4 credits total) BEE 671/672: Ecology and Evolution Colloquium |
| Suggested Electives (14 credits) These courses vary in availability. BEE 520: Advanced Human Genetics BEE 521: Genomics Lab BEE 554: Population Genetics and Evolution BEE 562: Bayesian Data Analysis and Computation BEE 567: Molecular Diversity Laboratory BEE 572: Conservation Biology BEE 577: Ecological Genetics BEE 585: Research Design & Analysis in Ecol. & Evol. BEE 587: Applied Ecology & Conservation Biol. Lab AMS 533: Num. Methods and Algorithms in Comp Bio AMS 536: Molecular Modeling of Biol. Molecules AMS 561: Intro. to Computational & Data Science AMS 589: Quantitative Genetics ANT 508: Paleoanthropological Field Methods |
ANT 536: Advanced Biostatistics & Phylogenetic Comparative Methods ANT 564: Primate Evolution ANT 565: Human Evolution CSE 549: Computational Biology HBA 550: Vertebrate Evolution HBA 551: Phylogenetic Systematics, Biogeography & Comparative Methods HBM 503: Molecular Genetics JRN 501: Communicating Science: Distilling Your Message JRN 503: Communicating Science: Improvisation for Scientists JRN 505: Communicating Science: Connecting with the Community MAR 569: Programming Statistics in R MAR 581: Next Gen Sequencing Apps in Funct. Genomics and additional courses as determined by the GPD. |
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From the Program Director
Thank you for considering a Master's Degree in Ecology or Evolution. The strength
of our program is the close relationships you will build with your faculty advisor
and with your fellow graduate students. We offer a strong scholarly environment that
will allow you to engage rigorously in the disciplines of Ecology or Evolution. Many
of our students go on to jobs in industry, non-profits, or government agencies. Other
students are preparing for doctoral work. If you have matched interests and a strong
academic record - we want you to join our program! I am here to support you during
the application process and throughout the completion of your degree.
Krishna R. Veeramah, PhD
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For further Information, contact:
Dr. Krishna R. Veeramah, Director
MA Program in Ecology and Evolution
MA Program in Ecology and Evolution
631-632-1101
Melissa J. Cohen, Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Ecology & Evolution
631-632-8604
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York 11794-5245
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York 11794-5245
State University of New York at Stony Brook is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer.