Master of Science in Ecology and Sustainability
Ann Kohlhaas, Ph.D., Program Director
The purpose of this program is to provide students with the knowledge, understanding, and tools to gain employment in the fields that contribute solutions to the ever-growing environmental and sustainability issues in California’s Central Valley and beyond. Due to a rapidly growing human population, increased water shortages, urban sprawl, habitat destruction, loss of prime agricultural land, pesticide residues and the economic framework and business practices common in the United States, our society and the Valley in particular face an urgent need for educated professionals who can develop and implement practices that ensure long-term sustainability of human and ecosystem health. As one of the world’s major fruit and vegetable producers, the Central Valley has a critical need for professionals in areas such as environmental impact assessment, biotechnology, ecological informatics, bioremediation, restoration ecology, recreation ecology, biomonitoring, risk assessment, ecological economics, and conservation biology.
The M.S. in Ecology and Sustainability is designed to provide students with the knowledge, tools, and experience necessary to meet these needs.
Programs in Ecology and Sustainability
There are two degree programs within the M.S. in Ecology and Sustainability:
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Ecology and Sustainability with a concentration in Ecological Conservation. This degree program focuses on the importance of ecology and conservation with respect to ecosystem health and is appropriate for students who wish to pursue careers working with governmental agencies and private entities to bring about, restore, and maintain the biodiversity and ecosystem/environmental health that are backbones of sustainability.
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Ecology and Sustainability with a concentration in Ecological Economics. This degree program combines the fields of Ecology and Sustainability with Economics to explore how business practices can be both environmentally and financially sound. It is intended for students who wish to work with economists in various industries to bring about changes that are environmentally sustainable and at the same time financially profitable in business, corporate, and governmental settings.
For either concentration, students must complete 17 core units plus 19-20 units in the concentration of choice, for a total of 36-37 units. If students choose to complete both concentrations, the 19-20 units designated for each concentration must be completed.
Prerequisites for Admission
- A Bachelor of Science degree in one of the Biological Sciences, comparable to the biology program at CSU Stanislaus, from an accredited college or university
- GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 units (based on a 4 point scale)
- Transcripts of all undergraduate coursework
- GRE General Exam results (no minimum score requirement)
- Three letters of recommendation from university faculty members and/or employers if appropriate
- Résumé with cover letter (indicating career aspirations and research interests)
- Approval for admission by the Department of Biological Sciences and the CSU Stanislaus Graduate School.
A student whose undergraduate program is not similar to the B.S. in Biology at CSU Stanislaus may be admitted to CSU Stanislaus in provisional status and required to complete courses, with a minimum grade of C-, missing in his/her background as deemed necessary by the graduate director. These courses must be completed prior to further evaluation for admittance into the M.S. in Ecology and Sustainability.
General Requirements for the Master’s Degree
- Complete 36 graduate units for the concentration in Ecological Conservation or 37 graduate units for the concentration in Ecological Economics
- Maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0
- Complete and orally defend a thesis or project
Prerequisite Courses
MATH 1410 Calculus I, 4 units (or equivalent)
MATH 1600 Statistics, 4 units (or equivalent)
BIOL 4300 Conservation Biology, 3 units (or equivalent)
BIOL 4680 Ecology, 4 units (or equivalent)
Required Core Courses for students in either concentration (17 units)
BIOL 5010/5013 Advanced Writing in Environmental Science, 4 units
BIOL 5030 Ecosystem Services and Ecology, 3 units
BIOL 5500/5502 Quantitative Ecology and Methodology, 4 units
BIOL 5961 Graduate Seminar in Ecology and Sustainability, 3 units (1 unit taken 3 times)
PADM 5310 Environmental Planning, Policy, and Law, 3 units
Concentration in Ecological Conservation
(19 units)
Prerequisites
Additional prerequisite coursework for course options may be required. See specific course information.
Required
BIOL 5170/5172 Restoration Ecology, 4 units
BIOL 5990 Thesis, 6 units
One tool course from the following, 3-4 units (as approved by the student’s committee):
GEOG 4750/4752 Geographic Information Systems, 3 units
BIOL 4310/4312 Histological and Cytological Techniques, 4 units
BIOL 4850/4852 DNA Technology in Forensic Science, 2 units
BIOL 4870/4872 Recombinant DNA, 2 units
BIOL 5980 Individual Study, 1-4 units (maximum 4 units total)
Note: Before registration for BIOL/ECON 5990 or 5960, the following must be completed: Thesis or Project Proposal, 0 units of credit; university and external research approval, as appropriate to the research, such as Institutional Review Board approval of Human Subjects research, Animal Welfare Committee, Hazardous Materials; and approval of all committee members. Students who have completed all registrations for graduate coursework and who have registered for the maximum thesis/project units are required to show ongoing progress and maintain continuous enrollment through BIOL 7005.
One elective from the following, 3-4 units:
BIOL 4200 Ecological Agriculture, 3 units
BIOL 4630/4632 Marine Ecology, 4 units
BIOL 4700 Ecology and Invasive Species, 3 units
BOTY 4600/4602 Plant Ecology, 4 units
ECON 4640 Economics and Agriculture, 3 units
Any course taught at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories that is particularly appropriate to this program.
One of the following, 2-4 units
BIOL 5940 Internship in Biology, 2-4 units (maximum 4 units total)
BIOL 5941 Directed Field Research, 2-4 units (maximum 4 units total)
Concentration in Ecological Economics
(20 units)
Prerequisites
ECON 2500 Principles of Macroeconomics, 3 units and
ECON 2510 Principles of Microeconomics, 3 units or
ECON 5050 Business and the Economic Environment, 3 units
Note: Additional prerequisite coursework for course options may be required. See specific course information.
Required (20 units)
ECON 4200 Intermediate Theory (Microeconomics), 3 units
ECON 4560 Natural Resources & Environmental Economics, 4 units
ECON 5570 Ecological Economics, 4 units
ECON 5940 Economics Internship, 3 units or
BIOL 5940 Internship in Biology, 3 units
ECON 5990 Thesis, 3 units and
BIOL 5990 Thesis, 3 units or
ECON 5960 Graduate Project, 3 units and
BIOL 5960 Project, 3 units
Master of Science
in Marine Sciences
Pamela Roe, Ph.D., Program Director
The California State University operates the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) at 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, California 95039. This marine facility functions as a seaside extension of the campuses of seven cooperating CSU campuses (Stanislaus, Fresno, East Bay, Monterey Bay, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Jose) and offers coursework in marine biology, geology, oceanography, and other marine sciences.
The curriculum is designed to fulfill major requirements for qualified upper-division and graduate students. Such students can plan their academic schedules to provide for one or more terms at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.
They will be considered as in-residence at California State University, Stanislaus. Interested students should apply early because enrollment is limited. Consult advisers in the departments of Biological Sciences or Physical Sciences for further details. Consult the Department of Biological Sciences for information on the Master of Science in Marine Sciences degree.
The Master of Science in Marine Sciences program is offered as an interdepartmental degree on each campus in appropriate science departments (biology, geology, chemistry) in cooperation with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML). It provides the opportunity for students to acquire a practical and theoretical education in the marine sciences to prepare them for careers as marine specialists, scientists, and teachers. The program at Moss Landing provides extensive field and laboratory work for advanced study in the marine sciences that cannot be duplicated on any one individual California State University campus.
Admission
The Master of Science in Marine Sciences program is administered through MLML and an academic department from a consortium campus (biological science, geology, natural science, or other department) depending on the student’s choice. The prospective student must meet the entrance requirements for the department and will be accepted into provisional or conditionally classified graduate status by normal procedures at that campus. The student will become classified upon completion of MLML’s requirements.
Admission to the M.S. Marine Sciences program through CSU Stanislaus requires application both to the University and to the Department of Biological Sciences. Completed applications must be received by January 15 for the following fall semester or August 15 for the following spring semester. Application materials for the Department of Biological Sciences are due February 15 or October 15. Applications must include:
- A copy of transcripts of all undergraduate courses with summary
of overall grade point average and grade point average in upper- division biological sciences courses or the last 60 units
- A statement of student’s area(s) of research interests
- A summary of all research experiences (resume)
- Scores on the GRE exam (both General Test and the appropriate
Subject Test determined by the student’s undergraduate degree,
i.e., Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics)
- Three letters of recommendation, and
- The MLML Graduate Application Questionnaire.
The application, transcripts, and GRE scores should be sent to the CSU Stanislaus Office of Enrollment Services. Letters of recommendation, statement of interest, resume, and MLML Graduate Application Questionnaire should be sent to the CSU Stanislaus Department of Biological Sciences.
Requirements for admission to the M.S. Marine Sciences program via CSU Stanislaus are:
- Bachelor’s degree in one of the biological sciences with a program
comparable to the biology program at CSU Stanislaus from an
accredited college or university
- An overall grade point average of 3.0
- Statement of research interests consistent with interests and
facilities of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories faculty, and
- Approval for admission with conditional classified status by the Department of Biological Sciences, CSU Stanislaus, and by Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. For more detailed information, contact
the CSU Stanislaus Graduate School, (209) 667-3129.
MLML Classification
A conditionally classified student may become fully classified in the marine science program by taking the following steps:
- Obtain an adviser at MLML and in the department of his/her choice at the home campus. Each new student in the Master’s program at MLML will be assigned an adviser who may or may not be the final thesis adviser.
- Make up any coursework deficiencies in either the home campus department (see department regulations) and/or MLML. MSCI 3040 Quantitative Marine Science, and three of the following five courses are prerequisites for classified graduate standing:
MSCI 3030 Marine Ecology
MSCI 3410 Geological Oceanography
MSCI 3420 Physical Oceanography
MSCI 3430 Chemical Oceanography, and
MSCI 3440 Biological Oceanography
These courses may be waived by the graduate committee upon certification that equivalent courses have been completed satisfactorily. MSCI 3040 Quantitative Marine Science cannot be counted toward the 30–unit degree requirement.
- Students who do not receive a grade of “B” or better in the courses described in (2) above taken at MLML, or who wish to substitute equivalent courses taken elsewhere regardless of the grade(s) received, must pass a written qualifying examination given by the faculty at MLML. The examination will substitute for any equivalent examination given by home campus departments. There is no official time limit, but the exam should be taken as soon as possible; only a limited number of units taken while in unclassified status can be counted toward the degree. The exam may be repeated once, and must be passed before the student can be classified. The examination will consist of a choice of five out of six questions designed to test knowledge of the concepts and principles of oceanography, marine ecology, and statistics as covered in the courses listed under (2) above. It will be used to evaluate the student’s background in these subject areas and the ability to write well and formulate answers logically. Each answer will be graded “pass” or “fail” by two faculty members (a third faculty member will resolve disagreements) on accuracy, content, and ability to clearly communicate.
For a reading list covering the required material and further details concerning the exam, see the MLML’s Assistant Director.
Advancement to Candidacy
To be advanced to candidacy, the student must have:
- Attained classified standing,
- Selected a thesis problem and selected a graduate committee, and
- Completed 1 unit of MSCI 5980, Research in the Marine Sciences, in which a thesis proposal has been written and approved by the thesis committee both for its content and the graduate English competency requirement.
The thesis committee will be composed of at least three members, including one faculty member from MLML (who is ordinarily the thesis adviser) and, at the discretion of the home campus, a representative from that campus. The other member or members of the thesis committee may also be from the home campus, or elsewhere, with the approval of the thesis adviser. The California State University requires that the majority of the thesis committee members be tenure track faculty in the California State University System.
Requirements (30 units)
A student becomes eligible for the Master’s degree in Marine Sciences after the following requirements have been satisfied:
- Been advanced to candidacy
- Satisfied MLML requirements for the degree
- Completed the following curricular requirements for a minimum total
of 30 units:
- A minimum total of 15 units of 5000-level courses (including two units of MSCI 5850, 1 unit of MSCI 5980, Research in the Marine Sciences to write the thesis proposal (#3 above), and 4 units of MSCI 5990).
- Fifteen units or more of elective courses in marine sciences (courses numbered 3000 or above). The following list of elective courses can be used to satisfy major requirements:
MSCI 3050 Marine Science Diving, 3 units
MSCI 3120 Marine Birds and Mammals, 4 units
MSCI 3130 Marine Ichthyology, 4 units
MSCI 3240 Marine Invertebrate Zoology I, 4 units
MSCI 3250 Marine Invertebrate Zoology II, 3 units
MSCI 3310 Marine Botany, 4 units
MSCI 3350 Physiology of Marine Algae, 4 units
MSCI 3750 Topics in Marine Science, 4 units
MSCI 5010 Library Research Methods in Marine Sciences, 1 unit MSCI 5020 Oceanographic Instrumentation, 4 units
MSCI 5040 Sampling and Experimental Design, 4 units
MSCI 5060 Molecular Biological Techniques, 4 units
MSCI 5080 Scientific Methods, 4 units
MSCI 5110 Ecology of Marine Birds and Mammals, 4 units
MSCI 5120 Advanced Topics in Marine Vertebrates, 1-4 units
MSCI 5210 Advanced Topics in Marine Invertebrates, 1-4 units MSCI 5310 Biology of Seaweeds, 4 units
MSCI 5330 Advanced Topics in Marine Ecology, 1-4 units
MSCI 5340 Advanced Biological Oceanography, 4 units
MSCI 5420 Plate Tectonics, 3 units
MSCI 5460 Geology of the Monterey Bay Region, 4 units
MSCI 5480 Marine Benthic Habitat Techniques, 4 units
MSCI 5510 Marine Geochemistry, 4 units
MSCI 5610 Ocean Circulation and Mixing, 4 units
MSCI 5620 Satellite Oceanography, 4 units
MSCI 5630 Computer Application in Oceanography, 4 units
MSCI 5710 Population Biology, 3 units
MSCI 5720 Subtidal Ecology, 4 units
MSCI 5730 Marine Environmental Studies of the Gulf of California, 4 units
MSCI 5740 Advanced Topics in Oceanography, 1-4 units
MSCI 5804 Scientific Writing, 3 units
MSCI 5850 Graduate Seminar in Marine Science, 2 units
MSCI 5980 Research in the Marine Sciences, 1-4 units
Note: Other electives, including courses from the home campus departments, may be included in consultation with the graduate committee. The combination of required units (seminar and thesis and elective) must total at least 30 semester units. No more than 6 units may be graded CR/NC.
- Submitted a thesis approved by the graduate committee. The thesis must conform to the rules set forth by the consortium campus’ graduate office.
- Given an oral thesis defense to include an open seminar presentation of the thesis material and a defense before the graduate committee.
Schedule of Core Courses
(Quantitative Marine Science, Physical Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Geological Oceanography, Biological Oceanography, and Marine Ecology)
Fall
MSCI 3030 Marine Ecology
MSCI 3040 Quantitative Marine Science
MSCI 3410 Geological Oceanography
MSCI 3420 Physical Oceanography
Spring
MSCI 3430 Chemical Oceanography
MSCI 3440 Biological Oceanography
