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Ecology and Evolutionary Biology M.A.

Introduction

All curricular requirements are aimed at preparing students for timely and successful completion of a master thesis. The master of arts (M.A.) curriculum in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) includes two stages: 1) required coursework, 2) the research, writing, and defense of the master thesis.

Requirements

Course Requirements

M.A. students must take BIOE 200A, BIOE 200B, BIOE 279, and two quarters of BIOE 293 (or one quarter of BIOE 293 and one quarter of BIOE 295) within their first two years. Biology 281, 294, and 297 (Independent Study) must be taken every quarter the student is in residence. All students must be enrolled in at least 15 credits per quarter, unless on approved part-time status. No more than 15 credits from upper-division undergraduate courses may be used as part the student’s coursework.

Core Courses

BIOE200AScientific Skills

5

BIOE200BAdvanced Organismal Biology

5

BIOE279Evolutionary Ecology

5

BIOE293Readings in Ecology and Evolution

2

BIOE 293: must be taken twice

BIOE 295: may substitute for BIOE 293 once

The following courses must be taken every quarter the student is in residence.

BIOE281Graduate Seminar

BIOE294Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Seminar

0

BIOE 297Independent Study

Elective Courses

BIOE208Marine Ecology

5

BIOE245Plant Ecology

5

BIOE245LField Methods in Plant Ecology Laboratory

5

BIOE247Community Ecology

5

BIOE248AQuantitative Ecology

5

BIOE248BQuantitative Methods in Ecology and Evolution

5

BIOE258LExperimental Marine Ecology

5

BIOE262
/CSP 245
Facilitating Change in Coastal Science Policy

5

BIOE271Disciplinary Communication for Biologists

5

BIOE272Population Genetics

5

BIOE272LPopulation Genetics Laboratory

2

BIOE286
/CSP 241
Experimental Design and Data Analysis

5

BIOE286L
/CSP 241L
Experimental Design and Data Analysis Lab

2

BIOE295Advanced Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Seminar

0

Other Requirements

The master research project is identified by students and requires approval from the students’ masters reading committee in the fall of the second year. The master thesis manuscript is submitted to the students’ masters reading committee, defended in a closed oral examination, and presented in a departmental seminar by the end of the second year.

Deadlines at each stage must be confirmed with the graduate program coordinator.

Academic Progress

Normative time to degree for the M.A. program is two years. Academic progress is formally reviewed in the spring quarter of each academic year.

Applying for Graduation

Information on applying for graduation may be found on the EEB Graduate Program website. Deadlines should always be confirmed with the graduate program coordinator.