Curriculum & Courses
M.S. in Ecology
Common Core Courses: 5 credits
Ecological Subdisciplines: 3 credits
Ecological Tools: 3 credits
Professional Skills: 1 credit
Thesis: 1 credit
Additional Electives, Independent Study, Research, or Thesis: Minimum 17 credits.
Note must have a minimum of 12 regular course credits (courses with numbers 500-581 and 600-681).
Total: Minimum 30 credits
Ph.D. in Ecology
Common Core Courses: 7 credits
Ecological Subdisciplines: 6 credits
Ecological Tools: 3 credits
Professional Skills: 1 credit
Dissertation: 1 credit
Additional Electives, Independent Study, Research, or Dissertation: Minimum 54 credits
Total: Minimum 72 credits
Ph.D. in Ecology -
HEI Specialization
Common Core Courses: 10 credits
Ecological Subdisciplines: 6 credits
Human-Environment Interactions: 3 credits
Ecological Tools: 3 credits
Professional Skills: 1 credit
Dissertation: 1 credit
Additional Electives, Independent Study, Research, or Dissertation: Minimum 48 credits
Total: Minimum 72 credits
Coursework Information
The GDPE curriculum is designed to balance providing the fundamentals of ecology that unite students in our program with allowing customization for each student’s individualized scholarly pursuits. Please also see the University Credit Requirements from the Graduate School.
Common Core Courses (MS – 5 credits, PhD – 7 credits, PhD HEI – 10 credits)
These required courses provide the common foundation for all GDPE students and ensure that all students engage in key intellectual opportunities within the program. The many different electives available allow students to specialize and customize their individual MS or PhD degree.
| Course | Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECOL 505 | Foundations of Ecology | 3 | Fall |
| ECOL 571 | Distinguished Ecologists Lecture Series (MS – 1 credit, PhD – 2 credits) | 1-2 | Spring |
| ECOL 592 | Interdisciplinary Seminars in Ecology (MS – 1 course, PhD – 2 courses) | 1-3 | Fall & Spring |
| ANTH 530 (required for HEI specialization only) | Human-Environment Interactions | 3 | Spring |
Ecological Subdisciplines (MS – 3 credits, PhD and PhD HEI – 6 credits)
Take a minimum of 3 credits (MS) or 6 credits (PhD) not taken elsewhere in the program from courses in a subdiscipline of ecology. Students are encouraged to explore options across departments. The following list provides examples of potential courses focused on those offered by Ecology:
| Course | Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECOL 540 | Insect Ecology | 3 | Spring (odd years) |
| ECOL 600 | Community Ecology | 3 | Spring |
| ECOL 610 | Ecosystem Ecology | 3 | Fall |
| ECOL 620 | Applications in Landscape Ecology | 4 | Spring (odd years, may not be taught in 2027) |
Ecological Tools (MS, PhD, and PhD HEI – 3 credits)
Take a minimum of 3 credits of any ecologically-relevant quantitative or qualitative course, as determined by student and committee. Students are encouraged to explore options across departments. Example courses include the following:
| Course | Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESS 575 | Models for Ecological Data | 4 | Fall |
| FW 663 | Sampling and Analysis of Vertebrate Populations | 5 | Spring (even years) |
| FW 673/STAT 673 | Hierarchical Modeling in Ecology | 3 | Not currently offered |
| GR 503/NR 503 | Remote Sensing and Image Analysis | 4 | Fall |
| NR 505 | Concepts in GIS | 4 | Fall |
| NR 512 | Spatial Statistical Modeling-Natural Resources | 3 | Fall |
| NR 523/STAT 523 | Quantitative Spatial Analysis | 3 | Spring |
| SOC 610 | Seminar in Methods of Qualitative Analysis | 3 | Spring |
| STAR 511 | Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| STAR 512 | Design and Data Analysis for Researchers II | 4 | Spring |
Professional Skills (MS, PhD, and PhD HEI – 1 credit)
Take a minimum of 1 credit of a course (or workshop such as through TILT or the Graduate School combined with a credit of Independent Study (ECOL 695) that will enhance the student’s professional development and/or skills based on professional goals, as determined by student and committee. Students are encouraged to explore options across departments and programs. Example courses include the following:
| Course | Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| BZ 560 | Teaching and Communicating Science | 3 | Fall |
| ECOL 693 001 | How to give a good talk | 1 | Spring |
| ECOL 693 002 | Writing in ecology, with a focus on research and grant proposals | 1 | Spring |
| ECOL 695 | Independent Study | varies | Fall/Spring |
| ECOL 680 A3 | Ecological Science Writing, with a focus on manuscripts | 2 | Spring |
| GRAD 544 | Ethical Conduct of Research | 1 | Fall/Spring |
Human-Environment Interactions Fundamentals (PhD HEI – 3 credits)
For PhD HEI students ONLY. Take a minimum of 3 credits to expand expertise in human-environment interactions. Example courses include the following:
| Course | Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANTH 515 | Culture and Environment | 3 | Fall |
| ANTH 529 | Anthropology and Sustainable Development | 3 | Fall |
| ANTH 535 | Globalization and Culture Change | 3 | Fall (even years) |
| ANTH 540 | Medical Anthropology | 3 | Spring (even years) |
| ANTH 545 | Global Mental Health–Theory and Method | 3 | Fall (odd years) |
| ANTH 555 | Paleoindian Archaeology | 3 | Fall (even years) |
| ANTH 571 | Anthropology and Global Health | 3 | Fall (even years) |
| ANTH 572 | Human Origins | 3 | Spring (odd years) |
| NR 625 | Community-Based Natural Resource Management | 3 | Spring |
| POLS 739 | International Environmental Politics | 3 | Fall, Spring |
| SOC 668 | Environmental Sociology | 3 | Fall |
Electives (MS – 17 credits, PhD – 54 credits, PhD HEI – 48 credits)
Additional relevant coursework and credits as determined by student and committee to meet the minimum Graduate School Credit Requirements of 30 credits (MS) or 72 credits (PhD) total. Students are encouraged to explore options across departments and programs.
| Course | Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANTH 530 | Human Environment Interactions | 3 | Fall |
| AREC 505 | Agricultural Production Economics | 3 | |
| AREC 535 | Applied Econometrics | 3 | Fall |
| AREC 540 | Economics of Natural Resources | 3 | |
| AREC 541 | Environmental Economics | 3 | |
| AREC 635 | Econometric Theory I | 3 | Fall |
| ATS 680 | Land-Atmosphere Interactions | 2 | |
| ATS 760 | Global Carbon Cycle | 2 | Spring (odd years) |
| BSPM 509 | Herbicide Selectivity and Action | 3 | |
| BSPM 523 | Evolution and Classification of Insects | 4 | |
| BSPM 528 | Invasive Plants and Weeds: Ecosystems to Molecules | 3 | Spring (even years) |
| BSPM 556 | Biological Control of Plant Pests | 3 | Fall (even years) |
| BSPM 570 | Chemical Ecology | 3 | Spring (even years) |
| BZ 561 | Landscape Ecology | 3 | Fall |
| BZ 505 | Cognitive Ecology | 3 | Fall |
| BZ 510 | Zoophysiological Ecology | 3 | Spring (odd years) |
| BZ 525 | Molecular Ecology | 4 | Fall |
| BZ 526/BSPM 526 | Evolutionary Ecology | 3 | Fall (odd years) |
| BZ 530 | Ecological Plant Morphology | 2 | Spring |
| BZ 535 | Behavioral Ecology | 3 | Fall (even years) |
| BZ 548 | Theory of Population and Evolutionary Ecology | 4 | Fall |
| BZ 555 | Reproductive Biology of Higher Plants | 3 | Spring (odd years) |
| BZ 572 | Phytoremediation | 3 | Fall (odd years) |
| BZ 578/MIP 578 | Genetics of Natural Populations | 4 | Fall |
| BZ 580 | The Biological Basis of Behavior | 4 | |
| BZ 580 A3 | Scientific Basis for Freshwater Sustainability | 3 | |
| BZ 568/FW 568 | Sustaining River Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Dynamically Changing World | 3 | Spring |
| ECOL 600 | Population and Community Ecology | 3 | Spring |
| ECOL 610 | Ecosystem Ecology | 3 | Fall |
| ECOL 620 | Applications in Landscape Ecology | 4 | Spring (odd years) |
| ESS 660 | Biogeochemical Cycling | 3 | Spring |
| ESS 524 | Foundations for Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Management | 3 | Fall |
| F 610 | Advance Forest Ecology | 3 | Spring (odd years) |
| F 624 | Fire Ecology | 3 | Fall, Spring |
| FW 544 | Ecotoxicology | 3 | Spring |
| FW 555 | Conservation Biology | 3 | Spring |
| FW 558 | Conservation Genetics of Wild Populations (on-line) | 3 | Spring |
| FW 567 | Wildlife Disease Ecology | 3 | Fall (odd years) |
| FW 605 | Advanced Physiological Ecology of Fishes | 4 | Spring |
| FW 662 | Wildlife Population Dynamics | 3 | Spring (odd years) |
| FW 696B | Wildlife Biology: Bioacoustics | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| GEOL 652 | Fluvial Geomorphology | 3 | Fall |
| GEOL 551 | Groundwater Modeling | 3 | Spring |
| GES 520 | Issues in Global Environmental Sustainability | 3 | Spring |
| GR 580 | Forests in a Warming World | 3 | |
| HORT 571 | Soil Plant Water Relations | 3 | Spring |
| HORT 576 | Advanced Environmental Plant Stress Physiology | 4 | Spring (odd years) |
| HORT 601 | Current Topics in Root and Rhizoshpere Biology | 2 | |
| MIP 624 | Advanced Topics in Microbial Ecology | 2 | Fall (odd years) |
| MIP 570 | Functional Genomics | 3 | Fall |
| NR 504 | Computer Analysis of Remote Sensing Data | 4 | Spring |
| NR 510 | Ecosystem Services: Theory and Practice | 3 | Fall |
| NR 575 | Systems Ecology | 4 | |
| NR 578 | Ecology of Disturbed Lands | 3 | Spring |
| NR 678 | Advanced Ecological Restoration | 4 | Spring |
| RS 580 | Riparian Ecology and Management | 3 | |
| RS 630 | Ecology of Grasslands and Shrublands | 3 | Spring |
| SOCR 540 | Soil-Plant-Nutrient Relationships | 3 | Spring |
| SOCR 550 | Advanced Soil Genesis | 3 | Spring (even years) |
| SOCR 567 | Environmental Soil Chemistry | 4 | Spring |
| SOCR 755 | Advanced Soil Microbiology | 3 | Spring (even years) |
| SOCR 770 | Advanced Soil Physics | 4 | Spring (even years) |
| STAR 501 | Data Wrangling/Visualization for Researchers | 2 | Spring |
| STAR 502 | Multivariate Analysis for Researchers | 2 | Fall (odd years) |
| STAR 511 | Design and Data analysis for Researchers I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| STAR 512 | Design and Data Analysis for Researchers II | 4 | Spring |
| STAR 513 | Regression Models for Researchers | 2 | Fall |
| STAR 514 | Experimental Design/Analysis for Researchers | 2 | Spring (even years) |
| STAR 531 | Generalized Regression Models for Researchers | 2 | Spring (even years) |
| STAR 532 | Mixed Models for Researchers | 2 | Fall (even years) |
| STAR 534 | Machine Learning for Researchers | 2 | Fall (even years) |
| STAR 695 | Independent Study in Applied Statistics | 1-3 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| STAT 580A2 | Design and Data Analysis for Bioinformatics | 3 | |
| WR 574 | Advanced Snow Hydrology | 4 | Fall |
| WR 575 | Snow Hydrology Field Methods | 1 | Spring |
Adding non-regular credits can be confusing! Watch this helpful walk-through on How to add Independent Study/Research/Thesis/Dissertation Credits
| Course | Title | Term | Description | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECOL 505 | Foundations of Ecology | Fall | Overview of the science of ecology; what questions are asked, how they are answered. Prerequisites: One course in ecology CRN: 60162 Credits: 3 | Alan Knap |
| ECOL 540 | Insect Ecology | Spring (Odd years only) | The distribution and abundance of insects, their behavior, and their interactions with other organisms and the environment including predator-prey and plant-insect interactions | Ruth Hufbauer |
| ECOL 571 | Advanced Topics in Ecology Distinguished Ecologists Lecture Series | Spring | Current research topics presented and analyzed by visiting scientists. Attend each Distinguished Ecologist seminar during the semester for which you are registered. This course does not meet every week. Prerequisites: One course in ecological principles. Section 001 – MS students. CRN: 18219 Credits: 1; Section 002 – PhD students. CRN: 18220 Credits: 2; Section 003 (intermittently offered; verify prior to registration) – PhD students. – CRN: 21250 Credits: 2 | Ed Hall |
| ECOL 592 | Interdisciplinary Seminars in Ecology | Fall/Spring | Concepts and principles of basic and applied ecology in an interdisciplinary context. Specific topics vary. Prerequisites: One 300- or 400-level course in ecology. Course details and CRNs: ECOL592 Interdisciplinary Seminar Credits: 1 – 3 (vary based on section) | |
| ECOL 600 | Community Ecology Lecture | Spring | Current theories on the dynamics and regulation of populations and communities of organisms. Must enroll in a recitation section. Prerequisites: One course each on general ecology, calculus, and statistics. CRN: 20590 Credits: 3 Recitation: Section R01 – CRN: 20591; Section R02 – CRN: 20592 | |
| ECOL 610 | Ecosystem Ecology Lecture | Fall | Concepts, methods, issues in ecosystem science: energy and matter cycling, systems perspectives, simulation modeling, sustainability, global change. Must enroll in a recitation section. Prerequisites: LIFE 320 or any ECOL course. CRN: 66480 Credits: 3 Recitation: Section R01 – CRN: 66481 | |
| ECOL 620 | Applications in Landscape Ecology Lecture | Spring (Odd years only) | Spatial patterning of landscape elements and dynamics of ecological systems; spatial heterogeneity. Influence on biotic and abiotic processes. Prerequisites: Previous coursework in geographic information systems, ecology, statistics, and mathematics. CRN: 66478 Credits: 2 | Kyle Horton |
| ECOL 680 A3 | Ecological Science Writing | Spring | Writing in ecology, with a focus on manucripts | Dan Preston and Kevin Besten |
| ECOL 693 001 | Research Seminar: Professional Oral Communication | Spring | How to give a good talk CRN: 18231; | Alan Knapp |
| ECOL 693 002 | Research Seminar: Writing in Ecology | Spring | Writing in ecology, with a focus on research and grant proposals, plus general good writing practices CRN: 18232 | Ruth Hufbauer |
| ECOL 695 | Independent Study | Fall/Spring/Summer | Requires a contract, thoroughly outlining the scope of the project, signed by student, instructor and and approved by the Director. Application accessible on the GDPE Forms webpage. Prerequisites: GDPE Approval Fall Semester CRN: 60575 Spring Semester CRN: 10371 Summer Semester CRN: 50821 Credits: 1- 18 | |
| ECOL 698 | Research | Fall/Spring/Summer | Fall Semester CRN: 60576 Spring Semester CRN: 10372 Summer Semester CRN: 50822 Credits: 1- 18 | |
| ECOL 699 | Thesis | Fall/Spring/Summer | Fall Semester CRN: 60277 Spring Semester CRN: 10373 Summer Semester CRN: 50823 Credits: 1- 18 | |
| ECOL 799 | Dissertation | Fall/Spring/Summer | Fall Semester CRN: 60578 Spring Semester CRN: 10374 Summer Semester CRN: 50824 Credits: 1- 18 | |
| Continuous Registration | Take 1 credit to remain a student if you have completed everything else and plan to graduate. | Fall/Spring/Summer | Fall Semester CRN: 62570 Spring Semester CRN: 12719 Summer Semester CRN: 45836 Credits: n/a Further details on when to register for CR can be found at the Graduate School website. |
ECOL 592 Interdisciplinary Seminar
ECOL592 seminars are designed to cover concepts and principles of basic and applied ecology in an interdisciplinary context. One of the unique things about these seminars is that the topics are driven by faculty & student interests. This means topics change each semester, so be sure to check the ECOL 592 page for current listings. You can also review past seminar topics here.
Requirements:
- Master students are required to take 1 ECOL592 seminar.
- PhD students are required to take 2 separate ECOL592 seminars.
Expectations for Seminars:
Most seminars are 1 credit and meet once a week. Students should expect to have 1-2 hours of preparation time outside of the normal meeting time.
Past seminars have included journal-club-styles, topic-specific discussions with international experts via video conferencing, data analysis and manuscript preparation, and more.
The GDPE conference room can be reserved for ECOL592 meeting times. Email [email protected] to organize the reservation
Proposing a seminar topic:
Proposals are not lengthy, but should include details on the format of the seminar, expectations, grading, and outcomes & objectives. If you have questions, please contact the GDPE Assistant Director. Please schedule the seminar time so it does not conflict with DE seminars (Wednesdays at 4pm).
Faculty: submit a proposal through the GDPE website portal here.
Students:
- If you are interested in having a faculty member lead an ECOL592 on a topic that interests you, please reach out to them and encourage them to submit a proposal.
- If you have already completed at least one ECOL592 seminar as a student, you may submit a proposal to co-teach a seminar with a faculty member. Work together, and then submit the proposal through the GDPE website portal here.
Note: For PhD students, you may petition to have your second ECOL592 requirement waived at the end of the semester in which you teach. To do so, please complete the petition through the GDPE web portal here. Please include a letter from your faculty co-instructor confirming your participation in the course. If this is your advisor, they can include that in their supporting letter.
Curriculum information is also available in the CSU Catalog.
If you have questions about specific non-ECOL courses listed above, please reach out to the department or instructor directly.
Credit Requirement Information
Full-Time Graduate Student Credits
Graduate students must be registered for 9 credits or more during fall and spring semesters, or 5 credits or more during summer semester, to be considered a full-time student. Students enrolled in half-time (5 or 6 credits) or more participate in CSU’s Health Care program.
GTA & GRA Credit Requirement
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) and Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) can only be awarded to students enrolled in at least one on-campus credit during the spring and fall semesters. Continuous Registration (CR, see below) is NOT acceptable to meet the minimum enrollment requirement for a GTA or GRA.
Continuous Registration
All students admitted to a graduate degree program at CSU are required to be continuously enrolled in their degree programs in fall and spring semesters. Thus, if coursework and research are essentially completed, and a student is working on their thesis or dissertation, they are required to register for at least one credit. This can be done by registering for one credit of coursework or research or through Continuous Registration (CR).
(Fall): CRN #67542
(Spring): CRN #12719
(Summer): CRN #45836
Students registering with CR will be assessed a fee for each semester of CR registration.
Students enrolled with CR in any term are not considered enrolled full time for the purposes of financial aid, Visas, employment, etc. To receive full privileges for the summer semester, students must be enrolled either in the summer or the following fall semester. This policy applies from the first enrollment semester through the graduation term.
Students should contact their advisor if they do not plan to register.
Independent Study, Research, Thesis, and Dissertation Credits
Independent Study (ECOL 695), Research (ECOL 698), Thesis (ECOL 699), and Dissertation (ECOL 799) registration is for non-regular defined, variable-credit courses. Credit hours are determined using a base rate of 48 hours of student effort per credit hour over a 16-week semester. The total number of hours are divided by 48 and the result quotient (rounded to a whole number) will be the number of credits to be used. Speak with your advisor to determine how many research credits should be registered for. Your advisor will assign a grade at the end of the term, which is often done on a S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) basis.
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