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Ph.D. Ecology

MS Ecology

MS Conservation Ecology & Sustainable Development

BS Ecology

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Ecology Degree Program Inquiries





M.S. in Conservation Ecology
and Sustainable Development

About the Program | Prospective Student
Background and Interest Form
Handbook | Checklist
Graduate Courses | Program Inquiries


Handbook

Table of Contents
 
About the Program
General Information

Odum School of Ecology Degree Program Requirements
Graduate School Information and Requirements
  • Requirements for Masters
    1. Admission
    2. Residence
    3. Time Limit
    4. Research Skills Requirements
    5. Advisory Committee
    6. Program of Study
    7. Application for Graduation
    8. Acceptance of Credit by Transfer
    9. Grade Average
    10. Tehsis
    11. Final Examination
    12. Submitting the Thesis
    13. Final Clearance
Academic Regulations and Procedures
Financial Information
Registration
Special Instruction Programs
Student Services
 
About the Program
This program first began Fall 1992 and was developed as a new integrative training program to provide field experience and teach skills and conceptual approaches that are essential to successful efforts in conservation and environmentally sustainable development. The principal components of the training program include: core courses to provide breadth in conceptual approaches; program flexibility to allow students the opportunity to emphasize social-economic aspects or natural science aspects without sacrificing either; active involvement in a seminar series that stresses multi-disciplinary efforts and collaboration on projects; and opportunities for field experience in addressing environmental problems. 

Two training options are available: 1. Master of Science degree. In addition to course work, this option includes field experience and a thesis based on original research. We expect that graduates of this program will be competitive for mid-level management positions in public and private stewardship organizations such as the National Park Service or The Nature Conservancy. The masters degree option would also provide a sound interdisciplinary base for pursuing a more specialized doctoral program. 2. Certificate Award. This option is designed to meet the needs of professionals in such fields as law, forestry and engineering who may wish to develop an environmental specialization in their professional field. This option includes the course work that is available in the masters degree program but does not require fieldwork or research.
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General Information

The graduate program assistant is available at all times to answer any questions concerning requirements of the ecology programs. Periodically, students are sent memos via email providing them with vital information (i.e. - deadlines, assistantships, forms to file with the Graduation Office, impediments to file, etc.). This information is provided to keep the student abreast of all current happenings with his/her file. It is the responsibility of the student to keep himself or herself apprised of all current graduation requirements for any of the Ecology degree programs. Forms for each program are available in the program office or in the Graduation Office of the Graduate Studies Research Center.
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Building Keys
Keys for the Odum School of Ecology building residents are issued by the accounting technician in the ecology main office. There is a $5 refundable deposit per key. If your keys are lost or stolen, please notify the office staff immediately. You will need keys to the outside door(s) and the systems area (computer room). A request for keys application can be found on the ecology website at http://www.ecology.uga.edu/forms/keys.pdf.
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Copier
A digital copier is available to Ecology students at a cost of $.05 per copy. The copier is located on the back hall near the north student carrells. Please see the administrative assistant in the main office.
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Desk Space
Arrangements for desk space are made with the graduate student representatives.
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Ecology Listservs
All listservs are accessible to faculty, staff, postdocs and students for distribution of official information. Please contact Anisa Jimenez if you have questions about the listservs.
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Mail
Mail folders in the Odum School of Ecology are available to all Odum School faculty, graduate students, and staff. The student mailboxes are located outside the main office. Faculty mailboxes are located adjacent to the GIS lab and across from the ecology conference room. Campus/U.S. mail is delivered twice each day at approximately 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Please allow the front office ample time to sort and distribute the mail. Due to space, your mail should be collected daily. Notify the office staff of any address changes as soon as they occur or if you will be away from campus for an extended period. Please do not use the Odum School's address to receive personal mail.
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Odum School of Ecology Degree Program Requirements
 
Advisory Committee

Before the end of the first semester of residence and upon the recommendation of the departmental graduate coordinator, the dean of the Graduate School shall appoint an advisory committee for the student. The committee will consist of a major professor, as chairman, and two additional members. The major professor and at least one of the other members of the committee must be members or provisional members of the graduate faculty. Only faculty members of the rank of assistant professor or above, or the equivalent, are permitted to serve as committee members. The committee will be recommended to the dean of the Graduate School by the graduate coordinator after consultation with the student and faculty members involved. This form is available on the graduate school website at http://www.gradsch.uga.edu/Forms/body_advcomms.pdf.

The advisory committee, in consultation with the student, is charged with planning the student's program of study. It is also charged with approving the program of study, reading and approving the thesis, and administering the final examination.
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Thesis Approval and Defense
It is the responsibility of the student to notify the ecology program office of the date, time, location and title for the thesis oral defense. The Odum School of Ecology will announce the time and place of the thesis defense to the University community.

An official hardbound copy of the thesis on 100% cotton paper is required for the Odum library.

The Odum School of Ecology hosts a graduation reception during the spring semester only. Students who graduate during the spring, summer and fall are invited to participate.
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Exit Questionnaire
All Odum School of Ecology graduate students are required to complete the ecology graduate program exit questionnaire prior to final paperwork being submitted to the Graduate School. The form is located on the ecology website at http://www.ecology.uga.edu/people/alumni/graduateprogramexit.htm.

Students are also encouraged to complete the alumni questionnaire located at http://www.ecology.uga.edu/people/alumni/alumniquestionnaire.htm.
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Core Courses:

ECOL 6080. Principles of Conservation and Sustainable Development I (4 cr): This course emphasizes ecological principles important to conservation and development and the ecological consequences of development activities. (Carroll and Pringle)

ECOL 6140. Principles of Conservation Ecology Sustainable Development II (3 cr.): This course emphasizes the goals and objectives of conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.  It address the ethical, economic and policy considerations of conservation/development program and the implications of ecology and culture on the management of natural resources.  (Newman, staff)

ECOL 8400. Perspectives on Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development (1 cr.): All students in the program participate in this seminar during their first year.  Presentations include faculty and student research and seminars on conservation issues.  (staff)

ECOL 8420.  Watershed Conservation (3 cr): An analysis of environmental problems in freshwater ecosystems from a conservation perspective.  Course focuses on how to incorporate ecological knowledge into resource management efforts.  (Pringle)
OR
ECOL 8440. Principles of Agroforestry/Agroecology (3 cr): An analysis of environmental problems in modern agriculture and forestry, and development of alternative solutions for production of food and fiber. Course includes field work in a project dedicated to practice of these alternatives. (Jordan)
OR
ECOL 8710. Environmental Law Practicum (4 cr.): Students from ecology, law, environmental design and other disciplines work together to address pressing environmental concerns identified by community stakeholders. Skills developed include: identification of environmental problems within a watershed, research and analysis, legislative drafting, and presentations. This practicum provides hands-on experience and solution-oriented, interdisciplinary group projects. (Fowler and other faculty)

ECOL 8990. Problems in Ecology (2 cr.): This course should be used as a independent study with your major professor to define your thesis research problem and plan the research design.
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Year 1

(Normal course load is 9-11 hours per semester.  Maximum is 12 hours unless special permission is obtained.)

Fall 
  ECOL 6080: Principles of C/SD I (4 credits)
  ECOL 8400. Perspectives on C/SD (1 credit)
  Elective (3-4 credits)
  ECOL 8420. Watershed Cons. (3 credits) or ECOL 8440. Prin. Agroforestry/ 
         Agroecology (3 credits)
  (ECOL 8420 or 8440 may be taken in yr. 2)

Spring 
  ECOL 6140. Principles of C/SD II (3 credits)
  ECOL 8400. Perspectives on C/SD (1 credit)
  ECOL 8990. Independent Study (2 credits)
  Electives (3-5 credits)

Summer Research or field courses (9-11 credits)
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Year 2

Fall Electives and/or research (9-11 credits)

Spring Thesis (research) (9-11 credits)

Summer Thesis (research) (9-11 credits)
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Recommended electives for those wishing to pursue more in-depth coverage within the following tracks for specific areas of focus:

Biological and Ecological Sciences
FORS 8360 Quantitative Approaches to Conservation Biology
FORS 6750 Experimental Methods for Research

Social Science/Anthropology
ANTH 6490 Foundations of Ecological Anthropology
ANTH 8500 Conservation and Community

Policy/Law
ECOL 8710 Environmental Law Practicum
ECOL 8700 Environmental Policy and Management
ECOL 8720 Environmental Law for Scientists
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Electives appropriate for the program include:

Course descriptions

Agricultural and Applied Economics
 AAEC 6600. Economics of Rural Environmental Quality
 AAEC 6800/6800L. Water Resource Economics
 AAEC 6930. Environmental Law & Governmental Regulation
 AAEC 7600. Environmental Economics & Policy Analysis
 AAEC (FORS) 7860. Resource Economics & Management
 AAEC 8750. Natural Resource & Environmental Economics

Anthropology
 ANTH 6000. Anthropology of Economic Systems
 ANTH (PBIO) 6300/6300L. Ethnobotany
 ANTH 6490. Foundations of Ecological Anthropology
 ANTH 6540/6540L. Environment and Health
 ANTH 6560. Anthropology of Development
 ANTH 6580/6580L. Ecology of Food, Diet, & Nutrition
 ANTH 6590. Ecology & Evolution of Human Disease
 ANTH 6610. Introduction to Research Methods
 ANTH 6620. Methods of Sociocultural Anthropology
 ANTH 8060. Primate and Human Ecology
 ANTH 8400. Human Population Ecology
 ANTH 8410. Comparative Human Ecological Systems
 ANTH 8420. Human Ecosystems Evolution
 ANTH 8500. Seminar in Ecological Anthropology
 ANTH 8610. Field Methods in Ecological Anthropology
 ANTH 8620. Anthropological Data Analysis

Biology
 BIOL 8000. Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach

Cellular Biology
 CBIO (PBIO) 6600-6600L. Biology of the Protists

Crop & Soil Science
 CRSS 6590-6590L. Soil Fertility
 CRSS (MIBO) 6610-6610L.  Soil Microbiology
 CRSS 6660-6600L. Chemical Analysis of Environmental Samples
 CRSS 6670.  Environmental Soil Chemistry
 CRSS 8280-8280L. Crop Responses to Microclimate
 CRSS 8340-8340L. Environmental Aspects of Herbicide Use
 CRSS 8350. Weed Ecology

Ecology
 ECOL 6000-6000L. Organismal, Population & Community 
 ECOL 6010-6010L. Ecosystem Ecology
 ECOL 6030-6030L. Mammalogy
 ECOL 6040-6040L. Ornithology
 ECOL 6050-6050L. Ichthyology
 ECOL 6070-6070L. Invertebrate Zoology
 ECOL 6110. Insect Diversity
 ECOL (FORS) 6310-6310L. Limnology
 ECOL (CRSS) 6650-6650L. Soil Biology and Ecology
 ECOL 8000. Topics in Modern Ecology
 ECOL (ANTH) 8110 Tropical Ecological & Cultural Systems
 ECOL (PBIO) 8120-8120L. Plant Reproductive Ecology
 ECOL 8150-8150L. Wetland Ecology
 ECOL 8170. Natural History of the Hymenoptera
 ECOL 8220. Stream Ecology
 ECOL 8230. Lake Ecology
 ECOL (PBIO) (FORS) 8310. Population Ecology
 ECOL 8440. Principles of Agroforestry/ Agroecology
 ECOL 8500. Theoretical Ecology
 ECOL 8560. Ecology Seminar
 ECOL 8580-8580L. Theory of Systems Ecology
 ECOL 8600-8600L. Nuclear Tracers in Ecology
 ECOL 8700. Environmental Policy & Management
 ECOL 8900. Problems in Ecology

Educational Research and Measurement
 ERSH 7400. Qualitative Research Methods in Education
 ERSH 8410. Qualitative Data Collection in Education
 ERSH 8420. Qualitative Data Analysis in Education

Entomology
 ENTO 6010-6010L. Insect Taxonomy
 ENTO 6130. Internship in Crop Protection & Pest Management
 ENTO 6500-6500L. Insect Ecology
 ENTO 6740-6740L. Insect Pest Management
 ENTO 6940-6940L. Aquatic Entomology
 ENTO 8820. Biological Control

Forest Resources
 FORS 6110. Forest Hydrology
 FORS 6150. Control & Systems Theory for the Environmental Scientist
 FORS 6300-6300L. Management of Wildlife Habitat
 FORS 6340. Endangered Species Management
 FORS 6800-6800D. Forest Resources Policy
 FORS 7310-7310L. Techniques in Wildlife Population Management
 FORS 7360-7360L. Fisheries Management
 FORS (RLST) 7400-7400L. Park Management
 FORS 7410. Wilderness Management
 FORS 7710. Advanced Forest Economics
 FORS 7820. Natural Resource Law for Managers and Administrators
 FORS 7850. Forest Policy Issues
 FORS (AAEC) 7860.  Resource Economics and Management
 FORS 8300. Fisheries and Wildlife Seminar

Genetics
 GENE 8134. Evolutionary Genetics
 GENE 8504. Research Methods in Population Biology

Geography
 GEOG 6020. Fluvial Geomorphology
 GEOG 6160. Applied Climatology
 GEOG (PBIO) 6220. Ecological Biogeography
 GEOG (PBIO) 6240. Plant Geography
 GEOG 6670. Geography of Development
 GEOG 6810. Conservation Ecology and Resource Management
 GEOG 6330-6330L. The Use and Interpretation of Aerial Photographs
 GEOG 6350-6350L. Remote Sensing of the Environment
 GEOG 6370-6370L. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
 GEOG 6470-6470L. Geographic Analysis & Geographic Information Systems
 GEOG 8350.  Remote Sensing with GIS Applications

Landscape Architecture
 LAND 6400. Plant Communities of the Southeast
 LAND 6030. Nature & Sustainability

Law
 JURI 6640. International Law I
 JURI 6650. International Law II
 JURI 6670. Seminar on International Protection of Human Rights
 JURI 6690. Law of the Sea and Protection of the Environment
 JURI 6910. Natural Resources
 JURI 7280. Law and Environment
 JURI 7290.  Environmental Litigation Seminar
 JURI 7520. International Law and Economic Development

Marine Sciences
 MARS (FORS) 6380-6380L. Marine Fisheries Biology
 MARS 6810. Microbial Biogeochemistry
 MARS 8160-8160L. Marine Ecology

Medical Microbiology
 MMIB 6800. Environmental Epidemiology

Plant Biology (Botany)
 PBIO 6650/6650L. Plant Taxonomy
 PBIO 6850/6850L. Vegetation Analysis
 PBIO 8140/8140L. Algal Ecology
 PBIO 8360 .Fungal Ecology
 PBIO (ECOL) 8410. Community Ecology
 PBIO 8700. Plant Population Biology Seminar
 PBIO 8840. Plant Ecology Seminar
 PBIO 8850/8850L. Terrestrial Biogeochemical Cycling
 PBIO 8890/8890L. Environmental Physiology

Political Science
 POLS 6210. International Organization
 POLS 6220. International Law
 POLS 7900. Managing Volunteers in the Public and Nonprofit Sector

Statistics
 STAT 6210. Statistical Methods I
 STAT 6220. Statistical Methods II
 STAT 6290. Non-Parametric Methods
 STAT 6380. Survival Analysis
 STAT 8040. Environmental Statistics
 STAT 8270. Spatial Statistics
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updated 8-4-04

 


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Odum School of Ecology
140 E. Green St.
The University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-2202 USA
Phone: (706) 542-2968
Fax: (706) 542-4819

Dr. John Gittleman, Dean - ecohead@uga.edu
Dr. James Porter, Associate Dean - jporter@uga.edu
Dr. Dorset Trapnell, Assistant Dean - dorset@uga.edu
Dr. Ron Carroll, Graduate Coordinator - rcarroll@uga.edu
Dr. Jim Richardson, Undergraduate Coordinator - jamesir@uga.edu
For questions or comments about this site email: anisaj@uga.edu