Whether you want to become an executive in a biological and engineering firm, lead scientist at a research center, analyst at a federal agency, or a professor in academia, you’ll need a graduate degree in Ecology.
Program Overview
Help develop innovative solutions to environmental problems.
At Western, we offer the supportive environment you’ll need to become a scientist with the ability to perform research, solve problems and collaborate with affected communities. You’ll also be expected to incorporate citizen science into effective research and produce accessible and accurate results for utilization by both policymakers and the public. You’ll earn your Master of Science in Ecology and bachelor’s degree in one of two undergraduate programs in just five years through our accelerated Master of Science in Ecology 3+2 program. You can choose an undergraduate program in Biology or Environment & Sustainability and pair it with a Master of Science in Ecology emphasizing in Ecology & Conservation or Fisheries & Wildlife Management.
The Gunnison Valley offers a wide-range of research opportunities in Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries Biology, Forest and Fire Ecology, Invasive Species Ecology and more. Whether you want to explore the migratory behaviors of an endangered species or advise policymakers on environmental issues, Western provides the rigorous coursework, laboratory research and extensive fieldwork to prepare you for a career in ecology.
Choose your path
Choose an undergraduate program in Biology or Environment & Sustainability and pair it with a Master of Science in Ecology emphasizing in Ecology & Conservation or Fisheries & Wildlife Management.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
A minimum of 78 credits is required for the B.A. components of the emphasis. In the fifth year, an additional 21 credits of Ecology MS coursework results in the MS in Ecology degree. For all 3+2 Ecology students, at least 12 credits of biology upper-level and/or graduate electives (BIOL 320-489; 620-689) are required.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| ENVS 200 | Writing the Environment | 3 |
| ENVS 250 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| ENVS 301 | Science of Sustainability and Resilience | 3 |
| ENVS 350 | U.S. and Western Environmental Politics | 3 |
| ENVS 390 | Environmental Monitoring | 4 |
| ENVS 400 | Applied Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVS 410 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| ENVS 499 | Internship in Environmental Studies | 1-6 |
| Required supporting courses | ||
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIOL 151 | Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) | 4 |
| BIOL 301 | General Ecology | 3 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| CHEM 113 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 114 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| ECON 215 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| PHYS 125 | Energy and the Environment (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| One of the following: | ||
| ENVS 360 | Global Environmental Policy | 3 |
| ENVS 370 | Water Policy and Politics | 3 |
| GEOG 340 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| One of the following: | ||
| HWTR 200 | This Is The Headwaters | 1 |
| HWTR 398 | Headwaters Conference | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
ANTH 230 | Cultural Anthropology (with laboratory) | |
ANTH 320 | Cultural Ecology | |
ENG 151 | Borderlands: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality | |
POLS 250 | Politics of the Environment | |
POLS 340 | Politics of Social Movements | |
POLS 350 | Human Rights | |
POLS 355 | The Global South | |
POLS 370 | Political Economy | |
PSY 308 | Environmental Psychology | |
PSY 410 | Multicultural Psychology | |
PSY 457 | Social Psychology | |
SOC 150 | Environmental Sociology | |
SOC 168 | Social Problems | |
SOC 340 | Social Movements | |
SOC 380 | Social Inequalities | |
| Core Ecology MS Courses, to be taken in Year 4 of 3+2 (Year 1 of MS): | ||
| BIOL 606 | Ecological Research Methods | 3 |
| BIOL 613 | Advanced Ecological Analysis | 3 |
| BIOL 690 | Ecology MS Proposal Development | 3 |
| One or more of the following to be taken in Fall 4 of 3+2 (Fall 1 of MS): | ||
| Biology elective (620 or above, excluding 690, 695, 696) | 3-4 | |
| ENVS 608 | Environmental Politics and Policy | 3 |
| ENVS 611 | Integrative Skills for Environmental Management | 3 |
| ENVS 623 | Studies in Environmental Management | 1-6 |
| ENVS 625 | Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management | 3 |
| One or more of the following to be taken in Spring 4 of 3+2 (Spring 1 of MS): | ||
| Biology elective (620 or above, excluding 690, 695, 696) | 3-4 | |
| ENVS 615 | From Climate Science to Action | 3 |
| ENVS 618 | Public Lands Management | 3 |
| ENVS 623 | Studies in Environmental Management | 1-6 |
| ENVS 625 | Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 103-120 | |
Upon successful completion of the prescribed courses listed above, University defined General Education, and elective requirements totaling 120 credits (with 40 at the 300-level or higher), students are eligible for their B.A. conferral. Students electing to complete the M.S. in Ecology must follow the balance of their declared emphasis curriculum.
Upon the acceptance of MS proposals (BIOL 690), MS candidates must be continuously enrolled for at least 1 credit of BIOL 695 or 696 until successful thesis defense.
For a full description of the required Graduate coursework, please see the appropriate MS program in the Western Graduate Catalog.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| Elective | Elective or minor course | 6 |
| HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 200 | Writing the Environment | 3 |
| PHYS 125 | Energy and the Environment (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| BIOL 151 | Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) | 4 |
| MATH 141 | Precalculus (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 301 | Science of Sustainability and Resilience | 3 |
| CHEM 111 & CHEM 112 |
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) |
4 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 3 |
| HWTR 200 or HWTR 398 |
This Is The Headwaters or Headwaters Conference |
1 |
| ENVS 250 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 350 | U.S. and Western Environmental Politics | 3 |
| ECON 215 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| BIOL 301 | General Ecology | 3 |
| CHEM 113 & CHEM 114 |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II |
4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Summer | ||
| ENVS 499 | Internship in Environmental Studies | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 390 | Environmental Monitoring | 4 |
| GEOG 340 or ENVS 370 |
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems or Water Policy and Politics |
3 |
| ENVS 410 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 360 | Global Environmental Policy | 3 |
| Elective | chosen from selection of classes on cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, sex, sexuality, and/or class contexts | 3 |
| Elective | Electives | 9 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| Submit 3+2 application materials by July 1 (66 credit mark completed) | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 606 | Ecological Research Methods | 3 |
| Two of: | ||
| BIOL 620-689 | 3-4 | |
| Or | ||
| ENVS 608 or ENVS 611 or ENVS 623 or ENVS 625 |
Environmental Politics and Policy or Integrative Skills for Environmental Management or Studies in Environmental Management or Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management |
3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 3-6 |
| Credits | 12-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 613 | Advanced Ecological Analysis | 3 |
| At least one of: | ||
| BIOL 620-689 | 3-4 | |
| Or | ||
| ENVS 615 or ENVS 618 or ENVS 623 or ENVS 625 |
From Climate Science to Action or Public Lands Management or Studies in Environmental Management or Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management |
3 |
| BIOL 690 | Ecology MS Proposal Development | 3 |
| ENVS 400 | Applied Sustainability | 3 |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Summer | ||
| BIOL 695 or BIOL 696 |
Ecology/ Conservation Thesis Research or Fisheries/ Wildlife Thesis Research |
3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Year Five | ||
| Fall | ||
| 9 credits of the following | ||
| BIOL 695 or BIOL 696 |
Ecology/ Conservation Thesis Research or Fisheries/ Wildlife Thesis Research |
1-6 |
| And | ||
| BIOL 620-689 | 3-4 | |
| Or | ||
| ENVS 623 or ENVS 625 |
Studies in Environmental Management or Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management |
3 |
| Credits | 7-13 | |
| Spring | ||
| 9 credits of the following: | ||
| BIOL 695 or BIOL 696 |
Ecology/ Conservation Thesis Research or Fisheries/ Wildlife Thesis Research |
1-6 |
| And | ||
| BIOL 620-689 | 3-4 | |
| Or | ||
| ENVS 623 or ENVS 625 |
Studies in Environmental Management or Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management |
3 |
| Credits | 7-13 | |
| Total Credits | 142-159 | |
Careers
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Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.
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Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your scholarships!Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your scholarships!Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Get Involved
Take your education beyond the classroom.
While you can work anywhere in the world to conduct research, you can also find great local opportunities to work with faculty on projects such as:
- Aquatic Ecology: Monitoring and assessing aquatic ecosystems in the West.
- Fisheries Biology: Evaluating and managing aquatic ecosystem health and human activities to maintain sustainable fish populations for commercial, recreational and conservation purposes.
- Forest and Fire Ecology: Investigating the role of wildfire and climate on forest ecology and management in the West.
- Invasive Species Ecology: Working with land managers to identify and implement methods for invasive species control and restoration of native communities.
- Population and Conservation Ecology: Investigating population dynamics of rare plants.
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology: Quantifying changes in carbon and nutrients under different disturbance regimes and land management strategies in the Arctic and western Colorado.
- Wildlife Ecology: Studying habitat relationships and land management consequences to wildlife populations and communities.
One-of-a-kind research opportunities
MS in Ecology student Courtney King gazes through a scope at bighorn sheep during her wildlife techniques class.
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