Ecology & Conservation

Advance your career as an ecologist.

The Ecology and Conservation concentration offers a strong foundation for students pursuing careers or research in the ecological sciences. This program emphasizes broad ecological principles while allowing students to specialize in areas such as molecular, population, community, or ecosystem ecology, as well as conservation, restoration, and ecological modeling.

Students are encouraged to focus their studies on specific organisms or ecological processes, from plant and wildlife systems to fire dynamics and climate interactions. The curriculum is designed to be flexible, supporting both field-based and lab-based inquiry across diverse ecological disciplines.

Why Pursue Ecology and Conservation?

What Can I Expect?

Make a Meaningful Impact

Ecology and Conservation at Western offers more than academic study—it’s an immersive, research-driven experience rooted in Colorado’s dynamic and diverse ecosystems. Students gain deep theoretical knowledge while applying ecological principles to real-world challenges in restoration, sustainability, and conservation science.

The program’s liberal arts foundation encourages interdisciplinary thinking and social-ecological awareness, equipping graduates to address pressing environmental issues with both scientific and societal insight. It’s an ideal path for those who want to combine ecological research with meaningful environmental impact.

What to Expect

Students in this 33-credit MS concentration can expect rigorous coursework in biology, ecological research methods, and scientific writing, culminating in a faculty-supported thesis. The program emphasizes hands-on learning and original research throughout.

From proposal development to final thesis defense, students receive continuous mentoring while contributing to science in fields like ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, or climate impact. Fieldwork opportunities in the surrounding Rocky Mountain region offer a living laboratory for ecological discovery and applied conservation.

Admissions, Cost & Requirements

Admissions

Tuition & Costs

Program Requirements

MS in Ecology Application Requirements

Prerequisites

BA or BS degree in biology or related field with college courses in Statistics and upper-level Ecology with a minimum grade of B, completed prior to the student’s first fall in the program.

Application Materials

Admissions packages will include:

• Academic transcripts
• A resume outlining related research, leadership, and volunteer experience
• A statement of purpose describing the student’s intellectual and professional interests in ecology
• Three letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors in related fields
• Applicants are expected to have been in contact with a faculty advisor prior to submission of application

Application review will begin February 1, with initial acceptance and offers soon thereafter. Later applications may be considered on a rolling basis, depending on faculty availability. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact us.

Apply Now
Program Information

MS in Ecology Tuition & Fees

Period	Credits	Tuition per Credit	Fees per Credit Hour*	Flat Fees**	Total Tuition & Fees
Year 1: Fall	9	$847	$73.40	$50	$8,333.60
Year 1: Spring	9	$847	$73.40		$8,283.60
Year 1: Summer	3	$847	$73.40		$2,761.20
Year 2: Fall	6	$847	$73.40		$5,522.40
Year 2: Spring	6	$847	$73.40		$5,522.40
Total	33				$30,423.20

*Mandatory graduate student fees per credit hour
Graduate Studies Administrative Operations Fee: $63.00
Library Fee: $6.50
IT Services Fee: $3.90

**Mandatory graduate student flat fees
New Student Matriculation Fee: $50.00

Biology Course Flat Fees	Fee
BIOL 620: Ornithology	$70.00
BIOL 622: Mammalogy	$20.00
BIOL 625: Invertebrate Zoology	$50.00
BIOL 627: Field Entomology	$50.00
BIOL 630: Wildlife Ecology	$110.00
BIOL 631: Wildlife Techniques Workshop	$100.00
BIOL 652: Botany	$25.00
BIOL 653: Rocky Mountain Flora	$55.00
BIOL 668: Ichthyology	$45.00
BIOL 670: Fisheries Management	$40.00
BIOL 676: Aquatic Ecology	$50.00
BIOL 681: Forest Ecology	$50.00
BIOL 697: Geomorphology	$75.00
BIOL 697: Environmental Geochemistry	$50.00

Master of Science

A master’s degree is an advanced qualification earned after completing a bachelor’s degree. It focuses on a specific area of study and provides specialized knowledge and skills. This differs from a concentration, which is a more focused area within the master’s program. Your concentration determines the specialized courses you take, shaping your expertise in a particular field. To complete a master’s degree, students must fulfill core coursework, elective requirements, and often a final project, thesis, or practicum.

Program Requirements

1

Top Skills

Ecological Fieldwork
Data Collection and Analysis
Scientific Writing
GIS and Mapping
Research Design
Public Communication

2

Career Pathways

Wildlife Biologist
Conservation Scientist
Environmental Consultant
Ecologist
Natural Resource Manager
Research Technician

Fellowships, Scholarships, & Financial Aid

MS in Ecology Fellowships, Grants, and Scholarships

​Explore a variety of fellowships, grants, and scholarships available to support your MS in Ecology at Western Colorado University. Opportunities include teaching assistantships, digital internships, social media fellowships, and statistics peer tutor positions.

Learn More

Graduate Financial Aid

Graduate students at Western receive financial support from various sources, including personal savings, loans, scholarships, fellowships, and graduate assistantships. Learn more ways to offset these costs through financial aid opportunities.

Learn More

How to Apply

We are so excited about your interest in applying to the MS in Ecology! Please take a moment to review the application requirements and deadlines and then access the application.

Apply Now

We can produce high-quality research and publish papers in scientific journals with our students. We’re out on the cutting edge of our field learning the things we don’t know yet.

Jonathan Coop, PhD.

Faculty, 2010 Ecology

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Faculty & Staff

Rebecca Anderson

Program Assistant for MEM and OSP

Jared Balik, PhD

Post Doctoral Research Associate

Ian Breckheimer, PhD

Adjunct Faculty; Research Scientist in Spatial Ecology and Data Synthesis, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory

Hannah M. Carroll, PhD

Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Ecology

Jonathan Coop, PhD

Professor of Environment and Sustainability

Jennie DeMarco

MSE Graduate Advisor

Lindsay Dolezal

Program Facilitator and Grants Administrator

Derek D. Houston, PhD

Assistant Professor of Biology

Madelon Van de Kerk, PhD

Director of MS in Ecology; Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology

Patrick Magee, BA, PhD

Professor of Biology

Micah Russell, MS, PhD

Clark Family School Dean

Susan Washko, PhD

Lecturer

MS in Ecology

Program Director

• Madelon Van de Kerk

• Director of MS in Ecology; Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology

Graduate Program Facilitator

• Lindsay Dolezal

• Program Facilitator and Grants Administrator

Dean of Clark Family School

• Micah Russell

• Clark Family School Dean

Contact Information

970.943.2248

msecology@western.edu

Contact Location

1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81230