Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, MS
The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology offers the Master of Science degree in both a Thesis and Non-Thesis model (see degree requirements for detail.) The curriculum is designed to encourage maximum student choice and independence while maintaining a close student-advisor relationship. Students are encouraged to adopt a broad, integrative view of science and biological research. Course offerings cover such areas as animal and plant physiology, plant ecology, plant-animal interactions, population biology, structural and evolutionary biology, systematic biology, environmental toxicology, marine/estuarine ecology, and the biology of diverse groups of plants and animals. Students participate in an active departmental seminar program and informal research discussion groups.
Achieving our scientific mission is predicated on fostering an environment that provides opportunities for achieving academic excellence to all. We embrace proactive policies including ongoing training, communication about funding opportunities, and equal-opportunity hiring and recruiting practices. Our efforts are integral to the success of the EEB department, The School of Science and Engineering and Tulane University, and to our various academic disciplines.
The MS requires a minimum of 30 credit hours and a cumulative grade point average of 3.000. Program requirements can be found below.
See Recommended Plans of Study below.
Curriculum Requirements
Thesis M.S. Program
Faculty Advisor
The student will consult his/her advisor in order to develop a course of study and to gain the advisor's approval for course registration. The faculty advisor must be a regular (full time) member of the department.
The potential applicant should contact the professor who is desired as advisor prior to making application to the Graduate Studies Program in the School of Science and Engineering. Admission to the EEB graduate program depends upon a faculty member committing to supervise the student's graduate program, including the thesis research and composition. Thus, each applicant must have contacted the potential advisor prior to the decision on her/his application for admission.
Entrance Interview
During the first semester of enrollment, each entering student interviews with the faculty advisor (Graduate Studies Committee Chair substitutes if an advisor has not been arranged) and two other regular faculty members. The purpose of the interview is to review prior courses taken by the student, discuss research interests and degree goals, and ensure that the student understands departmental graduate study procedures. Recommendations for coursework to address deficiencies or to enhance the student's program may be made during the interview. Download Entrance Interview Form.
Course Requirements
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1-2 | ||
| EBIO 6810 | EEB Journal Review | 1 |
| EBIO 6910 & EBIO 6920 | Independent Study and Independent Study This sequence could also be met by 2 sections of EBIO 7150 and EBIO 7160 OR Internship EBIO 7660 and EBIO 7670 | 6 |
| EBIO 9980 & 9980 | Masters Research and Masters Research | 6 |
| Additional Approved Graduate-level Electives | 17 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Twenty-four semester hours of approved and graded graduate course work are required in addition to the production of an acceptable Masters of Science thesis. In general, up to 6 semester hours of transfer credit will be accepted toward the Masters of Science degree. Guidelines for acceptability of transfer credit can be found in the Graduate Catalog of the School of Science and Engineering. The Chair of the Department must approve all transfer credits. Courses taken at Tulane are usually taken in the EEB Department, but as many as nine graduate credits from other departments or divisions may be counted toward the course requirement.
Thesis
A student's faculty advisor will also be the director of his/her thesis research. A thesis committee must approve the completed thesis. The thesis committee will consist of at least three faculty members including the student's thesis advisor. EEB faculty must comprise a majority of the thesis committee. Each student must request approval for the composition of the thesis committee by letter addressed to the Chair of the Department. The thesis research must be presented to the Department in a public forum and defended at an oral examination conducted by the thesis committee. Specific instructions for thesis preparation are given in the Graduate Catalog of the School of Science and Engineering.
One-year Non-thesis M.S. Program
A one-year non-thesis M.S. program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Description
This one-year M.S. program is designed for students who did their undergrad outside of Tulane who come to Tulane to complete a one-year masters degree.
In this program, students are accepted into a general "coursework" MS program, where they take 30 credit hours of courses to complete the degree. Students can transfer up to 6 credit hours of past graduate-level coursework to the degree. If students identify a faculty mentor willing to mentor them, they can also do independent research, teaching, or community engagement mentored by that faculty member. In those cases, students will take at least two courses (6 credit hours total) of Independent Study or Internship.
Rationale
This degree program provides a broad background in the theories and methods of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the graduate level, providing more complete preparation for future career paths than a Bachelor of Science degree alone. Students electing to pursue this degree program typically desire a broad background rather than a degree program involving a specialization in a particular area based on a master’s thesis.
Students who are interested in seeking employment with environmental agencies of federal, state, and municipal government; non-governmental organizations; and in private industry, including environmental consulting firms, will want to take advantage of the elective courses that can be taken outside the Department in credit toward this degree. This degree program also will be useful to students planning to enter the field of environmental law as the elective courses outside the Department include law courses in that field.
Eligibility
Applications and admissions for the non-thesis MS program is rolling - applications are encouraged at any time of the year. Candidates are required to have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Teaching assistantships are not available to students pursuing this master's degree program.
4+1 Degree Program
A Five-Year Combined Degree Program - B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEBI) or Environmental Biology (ENVB) and M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Description
The five-year, combined degree program is open only to Tulane undergraduate students. It combines the Bachelor of Science degrees offered by the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) with a Master of Science degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, condensing what would normally be about six years of study into five years. Students pursuing the interdisciplinary bachelor's degree in Environmental Science may also apply.
Undergraduate students typically graduate after four years of study, having fulfilled all regular requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. The accelerated master's degree component allows six graduate credits (two 6000- or 7000- level courses) completed during the senior year to be applied to the B.S. degree as well as to the M.S. degree1. Each student pursuing the M.S. degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology then completes course work toward the master's degree during one additional year of graduate study. During the fifth (graduate) year the student typically completes a minimum of 24 credits of graduate work for a minimum total of 30 semester hours. The 4+1 student will be accepted into a general “coursework” program. If the student identifies a faculty mentor willing to mentor them, they can also do independent research, teaching, or community engagement mentored by that faculty member. In those cases, students will take at least two courses (6 credit hours total) of Independent Study or Internship.
Rationale
This degree program provides a broad background in the theories and methods of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the graduate level, and comprises a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours. The purpose of the 4+1 master’s degree program is to provide students with training at the graduate level for one additional year beyond the baccalaureate degree. Thus, the master’s degree component provides more complete preparation for future career paths than the Bachelor of Science degree alone. Students electing to pursue this degree program typically desire a broad background rather than a degree program involving a specialization in a particular area based on a master’s thesis.
Students who are interested in seeking employment with environmental agencies of federal, state, and municipal government; non-governmental organizations; and in private industry, including environmental consulting firms, will want to take advantage of the elective courses (listed below) that can be taken outside the Department in credit toward this degree. This degree program also will be useful to students planning to enter the field of environmental law as the elective courses outside the Department include law courses in that field.
Eligibility
Applications and admissions for the 4+1 programs are rolling - applications are encouraged at any time of the year. Tulane undergraduate students are encouraged to talk with faculty about the 4+1 program during their junior year and may begin to take graduate level classes during their senior year, but should only apply formally during their senior year. Candidates are required to have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and EEB GPA. To advance to the fifth (graduate) year, candidates must complete all requirements for the B.S. degree in EEB by the end of their senior year, while maintaining the minimum 3.0 cumulative and EEB GPAs. Teaching assistantships are not available to students pursuing this master's degree program.
Footnote
1. During the senior year, two 6000- or 7000-level courses (6 credits), chosen in consultation with the graduate faculty advisor, may be completed toward both the bachelor's degree and the M.S. degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. In some cases, students wishing to advance their work on the graduate component so as to devote more time to independent study or internship courses in the fifth year may petition the EEB Department to count as many as 12 credits of 6000- or 7000-level courses toward the graduate component. The six additional dual credits must be completed in excess of the 120 required for the bachelor's degree, giving the student a total of 126 credits or greater upon receiving the bachelor's degree.
Recommended Plans of Study
Thesis M.S. Track
This is an example plan of study for the Thesis M.S. program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology encompassing all requirements for the program. Students are responsible for reviewing university, school, and program requirements, along with prerequisites and the sequencing of courses in coordination with their program advisor.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| EBIO 6810 | EEB Journal Review | 1 |
| EBIO 6910 | Independent Study | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| EBIO 6920 | Independent Study | 3 |
| Electives | 7 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| EBIO 9980 | Masters Research | 3 |
| Electives | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| EBIO 9980 | Masters Research | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
One-year Non-thesis M.S. Track
This is an example plan of study for the One-year Non-thesis program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology encompassing all requirements for the program. Students are responsible for reviewing university, school, and program requirements, along with prerequisites and the sequencing of courses in coordination with their program advisor.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| EBIO 6810 | EEB Journal Review | 1 |
| Electives | 14 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Electives | 15 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
4+1 M.S. Track
Senior/Final Undergraduate Year
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FALL | ||
| Graduate EBIO Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| SPRING | ||
| Graduate EBIO Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
Graduate Year
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FALL | ||
| EBIO 6810 | EEB Journal Review | 1 |
| Electives | 11 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| SPRING | ||
| Electives | 12 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Program String and Field of Study: SEMS_GR, EEBI
For more information, contact the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.