Overview
The Master’s program is central to the Ecology Program’s mission of excellence in research and education in ecology and environmental biology. Graduate students contribute and design research that advances the science of Ecology and provides answers to real-world questions. The integration of basic and applied research also provides students with valuable experience for a diversity of future employment opportunities. The program emphasizes quantitative approaches and the framing of problems within the context of ecological theory.
Degree Requirements
Students must complete 30 units of upper-division and graduate courses with a minimum of 15 graduate units selected from the biological sciences or closely related fields such as geography, geology, and mathematics.
Each student is responsible for completing an original research project and a written thesis, along with a final defense of the thesis and its implications in the broad fields of ecology. Graduate students should strive to publish their thesis research in peer-reviewed journals in ecology or related fields.
Admission
Successful applicants to our program typically have:
- Strong letters of recommendation from people who have observed the applicant in a research setting outside of the classroom and can comment on their ability to excel in graduate school.
- A well-written Personal Statement of Research Interests. Ideally, these should link your accomplishments to what you hope to do in graduate school.
- A Bachelor’s degree in Biology or a related field (e.g., Environmental Science, Ecology, Marine Science). Applicants with a Bachelor’s in a different field often are not as competitive, partly because of their lack of experience conducting relevant research. If accepted, such students may be required to take additional coursework.
- Foreign students require a minimum score of 550 (paper exam) or 80 (computer-based exam) on the TOEFL exam.
- GRE scores are no longer required for admissions. GRE scores are poor predictors of graduate success, and such standardized tests can be barriers to applicants. Effective immediately, EPA faculty will not consider GRE scores when making acceptance decisions.
There are two critical steps in the admissions process:
- Find a faculty advisor—Students must have a faculty member willing to accept them into his or her laboratory as a condition of acceptance to the program. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact faculty whose research interests are compatible with their own to determine if these faculty members are accepting students and, if so, to arrange a visit to the campus. Most faculty members will request to see a curriculum vitae and a statement of research interests from prospective students.
- Submit all necessary materials by the application due dates (see the Application Procedures for Prospective Biology Graduate Students for all required documents and due dates)
Cost of Study and Support
(All fees are set and subject to change by the Trustees of the California State University) California residents are required to pay “basic tuition (in-state tuition)” and mandatory fees (see SDSU Bursar’s Office for current fees)
Non-California residents must pay full (basic plus nonresident) tuition and mandatory fees (for more info, contact the SDSU Bursar’s Office). U.S. citizens can apply for California residency in their first year. Once residency has been established, these students will pay fees for California residents.
Graduate students are required to maintain and provide proof of health insurance annually. Domestic graduate students can purchase health insurance through SDSU’s Graduate Student Health Insurance Program. (GSHIP) does not include international students, whose health insurance is coordinated through the SDSU International Student Center.
Support and Financial Aid
Graduate teaching assistantships (TAs) are available on a competitive basis (based on GPA scores) at an annual salary of at least $17,040 plus a tuition waiver for the “Basic Tuition” portion of your SDSU bill; see SDSU Bursar’s Office for current fees. To apply for a TA position, students will be asked to submit an application (see table below and the Application Procedures for Prospective Biology Graduate Students for all required documents and due dates). These applications are ranked based on GPAs. High-ranking students will be offered slots. The number of slots each year will vary depending on the number of applicants, the number of continuing students, and the annual Biology Department budget.
Fellowships, scholarships, and other financial assistance from university, state, federal, and private sources are also available. The SDSU Financial Aid & Scholarships Office on campus can provide more information about fellowships and loans. Additionally, the SDSU Field Stations Program offers several student support opportunities, such as the Graduate Student Research Award, the Jordan Dale Covin Memorial Travel Scholarship, and the Edna Bailey Sussman Research Internships.
Timeline
The majority of students are accepted for admission for the fall semester; however, faculty may also accept students for the spring term. TA positions are awarded only during Fall admissions.
Complete the Cal State Apply: February 1
Supporting materials must reach Graduate Admissions: March 1
February 1 is the preferred deadline for all departmental materials to reach the Department of Biology as these applications have an advantage in the review process, and priority will be given.
Departmental applications received after February 1 will be reviewed until all positions are filled and departmental support through teaching or graduate assistantships has been allocated.
Until further notice, Spring admission has been suspended.
Tracking Your Progress
| DOCUMENT | WHEN* | WHERE | LINK TO FORM |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDSU Electronic Application | Oct 1st — Feb 1st This is the first step in the admissions procedure | Online submission | Cal State Apply |
| Transcripts | Oct 1st — Feb 1st Do not send transcripts before submitting your online application. | Enrollment Services | |
| Biology Department Application | Oct 1st — Feb 1st | Application Procedure for Master’s Programs | Application Procedure for Master’s Programs |
| Letters of recommendation (At least 3 letters) | Application Procedure for Master’s Programs | ||
| Personal statement of research interests | |||
| CV /Resume |
M.S. Student Handbook
Guidelines for Ecology Masters students can be found in the Master’s Student Handbook.