Graduate Overview

Students in the creek with mussels.

Build the expertise to lead change.

The Department of Environment and Sustainability offers graduate programs for students who want to make a lasting difference—through research, leadership or community-driven work. Whether you're diving into field ecology or rethinking how we approach sustainability, you'll find a graduate path here that prepares you to take on the world’s most complex environmental challenges.

Learn more about:

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Why choose UB?

  • Engaged, committed faculty who know your name and support your goals
  • Collaborative research that crosses disciplines and departments
  • Personalized mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities
  • A network that works—alumni land positions in academia, government, NGOs and private industry

Life in Buffalo

Big-city opportunity. Small-town charm. Nature at your doorstep.
  • Exciting and diverse: Buffalo offers art, culture, architecture, sports, and some of the best food in the Northeast—all just minutes from Canada.
  • Safe and sustainable: Ranked as one of the safest U.S. cities from natural disasters, and UB is committed to carbon neutrality by 2030.
  • Affordable and livable: Named one of the 25 Best Affordable Places to Live. Enjoy city life without the New York City price tag.
A mural with the text ‘Keep Buffalo A Secret’ is displayed on a building on Main Street in downtown Buffalo. NY.

Photographer: Douglas Levere

What you'll study

UB offers graduate degrees in two core areas:

Evolution, Ecology and Behavior

MS and PhD Programs
For students who want to study ecosystems, biodiversity and the science behind how organisms interact with each other—and with their environment.

Sustainability Leadership

MA and Advanced Certificate
Designed for students who want to lead across sectors—government, nonprofit, business and academia—while addressing sustainability from ecological, economic and social angles.

Graduate degree options

  • MS in EEB - Ecology Track
    5/29/25
    Deep scientific training to prepare for field research, teaching or administrative roles in both public and private sectors—or as a stepping stone to a PhD.
  • MS in EEB - Sustainability Track
    5/29/25
    A research-driven program that blends social and natural sciences to tackle today’s environmental problems from a justice-centered perspective.
  • PhD in EEB - Ecology Track
    5/29/25
    Students acquire the advanced training to produce world-class researchers and scientists for the 21 Century. They will attain expertise in their research area and teaching required to pursue a career in academia, as well as the skills and qualifications needed to work in industry, government, and non-profits.
  • PhD in EEB - Sustainability Track
    5/29/25
    This interdisciplinary track prepares you to explore how science and society intersect in advancing sustainability. Designed for those addressing complex environmental transformations and equity.
  • MA in Sustainability Leadership
    5/29/25
    This 30–31 credit program equips students with the skills to lead in a wide range of sustainability roles—from consultancy and analysis to public-sector planning.
  • Advanced Certificate in Sustainability
    5/29/25
    Already in a graduate program at UB? This certificate adds an environmental lens to your current degree. It’s perfect for students in fields like business, engineering, social science, health or public policy who want to integrate sustainability into their work.

Take the next steps

Apply now
Explore the course catalog
Download the Graduate Student Handbook

Contact us

Have questions or want to talk it through?