Graduate Overview

Dr. Lasker and PhD student examining coral reef in lab.

The Department of Environment and Sustainability houses a variety of graduate degree programs: Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB) MS and PhD programs, Masters in Sustainability Leadership and Advanced Certificate in Sustainability. 

 

The EEB program at the University at Buffalo programs focuses on the study of complex interactions in the environment, applying scientific principles and methods from evolution, ecology and behavior. The mission is to train students with interdisciplinary competencies in research and education and it is designed to incorporate expertise that is distributed across multiple departments into a single graduate program.  Currently, our program offers a  Master of Science (MS) in EEB - Ecology Track or a Master of Science (MS) in EEB - Sustainability Track, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in EEB -  Ecology Track or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in EEB - Sustainability Track. Generally, the EEB MS degree is pursued by students who are either intent on careers in the fields of consulting, teaching, ecological and environmental sciences, NGOs or government agencies (DEC, BLM, USFWS, etc); or who are preparing for a for higher degree (PhD, MD, DVM). The EEB PhD degree is suitable for students who wish to build careers in academia, or research (industry, government).

For more information on the Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior Graduate Program, contact the Director of Graduate Studies. Graduate students who are already enrolled in a degree program in a traditional department at the University at Buffalo, and who are interested in demonstrating additional expertise in Evolution and Ecology can also pursue our Certificate in Evolution and Ecology. For more information on the Certificate, please contact  the Director of Graduate Studies.

The MA in Sustainability Leadership and the Advanced Certificate in Sustainability are designed to foster interconnections between disciplines and considers sustainability through multiple lenses: environmental and ecological; social sciences and cultural studies; and economics and business

The MA in Sustainability Leadership is a joint venture of the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Architecture and Planning, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the School of Management. The program prepares students for corporate, non-profit and governmental positions, as well as further graduate work and research. For more information on the Masters in Sustainability Leadership Graduate Program, contact Prof. Susan Clark. Graduate students who are already enrolled in a degree program in a traditional department at the University at Buffalo, and who are interested in demonstrating additional expertise in Sustainability can also pursue our Advanced Certificate in Sustainability. 

Download the Graduate Student Handbook
Graduate Student Handbook January 2025

Degree Options

  • MS in EEB - Ecology Track
    10/10/24
    Students will master the knowledge and techniques required to work in a wide range of professional positions. The program prepares students for further graduate work (PhD) or research, teaching and administrative positions in both the public and private sectors as well as academia.
  • MS in EEB - Sustainability Track
    10/16/24
    The Masters in EEB – Sustainability Track is a research-focused degree program which facilitates the integration of social and natural science approaches to achieving a more just and sustainable future. The program is well suited to those investigating the political and ecological dimensions of environmental transformations, the relationship of science and society in advancing more sustainable futures, and novel approaches to community-based problem solving.
  • PhD in EEB - Ecology Track
    10/16/24
    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
    10/16/24
    Students acquire the advanced training to produce world-class researchers and scientists for the 21st Century by integrating across natural and social sciences to address sustainable wellbeing. The program is well suited to those investigating the political and ecological dimensions of environmental transformations, the relationship of science and society in advancing more sustainable futures, and novel approaches to community-based problem solving. Students 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.
  • MA in Sustainability Leadership
    8/6/24
    In this 30 to 31-credit MA program, students will master the knowledge and techniques required to work in a wide range of professional sustainability positions. The program can prepare students for further graduate work (PhD) or research, teaching and administrative positions in both the public and private sectors as well as academia. Other positions/careers that this program is well suited to prepare students for include: sustainability consultancy, sustainability management, and sustainability-related analysis. The following describes a typical MA student’s program.
  • Advanced Certificate in Sustainability
    8/30/22
    One of the fundamental societal issues of the 21 century is understanding the environment, how human interactions affect it, and how those interactions can be modulated to generate sustainable outcomes. 

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