The Graduate Group in Ecology offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Ecology is a science that integrates numerous fields of study to attain deep understanding of natural and societal influences on the distribution, abundances, behaviors, traits, and ecosystem functions of organisms. In order to accommodate varied student interests, the Group has developed several 'areas of emphasis' with specialized programs of study: agricultural ecology, conservation ecology, ecological genomics and genetics, ecosystems and landscape ecology, ecotoxicology and physiological ecology, environmental policy and human ecology, integrative ecology, marine ecology, and restoration ecology. For further details, contact the Group office. The graduate group in ecology is an interdisciplinary graduate program that offers students a combination of both basic and applied ecology. Students gain advanced knowledge in one of the following areas: agricultural ecology, conservation ecology, ecological genomics and genetics, ecosystems and landscape ecology, ecotoxicology, environmental policy & human ecology, integrative ecology, marine ecology, physiological ecology, or restoration ecology. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in ecological theory and its applications.
Agricultural ecology encompasses many diverse interests and emerging problems, including the need to address growing pest and weed control problems, protect farmworker health, reduce pressure on supporting natural resources, ameliorate environmental impacts of agricultural operations and promote sustainable agricultural production. As a truly integrative science, agricultural ecology is unique in its scope of inquiry. Areas of research and application range from the physiological, population, and community ecology of organisms present in agricultural systems, to larger scales of agricultural systems and their regional and global impact on land, water and atmospheric resources. Agricultural ecology is also concerned with systems of agricultural production and management, including socio-economic aspects, farmer/research relations and extension.
