Information About:

Mailing Address:

Dept. of Crop & Soil Sciences 116 ASI Building University Park, PA 16802-3504
Phone: +1-814-865-6541 Fax: +1-814-863-7043 David Sylvia, Department Head

Penn State Graduate Degree Programs - Ecology

The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences participates in this intercollege graduate program, which includes faculty members in several departments and colleges of the University. The Ecology program emphasizes the properties of ecosystems by focusing attention on interactions of single organisms, populations, and communities with their environment. It is designed to give students a basic understanding of ecological theory and hypothesis testing and is complementary to other environmental programs that emphasize the human role in ecosystems. The program is administered by a committee drawn from faculty members in several departments and colleges of the University. This committee and its chair are appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. The committee appointed by the Graduate School for each candidate in Ecology is selected from faculty in the student's area of specialization.

Requirements for the M.S. Degree

The instructional program includes three graduate integrated group of seminars and courses selected for each student by the committee, and a research project directed by the thesis adviser. The nonthesis option is available for the M.S. degree, at the adviser's discretion. Laboratory research is required for the M.S. degree.

Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

The instructional program includes three graduate integrated group of seminars and courses selected for each student by the committee, and a research project directed by the thesis adviser. The communication and foreign language requirements for the Ph.D. degree may be satisfied by strong performance in two semesters of one foreign language or the equivalent.

Application materials are available on the Ecology Program Web site at http://ecology.psu.edu.

For more information contact:

Program Coordinator The Pennsylvania State University 101 Life Sciences Building University Park, PA 16802 Phone: 814-865-5557 Fax: 814-863-1357 E-mail: ecology@huck.psu.edu

Dr. David Mortensen, Program Chair The Pennsylvania State University 422 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building University Park, PA 16802 Phone: 814-863-3893 Fax: 814-863-7043 E-mail: dmortensen@psu.edu