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M.A. in Conservation Biology
The M.A. application deadline is January 15th.
The Master of Arts in Conservation Biology focuses on biological sciences and integrates environmental policy and economics concepts. This interdisciplinary approach provides students with a range of options for building their careers. Graduates may continue their education in a Ph.D. program or enter the job market directly as scientific researchers, teachers or administrators in a NGO or government agency dedicated to the conservation of natural resources.
M.A. students have the option of tailoring their course work to follow one of three tracks and can customize their studies by choosing between a thesis-based and a course-based program.
For additional information about the program please contact the M.A. program advisor, Dr. Andres Gomez.
Overview
The MA in Conservation Biology is a 2-year program and it requires 2 full-time residence units (residence units are equal to 1 full-time semester). Part-time options are also available. Students have the option of tailoring their course work following one of 3 tracks: the Academic Track, Professional Track, or Educational Track. In addition to the three tracks, students may opt between a thesis-based or course-based program (see explanations of thesis- and course-based options below).
Academic MA track
The Academic Track focuses on research and emphasizes the scientific aspects of conservation biology. This track is designed for students who may wish to pursue a PhD program at some point in their future or are interested in careers in conservation that are more research-oriented.
No additional courses required, but students must take:
- 3 electives in Conservation science
- 2 electives in Environmental policy
*Only electives in conservation science can be substituted with a directed reading or a directed research.
Note that a thesis is strongly recommended for anyone in the Academic Track who is considering pursuing a PhD.
Please read, Thesis Based Program, below for further information.
Professional MA Track
The Professional Track focuses on applied conservation and emphasizes the policy aspects of conservation biology. This track is for students who plan to enter the conservation profession after obtaining the MA degree.
No additional courses required, but students must take:
- 3 electives in Conservation science
- 3 electives in Environmental policy
* Electives in any of the above groups can be substituted with a directed reading or a directed research .
Educational MA Track
The Educational Track focuses on engaging the public in conservation issues. This track is designed for students who plan to enter the education field (e.g., teaching conservation in k-12 schools) or communication (e.g., exhibits at museums, zoos, botanical gardens aquaria, and parks). .
Students in the Educational track are required to take Teaching Conservation Biology (EEEB 4800) as one of their electives; plus they will need to enroll in:
- 2 electives in Conservation science
- 2 electives in Education and Communication
- 1 elective in Environmental policy.
*Electives in any of the above groups can be substituted with a directed reading or a directed research.
Educational track students are encouraged to take training internships with one (or more) of our partner institutions, including:
- CERC's Middle School 88 project
- AMNH Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners
- WCS Exhibits, Graphics and Design Department
- WCS Educational Department
- AMNH Exhibition or Education departments
- New York Botanical Garden Displays Department
Thesis-based program
The purpose of a thesis is to demonstrate professional skills in conducting research, writing, analyzing data, making oral presentations, preparing graphics, and producing publication quality papers.
Thesis research generally involves joining ongoing research programs. Because of the two-year time frame of the MA, theses generally involve research that is part of an ongoing, group project. Students interested in being considered for the thesis-based program will need to be accepted into a research group before the beginning of the second semester of their first year.
An independent research project is sometimes possible, but it can be difficult to identify field sites, obtain permits (where necessary), conduct background research, write a prospectus to be approved by the student’s committee, and collect sufficiently replicated data in just two years. The student’s adviser and/or the program advisor can provide assistance in determining if an independent project is feasible.
Theses need not be limited to field research and can be laboratory based, computer based, or based on samples and data collected by others.
Students who are planning for a thesis-based program can only do so if an E3B faculty member or adjunct researcher formally accepts to serve as their thesis adviser by the beginning of the second semester.
Ideally students interested in the thesis-based program should have contacted their potential advisor before entering the program. Students that enter the program without having identified an advisor and who are interested in pursuing a thesis should discuss their ideas with the MA Program Advisor, who will help them identify potential supervisors as soon as possible.
Students in the thesis-based program will register for directed research and will spend a considerable portion of their registered time working on a research project that leads to a final thesis
Total credits required for thesis-based program: 49
*Please note that while it is rare that a thesis project cannot be found, it is important to understand that acceptance into the MA program does not guarantee that a student will be able to select any research project that s(he) desires. E3B faculty and adjunct researchers make available a number of research opportunities and many of our MA students have participated in these projects, however it is always at the discretion of the project’s Principal Investigator to determine if someone can or cannot join their research projects.
Course-based program
Students who choose this program will register for 2 additional required classes beyond those currently required for the MA either in conservation science or environmental policy). To complete their requirements, students write a take-home essay over a period of two weeks during the Spring semester of their second year.
Total credits required for course-based program: 47
Requirements
Core courses
All M.A. students take the following core courses:
- Fundamentals of Ecology & Evolution (G4122)
- Conservation Biology, 2-semesters (G6905 & G6990)
- Environmental Policy, Politics & Management (U4727)
- E3B Research Seminar, 4 semesters (G6300)
Other required courses
All students take 8 additional courses:
- 3 electives in conservation science*
- 2 electives in environmental policy*
- 3 electives tailored to student*
*Students can replace electives with Directed Reading or Directed Research to get credit for internships and/or research experience.
For more options, refer to the E3B Student Handbook.
M.A. Thesis or M.A. Essay
Students in the thesis-based program prepare an M.A. thesis based on original research, which is evaluated by a 3-member committee tailored to the student’s interests. Students in the course-based program prepare an M.A. essay, as a take-home assignment during their fourth semester, which is evaluated by a faculty committee.
Reading Assistantship
M.A. students have the option of registering with the Department for paid Reading Assistantship in undergraduate courses. Reading Assistants support a course instructor throughout a semester. The Reading Assistantship will allow students to develop additional skills for a variety of professional directions that they may choose to follow. Reading Assistantships are voluntary and limited in number based on the needs of the department and allocations from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Examples of Elective Courses
Following is a list of possible electives. Please note: not all courses are taught every year, actual offering may vary.
Conservation Science:
- Conservation Genetics
- Topics in Conservation Biology
- Amazonia Seminar
- Behavioral Ecology and Conservation
- Disease Ecology
- Wetlands Ecology
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Research Methods in Primate (and other animal) Behavior
- Special Topics in Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Insect Diversity
- Herpetology
- Forest Ecology
- Tropical Ecology
- Ornithology
- Remote Sensing
- Statistics
- GIS
Environmental Policy:
- Economics of the Environment
- Environmental Law
- Seminar: The Protection of Natural Resources
- Seminar in Hazardous Waste Law
- Seminar: International Environmental Law
- Natural Resource Economics
- Economics of Sustainable Development
- International Environmental Law
- Environmentalism and the Protection of Natural Resources
- Global Climate Change - Topics in Science and Policy
- International Politics of the Environment
- Case Studies in Risk Assessment and Environmental Policy
Admission Information
A background in ecology and evolutionary biology, including undergraduate courses in introductory biology and upper-division ecology, evolution, and genetics (or equivalents).
GRE general test. Biology Subject test strongly recommended.
Applicants interested in the thesis-based program are strongly encouraged to contact potential faculty mentors before applying. See a complete list of faculty members here.
Application Form
For further information on how to apply, please follow the link below, which will lead you to the 'Prospective Students' page of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) of Columbia University. GSAS manages all of the administrative aspect of our graduate programs.
On the GSAS web site, you will be able to fill out an online application by following the link to the M.A. programs.
Prospective Students
If you are ready to apply and want to go straight to the application web site, follow this link instead:
APPLY ONLINE NOW!
Fellowships
There are no fellowships available for the Masters program. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for outside sources of funding (i.e. EPA Science to Achieve Results Fellowship Program, NSF Graduate Fellowship Program).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can't find your answer? Check the FAQ page of the Graduate School of Art and Sciences (GSAS) website for additional information on administrative matters and on the registration process.
Alternatively send us an Email.
1. What is the application deadline?
The M.A. application deadline is January 15th.
2. Can I apply for Spring admission?
There is no Spring admission for the M.A. program.
3. Is there a part-time option for the M.A. program?
Yes. Further information can be found on the GSAS web site.
4. How competitive is the admissions process?
Admission is competitive. In recent years, about 30% of applicants were accepted into the program - but the applicants are a self-selected and talented pool of potential students.
5. Should I visit?
Visiting Columbia is an excellent idea. A visit will allow you to get a first-hand and direct impression of our program, department, faculty and students. It will also help you to decide if New York City is for you. Before coming to visit, arrange appointments with faculty whose interests match yours.
6. Does Columbia provides housing for MA students?
Housing is not guaranteed for Master's students, but students who do not get campus housing are generally able to find a place nearby.
7. What is an RU?
RU, or Residence Unit, and ER, or Extended Residence, are registration categories tied into tuition fees. A Residence Unit is equivalent to full-time registration for a semester. 2 RU's are a mandatory requirement for the MA degree (in Year 1). In the second year M.A. students register for Extended Residence, which allows them to register for classes at a reduced cost relative to the RU tuition.
8. What type of employment would I qualify for after the M.A. degree?
Although our program is relatively young, we can report that nearly 100 per cent of our graduates are either employed or have been accepted into a Ph.D. program. Our students are pursuing careers in government, NGOs, education, and research.
9. How many students are in the program?
There are currently 28 students in the program.
10. Can MA students fund their education through teaching assistantships?
No, this is not possible at Columbia. Nevertheless M.A. students are offered the possiblity of registering with the Department for paid Reading Assistantship in undergraduate courses.
11. How long does it take to finish the MA degree? Two years. Students doing a thesis-based degree should plan on using the summer between the two years for their research. Part time registration is possible, which would extend this period, but the degree must be finished within 4 years.
12. Can adjunct faculty be an MA student's thesis advisor?
Yes, any faculty member listed in the GSAS handbook is an approved E3B advisor.
13. You encourage perspective students to seek faculty mentors for their future thesis research. How do I go about this?
A good starting point is the faculty page of the E3B website. You'll find short bios which include research interests. Send an Email the the faculty members that share your same intersts and inquire about projects and opportunities.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get replies, all of our faculty have pretty busy schedules and may need a reminder to follow up. To ensure better response rates, make sure your emails are stimulating and clearly state your interests. |
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Steffen Foerster