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The Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B) was established in 2001 as a result of a multi-institutional collaboration through the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC). CERC is a consortium of five New York City-based science and research institutions: The American Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, The New York Botanical Garden, The Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust. In creating E3B, the University and the Consortium partners held that the fields of ecology, organismal evolution, population biology and environmental biology constitute a distinct subdivision of the biological sciences with its own set of intellectual foci, theoretical foundations, scales of analysis and experimental designs and methodologies.

E3B's mission is to educate a new generation of scientists and practitioners in the theory and methods of ecology, evolution and population biology. The department's educational programs emphasize a multidisciplinary perspective on the earth's declining biodiversity, integrating understanding from relevant fields in biology with insights from related fields in the social sciences. Though its administrative staff, core faculty and headquarters are based at Columbia University, E3B's academic staff is also based at the other partner institutions in the CERC consortium. Through the auspices of this consortium, the Department is able to tap into a broad array of scientific and intellectual resources in the greater New York City area.

In close coordination with the consortium, E3B has assembled a research and training faculty of more than 90 members from the five partner institutions. This academic staff covers the areas of plant and animal systematics, evolutionary and population genetics, demography and population biology, behavioral and community ecology, and related fields of epidemiology, ethnobiology, public health and environmental policy. Harnessing the expertise of these major research institutions, E3B covers a vast area of inquiry into the evolutionary, genetic and ecological relationships among all living things.

Fellowships are awarded for those admitted to the Ph.D. program in recognition of academic achievement and in expectation of scholarly success. Teaching and research experience are considered an important aspect of the training of graduate students. Thus, graduate fellowships include some teaching and research apprenticeship.

For the Free-Standing M.A. degree in Conservation Biology

The Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B) was established as a result of a multi-institutional collaboration through the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC). CERC is a consortium of five New York City-based science and research institutions: The American Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, The New York Botanical Garden, The Wildlife Conservation Society, and Wildlife Trust. In creating E3B, the University and the Consortium partners held that the fields of ecology, organismal evolution, population biology, and environmental biology constitute a distinct subdivision of the biological sciences with its own set of intellectual foci, theoretical foundations, scales of analysis, and experimental designs and methodologies.

E3B's mission is to educate a new generation of scientists and practitioners in the theory and methods of ecology, evolution, and population biology and to conduct multidisciplinary research on emerging environmental problems associated with the decline of ecosystems and the loss of biological diversity. Though its administrative staff, core faculty, and headquarters are based at Columbia University, E3B's academic staff is also based at the other partner institutions in the CERC consortium. Through the auspices of this consortium, the department is able to tap into an astonishing array of scientific and intellectual resources in the New York City area.

In close coordination with the consortium, E3B has assembled a research and training faculty of over 90 members from the five partner institutions. This academic staff covers the areas of plant and animal systematics, evolutionary and population genetics, demography and population biology, behavioral and community ecology, and related fields of epidemiology, ethnobiology, public health, and environmental policy. Harnessing the expertise of these major research institutions, E3B covers a vast area of inquiry into the evolutionary, genetic, and ecological relationships among all living things.

Conservation Biology Scholarship

The Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B)and the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC) invite applicants to the Conservation Biology Master's Program in E3B to apply for the scholarship position(s) of course assistant for the Certificate Program in Conservation Biology.

Students awarded a course assistantship will help faculty prepare for classes, attend all class meetings, answer student questions and carry out other responsibilities as these arise. Students work up to 10 hours a week.

Course assistants will receive a combination of partial tuition and a stipend up to $1,800 per academic year. The scholarship is renewable for a second year of the Conservation Biology Master's Program.

Applicants interested in applying for the Conservation Biology Scholarship should download an application here and submit it as part of their application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences program in Conservation Biology.

In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must submit 1 official transcript showing courses and grades per school attended, a Statement of Academic Purpose and 3 letters of evaluation from academic sources. All international students whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English, must submit scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS. For more information, refer to our Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.

Special Admissions Requirements for the Free-Standing M.A. Program in Conservation Biology

A background in ecology and evolutionary biology is preferred, with one year of undergraduate introduction biology and three separate upper-division undergraduate courses in ecology, evolution, and genetics required. The GRE General Test is mandatory, and the Biology Subject Test is strongly recommended. Students interested in pursuing the thesis-based option are strongly encouraged to identify a full-time or adjunct faculty member who would act as research sponsor prior to applying to the program.

In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must submit 1 official transcript showing courses and grades per school attended, a Statement of Academic Purpose and 3 letters of evaluation from academic sources. All international students whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English, must submit scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS. For more information, refer to our Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.

DEGREE:	Master's Only
Deadline for Fall Admission	December 15*
Deadline for Spring Admission	no spring admission
Resume/CV	yes
Writing Sample	no
GRE General	yes
GRE Subject	recommended
Miscellaneous	none