Introduction
All curricular requirements are aimed at preparing students for timely and successful completion of a master thesis. The master of arts (M.A.) curriculum in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) includes two stages: 1) required coursework, 2) the research, writing, and defense of the master thesis.
Requirements
The purpose of the master's program in EEB is to allow a student to complete graduate-level research that is usually more directed and shorter-term than that done by doctoral students. Students in the master's program share some coursework requirements with Ph.D. students but do not take the comprehensive or qualifying exams. A thesis, formal defense, and public seminar are required.
Course Requirements
M.A. students must take BIOE 200A, BIOE 200B, BIOE 200C, BIOE 200D, a statistics course and two elective graduate-level classes within their first two years. BIOE 281, BIOE 294, and BIOE 297 (Independent Study) must be taken every quarter the student is in residence. All students must be enrolled in at least 15 credits per quarter, unless on approved part-time status. No more than 15 credits from upper-division undergraduate courses may be used as part the student’s coursework.
Core Courses
| BIOE 200A | Scientific Skills | 5 |
| BIOE 200B | Advanced Organismal Biology | 5 |
| BIOE 200C | Evolutionary Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE 200D | Foundations in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology | 5 |
| BIOE 286
/CSP 241
| Experimental Design and Data Analysis | 5 |
| BIOE 286L
/CSP 241L
| Experimental Design and Data Analysis Lab | 2 |
BIOE 200A and BIOE 200B are offered each fall quarter, BIOE 200C and BIOE 200D are offered each winter quarter. At least one class on statistics must be completed. Graduate-level (200-level) statistic courses in UCSC departments outside of EEB may meet this requirement upon approval by the EEB Graduate Advisory Committee.
Elective Courses
| BIOE 203 | Introductory Seminar in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| BIOE 215 | Advanced Seminar in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| BIOE 208 | Marine Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE 245 | Plant Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE 245L | Field Methods in Plant Ecology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE 247 | Community Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE 238 | Modeling Evolution and Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE 239 | Mathematical Modeling and Data Science in Ecology and Evolution | 5 |
| BIOE 258L | Experimental Marine Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE 262
/CSP 245
| Facilitating Change in Coastal Science Policy | 5 |
| BIOE 271 | Disciplinary Communication for Biologists | 5 |
| BIOE 272 | Population Genetics | 5 |
| BIOE 286
/CSP 241
| Experimental Design and Data Analysis | 5 |
| BIOE 286L
/CSP 241L
| Experimental Design and Data Analysis Lab | 2 |
Note that BIOE 203 and BIOE 215 seminar topics are variable and will be announced each quarter.
The following courses must be taken every quarter the student is in residence.
All students must be enrolled in at least 15 credits per quarter, unless on approved part-time or leave of absence status.
Other Requirements
EEB requires that each student must, in consultation with their supervisor, assemble a thesis committee no later than spring quarter of their first year. The student’s supervisor will serve as the chair of the committee. The thesis committee has the responsibility for ensuring the standards and goals of the department and university and will evaluate the student research in two phases. In the fall of the second year, each master's student will schedule their thesis proposal meeting at which time the merit of the proposed research is evaluated. Once the proposal has been accepted, the student has approximately one year to complete the work and format their master thesis manuscript. In order to graduate, the thesis is defended in a closed oral examination, presented in a departmental seminar and submitted as a formal dissertation to the Graduate Division. The master's dissertation is typically one chapter that comprises original research which is substantial enough to be published in a scientific journal. The target time for the master's program is two years.
Deadlines at each stage must be confirmed with the graduate program coordinator.
Academic Progress
Normative time to degree for the M.A. program is two years. Academic progress is formally reviewed in the spring quarter of each academic year by means of an annual report.
Applying for Graduation
Information on applying for graduation may be found on the EEB Graduate Program website. Deadlines should always be confirmed with the graduate program coordinator.