Ecological Engineering
M.P.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Overview
Ecological Engineering is the design of ecosystems for the mutual benefit of humans and the environment. Ideal design considers humans to be part of nature rather than apart from nature. At SUNY–ESF we believe that ecological engineering education and research should meet local to global needs. We teach and research sustainable solutions and approach ecological engineering broadly, working in many areas of the world and in most major areas of ecological engineering.
Graduates from the ecological engineering option commonly find employment or continue their advanced graduate education in any of the following areas of practice:
- Ecosystem restoration, including watershed, river, forest and wetland restoration
- Design of sustainable systems for wastewater treatment and stormwater management
- Urban ecosystem design and development
- Industrial ecology, life cycle analysis and sustainability analysis
Ecological Engineering emphasizes engineering design of ecosystems consistent with ecological principles of natural, self-organizing, self-maintaining systems. This interdisciplinary field incorporates knowledge in engineering, ecology and social sciences to produce energy- and information-efficient solutions to environmental problems. Public policy, ethics and values are considered in the decision-making process. Students select between alternative solutions to ecological resource problems, in recognition of environmental, economic, legal, social and managerial constraints.

SUNY-ESF ecological engineering is in New York, Mexico, Honduras, and Belize.
Program Requirements
Program prerequisite or co-requisite courses include at least one semester of study in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or statics; probability and statistics; ecology; and hydrology. These are in addition to general course expectations for the Division of Engineering.
Program mastery courses include at least one course (3+ credit hours per course) in each of the 4 areas of competence listed below (illustrative courses are listed in parenthesis).
- Ecosystem Restoration (e.g., Ecosystem Restoration Design, Sustainable Engineering, River Form and Process, Ecological Engineering in the Tropics)
- Pollutant Treatment (e.g., Methods in Ecological Treatment, Ecological Engineering for Waste Management, Stormwater Management)
- Modeling (e.g., Hydrologic Modeling, Systems Engineering, Engineering Hydrology & Hydraulics)
- Ecosystem Sciences (e.g., Microbial Ecology, Ecosystems, Systems Ecology, Tropical Ecology, Ecological Biogeochemistry, Plant Ecology and Global Change, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Limnology, Environmental Chemistry)
At least 12 credit hours of graduate coursework must be completed in engineering courses. Research credits complete the degree requirements.
We teach, design and research:
Looking Forward
Graduates from the ecological engineering option commonly find employment or continue their advanced graduate education in any of the following areas of practice:
- Ecosystem restoration, including watershed, river, forest and wetland restoration
- Design of sustainable systems for wastewater treatment and stormwater management
- Environmental remediation
- Urban ecosystem design and development
- Industrial ecology, life cycle analysis and sustainability analysis
Participating Faculty
- Douglas J. Daley; djdaley@esf.edu
water resources, solid and hazardous waste management, ecological engineering, environmental restoration, phytoremediation, bioremediation, soil and water pollution, solid and hazardous waste management, environmental engineering - Stewart Diemont; sdiemont@esf.edu
ecological engineering, traditional ecological knowledge, ecosystem restoration, sustainability analysis, natural wastewater treatment systems and re-use, lesser-developed countries, agroecology - Theodore A. Endreny; te@esf.edu
water resources engineering, ecological engineering, stream restoration, urban watersheds, lesser-developed countries - Charles N. Kroll; cnkroll@syr.edu
stochastic and deterministic hydrology, environmental modeling, water resource systems engineering, ecological engineering, urban forestry, drought assessment, environmental systems engineering, stochastic and deterministic modeling, risk assessment, coupled human and natural systems - Stephen B. Shaw; sbshaw@esf.edu
hydroclimatology, water resources engineering, ecohydrology in a changing climate, water resources, climate change, hydrology, systems modeling, stormwater management - Wendong Tao; wtao@esf.edu
Graduate Students in Ecological Engineering
Current Students
Only currently registered students appearnew student names are added at the start of the academic year.
| Ecological Engineering Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Tao |
Personal Statement We (humans) are all damaging Earth with every single action; therefore, we have the power to stop this abuse and any small change in our daily activities can give some relief to our planet... Graduate Research Topic Ecological Engineering - Anaerobic Digestion for food wastes treatment Home Page Web Link My Website Web Link Undergraduate School Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso - Civil Biochemical Engineer
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| Ecological Engineering Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Daley |
Undergraduate Institute: Syracuse University Graduate Research Topic Ecological Engineering Favorite Quote "If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change." -Michael Jackson Home Page Web Link
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| Ecological Engineering Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Tao |
Undergraduate Institute: SUNY ESF (Environmental/Sanita) Graduate Research Topic Ecological Engineering Favorite Quote Justice is what love looks like in public. - Dr. Cornel West Professional website Web Link
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