SUNY ESF
M.S. in Environmental Biology
The Master of Science in Environmental Biology is a 30 credit program with two distinct tracks: a thesis option and a non‑thesis option, allowing students to select the pathway that best aligns with their academic goals and career plans.
Program Requirements
Thesis track
- Course credits: minimum of 18 credits coursework, not counting the seminar credits
- Master research credits: minimum of 6 credits of EFB 899 Master Research
- Successful presentation and thesis defense.
- Students pursuing the thesis options must submit the research proposal typically by the end of the 2nd semester.
Non-thesis track
- Course credits: 27 credits of which up to 3 credits can be seminar credits
- Culminating experience: 3 credits of EFB 899 Master Research or EFB 898 Professional Experience
Example Programs of study for non-thesis track by interest/focus areas:
Fall 1
EFB 642 Limnology: Study of Inland Waters | 3
EFB 687 Fisheries Science and Management | 3
Elective 3 | 3
Elective 3 | 3
Spring 1
EFB 532 Freshwater Wetland Ecosystems | 3
EFB 623 Marie Ecology | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Summer 1 or Fall 2
EFB 898 Professional Experience or EFB 899 Master Research | 3
Elective | 3
Fall 1
EFB 601 Molecular Biology Techniques | 3
EFB 626 Plant Tissue Culture Methods | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Spring 1
EFB 626 Plant Biotechnology | 3
EFB 637 Plant Physiology | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Summer 1 or Fall 2
EFB 898 Professional Experience or EFB 899 Master Research | 3
Elective | 3
Fall 1
EFB 601 Molecular Biology Techniques | 3
EFB 653 Parasitology | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Spring 1
EFB 602 Microbial Ecology | 3
ERE 620 System Microbiology and Biotechnology | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Summer 1 or Fall 2
EFB 898 Professional Experience or EFB 899 Master Research
Elective | 3
Semester credits | 3
Fall 1
EFB 627 Plant Anatomy and Development | 3
EFB 635 Flowering Plants: Diversity, Evolution and Systematics | 3
FOR 607 Restoration Ecology | 3
Elective | 3
Spring 1
EFB 645 Plant Ecology and Global Change | 3
EFB 629 Plant Physiology | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Summer 1 or Fall 2
EFB 898 Professional Experience or EFB 899 Master Research | 3
Elective | 3
Fall 1
EFB 551/552 Forest Entomology/Entomology | 3
EFB 796 Forest and Shade Tree Pathology | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Spring 1
EFB 502 Ecology and Management of Invasive Species | 3
EWP 620 Advanced Presentation skills for Environmental Professionals | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Summer 1 or Fall 2
EFB 898 Professional Experience or EFB 899 Master Research | 3
Elective | 3
Fall 1
EFB 696 Population Ecology and Management | 3
EFB 638 Ecology and Management of Waterfowl | 3
EFB 693 Wildlife Habitats and populations | 3
Elective | 3
Spring 1
EFB 654 Intro to R and Reproducible Research | 3
EWP 620 Advanced Presentation skills for Environmental Professionals | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Summer 1 or Fall 2
EFB 898 Professional Experience or EFB 899 Master Research | 3
Elective | 3
Fall 1
EFB 566 Systematic Entomology (even years) or EFB 504 Plant-Herbivore Interactions
(odd years) | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Elective | 3
Spring 1
EFB 654 Intro to R and Reproducible Research | 3
EFB 502 Ecology and Management of Invasive Species | 3
EFB 649 Wetland Conservation and Management for Wildlife (even years) / Elective | 3
EFB 522 Ecology Resources and Development | 3
Summer 1 or Fall 2
EFB 898 Professional Experience or EFB 899 Master Research | 3
Elective | 3