Program Overview

Graduate education in Environmental Conservation (ECO) provides students with the opportunity to explore a wide range of environmental issues. The program is described in greater detail at the following link: http://eco.umass.edu/degree-programs/graduate-programs/. Briefly, the master’s and doctoral programs are broad and multi-faceted, with diverse opportunities for specialized training in: (1) wildlife, fish and conservation biology, (2) forest resources and arboriculture, (3) water, wetlands, and watersheds, (4) environmental policy and human dimensions, and (5) building systems. The range of departmental expertise covers the continuum extending from the natural through the built environment. Staff and facilities are available for supporting research in the following concentrations:

Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology concentration provides scientific training in the multidisciplinary field of wildlife, fish, and conservation biology. The focus is on animal ecology and conservation biology but specialized training in fields such as conservation genetics, population ecology, and landscape ecology is also offered.

Forest Resources and Arboriculture concentration provides scientific training in the fields of forestry and arboriculture, which cover respectively the management of stands of trees and individual trees. The focus is on forests and trees in urban, rural, and wildland ecosystems but specialized training in fields such as forest ecology and management, urban forestry and arboriculture (including plant healthcare, tree maintenance, and tree biomechanics), and forest policy and land conservation is also offered.

Water, Wetlands and Watersheds concentration provides scientific training in the multidisciplinary field of water resources management and policy. The focus is on water-related resources and systems but specialized training in fields such as wetlands, hydrology, nonpoint source pollution, modeling, ecosystems, water resource management, watershed sciences, economics, climatic impacts, and water-related policy is also offered.

Environmental Policy and Human Dimensions concentration provides scientific training in environmental policy and other human dimensions of environmental conservation. The focus is on the socio-cultural, political (including policy and administration), and economic systems related to environmental conservation coupled with specialized training in aspects of forest, wildlife or fisheries conservation, conservation biology, watershed science and management and/or building systems.

Sustainable Building Systems concentration provides scientific training in this multidisciplinary field. The focus is on building systems themselves but the concentration also encompasses specialized training in such fields as green building, structural timber design, energy systems and modeling, material strength modeling, and management and marketing of building materials.