Ecology Schools and Programs in The United States

Ecology Studies in The United States

Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment, from single populations to whole ecosystems. In the United States it is rarely a stand-alone faculty. Most universities teach it inside a biology department or in a department of ecology and evolutionary biology, and applied branches such as wildlife, forestry and conservation are often taught in colleges of natural resources or environmental science.

How the degree is organised

A bachelor's degree is usually completed in four years of full-time study, according to EducationUSA. Students take classes in a wide variety of subjects in addition to their major, and the major is often declared only at the end of the second year. An ecology student may therefore graduate with a major in biology, in ecology and evolutionary biology, or in an interdisciplinary programme such as ecology and environmental sciences. Coursework in science programmes often includes academic, laboratory and field work, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that students may also need mathematics and statistics to learn data analysis.

The two main graduate degrees are the master's degree and the doctorate. EducationUSA describes the master's as a two-year degree and the doctorate as a five to eight-year programme.

Admission, funding and language

Teaching is in English, and US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Undergraduate applications for a September start are typically due between November and January. Each university reviews an international applicant's school subjects and may ask for a report from a credential evaluation agency.

Graduate deadlines are set by each department; the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at the University of California Santa Barbara, for example, asks graduate applicants to apply by 1 December. At doctoral level, working as a teaching or research assistant in exchange for a tuition waiver and/or a stipend is very common, according to EducationUSA. International students on a degree programme normally hold an F student visa, which requires admission to an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Where to study ecology in the United States

The 38 schools listed for ecology are spread across the country rather than concentrated in a few cities. Examples:

• The University of Colorado at Boulder, whose Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EBIO) lists ecology, evolution, genetics, behavior, biology education research and systematics as its strengths, with field and laboratory research opportunities for undergraduates
• The University of Connecticut, where the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology studies how biodiversity arose and is maintained
• The University of Maine, whose Ecology and Environmental Sciences programme offers interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate programmes with research in Maine's forests, lakes, streams and marine and estuarine systems
• Florida State University in Tallahassee, whose Ecology and Evolution Group reports that many students and faculty do a significant portion of their research within 50 miles of the city
• Western Colorado University in Gunnison, with a thesis-based Master of Science in Ecology that includes an Ecology and Conservation concentration
• The University of Washington in Seattle, where the Biology Ph.D. programme names ecology and evolution among its strengths
• Other research universities in the list, such as the University of Michigan, the University of California, Davis, Yale University, the University of Minnesota and The University of Texas at Austin

Field sites matter in this subject. The Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network, established by the US National Science Foundation in 1980, runs research programmes at 26 sites, and many universities have their own field stations.

Recognition and professional certification

US institutions are accredited at national or regional level by independent accrediting bodies, and there is no licence to practise as an ecologist. The Ecological Society of America (ESA) runs a voluntary certification scheme. Candidates must hold at least a bachelor's degree in ecology or a related science, with coursework totalling 42 semester credit hours in set areas; the levels run from Ecologist in Training to Senior Ecologist, depending on years of professional experience.

Careers

Ecology graduates work in wildlife and conservation agencies, environmental consulting, research and teaching. The BLS has no separate category for ecologists, but three related occupations give an indication (figures for the US labour market):

• Zoologists and wildlife biologists: a bachelor's degree for entry-level positions and typically a Ph.D. to lead research projects; employment projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035; median annual wage $76,780 in May 2025
• Environmental scientists and specialists: typically a bachelor's degree in natural science or a related field; projected growth 6 percent; median annual wage $82,220 in May 2025
• Conservation scientists: typically a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources or a related field; median annual wage $73,010 in May 2025

Frequently asked questions

Is ecology a separate major in the United States?

Sometimes. Many universities teach it as a major in ecology and evolutionary biology or as a track within biology or environmental science, so it is worth comparing course lists rather than degree titles.

Do I need a Ph.D. to work in ecology?

Not for entry-level work. According to the BLS, zoologists and wildlife biologists typically need a bachelor's degree for entry-level positions, may need a master's degree for higher level jobs and typically need a Ph.D. to lead research projects.

Is there a professional certification for ecologists?

Yes, a voluntary one. The Ecological Society of America certifies ecologists at several levels; the minimum is a bachelor's degree in ecology or a related science.