Studies & Degrees in Ecology
Ecology Study Programs
Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment, in the definition of the Ecological Society of America. Ecologists work at very different scales. Some study microbes living in the soil, others the plants and animals of a rainforest or an ocean. The field has many specialties, among them marine, vegetation and statistical ecology.
Students learn how populations grow and decline, how species compete and cooperate, and how energy and nutrients move through an ecosystem. At the University of California San Diego, for example, the ecology, behavior and evolution major covers population biology, ecology, conservation biology, animal behaviour, population genetics, biogeography and evolution. Fieldwork is a normal part of the course, and so is data analysis: professionals in this area use geographic information systems (GIS) and modelling software, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Qualifications and levels
At bachelor's level, ecology is usually taught inside a biology department, often together with evolution or animal behaviour. The name of the degree differs from one university to the next:
- Yale University: the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology offers a B.S. and a B.A. degree. Students choose one of two concentrations; the one in Biodiversity and the Environment is aimed at careers in ecology, evolutionary biology and environmental science
- University of California San Diego: ecology, behavior and evolution is one of the seven majors of the School of Biological Sciences
- The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA): the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology lists an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major, a Marine Biology major and a Conservation Biology minor, and reports that its students have done field research in Africa, South and Central America and French Polynesia
- University of Lethbridge: the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science includes ecology of aquatic, riparian and grassland systems, remote sensing, GIS and biodiversity assessment
These programmes build on basic science. Yale's prerequisites include courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, and the University of Lethbridge requires final-year school courses in biology, chemistry and mathematics for its programme.
In Spain, a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and a master's degree has 60, 90 or 120. Ecology is normally a specialisation at master's level after a degree in a related science. The Máster en Ecología taught jointly by the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid has 90 ECTS credits and lasts a year and a half. It is taught in Spanish, on campus, with 30 places, and it admits graduates in biology, environmental sciences, marine sciences, geology or geography, among others.
A doctorate is the usual route into research. According to the BLS, zoologists and wildlife biologists may need a master's degree for higher-level jobs and typically need a PhD to lead research projects.
Where to study it
SpainExchange lists 85 schools that teach ecology. The United States has the most, with 38, followed by Spain and the United Kingdom with six each, Canada with five, Australia with four and the Czech Republic with three. Colombia and South Korea have two each.
Most of these schools are universities in English-speaking countries. In Spain and Colombia the usual language of instruction is Spanish, and the joint master's in Madrid is taught in Spanish. Ask each school which language a programme is taught in and what level it requires before applying.
Careers
Ecology graduates work in research, conservation and environmental management. UC San Diego notes that research careers are found in universities, government agencies and the biotechnology industry, and that recent graduates work in forestry and wildlife management, as ecological consultants for governments and private industry, and as teachers.
The BLS does not count ecologists as a single occupation, but it publishes figures for the closest ones in the United States:
- Zoologists and wildlife biologists: 19,500 jobs in 2025, with employment projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035
- Conservation scientists and foresters: 40,900 jobs in 2025, also with projected growth of 4 percent
- Environmental scientists and specialists: about 93,400 jobs in 2025, with projected growth of 6 percent
These figures describe the US labour market only. In other countries, check the national statistics office or the public employment service.
Frequently asked questions
Is ecology the same as environmental science?
No. Ecology is a branch of biology that studies how organisms relate to each other and to their environment. Environmental science is broader and more applied: the BLS describes environmental scientists as people who conduct research or investigations to protect the environment or human health. Many degrees combine the two.
Which school subjects do I need to study ecology?
Biology, chemistry and mathematics are the usual basis. Yale's prerequisites for its major include biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, and the University of Lethbridge requires final-year school courses in biology, chemistry and mathematics.
Do I need a PhD to work as an ecologist?
Not for every job. According to the BLS, a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for zoologists and wildlife biologists, a master's degree may be needed for higher-level jobs, and a PhD is typically needed to lead research projects.
Can I study ecology in Spanish?
Yes. In Spain the subject is mainly offered at master's level; one example is the 90-credit Máster en Ecología of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, which is taught in Spanish.