A group of students wearing hard hats in the middle of a forest, inspecting the area around them.

Tomorrow Needs You. Are You Ready?

Receive a graduate education from an accredited institution.

Applied Ecology MS Program

Ecological research examines how organisms, landscapes, and human activities interact—and how those relationships change over time. Michigan Tech’s MS in Applied Ecology explores natural and human-influenced ecosystems through fieldwork, analysis, and modeling. Study glacial retreat, wetland and lakeshore vegetation, and diverse forest, rural, and urban landscapes that serve as living laboratories for research. Are you ready?

Who Is This Program For?

This program may appeal to students interested in investigating ecosystems and using ecological evidence to understand environmental change. It is particularly relevant if you want to study relationships among organisms, habitats, and environmental processes; apply field observations, laboratory evidence, or modeling in ecological research; and connect scientific investigation with restoration, monitoring, or stewardship questions.

What You'll Study

Previous graduate research has included carbon cycling, nitrous oxide, and the biological and chemical processes that shape ecosystem function. During your MS research, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how ecological systems operate, respond to environmental conditions, and influence broader environmental patterns.

Where You'll Apply Your Knowledge and Skills

Ecological findings matter when they help people understand and respond to environmental change. You can use field observations, measurements, and models to assess habitat conditions, detect changes in ecosystem processes, and evaluate approaches to conservation or restoration.

In need of Applied Ecology expertise are the USDA Forest Service and Michigan Department of Natural Resources, as well as ecological consulting firms and conservation nonprofits working on forests, wetlands, and habitat restoration.

Delivery Options
- On-Campus: MS

Applied Ecology Program Details

Choose a specific degree option or delivery type to learn more about the applied ecology program at Michigan Tech. For international students, Applied Ecology is a designated STEM program.

On-Campus Programs

MS, Applied Ecology: Thesis Option

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Applied Ecology: Report Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Applied Ecology: Coursework Option

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through coursework. A limited number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department, and Graduate Admissions. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	18 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Additional Program Information

Want to learn more about applied ecology at Michigan Tech? Visit the department for more information:

Contact

Graduate Director

Chris Webster

Graduate Assistant

Marjorie Banovetz

Sample Areas of Interest

Customize your applied ecology MS by choosing a focus area, such as these:

Conservation Genetics
Mammalian Ecology
Nutrient Cycling
Tree Physiology Ecology

View the full listing for this program.

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Using a holistic approach, our graduate admissions team reviews applications on an individual and ongoing basis. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, but you will need to upload them later.

Graduate Admissions Process

Applying to your graduate program is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. Please note that international applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps.

Graduate Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission to your program as either a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program-Specific Requirements

Program Specific

3 Letters of Recommendation (1 Letter of Recommendation for Michigan Tech students)
Résumé / Curriculum vitae
GRE not required
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
Please view our faculty webpage and identify three faculty members that you would like to work with

International Students

TOEFL scores as of January 21, 2026: Recommended Score of 4.5
- For tests taken before January 21, 2026: Recommended Score of 79 iBT
IELTS: Required Minimum Overall Band Score of 6.5

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 4.5 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis.

Recommended Deadline

Apply at least a semester in advance of projected admission to improve your chances of receiving funding.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. We offer over 125 graduate certificates, master's degrees, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.

Who You'll Learn From and Work With

Learn from faculty who investigate the ecological processes that shape forests, wetlands, and other natural systems. Their research includes sustainable landscape management and peatland and wetland restoration. Faculty interests bring together ecology, environmental change, and resource management, giving students examples of how scientific understanding informs conservation and land-use decisions.

Where You'll Study and Do Research

Michigan Tech is located in an area of high wetland abundance,and biodiversity — making it the ideal location for examining ecosystem processes, biodiversity, restoration, and ecological management. The campus community, surrounded by one of the largest forested areas in the eastern United States, is also near multiple water resources, including Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Studying in this region, then, means connecting questions about local environments with broader issues in conservation and environmental change.

Faculty Spotlight

Yvette Dickinson

Yvette Dickinson

Adjunct Professor

"We use forests every day. Sustainable forest management affects everyone."

Silviculture applies ecological knowledge to management of forests for wildlife habitat, ecosystem health, timber, and other benefits. Dickinson investigates new techniques for sustainably managing forests so that they will continue to provide benefits for future generations.

Program Faculty