Analyze climate and ecological evidence across scales
Degree Program
Ecology, Climate & Environmental Systems
Ecology, Climate & Environmental SystemsDegree Program · Life, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Climate, Ecology & Human Adaptation
Studies climate and ecological change together with human vulnerability, adaptation, resilience, and environmental decision making.
Program purpose
Master of Science
The program joins climate science, ecology, geography, anthropology, field monitoring, spatial analysis, and systems modeling to investigate how environmental change is experienced and addressed.
Learning outcomes
What graduates are prepared to do
Program outcomes connect disciplinary knowledge to methods, judgment, communication, and independently evaluated work.
Evaluate vulnerability, adaptation, and resilience in social and environmental context
Integrate field, remote-sensing, spatial, and qualitative evidence
Produce a rigorous thesis or applied environmental product
Curriculum architecture
How the pathway is organized
Coursework progresses from foundations to methods, integration, and a culminating demonstration of capability.
Foundations
Build the knowledge, skills, and mindset for inquiry.
Application
Apply methods and tools to real-world questions.
Integration
Synthesize across disciplines and perspectives.
Demonstration
Produce and present work that creates impact.
- 01
Climate and ecological systems
- 02
Human adaptation and environmental anthropology
- 03
GIS, remote sensing, statistics, and systems modeling
- 04
Research design and field methods
- 05
Thesis or applied project
Course sequence
Selected curriculum
ENV-210
Ecology & Environmental Systems
Introduces ecological relationships, energy and material flows, population and community dynamics, disturbance, resilience, and environmental observation.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Climate Systems & Human Adaptation
Connects atmospheric and oceanic processes, climate records, modeling, risk, adaptation, and cultural responses to environmental change.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Spatial Analysis & LiDAR
Uses GIS, terrain models, point clouds, and LiDAR derivatives to investigate landscapes, built environments, archaeology, ecology, and infrastructure.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Complex Adaptive Systems
Examines emergence, feedback, adaptation, networks, path dependence, scale, and agent interaction across social, biological, environmental, and technological systems.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Ethnographic Methods & Thick Description
Develops field-based qualitative research through observation, interviewing, fieldnotes, reflexivity, ethics, coding, and interpretive writing.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Environmental DNA Field Methods
Integrates field sampling, contamination control, molecular workflows, sequence analysis, and ecological interpretation for environmental DNA research.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 4.0
Learning environments
Field, laboratory & studio work
- Environmental monitoring
- GIS and earth observation
- Ethnographic and community research
- Research computing and visualization
Professional directions
Where the capability can lead
- Climate adaptation analyst
- Environmental research and planning
- Resilience and risk programs
- Conservation and ecological management
- Doctoral study
Culminating work
Capstone, thesis, dissertation, or professional demonstration
A thesis or applied project produces an integrated climate, ecological, and human-adaptation analysis with a decision, policy, or public communication derivative.
Admissions preparation
Materials and background
Admissions review considers preparation, purpose, prior work, and the fit between the applicant’s goals and the program.
Bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent
Academic records and evidence of disciplinary or methodological preparation
Statement of purpose identifying questions, methods, and intended outcomes
Writing, research, technical, or professional sample
Two academic or professional recommendations
Next step
Connect this pathway to your academic goals.
Request information for a focused conversation or begin an application through the Stella Nova Student Information System.