Curriculum for SYSTEMS ECOLOGY and ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Guidelines for an Area of Concentration for
Graduate Degrees in
Environmental Engineering Sciences
Objectives:
To use quantitative methods to understand systems of humanity and
nature, and to learn designs for their interface and unification. The
scope of the program includes small ecological systems, regional
systems, national questions, planetary cycles, and theoretical
properties common to all environmental systems.
Currently the following faculty may supervise students in the
Systems Ecology/Ecological Engineering Program:
I. Courses recommended for normal admission to program:
To excel in this program, students should have an undergraduate
degree in science or engineering. We recommend undergraduate course work (or equivalent) in the following areas:
Topic or Course Number
General Biology BSC 2010, 2011
General Geology GLY 2015, 2100
General Chemistry CHM 2042, 2043 and labs
General Physics PHY 2048, 2049 and labs
General Ecology PCB 3043
Calculus MAC 3311, 3312
Economics ECO 2013, 2023
Students can be admitted without these recommended courses. At time of admittance, suggestions will be made to develop a course of study to make up any deficiencies in background preparation
II. Steps in Program for a New Student (Master's or Doctoral)
Prior to Admission to Department
Contact one or more members of the systems ecology faculty to discuss
interests, career objectives, and plans for application. If possible
visit the campus and meet with faculty. Generally students are not
admitted into the Department without having an advisor, so the visit
is very important.
After Admission to Department
Although it is not essential, a good way for a new student to start
the program is to register in the first semester for 1 to 3 hours of
supervised research (ENV 6905) with your faculty advisor as a test of
working relationships and as a way to begin your research; a written
report is required.
With input from your faculty advisor, select a full supervisory
committee (2 additional members for a masters committee, and 3
additional members for the doctoral committee).
In the second semester or as soon as possible thereafter, hold an
organizational meeting of the supervisory committee, for consideration
of research proposal, course plan, and to process supervisory
committee form. At this meeting, after mutual agreement, the student
and his faculty supervisor present the following:
1. proposed research and a written summary (see statement on skills to
be demonstrated).
2. proposed coursework (in required format)
3. proposed schedule of oral and written exams (doctoral only).
This meeting should examine the curriculum vitae listing relevant
courses previously taken and proposed new courses in standard format
(example can be found at:
http://www.ees.ufl.edu/current/graduate/forms.asp). A letter
summarizing the meeting is written to the student by the supervisory
faculty member with the attached curriculum vitae as recommended, with
copies to each faculty member on the committee and to the Department
Graduate Advisor for the student file.
Guidelines for non-thesis, thesis, or dissertation research
Most students begin research study in the first year.
When research is completed, a draft of thesis, dissertation, or
required paper (non thesis degree) is completed, and after editing and
improvement through interacting with the supervisory professor, copies
go to committee members for their suggestions. When the draft meets
all members' requirements, permission is given for final typing and
submission to the graduate school (theses and dissertations).
ALL students give an oral presentation on their thesis, dissertation
or technical paper at a seminar.
Ph.D. students have qualifying written and oral exams for admission to
candidacy. The research plan and additional courses are considered. In
addition, Ph.D. students submit the final typed dissertation approved
by the supervisory professor to the Graduate School, after which the
final oral exam is scheduled.
Master's students fulfilling requirements for masters degree with
thesis have a final oral exam on the thesis and may cover other work
taken.
Master’s students fulfilling requirements for masters degree without
thesis write a special paper which is approved by major professor and
committee. A final exam (written and/or oral) is held on all course
work taken.
III. Course Guidelines for Master's Degree*
(* Requirements are set by the student's supervisory committee with
this as a guide)
Most students complete coursework (see course guidelines below) within
2 years. Students should use the system that is the subject of
research study as the means for organizing knowledge and showing unity
and applicability of course work.
Thesis and non-thesis options are available. Thesis option is
recommended for students considering further graduate study at the
doctoral level.
A minimum of 30 semester credit hours is required for both Thesis and
Non-Thesis Masters degree programs.
Systems Ecology/Ecological Engineering Program for Masters:
The following courses are recommended if these or their equivalent
have not been taken before:
A. Systems Ecology (choice of):
EES 5305 Ecological and General Systems (3)
EES 6301 Comparative Approaches in Systems Ecology (3)
B. Regional systems, Economics, and Planning (2 courses):
EES 5306 Energy Analysis (3)
EES 5307 Ecological Engineering (3)
EES 6009 Ecological Economics (2)
EES 6007 Advanced Energy and Environment (3)
EES 6051 Advance Environmental Planning (3)
EES 6028 GIS and Spatial Analysis (3)
C. Hydrology/ meteorology (choice of):
ENV5520 Fluid Flow in Environmental Systems (3)
CWR 5125 Groundwater Flow I (3)
GLY 5827 Groundwater Geology (3)
ENV 6508 Wetland Hydrology (3)
EES 6145 Meteorology and Oceanography (3)
FNR 4343 Forest Water Resources (3)
D. Aquatic Systems (2 courses):
Freshwater Systems (choice of):
PCB 5307 Limnology (4)
PCB 6496 Stream Ecology (4)
Marine Systems (choice of):
EES 6356 Estuarine Systems (3)
PCB 5317 Marine Ecology (4)
ZOO 4403 Field problems in Marine Biology (6)
E. Terrestrial Systems (choice of):
EES 6308 Wetlands Ecology (3)
WIS 6444 Advanced Wetlands Ecology (4)
BOT 5695 Ecosystems of Florida (3)
BOT 6356 Ecosystems of Tropics (3)
PCB 6447 Community Ecology (4)
F. Electives
Select electives from previous listings or with approval of full
committee.
G Thesis or non-thesis research
ENV 6916 Non-thesis Research (2)
ENV 6971 Masters Research (up to 6)
H. Seminars
ENV 6935 Departmental Seminar (1 hr credit)
ENV 6935 Systems Seminar (1)*
*Normally all students in the program attend this seminar every
semester, since it is our main means of generating common discussion.
Master's Candidates: Skills to be demonstrated
In the oral exam or in the thesis or non-thesis paper a Master's
candidate should demonstrate experience with field measurement and
data processing, and capability for quantitative synthesis in the form
of computer simulation and energy analysis. The student, in course
work, field work, data analysis, and synthesis, should unify
understanding by focusing on one ecological or /economic system.
IV. Course Guidelines for Ph.D Program*
(* Requirements are set by the student's supervisory committee with
this as a guide)
The curricula for Ph.D students uses the guidelines for masters
students for initial guidance. Ph.D students must earn a minimum of 90
semester hours. In addition to the general guidelines for the Masters
degree, the following courses are recommended:
A. Ecological and General Systems (EES 5305C) and Comparative
Approaches in Systems Ecology (EES 6301)
B. Systems Seminar (EES 6935), every semester
D. Marine and Freshwater Ecology Course (see list for Master's degree)
E. Additional course work in area of dissertation research as
suggested by supervisory committee
F. Dissertation (ENV 7980) - original contribution to Science and
Engineering.
Ph.D Candidates: Skills to be demonstrated
Skills required are those indicated for the Master's degree with
greater proficiency. The student, in course work, field work, and
dissertation data analysis and synthesis, should unify understanding
and make an original contribution to science and engineering. The
student should be well acquainted with the literature on ecological
systems and their models and demonstrate a thorough grasp of the
theory, concepts, and main principles from courses undertaken.
