Graduate Programs: MA

All academic forms should be submitted on the Graduate Student Forms page.

Academic Forms

• Directed Readings Form
• Directed Research Form

Graduation and Convocation Information

• Convocation
• Graduation Ceremonies Participation Petition

Information about conference and travel forms can be found here.

Program Requirements

To earn the M.A. degree, students must complete:

• 43 credits total, including core courses, electives, and thesis-related research.

• Core courses:

  • Fundamentals of Ecology (EEEB GR6112; 3 credits)

  • Fundamentals of Evolution (EEEB GR6110; 3 credits)

  • Conservation Biology (EEEB GR6905; 3 credits)

  • Statistics (EEEB GR5005, GR5015, or approved equivalent)

  • Thesis Development I & II (EEEB GR5850 & GR5851; 6 credits total)

  • Four semesters of Research Seminar (EEEB GR6300; 4 credits total)

• Electives: One or more policy-focused courses • One or more science-focused electives • Additional electives as needed to reach 43 credits Students may not apply more than 12 credits total from Directed Research and Directed Readings toward the degree.

Capstone Project and Proposal

All students complete a capstone project in the form of a Research Thesis or Practical Thesis.

• Research Thesis: Hypothesis-driven research using field, lab, or existing datasets.
• Practical Thesis: Applied conservation tools, communication products, educational materials, or stakeholder collaborations.

Capstone proposals are due by the end of their first year and E3B awards students up to $2,000 per students to complete their research thesis or practical thesis. GSAS offers an additional $400 in matching awards. The proposal outlines the purpose, background, methods, and timeline of the student’s intended Research or Practical Thesis.

Proposal components include:

• Title and research question or project objective
• Background and significance
• Proposed methodology or product development
• Timeline for research and writing
• References

The proposal must be approved by the student’s advisor and committee. Students are encouraged to consult with the DMAP and faculty mentors during proposal development. Additional proposal formatting guidelines and requirements are detailed in the MA Student Handbook.

Directed Research and Readings

Directed Research (EEEB GR9501–GR9503) and Directed Readings (EEEB GR9509) allow students to develop custom academic work with faculty.

• Up to 6 credits per semester, 12 credits total across both options.
• Students must submit a completed form to the DMAP and supervisor at least 1 week before the Add/Drop deadline each semester. Completed forms must then be submitted on the Graduate Student Forms page.
• For summer research, submit retroactively in the fall.

  • Directed Research Form

  • Directed Readings Form

Progress and Advising

• Students meet with the Director of the M.A. Program (DMAP) each semester.
• An annual progress letter summarizes achievements and upcoming requirements, completed with the DMAP in August before their second year.
• Students should maintain regular contact with their advisor and committee, especially during fieldwork and capstone development.

Conference Travel Support

E3B encourages M.A. students to share their work and connect with the broader scientific community by attending professional conferences. Students may apply for travel support to present a poster or talk based on their capstone project.

• E3B provides up to $450 per student
• GSAS offers an additional $300 in matching funds for conference travel
• Reimbursement requires submission of original receipts and proof of participation

Be sure to consult with your advisor before applying. Additional guidelines, eligibility details, and reimbursement procedures are outlined in the MA Student Handbook. Application forms and submission instructions are available here.

Important Dates and Deadlines

• Committee Formation and First Meeting: Early February, Year 1
• MA Research Grant Application: Spring, Year 1
• Second Committee Meeting: Fall, Year 2
• Final Thesis Draft to Committee: Mid-March, Year 2
• Signed Degree Conferral Form and Final Thesis submission: 5 days before graduation

Professional Development and Career Support

Columbia's MA program supports your professional growth through workshops, career advising, and alumni engagement. Students can access GSAS Compass throughout their time in the program and after graduation for career counseling, job search strategies, and resume support. Additionally, faculty and departmental events help connect students with employers in conservation, academia, NGOs, and government.

Check out our proactive grad students at the official site for GRASS. An introspective look at the E3B student community.

Research Seminars and Student Seminars are important weekly events in Department E3B. On Tuesdays, invited researchers, Columbia faculty and graduating E3B Ph.D. students present their work. On Thursdays, E3B M.A. and Ph.D. students give brief presentations of their work in progress. See the events page for more details. 

• Dr. Bekka Brodie, Director of the MA Program (DMAP): [email protected]
• Office Location: 1009 Schermerhorn Extension