The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. (non-thesis), M.A.(thesis) and Ph.D. degrees. Course offerings include classroom lectures, discussion, seminars, laboratory tutorials, and field study. Our program is designed to foster close working relationships between students and faculty, a member of which serves as each student's research advisor. Graduate study is tailored to the individual student. Research is strongly emphasized, but programs include both formal class work and laboratory study. Graduate students are also encouraged to attend courses offered by other academic departments at Rice and by Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center, and the University of Houston. Recent graduates are working in academia, government, and the private sector.
Well-equipped research areas are housed in modern, attractive facilities, which include state-of-the-art laboratories and a new 3500 sq. ft. greenhouse.
In addition, within a two-hour drive of the campus are many federal, state, and private refuges, parks, experimental stations, and preserves available for field research. Habitats include southeastern coastal plain forests; coastal prairies; fresh, brackish, and saline marshes; estuaries; and near-shore marine environments. Slightly further away is the Hill Country (Austin, San Antonio) where a number of faculty members also do research. In addition, faculty members do research in other areas of the United States including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, and Virginia and in China, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Samoa.
Within the university graduate students are represented by the Graduate Student Association, which also sponsors social and other activities. Graduate students serve on university committees which determine policy on research, affirmative action, the library, computers, public lectures, student affairs, and other university functions.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
First Year Students
Entering students will meet with a faculty advisor to form a course of study of the first year. All first year students will complete the core course in ecology and evolutionary biology (BIOS 569) in their first semester. All graduate students are required to complete BIOS 585/586 (Graduate Seminar in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) and two semesters of BIOS 591 (Graduate Teaching). Students must maintain a grade average of B in courses taken in the department and satisfactory grades in courses taken outside the department.
Students must demonstrate satisfactory progress in their degree program in annual reviews by a departmental committee. The review process requires that each student present a public seminar on their research, prepare a written report on their progress, and participate in an interview with the departmental committee. For general university requirements, see Graduate Degrees (in General Announcements).
MS Program
In addition to the general university requirements and those listed above, the master of science in ecology and evolutionary biology requires at least 10 hours of research credit.
MA Program
In addition to the general university requirements and those listed above, the master of arts in ecology and evolutionary biology requires the completion and public defense of a thesis embodying the results of an original investigation.
PhD Program
In addition to the general university requirements and those listed above, the PhD degree in ecology and evolutionary biology requires:
- Passing the admission to candidacy examination given by the Graduate Thesis Committee. (Committee will be composed of at least 4 members. At least 3 must be members of the EEB graduate faculty.)
- Complete an original investigation and a doctoral thesis with the potential to produce publications in reputable, peer-reviewed scientific journals
- Present a departmental seminar on the research
- Publicly defend the doctoral thesis