MS Natural Resources and Ecology

The Center for Earth and Environmental Science (CEES) has been preparing students for careers as ecologist, environmental scientists, environmental planners, and geologists since the early 1970’s.  We have over 2800 alumni across New York State and around the world. Sixteen faculty are focused on undergraduate education. All faculty are active in grant-supported research, so that CEES students get opportunities for hands-on work typically reserved for graduate students elsewhere. Our students enjoy a diverse landscape including Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and alpine summits for class field trips, research, and recreation.

Special features of the Center for Earth and Environmental Science include the Applied Environmental Science Program (AESP) at the W.H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute; Remote Sensing Lab; Geographic Information Systems Lab; Ecosystem Studies Field Lab; and geology research labs. CEES offers numerous scholarship, internship, and undergraduate research opportunities. CEES collaborates closely with the Lake Champlain Research Institute (LCRI), providing our students with opportunities to conduct research on Lake Champlain on the R/V Gruendling.CEES faculty host the Earth and Environmental Science Club, the Geology Club, the Wildlife Club, and the Environmental Action Committee.

The Center for Earth and Environmental Science offers 9 major programs, including one study option, within a degree program. In environmental science, there are three major programs. These programs bring together natural sciences (biological, chemical, and physical) and social sciences. The B.A. in environmental science features suites of advanced electives in biological, physical, chemical, policy sustainability, environmental leadership, and technical areas. These students choose jobs in environmental consulting, work at parks and nature preserves, or become involved with law and policy-making. The B.S. in environmental science emphasizes systems science, such as ecosystem surface and atmospheric processes, biogeochemistry, environmental chemistry, with courses in policy, leadership and sustainability. Many students from this option are focused on a science or engineering graduate degree, environmental technician jobs, work with state and federal agencies, or environmental consulting roles. The B.A. in environmental science study option in environmental planning and management emphasizes human dimensions in managing natural resources as well as technical skills in mapping science and geographic information systems (GIS). Students work on a regional scale. They are often employed by city, county and state governments or consulting firms.

The B.S. in ecology examines the interactions between organisms and their environment, emphasizing coursework in basic biology and a number of advanced ecology courses at the population, community, and ecosystem level. Students are prepared for graduate work or can become professional ecologists or naturalists in state and federal agencies or private organizations.

The B.A. in environmental studies emphasizes the intersection social sciences and humanities with environmental issues. This is a multi-disciplinary major that examines the role of social justice and sustainability in developing global environmental solutions.

Geology students at SUNY Plattsburgh can choose from four major programs. Each geology degree program is certified by the New York State Department of Education as licensed qualifying. Any student completing a geology degree program will meet all the undergraduate education requirements to pursue professional geology licensing in New York State.The B.A./B.S. degrees in geology are the most traditional options, requiring a core of physical and historical geology, mineralogy and petrology, structural geology, and sedimentology. These students choose jobs in geotechnical consulting, work at government labs, or use their strong preparation in chemistry, math, and physics to qualify for graduate school in geology. The B.A. in Environmental Geology has a strong foundation in geology with a focus on surficial processes. The program prepares students for careers in geologic consulting. The Earth Science B.A. prepares students for earth science education.

The study of geology can also be pursued through the combined B.A./M.S.T. Geology/Adolescence Education program. This program leads to adolescence education teacher certification in earth science. (See the Combined Programs section of this catalog.)