Ecosystem Management and Administration

The M.P.S. program in Ecosystem Management and Administration is designed to provide ecosystem and natural resources managers in a variety of fields a combination of leadership, business, and technical skills that are critical for higher-level management and leadership positions. The program is designed to provide students with the training they need to cope with rapid changes in technology and management methodologies and provide them with the expanded expertise they will need as they progress in their careers. The program is designed to provide students with 1) essential skills in working with spatial data and using geographic information management systems; 2) a better understanding of how ecosystems are inventoried and monitored and the ability to analyze common natural resources data sets to support decision-making; 3) project planning and management skills, including knowledge of decision support systems commonly used in natural resources planning and management; 4) improved communication, conflict resolution, negotiation and leadership skills; 5) the ability to apply natural resources economics principles and cost-benefit analysis to common natural resources management problems; and 6) a deeper understanding of the legal and policy framework within which ecosystem management decisions are made.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Applicants must have undergraduate degree in forestry, wildlife or fisheries management, soils or water management, natural resources management, environmental science, ecology or related field. Scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are required for admission. A student may be admitted at the discretion of the program without GRE scores.

Application materials should be submitted before February by those who want to begin in summer or fall and before September for those who want to begin in spring semester. For admission, an applicant should have at least a 2.75 overall grade-point average and a 3.00 junior/senior average (on a 4.00 scale). Three reference letters and a brief statement describing the applicant's academic goals, career interests, and special qualifications are required. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces available. Exceptions to admission requirements may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests, at the discretion of the program.

Degree Requirements

Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies.

A minimum of 30 credits at the 400, 500, or 800 level is required, with a minimum of 18 credits at the 500 or 800 level, and at least 6 credits at the 500 level.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
STAT 500	Applied Statistics	3
MANGT 510	Project Management	3
MANGT 520	Planning and Resource Management (optional) 1	3
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
LEAD 555	Full Range Leadership Development
OLEAD 409	Leadership Development: A Life-Long Learning Perspective
OLEAD 410	Leadership in a Global Context
OLEAD 411	Women and Leadership
BA 865	Strategic Leadership
BA 804	Ethical Leadership
BA 888	Strategic Leading and Identity
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
OLEAD 464	Communication Skills for Leaders in Groups and Organizations
OLEAD 465	Collective Decision Making
CAS 404	Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
MGMT 565	Power and Influence
BA 805	Negotiation Theory and Skills
GEOG 482	Making Maps That Matter With GIS	3
EMGT 810	Ecosystem Monitoring	3
EMGT 820	Environmental Law and Policy	3
EMGT 830	Ecosystem Management, Planning, and Economics	3
Culminating Experience
EMGT 894	Capstone Experience 1	3-6
Total Credits		30

The program culminates in a project completed while students are enrolled in EMGT 894. In conjunction with their academic adviser, students will select an ecosystem management topic or issue that they will independently investigate. Students will write a paper describing their investigation and conclusions. The paper will clearly describe the ecosystem management issue, review literature relevant to the issue, identify potential ways to address the issue, and evaluate the pros and cons of possible solutions.

Student Aid

World Campus students in graduate degree programs may be eligible for financial aid. Refer to the Tuition and Financial Aid section of the World Campus website for more information.

Courses

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

Ecosystem Management (EMGT) Course List

Contact

Graduate Program Head: David Eissenstat

Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) or Professor-in-Charge (PIC): Marc McDill

Program Contact: Dana Grove

Email: dlg5035@psu.edu

Telephone: (814) 865-4237