This intercollege program emphasizes the properties of ecosystems by focusing on interactions of single organisms, populations, and communities with their environment. It is designed to give students an advanced understanding of ecological theory and hypothesis testing and is complementary to other environmental programs that emphasize the human role in ecosystems.
The program is administered by a committee drawn from faculty members in several departments and colleges of the University. The Program Chair is appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. The instructional staff is composed of participating faculty in those departments offering graduate courses in fields closely allied to ecology.