Ecology master's degree offered
Modesto Bee 1/29/07
The Central Valley is a fitting case study in how to maintain the vital interaction of organisms and their environment.
To help educate future teachers, researchers and restorationists, California State University, Stanislaus, now offers a master's degree in ecology and sustainability.
"Sustainability is leaving a small enough footprint on Earth so that our grandchildren and their grandchildren and their grandchildren will have the same or maybe better natural resources than we have," said Pamela Roe, biology professor and originator of the master's program.
The degree is the first of its kind in the CSU system. Few colleges across the country offer a master's in ecology and sustainability, and even fewer focus on causes, consequences and solutions, Roe said.
From air and water to plants, animals and decomposers, ecosystems are precious and depend on each piece for survival. If one piece ceases to exist, the rest of the cycle is in jeopardy.
The degree allows students to go into communities and find solutions to environmental problems.
An example of win-win problem-solving Roe often cites is the battle over maintaining quality drinking water in New York City.
Starting in 1989, officials were looking at developing an expensive water treatment plant but chose in 2001 to restore a watershed to preserve the quality of the source, according to "The New Economy of Nature: The Quest to Make Conservation Profitable." That solved the problem, cost far less money and revived the environment, Roe said.
Stanislaus State's program started this fall with seven students. Sarah Bradley enrolled after getting her bachelor's degree in marine biology at Stanislaus State. She runs an organic walnut orchard.
"I'm a mom, so ecology is so much of what we do," the Gustine resident said. "I want this place to be better for my son."
Most students are from the Central Valley, so they will apply what they learn at local agencies and to local environments.
Bradley might teach marine science at a university. Fellow student Christine Campbell most likely will teach high school biology.
The master's degree also is useful for people who want to work on restoration projects, economic impact reports, agriculture, biology control or consulting.
"We're trying to make people aware of some of the problems but also the solutions," said Ann Kohlhaas, biology professor and acting chairwoman of the biology department.
Students can choose between two concentrations — ecological conservation and ecological economics. The degree takes at least two years to complete the 36 units. Students take classes in economics and politics as well as biology.
Bradley might do her thesis on the sustainability of the abalone diving industry. Campbell is looking at the ripple effects of reintroducing an animal such as the mountain lion to Yellowstone National Park.
"So much of now is concentrated with ourselves and 'me' that no one thinks about the big picture anymore," Bradley said, "about the decisions we make and how they will impact anybody else."