Ecology Graduate Admissions Information

All applicants must have a faculty sponsor prior to
applying. Applications without a faculty sponsor will be auto-denied.

Application Process

The Department of Ecology admits a limited number of students into its graduate programs each year.  Qualified students must secure a position with a faculty member who agrees to serve as their graduate advisor for their degree. Generally, faculty will identify a research project and possible sources of funding, advertise the position in their chosen venue, and review requested application materials. Once chosen, faculty invite applicants to apply to The Graduate School at MSU, and students must indicate the name of their faculty advisor on the Graduate School application. We do not accept applications for the program unless a faculty advisor has first agreed to supervise the student.

In addition to identifying a major professor who has agreed to serve as advisor,an applicant must fulfill the following qualifications in order to be eligible to apply to an Ecology degree program. In exceptional cases, at the request of the applicant's identified advisor, the Department Head may waive one of the qualifications.

Qualifications

• The applicant should have at least the equivalent of three-fourths of the science courses required in the undergraduate curriculum at Montana State University in the option chosen for graduate study. 
• The applicant should have maintained the following minimal undergraduate grade-point averages: 3.0 average in all biology courses; 3.0 average in all courses taken during the junior and senior years; and 2.5 average in all chemistry, physics and mathematics courses.
• MSU requires applicants from countries where English is a second language to present evidenceof proficiency in the use of the English language.

Montana State University Graduate Programs no longer require a GRE score.

International students may have additional requirements.  See International Application Process page for information in The Graduate School Policies. The Office of International Programs can provide assistance to international applicants.

Materials

All applicants must submit the following materials with their graduate application: 

• Official transcripts from previous institutions
• Three letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Personal Statement

Finding a Faculty Advisor

Our department faculty study a variety of organisms and ecosystems. They agree to oversee new graduate students based on the needs of their lab and funding opportunities. 

Please review the Faculty Directory for information about research projects. Applicants should reach out to faculty whose work aligns with their research goals to find out about openings in their lab. 

Applications are accepted and evaluated throughout the year. However, to be admitted for a specific term, the formal application must be completed by the dates below. 

Funding Sources and Assistantships 

Most graduate students in the program are supported on Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) provided by their major professor from grant funds. GRAs are research project-specific and are awarded by individual faculty as funds are available. GRA stipends vary between positions, and some fee waivers and health insurance may be available depending upon funding sources. 

We offer limited number of Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) each semester based on teaching and financial assistance needs. GTAs receive a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend.

In addition to assistantships, the Ecology Department announces a number of scholarships each fall semester and other funding opportunities as they become available throughout the year.

Department Statement on Graduate Student Stipends

Our graduate students have determined that the minimum cost of living stipend for a single graduate student with no dependents in Bozeman is about $2200/mo. (as of spring 2023). Current base GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistantship) and GRA (Graduate Research Assistantship) stipends are about $1680/mo. Tuition waivers for up to 12 credits supplement GTA stipends, which are primarily available during the Fall and Spring semesters, with fewer available in summer.

Ecology Department faculty advisors have set a goal to make up the gap between the base stipends and the minimum cost of living using external funding sources (e.g., grant funding). Therefore, all grants written by Ecology faculty to support GRAs from June 1, 2023 onward will have a minimum stipend of $2200/month, including GAP (Graduate Additional Payment), and provided for 12 months/year. However, external funding sources are competitive and cannot necessarily be counted on to provide student income for the entire time that it takes to earn an advanced degree (average of about 3 yrs. for M.S. and about 6 for Ph.D.). Therefore, if external funding sources are unavailable or inadequate, some students may need to work with their advisor to apply for and secure additional grants or fellowships to make up the gap between base stipends and cost of living stipends. The department is currently working with the College of Letters and Sciences to increase GTA stipends.

We strongly encourage all students to talk with their prospective/current advisor about the specifics of their compensation. All ecology faculty are committed to providing transparency about funding and compensation. Estimates of the minimum cost of living stipend for graduate students in Bozeman will be re-evaluated every 2-3 years.

I'm Ready to Apply

Do you meet the qualifications required for eligibility to apply to a degree program in Ecology? Visit the Graduate School website for more information on the online application process. If you're unsure if you're eligible to apply, read the above information on application process and required qualifications.

Graduate School Policies and Procedures

If you have questions about your degree requirements, please contact the Academic Coordinator in the Department of Ecology. For more information on Graduate School Policies and Procedures, visit the Graduate School website.

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