2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/evolution-ecology-behavior-ms/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/
for the degree of Master of Science in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
The Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior administers several graduate degree programs. Areas of training include the broadly defined disciplines of Animal Behavior, Biomechanics, Comparative Anatomy, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Genetics/Genomics, and Physiology.
Admission
Acceptance for graduate study in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior is based on the applicant's research potential and academic achievement. An undergraduate degree in the life sciences is the usual preparation, but students majoring in mathematics, computer science, or the physical and social sciences are also considered. Students should have taken courses in at least two of the following six areas: evolution, ecology, genetics, behavior, conservation, physiology/morphology. Students lacking one or more of these courses may be admitted with the provision that such deficiencies be completed in addition to the normal graduate course load. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) for the last two years of undergraduate work in a four-year undergraduate degree program or the last three years of a five-year undergraduate program and for any graduate study is required or the candidate will have to petition for an exception. Considerable emphasis is placed on a student's interest and ability in research as demonstrated by previous work and letters of recommendation. Applications are typically only considered for fall admission unless special arrangements are made with the Department. A minimum paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 613 (257 on the computer-based version, 103-104 on the internet-based version) is preferred for international applicants.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available in the form of fellowships and teaching and research assistantships for qualified students.
For additional details and requirements refer to the Department and the Graduate College Handbook.
for the degree of Master of Science in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, MS - Thesis Option
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | EEB Colloquium (to be taken each semester of enrollment) | | 3 | | IB 546 | Topics in Ecology & Evolution | | | Thesis Research (4 hours min/12 hours max applied toward degree) | | 4-12 | | EEB 599 | Thesis Research | | | One course chosen from the following list of statistics and/or computational methods courses | | | | IB 476 | Environmental Remote Sensing | | | IB 501 | Programming for Genomics | | | IB 505 | Bioinformatics & Systems Biol | | | IB 506 | Applied Bioinformatics | | | IB 517 | Analysis of Biological Data in R | | | CPSC 440 | Applied Statistical Methods I | | | CPSC 540 | Applied Statistical Methods II | | | NRES 421 | Quantitative Methods in NRES | | | NRES 593 | Statistical Methods in Ecology | | | NRES 595 | Advanced Quantitative Techniques for Ecology and Conservation | | | Additional electives chosen from the following list to meet the 32-hour minimum | | | | IB 401 | Introduction to Entomology | | | IB 405 | Evolution of Traits and Genomes | | | IB 407 | Plant Diversity and Evolution | | | IB 411 | Bioinspiration | | | IB 416 | Population Genetics | | | IB 420 | Plant Physiology | | | IB 421 | Photosynthesis | | | IB 426 | Env and Evol Physl of Animals | | | IB 431 | Behavioral Ecology | | | IB 432 | Genes and Behavior | | | IB 433 | Insect Physiology | | | IB 435 | Critical Evaluation of Herbal Remedies | | | IB 436 | Evolutionary Neuroscience | | | IB 438 | How Organisms Move | | | IB 439 | Biogeography | | | IB 440 | Plants and Global Change | | | IB 442 | Evolution of Infectious Disease | | | IB 444 | Insect Ecology | | | IB 451 | Conservation Biology | | | IB 452 | Ecosystem Ecology | | | IB 453 | Community Ecology | | | IB 461 | Ornithology | | | IB 462 | Mammalogy | | | IB 463 | Ichthyology | | | IB 464 | Herpetology | | | IB 467 | Principles of Systematics | | | IB 468 | Insect Classification and Evol | | | IB 471 | Fungal Diversity and Ecology | | | IB 476 | Environmental Remote Sensing | | | IB 478 | Advanced Plant Genetics | | | IB 479 | Plant Growth and Development | | | IB 481 | Vector-borne Diseases | | | IB 482 | Insect Pest Management | | | IB 484 | Paleoclimatology | | | IB 490 | Independent Study | | | IB 491 | | | | IB 494 | Theoretical Biology + Models | | | IB 496 | Special Courses | | | IB 497 | Science Communication | | | IB 499 | Discussions in Integrative Biology | | | IB 501 | Programming for Genomics | | | IB 502 | Biological Networks | | | IB 504 | Genomic Analysis of Insects | | | IB 505 | Bioinformatics & Systems Biol | | | IB 506 | Applied Bioinformatics | | | IB 512 | Plant Metabolomics | | | IB 513 | Plant Science Seminar | | | IB 516 | Ecosystem Biogeochemistry | | | IB 517 | Analysis of Biological Data in R | | | IB 524 | | | | IB 526 | Seminar in Entomology | | | IB 531 | Emerging Infectious Diseases | | | IB 532 | Sustainability & Global Change | | | IB 533 | Human Genome & Bioinformatics | | | IB 534 | Evolution and Medicine | | | IB 535 | Biology and Tech Innovation | | | IB 536 | Evolutionary Biology | | | IB 542 | Environmental Plant Physiology | | | IB 546 | Topics in Ecology & Evolution | | | IB 590 | Individual Topics | | | IB 592 | Career and Skill Development in Integrative Biology | | | Total Hours | | 32 |
Other Requirements
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Other requirements may overlap | | | | Minimum hours required at the 500-level in IB or EEB. | | 12 | | Masters thesis deposit required | | Yes | | Present the thesis in a verbal presentation to the department | | Yes | | Defend the thesis to a committee | | Yes | | Minimum GPA | | 3.0 |
Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, MS - Non-Thesis Option
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | EEB Colloquium (to be taken each semester of enrollment) | | 3 | | IB 546 | Topics in Ecology & Evolution | | | One course chosen from the following list of statistics and/or computational methods courses | | | | IB 476 | Environmental Remote Sensing | | | IB 501 | Programming for Genomics | | | IB 505 | Bioinformatics & Systems Biol | | | IB 506 | Applied Bioinformatics | | | IB 517 | Analysis of Biological Data in R | | | CPSC 440 | Applied Statistical Methods I | | | CPSC 540 | Applied Statistical Methods II | | | NRES 421 | Quantitative Methods in NRES | | | NRES 593 | Statistical Methods in Ecology | | | NRES 595 | Advanced Quantitative Techniques for Ecology and Conservation | | | Additional electives chosen from the following list to meet the 32-hour minimum | | | | IB 401 | Introduction to Entomology | | | IB 405 | Evolution of Traits and Genomes | | | IB 407 | Plant Diversity and Evolution | | | IB 411 | Bioinspiration | | | IB 416 | Population Genetics | | | IB 420 | Plant Physiology | | | IB 421 | Photosynthesis | | | IB 426 | Env and Evol Physl of Animals | | | IB 431 | Behavioral Ecology | | | IB 432 | Genes and Behavior | | | IB 433 | Insect Physiology | | | IB 435 | Critical Evaluation of Herbal Remedies | | | IB 436 | Evolutionary Neuroscience | | | IB 438 | How Organisms Move | | | IB 439 | Biogeography | | | IB 440 | Plants and Global Change | | | IB 442 | Evolution of Infectious Disease | | | IB 444 | Insect Ecology | | | IB 451 | Conservation Biology | | | IB 452 | Ecosystem Ecology | | | IB 453 | Community Ecology | | | IB 461 | Ornithology | | | IB 462 | Mammalogy | | | IB 463 | Ichthyology | | | IB 464 | Herpetology | | | IB 467 | Principles of Systematics | | | IB 468 | Insect Classification and Evol | | | IB 471 | Fungal Diversity and Ecology | | | IB 476 | Environmental Remote Sensing | | | IB 478 | Advanced Plant Genetics | | | IB 479 | Plant Growth and Development | | | IB 481 | Vector-borne Diseases | | | IB 482 | Insect Pest Management | | | IB 484 | Paleoclimatology | | | IB 490 | Independent Study | | | IB 491 | | | | IB 494 | Theoretical Biology + Models | | | IB 496 | Special Courses | | | IB 497 | Science Communication | | | IB 499 | Discussions in Integrative Biology | | | IB 501 | Programming for Genomics | | | IB 502 | Biological Networks | | | IB 504 | Genomic Analysis of Insects | | | IB 505 | Bioinformatics & Systems Biol | | | IB 506 | Applied Bioinformatics | | | IB 512 | Plant Metabolomics | | | IB 513 | Plant Science Seminar | | | IB 516 | Ecosystem Biogeochemistry | | | IB 517 | Analysis of Biological Data in R | | | IB 524 | | | | IB 526 | Seminar in Entomology | | | IB 531 | Emerging Infectious Diseases | | | IB 532 | Sustainability & Global Change | | | IB 533 | Human Genome & Bioinformatics | | | IB 534 | Evolution and Medicine | | | IB 535 | Biology and Tech Innovation | | | IB 536 | Evolutionary Biology | | | IB 542 | Environmental Plant Physiology | | | IB 546 | Topics in Ecology & Evolution | | | IB 590 | Individual Topics | | | IB 592 | Career and Skill Development in Integrative Biology | | | Total Hours | | 32 |
Other Requirements
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Other requirements may overlap | | | | Minimum hours required at the 500-level in IB or EEB. | | 12 | | Minimum GPA | | 3.0 |
for the degree of Master of Science in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
- Design and implement independent research which integrates and applies core knowledge of evolution, ecology and/or behavior. MS students take course work that is relevant to their studies and design/execute experiments in those areas.
- Learn the rigorous statistical/analytical methods that typify their area of study. MS students are required to take a course in statistics and/or computational methods and apply those skills to their scientific studies.
- Write and publish research. MS students present their work in the form of written manuscripts that can be submitted to scientific journals. A typical MS thesis involves 1-2 publishable studies.
- Develop professional skills typical for researchers. Successful MS students learn how to use reference software and databases. They also learn about standards for the ethical practice of science. They often gain teaching and mentoring skills.
- Apply for grants to support their independent research. MS students often apply for small grants from both internal and external sources.
- Present research verbally at internal venues and at scientific conferences. MS students are required to present their work in a presentation (i.e., a talk) to the department.
for the degree of Master of Science in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
Head of Department: Dr. Becky Fuller\ Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Phil Anderson\ Director of Admissions Committee: Dr. Phil Anderson\ Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior News website\ Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior News faculty\ 515 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Avenue Urbana, IL 61801\ (217) 333-7801\ eeb@life.illinois.edu
Admissions
Overview of Grad College Admissions & Requirements