Program Overview
This combined degree program offers a comprehensive education in biology and ecology, with a focus on practical applications and real-world environmental challenges. Students engage in hands-on research in Costa Rica's diverse ecosystems, culminating in both a BS in Biology from Pace University and an MSc in Ecology and Society from the University for Peace. The program prepares graduates for careers in ecology, conservation, and sustainability, as well as further studies in PhD programs or professional schools.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This unique combined degree program allows students to build a strong foundation in biology through Pace University's BS in Biology program before embarking on the MSc in Ecology and Society, an immersive graduate program at the University for Peace in Costa Rica. The program aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of ecological theory, analysis, and practical applications to develop solutions for real-world environmental challenges. Students will engage in hands-on research in one of the world's most diverse ecological landscapes, culminating in the completion of both degrees in just five years.
Teaching:
The program features robust research opportunities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, conducted alongside internationally recognized biology and ecology scientists.
Careers:
The combined degrees, along with the international connections students will develop, open doors to diverse career opportunities in growing and in-demand fields. These opportunities encompass jobs at the local, national, and international levels in both the public and private sectors. Graduates also have the option to pursue further studies in PhD programs, law school, or medical school. Potential career paths include:
- Ecological scientists
- Foresters
- Conservation scientists
- Natural resource and wildlife managers
- Recreation managers
- Environmental assessment scientists
- Sustainability scientists
- City planners
- Public school or college science educators
Other:
The program emphasizes hands-on research experiences, with undergraduate students given the chance to conduct independent laboratory research at a level typically reserved for graduate students. The graduate portion of the program culminates in a professional-level thesis involving immersive, on-location study in unique field sites in Costa Rica, such as the Osa Peninsula, the Monteverde Cloud Forest region, the Maquenque National Refuge, the numerous managed forests near the University, and the campus's own forest. The program is taught entirely in English.
