Areas of Emphasis

Modern ecology is a large and exceptionally diverse field of study. While ecology originated as a subdiscipline in the biological sciences, the modern sense of ecology includes humans and human institutions, environmental management, and other elements that have increasingly extended the perspective of ecology into complex systems. Over the years, the Graduate Group in Ecology at the University of California, Davis (hereafter the GGE) has evolved to create opportunities for students to experience the breadth of the field. Yet, encompassing so much breadth carries the real danger of training that is too shallow.

The GGE has responded to the challenge by creating special interest groups called Areas of Emphasis (AOE). Ecology AOE's permit you to experience the breadth of ecology while concentrating upon the acquisition of the special skills you will need to be current in your field and competitive in the job market. Selection of an AOE is important because your admission will be evaluated by a faculty committee in your AOE.

Be sure to study the requirements and emphasis of each of the AOE's in the list carefully so that you find the one that best matches your interests. When you have done this, go on to study the list of ecology faculty. You will be required to have a major professor to gain admission, and the first step in finding one is in matching interests.