Systems ecology is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of ecological systems that focuses on interactions and transactions within and among biological systems. Systems ecology recognizes the strongly interactive role that humans play affecting most of the earth's ecosystems. 

This master's and PhD program plays a vital role in developing fundamental, interdisciplinary understanding of interactions of physical, chemical and biological factors affecting ecological systems across spatial and temporal scales and the factors affecting coupled natural and human systems.

Systems Ecology focuses on transdisciplinary approaches to understanding ecological systems and fosters faculty and graduate students who desire to synthesize that understanding across multiple scales ranging from genes to ecosystems and minutes to millennia while coupling the natural and cultural sciences. 

This graduate program is jointly administered by the College of Forestry and Conservation and the College of Humanities and Sciences.