Welcome!
Welcome to the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability (ESS)!
We are here to understand the world’s ecosystems and enhance our ability to manage our planet’s natural resources sustainably and thoughtfully.
The purpose of this handbook is to help ESS graduate students succeed at Colorado State University. All graduate students are expected to become familiar with policies, regulations, and requirements of the graduate program. Students are also responsible for adherence to policies outlined in the Graduate & Professional Bulletin and deadlines specified by the Graduate School.
Graduate School Resources
University Resources
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings: https://inclusiveexcellence.colostate.edu/trainings/
- Diversity, inclusion, & belonging module: https://inclusiveexcellence.colostate.edu/diversity-module/
- Sexual harassment awareness training: https://oeo.colostate.edu/sexual-harassment-awareness-training/
- Student Disability Center: https://disabilitycenter.colostate.edu
- Cultural and Resource Centers: https://inclusiveexcellence.colostate.edu/cultural-and-resource-centers/
- Adult Learner and Veteran Services: https://alvs.colostate.edu
- Women and Gender Advocacy Center: https://wgac.colostate.edu
- All gender restrooms: https://inclusivecampus.colostate.edu/all-gender-restrooms/
- Emergency text alert system: https://safety.colostate.edu/sign-up-for-emergency-alerts/
- Police department: 970-491-6425, https://police.colostate.edu
- SafeWalk service provided by campus service officers dusk to dawn: https://police.colostate.edu/safe-walk/
- Ride to request a safe ride on weekends: http://www.ramride.colostate.edu/
- Bicycle safety classes: https://www.fcgov.com/bicycling/trafficsafety.php
CSU offers several services and centers to help with research and writing:
- Information technology services: https://it.colostate.edu/services/
- Computer diagnostic services: https://lib.colostate.edu/technology/tech-support-computer-repair/
- Library resources: https://lib.colostate.edu
- Research integrity, safety, and compliance: https://www.research.colostate.edu/safety-and-compliance/
- Statistical consulting: https://statlab.colostate.edu
- Geospatial Centroid for spatial (GIS) modeling assistance: https://gis.colostate.edu
- Writing resources: Writing Center (https://writing.colostate.edu/index.cfm) and CSU Writes (https://csuwrites.colostate.edu)
- Off-Campus Life housing resources: https://ocl.colostate.edu
- Campus recreation: https://csurec.colostate.edu
- University Center for the Arts: https://uca.colostate.edu
- Parking and transportation services: https://pts.colostate.edu/students/
- Bicycle registration: https://police.colostate.edu/register-your-bike/
- FC Bikes: https://www.fcgov.com/bicycling/
- Public transit: http://www.ridetransfort.com
- City of Fort Collins: https://www.fcgov.com
- Downtown Fort Collins: https://downtownfortcollins.com
- Visit Fort Collins: https://www.visitftcollins.com/?locale=es-MX
- Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce: https://fortcollinschamber.com
- City of Fort Collins Natural Areas: https://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/
- Larimer County Parks: https://www.larimer.gov/naturalresources/parks
Application and Admission
Graduate applicants must be admitted by both the department and the Graduate School. The application and admission processes are described on the department’s application web site: https://warnercnr.colostate.edu/ecosystem-sustainability-apply/.
CSU’s application process and portal can be found here: https://graduateschool.colostate.edu/apply/
Recipients of MS degrees from the ESS Department who wish to continue in a PhD program must reapply to the Department. The application will consist of the student’s existing file plus a personal essay describing the PhD program the student wishes to pursue, and one or more letters of recommendation, including one from the student’s graduate advisor for the MS degree.
New Students
New students will find valuable information in the “Current Students” section of the Graduate School website. There are several things that new graduate students must do right away:
- Complete all steps in the ESS Graduate Onboarding Checklist
- Review important steps for newly admitted graduate students
- Establish Colorado Residency*
Registering for Classes
- You must first obtain your NetID before you can access You can obtain your NetID at this web site: https://netid.colostate.edu/.
- If you register on or after the first day of the semester, you will be charged a late registration fee of $50.
- Your class schedule is online and accessible at https://ramweb.colostate.edu/registrar/Public/Login.aspx
- You can also reference information on classes from this site: https://catalog.colostate.edu/general-catalog/
- Graduate-level courses are numbered 500 and Graduate students may count a certain number of courses at the 400-level towards their degree. Courses at the 100, 200, or 300-level will not count towards a graduate degree, although you may still enroll in them.
- Pay attention to the course pre-requisites when choosing and registering for These are guidelines to help you ensure you have the background needed to succeed in a course, but they do not affect your ability to register for a course. If you are unsure if your academic preparation is sufficient for a course, email the instructor to consult them on your preparedness.
- For courses with multiple required components (e.g., a lecture with a required lab and/or recitation), you must add all required components to your schedule at the same time. Trying to register for a lecture without the required lab will result in an error message.
- Variable credit courses require departmental approval and override. These include research credits, thesis and dissertation credits, independent study credits, group study credits, internship credits, and supervised college teaching If you attempt to register for these without a departmental override, you will be directed to obtain departmental permission. To get departmental permission, please email Academic Success Coordinator, Nikki.foxley@colostate.edu