Prepare for a career in ecology, environmental science, fisheries biology, lake management, research, wetland science and many related disciplines at SUNY Oneonta. Study at our one-of-a kind, 2,600-acre Biological Field Station on the shores of Otsego Lake. Choose from two Master of Science Programs: Biology or Lake Management.
The vast majority of our alumni (> 95%) successfully find employment in fields directly related to biological sciences and natural resources or continue on to Ph.D. programs, and most students have offers prior to graduation.
M.S. Biology Program
SUNY Oneonta’s M.S. Biology program will expand your depth of knowledge, apply content learned at the undergraduate level and engage you in state-of-the-art research techniques. You can choose either the Thesis Track – to prepare for doctoral studies or specialized careers – or the Non-Thesis Track – for future teachers in secondary schools and two-year colleges or those seeking a broad understanding of biology.
M.S. Lake Management Program
SUNY Oneonta’s M.S. in Lake Management trains students to become effective water resource management professionals. Our innovative program blends scientific training in aquatic biology, limnology and quantitative skills with professional training in project design, management and reporting in a real-life setting, working with lake stakeholders directly or with established lake management professionals.
Choose from two Lake Management Program tracks:
Program Details
- Biology: Spring, Summer or Fall
- Lake Management: Fall
1.5 Years
In Person
Rolling: Apply anytime
- Biology: Spring, Summer or Fall
- Lake Management: Fall
1.5 Years
In Person
Rolling: Apply anytime
Tuition Cost
New York State Resident
- Non-thesis Option (30 credits): $14,130
- Thesis Option (32 credits): $15,072
Out-of-State Resident
- Non-thesis option (30 credits): $29,640
- Thesis Option (32 credits): $31,616
Housing is available on the SUNY Oneonta campus on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to undergraduate students, but most graduate students find off-campus housing in the Cooperstown area. See the full tuition and fees cost breakdown by credit hour.
Financial Aid
A limited number of Teaching Assistantships are available and may include tuition waivers and/or stipends. Submit a complete application for admission by March 1 to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship.
In addition, students enrolled in the M.S. Lake Management Thesis Option will be automatically eligible for a $10,000 stipend for each of the two years, funded by sponsoring lake associations and The Scriven Foundation.
Straight From Our Students
Having real-world, applicable skills that is literally just kind of your homework assignment that you can then take to your next job is really what kind of sealed the deal for me.”
The faculty and staff are really fun people to work with. I have great relationships with a lot of people, and I feel like if I was at a bigger school, I would be just a number, not a person.”
Career Opportunities
How to Apply
- Submit your 2026 graduate application and the $50 non-refundable application fee.
- Submit an official transcript of an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in a functionally related area. For MS Lake Management: you must have achieved an undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 or better in your major. For MS Biology: you must have at least 25 semester hours in biology. If you cannot meet this requirement, you may still be admitted on the condition that undergraduate deficiencies be made up.
- Submit three letters of recommendation. For Thesis Track Applicants: one letter must be from a member of the SUNY Oneonta biology faculty willing to serve as your thesis advisor. For assistance finding a SUNY Oneonta thesis/graduate advisor, complete our Get Connected with an Advisor form.
- For MS Biology only: Submit a written statement explaining your purpose/goal for seeking the degree
Attend an Information Session
Designed for Biology and Lake Management inquiries and applicants, information sessions cover the programs and application process and are conducted by a faculty member and moderated by a member from our Graduate Admissions team.
Contact
Admission and Application
Welcome Center
108 Ravine Parkway
Oneonta, NY 13820
United States