Advanced Inquiry Program

A Master’s degree gained through the lens of inquiry…that leads to meaningful conservation outcomes.

Ignite Ecological & Social Change While Earning Your Master's Degree

Pursue your passion with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Bronx Zoo while you earn your master’s online from Miami University through the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP). Created for working professionals, the AIP is a one-of-a-kind master’s program that immerses students in collaborative inquiry and action as they champion change. Through web-based coursework from Miami and face-to-face experiential learning and field study at the Bronx Zoo or other Wildlife WCS facilities, you will connect with classmates, Miami University faculty, WCS experts, and community leaders locally, nationally, and globally.

The AIP is designed for students from a range of backgrounds and career stages. With professional and academic mentoring and self-designed Master Plans, students adapt their degree path to fit their interests in fields such as community-engaged conservation, inquiry-driven education, environmental justice, learning across K-12 and informal settings, animal care and welfare, green business innovation, climate change, urban ecology, human-nature relationships, environmental restoration, and public engagement in science.

An unprecedented network of premier public zoos and botanical gardens across the United States and conservation organizations worldwide have joined together to support the AIP. This extraordinary learning collaborative, the largest of its kind, fosters groundbreaking ideas, collaborations, professional connections, and study opportunities. AIP students have the option of integrating an Earth Expeditions field course at a global field site into their degree path. The AIP is overseen by Project Dragonfly, an education reform initiative located within the department of biology at Miami University.

Eligibility

Enrollment is open to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree regardless of academic major or profession. Students should have internet access and be able to attend in-person experiential learning days at the Bronx Zoo or other Wildlife WCS facilities. For more information, visit Miami University’s AIP overview page.

Details

Students can enroll in either a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in the biological sciences for formal K-12 teachers or a Master of Arts (MA) in biology for all other professionals. The MAT does not confer a teaching license. All courses are delivered online by a Miami University instructor. Two-thirds of AIP courses also include experiential learning on grounds at the Bronx Zoo or other WCS facility and in and around the New York City region. Miami University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

For more info or to apply