Wildlife and Fisheries Science Major, MS

Admission

For admission, the student must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in forestry, wildlife, fisheries, or another natural resource area, or a professional degree in medicine (including veterinary medicine), or law. Applicants must take the general Graduate Record Examination with minimum scores required. Graduate Rating Forms or letters of recommendation from three individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic ability are required. The department has an application that must be submitted at the same time the online application is submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Requirements

A thesis is required in the wildlife and fisheries science major.

Thesis

• Prior to research for the thesis, the student is required to develop a detailed written research proposal. Registration for 6 hours of thesis (WFS 500 ) is required.
• A graduate committee of no fewer than three faculty members must be selected by the second semester of residence. At least one member must be from outside the department. In addition to the thesis requirement, a minimum of 24 hours of graduate course work is required. This work must be approved by the student’s committee and no more than 10 hours of the minimum 30 can be below the 500 level. The committee may require additional course work if the student’s progress or background indicates such need.
• All students are required to include WFS 512  Seminar, in their programs. This is required of each graduate student in residence fall or spring semester.
• An oral examination covering the thesis and course work is required.

Wildlife Health Concentration

The wildlife health concentration is designed to prepare students for wildlife health-related service and research careers in the public and private sectors, and to prepare students interested in pursuing further graduate and/or professional training. The same requirements as specified for the major hold for the concentration, with the additional stipulation that of the minimum of 24 hours of required graduate course work, at least 9 of the 24 hours must be from wildlife health-related courses.