Wildlife and Fisheries Science Major, MS

Options Available

Thesis

Concentration (Optional)

Wildlife Health

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• 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 submit online application, application fee, official transcripts, and scores from the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Wildlife and Fisheries Science Major — Thesis

Credit Hours Required

30 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• WFS 500 - Thesis (6 credit hours)
• A minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate coursework selected in consultation with the major professor and/or guidance committee
• WFS 512 - Seminar in Wildlife and Fisheries Science (1 credit hour) taken twice for a total of 2 credit hours
• No more than 10 credit hours of the minimum 30 can be below the 500-level

Additional Course Requirements

• The committee may require additional coursework if the student’s progress or background indicates such need.

Non-Course Requirements

• 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.
• Prior to research for the thesis, the student is required to develop a detailed written research proposal.
• An oral examination covering the thesis and coursework is required.

Wildlife Health Concentration — Thesis

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.

Credit Hours Required

30 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• WFS 500 - Thesis (6 credit hours)
• WFS 512 - Seminar in Wildlife and Fisheries Science (1 credit hour) taken twice for a total of 2 credit hours
• No more than 10 credit hours of the minimum 30 can be below the 500-level
• A minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate coursework selected in consultation with the major professor and/or guidance committee to include:
• 9 credit hours must be from wildlife health-related courses including the following courses.
• WFS 501 - Ecology and Management of Wildlife Health
• WFS 530 - Wildlife Diseases
• WFS 531 - Wildlife Physiology and Nutrition

Additional Course Requirements

• The committee may require additional coursework if the student’s progress or background indicates such need.

Non-Course Requirements

• 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.
• Prior to research for the thesis, the student is required to develop a detailed written research proposal.
• An oral examination covering the thesis and coursework is required.