Admissions Process

M.S. Degree: Biological Sciences, ecology or other related area

Minimum M.S. GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

GRE: None

GMAT: None

TOEFL: See graduate college requirements (International Students Only)

Faculty Sponsorship Letter: Required

Academic Records / Transcripts: Yes

Letters of Recommendation: Three (3)

Completed Coursework: coursework equivalent to an M.S. in biological sciences

PhD Degree Requirements

72 credits total  |  36 credits of coursework  |  30 credits of research

Coursework includes:

• Two quantitative courses, including:
  • Statistics 5101 (Statistical Methods for Data Analysis)
  • An additional 3 credit hours in a 5000-level STAT course, AECL 6110 (Analysis of Populations), or similar seminar, special studies, or experimental quantitative courses approved by the student’s Committee and Director of Graduate Education (DOGE)
• One course from the following:
  • WFCE 5160 (Avian Ecology)
  • WFCE 5310 (Conservation Biology)
  • WFCE 5510 (Wildlife Behavioral Ecology)
  • WFCE 5890 (Population Ecology)
  • WFCE 5540 (Principles of Wildlife Disease)
• PhD students should complete another 6 credit hours in courses offered by the NREM department
• 7 credit hours must be taken from courses outside the NREM Department.
• In addition to the above requirements, graduate students are strongly encouraged to develop competency in plant ecology. Federal employment as a wildlife biologist and professional certification by The Wildlife Society both require 9 credit hours in plant sciences at either the undergraduate or graduate level. We also strongly encourage students to take at least 1 course in the area of natural resource policy, administration, or human dimensions.

Funding

Since faculty sponsorship is required to be admitted into our MS or PhD programs, most students will receive an assistantship (research or teaching) to help cover the costs of their program. Doctorate Degree students with an assistantship can expect to receive:

• A monthly stipend
• Healthcare benefits
• 100% of tuition remission
• Discounted mandatory fees

View All Funding Opportunities

Interdepartmental Graduate Majors

Students may also select interdepartmental graduate majors in 

• Biorenewable Resources Technology
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Environmental Science
• Genetics
• Plant Biology
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Toxicology