General Graduate Program Requirements

Graduate School policies and standards can be found on the Graduate School Policies page. 

The minimum GPA for any graduate program is 3.0. Individual programs may require more than a 3.0 to remain in good standing. 

The minimum grade for a course to be accepted toward any requirement is C. Individual programs may require higher grades for specific courses.

MASTER OF SCIENCE - WILDLIFE BIOLOGY

• Students in the Master of Science in Wildlife Biology must complete at least 30 graduate semester credits. The only required course for all is two semesters of WILD 594. Other courses are to be determined by the student, his/her faculty advisor, and graduate committee. The program limits course requirements to allow students to maximize the relevance of their degree coursework to their personal research interests.
• At least 20 credits in coursework (not including thesis or research credits) with at least half (minimum 10 credits) of the 20 coursework credits must be taken at the 500-level or above. 
• This degree requires the demonstration of distinguished scholarship in a thesis based on original and creative work. It is not granted merely as a certificate of faithful performance of a prescribed program of studies and research. This degree is designed to provide an opportunity for students to receive specialized education in fish and wildlife ecology. It involves investigation and analysis of scientific, technical, or managerial subjects.

Thesis and Professional Paper Options

Students must complete one of the following options:

Thesis Option

• No more than 10 of the credits can be research/thesis credits. 
• Of the remaining 20 course credits, at least half must be at the 500-level or above.
• The thesis option includes:
  • A research statement – a short written description of preliminary research ideas.
  • A research proposal – a formal research proposal presenting the conceptual and empirical framework of the research.
  • A thesis - a written paper, seminar, and defense.

Professional Paper Option

• Students require the approval of the faculty to be allowed to complete this option. 
• No more than 10 of the credits can be research/thesis credits. 
• Of the remaining 20 course credits, at least half must be at the 500-level or above.
• The professional paper option includes:
  • An objective statement – a short written description of preliminary concepts/ideas of the professional paper.
  • A project proposal – a formal workplan presenting the conceptual framework of the professional paper. 
  • A professional paper – a written paper, seminar, and defense

Course Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Graduate Seminar
Complete the following course:
WILD 594	Graduate Seminar in Wildlife Biology (two semesters)	2
Electives, Research, and Thesis or Professional Paper Options
Complete 28 credits selected in consultation with your advisor.		28
Total Hours		30