Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Master of Science
Department website: https://www.atu.edu/biosciences
The Master of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Science is offered for those who wish to pursue careers in various areas of fisheries or wildlife science, and for those who wish to obtain a graduate degree before continuing their education at the doctoral level. The Department of Biological Sciences offers the M.S. degree with a thesis or non-thesis option selecting a concentration of study in either fisheries or wildlife science.
Unconditional Admission
Students are eligible to apply for unconditional admission to the Master of Science degree program in Fisheries and Wildlife Science if they meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements for Graduate College.
- Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree in a biological science from an accredited university.
- Applicants must have completed courses in fisheries management or wildlife management, ecology, and statistics with a minimum grade of "C".
- Applicants must file scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in the Graduate College.
- Applicants must provide a letter of intent that addresses the applicant's interests, goals, and reasons for applying to the degree program
- Applicants must provide two (2) letters of recommendation, using the form provided by our Fisheries and Wildlife Science Program, from professors familiar with the applicant's academic ability.
- Approval from the Program Director.
Conditional Admission
Qualified students lacking one or more courses listed above may be accepted provided the deficiencies are made up without graduate credit. Applicants who fail to meet the grade point requirement specified for unconditional admission may be admitted conditionally and allowed to enroll for a maximum of twelve (12) semester hours. Following completion of twelve (12) semester hours, the student's GPA must reach 3.0.
Degree Requirements
Option 1: Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis Only Option | ||
| FW 6001 | Graduate Seminar in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology | 1 |
| FW 6002 | Research Methods I | 2 |
| FW 6012 | Research Methods II | 2 |
| FW 6013 | Population Dynamics | 3 |
| FW 6991 | Thesis Research (6 hours) 1 | 6 |
| MATH 5173 | Advanced Biostatistics | 3 |
| Approved 5000 or 6000 level elective courses | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
A written thesis and an oral defense of the research thesis must be approved by the advisory committee, the program director, and the Graduate College Dean. The topic of this thesis work is guided by a graduate advisor and the topic is approved by submitting a Graduate College form at or about the time of candidacy approval. Students will be required to enroll in an additional one credit hour of graduate coursework prior to their thesis defense if the thesis is not defended within one semester of completion of the coursework for the degree. For the purposes of this policy, summer is considered to be one semester.
- 2
No more than 15 credit hours at the 5000 level are permitted.
OPTION 2: Non-THESIS OPTION
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Thesis Only Option | ||
| FW 5163 | Biodiversity and Conservation Biology | 3 |
| FW 6001 | Graduate Seminar in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology | 1 |
| FW 6002 | Research Methods I | 2 |
| FW 6012 | Research Methods II | 2 |
| FW 6013 | Population Dynamics | 3 |
| FW 6033 | Conservation Management Practicum | 3 |
| FW 6043 | Conservation Research Practicum | 3 |
| FW 6101 | Comprehensive Exam | 1 |
| MATH 5173 | Advanced Biostatistics | 3 |
| Approved 5000 or 6000 level elective courses | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
No more than 18 credit hours at the 5000 level are permitted.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| EMHS 6033 | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| FW 5003 | Principles of Wildlife Management | 3 |
| FW 5014 | Forest Ecology and Management | 4 |
| FW 5024 | Limnology | 4 |
| FW 5034 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems Applications | 4 |
| FW 5064 | Wetland Ecology and Management | 4 |
| FW 5103 | Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife Management | 3 |
| FW 5881 | Advanced Topics | 1 |
| FW 6023 | Quantitative Fisheries Science | 3 |
Students who complete the program will demonstrate:
- Research skills: Graduates will be able to form testable hypotheses, conduct literature reviews, design an experiment to test a hypothesis, collect appropriate data to test a hypothesis, and make well-informed conclusions.
- Quantitative/Analytical Skills: Graduates will be able to identify data types, organize data in data management software, calculate appropriate estimates (abundance, survival, recruitment, etc.), and identify and perform appropriate statistical analysis.
- Communication: Graduates will be able to write a research proposal, develop a management plan (non-thesis) and/or write a thesis summarizing research results (thesis). Graduates should be able to organize and present a scientific presentation.
- Ecological Concepts: Graduates will understand the biology of wildlife or fisheries and articulate how ecological concepts affect wildlife and/or fisheries management.
- Professionalism: Graduates will understand ethics of scientific research and understand and abide by the standards of professionalism conduct as established by the American Fisheries Society or The Wildlife Society.