Graduate Degree Information
Graduate Degrees
- MS or PhD in Biological Sciences
- MS in Fish and Wildlife Management
- PhD in Ecology and Environmental Sciences (Intercollege)
- PhD in Fish and Wildlife Biology
All applicants must have a faculty sponsor prior to applying. Applications without a faculty sponsor will be auto-denied.
M.S. in Biological Sciences
The M.S. in Biological Sciences covers a broad array of ecological topics and serves the needs of students whose thesis research addresses basic, fundamental ecological principles or of those conducting applied research not involving fish or wildlife management. It may be a terminal degree leading to professional employment as an ecologist, but may also lead to a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences or other discipline. Coursework associated with this degree tends to emphasize fundamental principles of ecology.
M.S. in Fish & Wildlife Management
The M.S. in Fish & Wildlife Management serves the needs of students whose thesis research addresses an applied fish or wildlife management problem. It may be a terminal degree leading to professional employment as a fisheries or wildlife biologist, but may also lead to a Ph.D. in Fish & Wildlife Biology or other discipline. Coursework associated with this degree tends to emphasize applied fish and wildlife management.
Ph.D. in Biological Sciences
The Ph.D. in Biological Sciences covers a broad array of ecological topics and serves the needs of students whose dissertation research addresses basic, fundamental ecological principles or of those conducting applied research not involving fish or wildlife management. It serves the interests of students primarily interested in research careers in federal or state agencies or in academic careers in ecology departments. Coursework associated with this degree tends to emphasize fundamental principles of ecology.
Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences
The Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences was developed jointly by the Departments of Ecology and Land Resources & Environmental Sciences as a broad interdisciplinary Ph.D. program open to graduate students in several departments in the Colleges of Letters & Science and Agriculture. Other participating departments include Animal and Range Sciences, Earth Sciences, Microbiology and Immunology, Plant Science and Plant Pathology, and the College of Nursing. For more information about this degree program, see the Ecology and Environmental Sciences website.
Ph.D. in Fish & Wildlife Biology
The Ph.D. in Fish & Wildlife Biology serves the needs of students whose dissertation research addresses an applied fish or wildlife management problem. It serves the interests of students primarily interested in research careers in federal or state fish and wildlife agencies or in academic careers in fish and wildlife departments. Coursework associated with this degree tends to emphasize applied fish and wildlife management. Read more about the Fish and Wildlife Management Program.
For all programs, the full program of study is determined by the graduate committee during the second or third semester of attendance. You can review the program requirements in the Ecology Department Graduate Handbook.
The Ecology Department does not offer online degree programs.