Course Requirements

The Conservation Sciences curriculum recognizes that the field of conservation sciences require a multidisciplinary approach. It is designed to give students the scope to develop individualized programs that span the full range of disciplines needed to accomplish conservation goals. To understand the complex array of biological, economic and social dimensions of conservation, a core course is required for all students during the first semester. While taking the core course, students will develop graduate degree programs to fit their individual needs and participate in a required seminar course that focuses on understanding the interdisciplinary nature of the program.

The program assumes that students will enter with undergraduate training that satisfies all the prerequisites for the required graduate coursework in one of the many academic dimensions of conservation sciences. Those entering without an appropriate background in biology will be expected to complete the necessary prerequisites early in their graduate program. At a minimum, students will be expected to have an advanced undergraduate level course in general ecology. This deficiency needs to be remedied in the first year of a student's program.

Expand all

Master of Science CS track requirements

  1. Core course, FW8452 - Conservation Sciences - 3 credits
  2. Two semesters of Seminar, CONS 8001 - Conservation Biology - 2 credits
  3. Statistics or Quantitative course - 3 credits (minimum)
  4. Electives - Relevant graduate level courses tailored to individual career goals in conservation - 12 credits (minimum)
  5. MS Plan A - CONS 8777 - Thesis - 10 credits
  6. MS Plan B - Additional elective courses in consultation with SAC - 10 cr (minimum)

Master of Science FAB track requirements

  1. Core course, FW8452 - Conservation Biology - 3 credits
  2. Two semesters of Seminar, CONS 8001 - Conservation Sciences - 2 credits
  3. Statistics or Quantitative course - 3 credits (minimum)
  4. FAB required course - minimum of six credits from a list below - 6 credits
    1. EEB 5601 Limnology 3 cr
    2. ENT 5361 Aquatic Insects 3 cr
    3. EPSM 5061 Water Quality and Natural Resources 3 cr
    4. EPSM 5111 Hydrology and Water Quality Field Methods 3 cr
    5. EPSM 5575 Wetlands Conservation 3 cr
    6. FR 5114 Hydrology and Watershed Management 3 cr
    7. FR 5153 Forest and Wetland Hydrology 3 cr
    8. FW 4107 Principles of Fisheries Science and Management 3 cr
    9. FW 5051 Analysis of Populations 4 cr
    10. FW 5136 Ichthyology 4 cr
    11. FW 5401 Fish Physiology and Behavior 3 cr
    12. FW 5459 Stream and River Ecology 3 cr
    13. FW 5601 Fisheries Population Analysis or (FW 5051) 3 cr
  5. Electives - Relevant graduate level courses in Fisheries & Aquatic Biology - 6 credits (minimum)
  6. MS Plan A - CONS 8777 - Thesis - 10 credits
  7. MS Plan B - Additional elective courses in consultation with SAC - 10 credits (minimum)

Master of Science WEM track requirements

  1. Core course, FW8452 - Conservation Biology - 3 credits 
  2. Two semesters of Seminar, CONS 8001 - Conservation Sciences - 2 credits
  3. Statistics or Quantitative course  - 3 credits (minimum)
  4. Electives - Relevant graduate level courses in Wildlife Ecology & Management - 12 credits (minimum)
  5. MS Plan A - CONS 8777 - Thesis - 10 credits
  6. MS Plan B - Additional elective courses in consultation with SAC - 10 credits (minimum)

Doctor of Philosophy CS track requirements

  1. Core course, FW8452 - Conservation Biology - 3 credits 
  2. Three semesters of Seminar, CONS 8001 - Conservation Sciences - 3 credits
  3. Statistics or Quantitative course - 3 credits (minimum)
  4. Written prelim preparation course, CONS 8095 - 1 credit
  5. Electives - Relevant graduate level courses tailored to individual career goals in conservation - 14 credits (minimum)
  6. Thesis, CONS 8888 - Doctoral thesis - 24 credits

Note: Although Doctoral students can not register for CONS 8888 until they pass written and oral preliminary exams, they may request for an early thesis registration when following requirements have been met:

  1. 1-year of courses work completed.
  2. Approved GPAS degree program on their student record.
  3. A thesis proposal (1-2 pages) approved by the advisor submitted to the Program Coordinator

Doctor of Philosophy FAB track requirements

  1. Core course, FW8452 - Conservation Biology - 3 credits 
  2. Three semesters of Seminar, CONS 8001 - Conservation Sciences - 3 credits
  3. Statistics or Quantitative course - 3 credits (minimum)
  4. Written prelim preparation course, CONS 8095 - 1 credit
  5. FAB required course - minimum of eight credits from a list below - 8 credits
    1. EEB 5601 Limnology 3 cr
    2. ENT 5361 Aquatic Insects 3 cr
    3. EPSM 5061 Water Quality and Natural Resources 3 cr
    4. EPSM 5111 Hydrology and Water Quality Field Methods 3 cr
    5. EPSM 5575 Wetlands Conservation 3 cr
    6. FR 5114 Hydrology and Watershed Management 3 cr
    7. FR 5153 Forest and Wetland Hydrology 3 cr
    8. FW 4107 Principles of Fisheries Science and Management 3 cr
    9. FW 5051 Analysis of Populations 4 cr
    10. FW 5136 Ichthyology 4 cr
    11. FW 5401 Fish Physiology and Behavior 3 cr
    12. FW 5459 Stream and River Ecology 3 cr
    13. FW 5601 Fisheries Population Analysis or (FW 5051) 3 cr
  6. Electives - Relevant graduate level courses in Fisheries & Aquatic Biology - 6 credits (minimum)
  7. Thesis, CONS 8888 - Doctoral thesis - 24 credits

Note: Although Doctoral students can not register for CONS 8888 until they pass written and oral preliminary exams, they may request for an early thesis registration when following requirements have been met:

  1. 1-year of courses work completed.
  2. Approved GPAS degree program on their student record.
  3. A thesis proposal (1-2 pages) approved by the advisor submitted to the Program Coordinator.

Doctor of Philosophy WEM track requirements

  1. Core course, FW8452 - Conservation Biology - 3 credits
  2. Three semesters of Seminar, CONS 8001 - Conservation Sciences - 3 credits 
  3. Statistics or Quantitative course - 3 credits (minimum)
  4. Written prelim preparation course, CONS 8095 - 1 credit
  5. Electives - Relevant graduate level courses in Wildlife Ecology & Management - 14 credits (minimum)
  6. Thesis, CONS 8888 - Doctoral thesis - 24 credits

Note: Although Doctoral students can not register for CONS 8888 until they pass written and oral preliminary exams, they may request for an early thesis registration when following requirements have been met:

  1. <1-year of courses work completed.
  2. Approved GPAS degree program on their student record.
  3. A thesis proposal (1-2 pages) approved by the advisor submitted to the Program Coordinator.

Minor in Conservation Sciences requirements

A minor for Master’s Plan A and Plan B students in other programs may be earned by completing the core course (FW 8452), one semester of the CS seminar (CONS 8001) and three credits of electives. 

A PhD minor for students in other graduate programs may be obtained by completing the core course (FW 8452), participating in two semesters of the CS seminar (CONS 8001), and taking seven credits of electives approved by the CS DGS.