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The Graduate School at the University of Missouri–Columbia (Mizzou)

Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences Graduate Programs

Official Graduate Catalog Entry: To the Index
Contact Information
School of Natural Resources

Admission

Contact Information
  • 302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Bldg; Columbia, MO 65211
  • 573-882-8422
Graduate admission page

Admission Criteria

  • Fall deadline: Rolling
  • Minimum TOEFL score: 550/213 (paper/computer)
  • Minimum GRE score: 50th percentile or higher preferred on each of the three components, or min V+Q=1100
  • Minimum GPA: 3.0 in last 60 hours
  • Experience in research or management of natural resources. Practical skills are strongly considered.

Required Application Materials

  • To the on-line application system through the Office of the Graduate School (210 Jesse Hall; Columbia, MO 65211):
  • Submit to the department
    • 3 letters of recommendation from people who can attest to the candidate’s scholastic and conservation field work abilities.
    • Departmental application
    • Statement of purpose
    • GRE scores
    • Publications (optional)

An applicant contemplating graduate work in fisheries, limnology, conservation biology or wildlife should have a strong background in biological and physical sciences, including biology, botany, zoology, ecology, physiology and genetics. In addition, such taxonomic courses as plant taxonomy, invertebrate zoology, ichthyology, ornithology and mammalogy are highly desirable, as is a background in chemistry, mathematics, statistics and physics. A background of 25 to 30 hours in biological sciences courses is desirable. Deficiencies may be remedied during the graduate program.

Fisheries and wildlife degrees emphasize resource management at organismal, population or ecosystem scales. An emphasis on resource management helps distinguish our program from basic biology; therefore, course work in fisheries or wildlife management, environmental science, resource policy or other applied ecology fields is advantageous.

Funding

Fellowships, teaching and research assistantships are available for most applicants selected for admission.

Some programs require an extra form or statement from those who wish to be considered for internal assistantships, fellowships or other funding packages. Check the program Web site or ask the program contact for details.

About the Program

Graduate studies in fisheries, limnology, conservation biology or wildlife are designed to prepare students for careers with state and federal agencies, consulting firms, private conservation organizations or academic institutions.

Graduate Certificates

Graduate certificates in conservation biology and geographic information systems (GIS) are available to students who elect to take courses beyond those required for the graduate degree.

Facilities & Resources

In 1998, the Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Program moved into the Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building. This building provides space for faculty and graduate student offices in close proximity to well-equipped research and teaching laboratories, classrooms and computer facilities.

Baskett Wildlife Research and Education Center

The Thomas Baskett Wildlife Research and Education Area, formerly known as the Ashland Wildlife Research Area, is a 2,252-acre facility located five miles east of Ashland Missouri on Highway Y. In use since 1938, Baskett has become an integral part of the School of Natural Resources mission of teaching, research, and extension. The Baskette Wildlife Area is used as an outdoor laboratory for several classes including dendrology, ornithology, and wildlife research techniques, and has been the source of over 150 research publications. For more information see http://www.aes.missouri.edu/baskett/index.stm

Gaylord Memorial Wildlife Research Laboratory

The university is associated with the Gaylord Memorial Wildlife Research Laboratory near Puxico, Missouri. Located on the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Duck Creek Wildlife Area and next to the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, the laboratory is in the last of the Missouri swamps.

The Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

The Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit affiliated with the department is operated through a cooperative agreement among the University of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the United States Department of Interior. It is staffed with three Department of the Interior scientists who are members of the university faculty, offering graduate-level courses and directing graduate student research.

Vertebrate Collection

The School of Natural Resources also maintains an extensive teaching collection of the vertebrate animals of Missouri and surrounding states. The bird and mammal collections contain more than 7,000 specimens. The Glen Smart waterfowl collection consists of more than 200 species of mounted waterfowl of the world. The fish collection contains about 25,000 preserved specimens, including fishes from Missouri and the Midwest; saltwater fishes from the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts; and about 3,000 freshwater and saltwater fishes from Thailand.