*This program is eligible for the STEM OPT Extension.
Admission criteria
Application deadline: Rolling
- Minimum GPA: 3.2 undergraduate GPA for the last 60 hours of coursework
- Experience in research or management of natural resources. Practical skills are strongly considered.
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed online Graduate Application for Admission
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Program
All application materials must be submitted to the Graduate School online application system.
- A minimum of three letters of recommendation and the accompanying evaluation sheets from people who can attest to the candidate’s scholastic and conservation field work abilities
- Departmental application
- Written response to 1 of 5 questions listed on the Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Graduate Program Admissions page
- TOEFL scores (when applicable)
- Publications (optional)
- Resume or CV
We require applicants to contact specific faculty to determine the availability of research assistantships prior to applying to the program.
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. Minor deficiencies may be remedied during the graduate program; major deficiencies may require preparatory coursework prior to consideration for admission.
Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences 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.