Master of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Management
The Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences
The Master of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Management
The Division of Forestry offers the Master of Science degree for students who wish to major in Wildlife and Fisheries Management. Students in this program prepare for professional positions as wildlife and fish biologists, wildlife and fisheries managers, planners and administrators of conservation programs, and other positions requiring a strong background in ecology. Nationally, this program has been on the leading edge of basic and applied research dealing with the ecology and management of natural resources during the past 15 years.
The faculty and graduates from this department are nationally recognized experts in their fields with strong records of scholarly works and external funding. Evidence of the strong national ranking for the Master of Science program is the 100% employment rate of graduates during the last decade. The goal of this program is to provide high quality education to the students while training them to become the biologists, managers, planners, and administrators that will be needed to ensure the future of wildlife and fisheries resources.
Division of Forestry
The WVU Division of Forestry is housed in Percival Hall on the Evansdale Campus, located close to the Evansdale Library and the new WVU Recreation Center. The Division has access to more than 10,000 acres of forestland for research and teaching, including the 8,000 acre University Research Forest located less than 20 minutes from the Evansdale campus. Research centers located in the Division of Forestry include: the Appalachian Hardwood Center and the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Resource Unit. These centers offer students the opportunity to work on applied research with professionals in allied industries.
Admission
Prospective students must apply for admission through the WVU Office of Admissions and Records and specify that they want to pursue a graduate degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management. Admission requirements are those of West Virginia University. Graduate Record Examination scores are required of all students who apply for admission to the master’s program, but no minimum score is required. All students applying for admission must provide three letters of recommendation and a statement of their future career goals.
Curriculum
Students must complete 30 hours of approved study, including a six-hour thesis of original research approved by the student’s committee members. Because students may major in Wildlife or Fisheries, there are no specific courses required for either degree option. All students are required to have competency in statistical analysis of data. The student, the major professor, and members of the graduate committee work together to plan the course of study tailored to the student’s individual career goals.
Course Work
Most students take courses including:
STAT 511: Research Methods 1 3 hours
STAT 512: Research Methods 2 3 hours
WMAN 536: Wetland Wildlife 3 hours
WMAN 633: Quantitative Ecology 3 hours
WMAN 512: Population Biology 3 hours
Customized degree options may include courses in Entomology, Fish Ecology and Management, Biology, Wildlife Management and Ecology, Geography (GIS), and other related courses.
Contact Us for Details
Administrative Office
(304) 293-2941, ext. 2471,
or via e-mail at
Learn more about these and
other Division of Forestry graduate programs by visiting the
Davis College Forestry website: www.forestry.caf.wvu.edu