Conservation Sciences Ph.D.

Three-quarters of the global ecosystem is water and most is a global commons. Many biologists and economists argue that freshwater is one of the most critical global resources and that the functional integrity and biodiversity within freshwater and marine ecosystems are highly threatened. The fisheries and aquatic biology (FAB) track is available for MS, PhD, and joint degree students wishing to emphasize this concentration within a CS major. The track name will be indicated on the student's transcript and may be useful to the graduate for obtaining jobs with many federal and state agencies where such expertise is specified in job announcements or hiring criteria. The track designation clearly indicates that the student has specialized coursework and research or project experience leading to expertise in fisheries or aquatic biology. Combined with a typical undergraduate degree in biology or natural resource science, careful selection of courses in the graduate program will satisfy the educational requirements for professional certification by the American Fisheries Society.

Students in the track must be advised or co-advised by a faculty member affiliated with the track. Request for admission to the track may be made during the application process or any time after the student is admitted to the CS graduate program. Students in the track must meet all requirements for the PhD in CS.

Students who designate this track will be expected to work closely with their Student Advisory Committee (SAC) to develop an appropriate course of study. The track coordinator will review each student's academic program to examine how track expectations are met and forward it with a recommendation to the director of graduate studies for approval.

The Wildlife Ecology and Management track is available for students wishing to emphasize this concentration within the conservation sciences degree. The track provides structure and oversight for students interested in the interface of population, species, and ecosystem biology with the disciplines of social sciences, education, and economics. The track name will be posted to the transcript, and may be useful to the graduate for obtaining jobs with many federal and state agencies where such expertise is specified in job announcements or hiring criteria. The track designation clearly indicates that the student has specialized coursework and research or project experience leading to expertise in wildlife ecology and management.

Students in the track must be advised or co-advised by a faculty member affiliated with the track. Requests for admission to the track may be made during the application process or at any time after the student is admitted to conservation sciences. Students in the track must meet all PhD degree requirements. Students who designate this track will be expected to work closely with their Student Advisory Committee (SAC) to develop an appropriate course of study. The track coordinator will review each student's academic program to examine how track expectations are met and forward it with a recommendation to the director of graduate studies for approval.

Students must register for CONS8095 in the semester they take written prelim exam.