Wildlife Biology

Wildlife Biology Master of Science Curriculum Coordinator: Jessica Faux, Ph.D.

The Master of Science in Wildlife Biology prepares students to be future leaders and educators in government agencies, academia, and private conservation organizations. The program applies the highest standards in science, communication, and collaboration to train future wildlife professionals.

Program Goals Thesis Track

• Specific content knowledge • Training in specific laboratory skills and technology and any safety requirements associated with those endeavors • Instruction on how to manipulate data mathematically • Opportunity for a mentored research project • Guidance on how to evaluate and articulate the outcome, orally and/or in writing, of research and laboratory experiments

Program Goals Non-Thesis Track

• Specific content knowledge • Training in specific laboratory skills and technology and any safety requirements associated with those endeavors • Instruction on how to manipulate data mathematically • Guidance on how to evaluate and articulate the outcome, orally and/or in writing, of research and laboratory experiments

Program Format

The Master of Science in Wildlife Biology will be delivered in an in-person format and/or synchronous remote format. An in-person summer residency will be required to fulfill the lab and research components of the program. Fall and spring semester courses are delivered in a 15-week format.

Program Prerequisites

Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree (any major) from a regionally accredited college or university with an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher, including the following undergraduate coursework: General Biology 6 to 8 credits General Chemistry 6 to 8 credits Mathematics 6 to 8 credits, including a statistics and a calculus course Additional Botany, Ecology, and Evolution courses preferred.

Tuition

$650 per credit.

Schedule

The Graduate cohort program will operate on a 15-week session with students completing 9 credits of study per session.

Contact Information

For specific program and curriculum questions contact Dr. Jessica Faux, coordinator of the program at

Application

Keystone College accepts students to the MS in Wildlife Biology program for fall, spring, and summer terms.

In addition to the application materials required for all master’s applicants, applicants to the MS in Wildlife Biology program must also provide: • Three letters of recommendation, including one from a science faculty member • Statement of purpose • Resume

Course Requirements

BIOL 5100 - Scientific Writing and Communication BIOL 5175 - Ecology of Wildlife Populations BIOL 5190 - Population Dynamics BIOL 5240 - Game Management MATH 5150 - Statistics and Research Ecology and Organismal Biology Elective Ecology and Organismal Biology Elective Ecology and Organismal Biology Elective or Environmental and Physical Science Elective Animal and Natural Resource Management Elective Animal and Natural Resource Management Elective or Environmental and Physical Science Elective

And choose Thesis or Non-Thesis Track

Thesis Track

BIOL 6810 - Biological Thesis Research I (Under development) BIOL 6910 - Biological Thesis Research II (Under development)

Non-Thesis Track

Analytical Tools, Research, and Statistical Analysis Elective Ecology and Organismal Biology Elective

Ecology and Organismal Biology BIOL 5150 - Stream Ecology BIOL 5160 - Forest Ecology BIOL 5170 - Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Zoology BIOL 5200 - Microbial Ecology BIOL 5210 - Animal Behavior BIOL 5215 - Mammalogy BIOL 5220 - Ornithology BIOL 5225 - Ichthyology BIOL 5230 - Herpetology BIOL 5235 - Wetland and Riparian Ecology

Animal and Natural Resource Management BIOL 5180 - Fish Management and Culture BIOL 5185 - Natural Resources Policy and Management BIOL 5195 - Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation BIOL 5245 - Conservation Biology

Environmental and Physical Sciences BIOL 5165 - Environmental Toxicology BIOL 5250 - Limnology BIOL 5255 - Soils Science

Analytical Tools, Research, and Statistical Analysis Elective BIOL 5260 - Geospatial Methods in Resource Management