Wildlife (WLDP)
Ph.D Renewable Natural Resources
The demand for graduates in all environmental fields is likely to accelerate over the next 5-10 years with widespread retirements by biologists, managers, and administrators trained and hired during the 1970s and 1980s. Several federal agencies have predicted turnover of 30-60% of their personnel during the coming decade, and we are confident job opportunities for our graduates will increase, as will demand for our graduate program.
Our degree program has students continue knowledge-based learning in graduate classes, but much of a student’s effort is focused on learning the scientific method and problem solving by completing research on a topic that they select with input from their graduate advisor. Recent students have worked on the breeding biology of northern pintails, white-tailed deer nutrition, describing the unique ecology of tropical forests in Peru, evaluating reintroduction methods for endangered black bears, assessing restoration of coastal marsh, and dozens of other exciting projects. Prospective students are urged to contact faculty members whose research addresses resources and issues that the student hopes to study. Below are the requirements for students seeking a Doctor of Philosophy in Renewable Natural Resources with an area of concentration in Wildlife.
The Wildlife AOC will require a minimum of 15 hours of coursework in addition to the general 9-hour requirement for all Ph.D. students in the School. The following courses, or demonstration to the student’s graduate committee of proficiency in one or more of these courses from previous coursework and experience, are required, and may be included in the 15 hours required for this AOC:
| Course | Credit Hours | Course Title |
|---|---|---|
| RNR 7006 | 3 | Behavioral Ecology |
| RNR 7013 | 3 | Wildlife Population Dynamics |
| RNR 7016 | 3 | Current Topics and Techniques in Conservation Science |
| RNR 7007 | 3 | Natural Resources Policy: History; Issues, & Persistent Problems |
Depending on prior coursework and experience, additional courses will be required to satisfy the 34-hour course requirement for the Ph.D. degree. The 34-hour total may include no more than 6 hours of RNR 7029 (Advanced Topics in Renewable Natural Resources). Additional courses required for each student’s program of study will be determined by the graduate committee. These courses will typically be selected from the list below, but may include other courses with committee approval.
| Course | Credit Hours | Course Title |
|---|---|---|
| RNR 4013 | 4 | Ecology and Management of Wetland Wildlife |
| RNR 4023 | 3 | Marine Fisheries Resources |
| RNR 4039 | Biology of Fishes | |
| RNR 4103 | 3 | Conservation Genetics |
| RNR 4107 | 3 | Human Dimensions in Natural Resources |
| RNR 4900 | 3 | Watershed Hydrology |
| RNR 7011 | 3 | Mammalian Ecology and Management |
| RNR 7012 | 3 | Ecology and Management of Waterfowl |
| RNR 7015 | 3 | Ecology and Management of Upland Birds |
| RNR 7017 | 4 | Restoration and Management of Wetland Function |
| RNR 7029 | Advanced Topics in Renewable Natural Resources | |
| RNR 7036 | 3 | Natural Resource Biometrics and Management |
| BIOL 4141 | 4 | Mammalogy |
| BIOL 4142 | 4 | Ornithology |
| BIOL 4145 | 4 | Ichthyology |
| BIOL 4146 | 4 | Herpetology |
| BIOL 7001 | Tropical Ecology | |
| BIOL 7080 | 3 | Population Ecology |
| BIOL 7083 | 3 | Community Ecology |
| BIOL 7120 | 3 | Marine Ecology |
| EXST 7024 | Biological Population Statistics I | |
| EXST 7025 | 3 | Biological Population Statistics II |
| EXST 7035 | Applied Least Squares | |
| EXST 7036 | 3 | Categorical Data Analysis |
| EXST 7037 | 3 | Multivariate Statistics |