Most graduates with an M.S. in Wildlife accept initial jobs as biologists/managers with government agencies that oversee the stewardship of wildlife resources – especially the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (and other similar state agencies), Department of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, and the like. A growing segment of graduates have taken jobs as private environmental consultants or work for non-governmental agencies. Recent graduates took jobs with The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Rifle Association, just to name a few such NGOs. Our degree program, like most M.S. degrees in Natural Resources, 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 whose research addresses resources and issues that the student hopes to study.

Wildlife Faculty

Alan D.Afton	avian behavioral ecology and bioenergetics, ecological aspects of avian migration, waterfowl ecology and management
Michael Chamberlain	wildlife management, geographic information systems
Sammy L. King	wetland ecology, Forested wetlands, wetland habitat management, wetland wildlife
J. Andrew Nyman	wetland wildlife management, wetland ecology, coastal marsh management
Frank C. Rohwer	avian ecology, reproductive ecology, wildlife ecology, conservation/population biology
Philip C. Stouffer	avian ecology, conservation biology, tropical ecology, community ecology

Coursework

The minimum requirement for the Master's degree is 30 semester hours of graduate credit, although most students will accumulate significantly more credit hours before completing degree requirements. The 30-hour requirement includes 6 semester hours of thesis research and 24 hours in coursework, 9 hours of which must be at or above the 7000 level. Graduate credit is not allowed for courses numbered below 4000 or for correspondence courses. The minimum standard for grades in courses completed for the degree is a 3.0 average with no grade below "C."
Up to 9 hours of coursework completed at another institution, or during post-baccalaureate work at LSU, can be transferred and applied to the coursework requirement. Transfer credit can not be used for the 7000-level course requirement.

Programs for the Master's degree must be completed within five years of entrance into the program.

Course Schedule form for Master of Science Students in Forestry, Wildlife, or Fisheries

M.S. Program in Wildlife- required courses:

EXST 7005 - Statistical Techniques 1 (4 hrs)

RNR 7001 - Research Methodology (3 hrs; to be taken in the first semester it is available to the student)

RNR 7072 - Seminar (1 hr; two semesters required)

The advisory committee will determine whether a student can demonstrate adequate knowledge or needs additional coursework in the areas of wildlife population dynamics, wetlands habitat management, or uplands habitat management.

For more information refer to our Graduate Handbook
To request an application package, contact:

D. Allen Rutherford

Director, Professor and Coordinator of Graduate Studies and Research