The graduate curriculum in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at South Dakota State University began in 1957. This was before the Department was formed in 1963. Since our 2001 CSREES Review numerous changes have occurred in the curricula.

    Current graduate degrees available in the Department are the M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and the Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. The M.S. degree has a wildlife specialization and a fisheries specialization. The Ph.D. has no specializations.

    There are few specific core curriculum requirements for the M.S. degree, but some things are required. Each student is required to have 7 hours of Thesis (WL 798), 2 semesters of Graduate Seminar (WL 790), 2 semester hours of Independent Study  (WL 791), and a statistics course in their program. The number and content of other courses taken depends on student program needs. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences M.S. students must have a minimum of 34 semester hours in their Plan of Study. Each student is also expected to become proficient with computers. The student’s advisor and committee determine coursework. Beyond that, requirements generally follow those of the Graduate College.

    Students in the Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Ph.D. must all have in their 60 semester hour program (beyond the M.S. degree), 2 hours of WL 790 Graduate Seminar, 1 hour of Bios 890 Ph.D. Seminar, a 3 hour AHED 731 Principles of College Teaching course, and 30 semester hours of Dissertation (WL 898D). There are a few other requirements which can be found in the Department document "Information and Policies for Department Graduate Students." The remainder of the program is determined by the Ph.D. Advisory Committee.

    For more in-depth information on expectations go to the SDSU Graduate School Home Page and the Department's Information and Policies for Graduate Students portion of this Home Page.

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