Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Master of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (M.F.W.C.B.)

Gain the knowledge and skills to confidently design, review, and interpret studies and communicate their results in order to arrive at informed decisions related to natural resource management.

Coursework will provide students with an advanced knowledge in ecology and conservation of fish and wildlife and develop competencies in:

• Population ecology, sampling, and advanced quantitative/statistical methods.
• Wildlife habitat management strategies.
• Current issues in fish, wildlife, and conservation biology such as maintaining biodiversity, endangered species management, and potential impacts of climate change on species management.
• Effective strategies for conservation decision making including stakeholder identification, communication, and conflict resolution.
• Understanding human/wildlife interactions from animal damage and zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza and West Nile virus.

Curriculum

The master's in fish, wildlife, and conservation biology requires completion of 30 credits, including 21 credits of required core coursework and 9 credits of electives. This is a coursework-only degree and does not require completion of a thesis.

• Up to 9 credits may be taken before formal admission to the program.
• 24 credits must be earned from Colorado State University, 21 of which must be earned after formal admission.
• Course substitutions may be possible with approval of the Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Department

Required Courses

• FW 551 – Design of Fish and Wildlife Studies (3 cr.)
• FW 552 – Applied Sampling for Wildlife/Fish Studies (3 cr.)
• FW 555 – Conservation Biology (3 cr.)
• FW 562 – Fish and Wildlife Population Dynamics (3 cr.)
• FW 564 – Science of Managing Human-Wildlife Conflicts (3 cr.)
• FW 577 – Management of Wildlife Habitat (3 cr.)
• FW 578 – Conservation Decision Making/Adaptive Management (3 cr.)
• NR 515 – Natural Resources Policy and Biodiversity (3 cr.)

Electives

Students choose at least 9 credits from the following elective courses:

• FW 544 – Ecotoxicology (3 cr.)
• FW 558 – Conservation Genetics of Wild Populations (3 cr.)
• FW 563 – Methods of Fish & Wildlife Population Studies (3 cr.)
• FW 576 – Wildlife Policy, Administration and Law (3 cr.)
• FW 692 – Seminar: Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (3 cr.)
• FW 696 – Group Study: Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (3 cr.)

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