Environmental impacts on habitat, land, water and other natural resources are continuously affecting wildlife species. If you’re interested in wildlife, biodiversity and ecology, then a natural resources M.S. with the wildlife and conservation biology option may be for you. In this graduate program, you’ll take an integrated field-laboratory approach to the study of population ecology and conservation, community and landscape ecology, conservation biology and genetics, and applied wildlife management. You’ll develop quantitative skills and use statistical analysis techniques that prepare you for work in a variety of conservation fields locally, regionally and globally.
You’ll be supported by a productive and internationally recognized faculty, as well as outstanding laboratory facilities, as you advance toward either a professional career in wildlife and biology conservation or doctoral studies. Our main campus is located near the White Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean with access to a diverse array of terrestrial, marine and freshwater field sites. UNH also is ranked among the nation’s highest-performing research universities, having earned a Carnegie Classification R1. The university’s research portfolio brings in more than $110 million in competitive external funding each year.
The MS option in Wildlife and Conservation Biology is typically pursued by those with a BS in Wildlife, Biology, Zoology, Environmental Studies, or related field. Research often takes an integrated field-laboratory approach to study population ecology and conservation, community and landscape ecology, conservation biology and genetics, and applied wildlife management issues.
An M.S. degree is conferred upon successful completion of a program of not less than 30 credits for natural resources and the environment options: forestry, environmental conservation and sustainability, environmental economics, ecosystem science, and wildlife and conservation biology.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 904 | Qualitative Inquiry in Research (Policy oriented) | 4 |
Or | ||
| NR 903 | Approach to Research | 2 |
| And with NR 903, choose one of the following additional research methods classes for a total of 4 credits: | 2 | |
NR 905 | Grant Writing | |
BIOL 902 | Writing and Publishing Science | |
BIOL 950 | Scientific Communication | |
Or an alternative with approval from the Graduate Coordinator | ||
| NR 993 | Natural and Environmental Resources Seminar | 1-4 |
| or NR 947 | Ecosystem Science: Theory, Practice, and Management Applications for Sustainability | |
| NR 996 | Natural Resource Education (1 credit ) | 1 - 2 |
| or LSA 900 | College Teaching | |
| Select one of the following Data Analysis courses: | 3-4 | |
ANFS 933 | Design, Analysis, and Interpretation of Experiments | |
BIOL 811 | Experimental Design & Analysis | |
DATA 800 | Introduction to Applied Analytic Statistics | |
ECON 926 | Econometrics I | |
ESCI 801 | Quantitative Methods in Earth Sciences | |
MATH 835 | Statistical Methods for Research | |
MATH 840 | Design of Experiments I | |
MATH #969 | Topics in Probability and Statistics I | |
NR 909 | Analysis of Ecological Communities and Complex Data | |
POLT #905 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | |
PSYC 905 | Research Methodology and Statistics I | |
PSYC 907 | Research Methods and Statistics III | |
SOC 901 | Sociological Methods I: Intermediate Social Statistics | |
SOC 903 | Sociological Methods III: Advanced Social Statistics | |
SOC 904 | Sociological Methods IV: Qualitative and Historical Research Methods | |
Or an alternative with approval from the Graduate Coordinator | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| NR 899 | Master's Thesis (and a formal presentation of the thesis) 1 | 6 |
| NR 998 | Directed Research (and directed research results) 2 | 4 |
| 1 | The thesis option will provide a research-based thesis that is the foundation for a peer-reviewed publication. |
| 2 | The directed research option shall consist of a project, designed and conducted by the student, culminating in a scholarly paper or report that is suitable for publication in the respective field of scholarship. |
An approved program of study plan is required during the first semester.
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
Application fee: $65
Campus: Durham
New England Regional: No
Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.
If you attended UNH after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester and UNH Non-Degree work.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must request one official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. International transcripts must be translated into English. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
GRE required. Request official test scores to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service. Test scores more than five years old are not acceptable. Student copies and photo copies of scores are not considered official. Our CEEB code is 3918.
For general information about test scores, including waiver requests and current COVID related impacts, please visit our Test Scores webpage.
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program specific application questions.
Applicants should visit the Natural Resources program website and review the list of faculty in their area of interest. The applicant should contact potential faculty advisors to discuss their interests and determine whether the faculty member(s) may be willing and able to serve as the student’s advisor before applying to the program. See the Natural Resources Faculty List for a current list of faculty.
The University of New Hampshire recommends that international applicants who are living outside of the United States, and are planning on pursuing a research based degree, submit a preapplication form before submitting a full application. Your preapplication request will be carefully reviewed and a decision usually provided within 3 weeks. If your preapplication is approved then it is recommended you then submit a full application. If you are currently living in the United States (on a H1B visa, etc.), or you plan on pursuing a professional master’s degree, then you do not need to submit a preapplication.
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.
