The specialization in Wildlife Ecology promotes an understanding of the ecological aspects of wildlife and their habitats. Students gain an advanced knowledge of wildlife sciences. This specialization fosters interactions and cooperation among the community of scientists and students conducting research on conservation and management of natural resources.
Printable Fact Sheet
The School of Natural Resources is housed in the newly renovated Hardin Hall on UNL’s beautiful East Campus. The new building has excellent wet labs, GIS/computer labs, office and classroom facilities to support research, teaching and outreach regarding natural resources. In addition, it offers field or lab study at:
- Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory
- Agricultural Research Division field laboratories at five district sites across the state
- Barta Brothers Ranch (north central Nebraska)
- Cedar Point Biological Station (opportunities for summer study)
- Center for Advanced Land Management Information technologies (CALMIT)
- Division of Zoology, University of Nebraska State Museum
- Additional opportunities with other centers and closely affiliated units and agencies
Faculty Point-of-Contact
If you are interested in the Wildlife Ecology graduate specialization, please feel free to contact the following SNR faculty member:
Example Courses
- Advanced Topics in Wildlife Damage Management
- Animal Behavior
- Biology of Wildlife Populations
- Boundary Waters Canoe
- Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
- Invasive Species
- Landscape Ecology
- Mathematical Models in Biology
- Mammalogy
- Natural History of Nebraska Mammals
- Ornithology
- Parameter Estimation
- Tropical Ecology Field Course
- Water Ecology and Management
- Wildlife Disease
Admission Requirements
All potential SNR M.S. graduate students must meet the following minimum requirements or provide the requested information:
- A bachelor’s degree with a background that includes at least one course in each of the following disciplines with a minimum of eight courses total:
- Mathematics (must include one semester of Calculus)
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Life Sciences (Agronomy, Biology, Ecology, Forestry, Wetlands, etc.)
- Earth Sciences (Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography, Soils, etc.)
- GRE scores of 500 verbal, 620 quantitative, and 4.0 analytical writing
- TOEFL score of 600 paper-, 300 computer- or 79 web-based (applies only to international applicants for whom English is not the first language)
- GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point system)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
In addition to the SNR minimum admission requirements, the student must have at least 16 hours of wildlife-related courses including a course in ecology. By completion of the program, students are expected to meet requirements for a civil service rating as a wildlife biologist. The chair of the student's supervisory committee must be an SNRS faculty member (includes adjunct and courtesy) and the thesis research topic must be in wildlife ecology.
Career opportunities are available through academic institutions, state and federal agencies, businesses, industry, and the private sector. Previous graduates have found careers in wildlife ecology and management, conservation biology, consulting, communications, research, and teaching.
Natural Resources
Program Specializations
- Adaptive Management
- Agricultural Meteorology
- Agroforestry
- Applied Ecology
- Aquatic Ecology
- Bio-Atmospheric Interactions
- Climate Assessment and Impacts
- Environmental Studies
- Geographic Information Systems
- Great Plains Studies
- Human Dimensions
- Hydrologic Sciences
- Remote Sensing
- Soil Science
- Wildlife Ecology
