Wildlife and Fisheries Biology (MWFR, MS, PhD)

Areas of specialization within WFB are aligned with those of the major advisor (advisory committee chair). The most common areas of specialization include research topics in: 

• wildlife ecology
• conservation biology
• fish ecology and management
• population analysis
• landscape ecology

(in addition to Graduate School requirements) 

A Bachelor of Science in a WFB-related discipline is desirable, but not required. The candidate may be required to satisfy undergraduate deficiencies before being admitted to full status. 

GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores are not required for application.  Prospective major advisors may, however, choose to require the GRE for admission.

The following items are required as part of the application: (1) Online application, (2) Official TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores for international students, (3) Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be required upon admission), and (4) two letters of recommendation.

The WFB Program follows Graduate School minimum degree requirements for credit hours (including research credits), time limits, and theses/dissertations. Details can be found in the Graduate School’s Policies and Procedures handbook.

Complete departmental requirements of the WFB program can be found in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation’s Graduate Student Handbook. 

View this page for complete information regarding the Master of Wildlife and Fisheries Resources (MWFR) degree.

With regard to MS degree credit requirements, the Graduate School requires a minimum of thirty hours beyond the bachelor’s degree for any master’s degree, to include a minimum of 24 hours of graduate credit and a minimum of six hours of master’s thesis research. At least one-half of the total graduate credit hours required by the advisory committee, exclusive of thesis research, must be selected from courses numbered 8000 or above. 

With regard to PhD degree credit requirements, the Graduate School requires that a doctoral degree comprise a minimum of 30 credits beyond the master’s degree, and at least 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. A minimum of 12 credit hours of non-research coursework and a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation research are required for any doctoral degree. 

Plan of Study

The Plan of Study varies by degree and is tailored to each student's needs and interests. Students within all Wildlife and Fisheries graduate degrees take two semesters of Graduate Seminar (FNR 8080 or equivalent). Beyond that, the student works with his or her advisory committee to identify courses that will help develop proficiencies in experimental design, statistical analysis, and wildlife and fisheries biology that are relevant to their research topics or career interests.

View this page for complete information regarding the Master of Wildlife and Fisheries Resources (MWFR) degree.

Most students in our research-based degree programs (MS, PhD) are supported through Research Assistantships (RA). These assistantships are made available to students at the discretion of individual FEC department faculty members. Therefore, we recommend you contact faculty whose research interests you, and inquire about the availability of such assistantships prior to submitting a formal application.  Our faculty have expertise in a wide variety of wildlife- and fisheries-related disciplines and are dedicated to providing a quality education for students and to pioneering wildlife and fisheries research both locally and around the world.

Prior to applying, it is the applicant’s responsibility to identify a faculty member willing to serve as their advisor. Applicants can then email faculty members with a brief description of your interests, prior experience, and inquire about availability of funding and opportunities.

Please note that aspiring students will need to connect with a faculty advisor and be accepted into the Department’s Graduate Program to be eligible for the assistantship. Students that feel qualified for this award should consider mentioning it when communicating with potential faculty advisors. Students on these assistantships will be expected to TA for the Master of Wildlife and Fisheries Resources (online) degree program one semester each year.

FEC Graduate Faculty directory

Many faculty members post opportunities for RAs on the FEC Graduate Research Assistantship Openings web page. [will link when available]

There are a small number of College and University fellowships available to incoming students, that would provide a stipend. Some of those can be browsed at the  College and University fellowship list

Many populations of fish and wildlife have rebounded from historic lows due to decades of careful, science-based management. Nevertheless, biodiversity is still in decline for a variety of wildlife species; large mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and aquatic species are particularly threatened. Our Wildlife and Fisheries Biology graduate program provides students the scientific understanding and technical skills to contribute to management and conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Our graduates are employed by:

Toni Becker, MS
Student Services Manager
Office: 265 A Lehotsky Hall
Clemson, SC  29634-0317
Email: tbecker@clemson.edu
Phone: 864-656-1645
Fax: 864-656-3304

Dr. Patrick Jodice
Graduate Coordinator
Office: 238 Lehotsky Hall
email: pjodice@clemson.edu
Phone: 864-656-6190
Fax: 864-656-3304

Dr. Thea Hagan
Program Director of online MWFR Program
Office: 245 Lehotsky Hall
Clemson, SC  29634-0317
Email: shotali@clemson.edu
Phone: 864-656-4823
Fax: 864-656-3304