M.S. Conservation Biology at University of South Florida

Programme overview

The M.S. in Conservation Biology provides graduate training in conservation, biodiversity, ecology, organismal biology and taxonomy. It is a thesis-based degree that also prepares students for advanced graduate study in the biological sciences.

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Integrative Biology | Duration: 30 credit hours minimum; students are expected to complete the programme in two years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Tampa, FL, United States

What you will study

Core courses in Conservation Biology Theory, Biometry and Biodiversity (10 credit hours), 2 hours of directed research, 9 elective hours (for example Conservation Genetics, Limnology, selected topics in restoration ecology and invasive biology) and 9 thesis hours. A thesis proposal and oral presentation replace the comprehensive exam.

Career pathways

Graduates find careers in research and management of biodiversity, including local, state and federal natural resource agencies, not-for-profit conservation groups, environmental consultancies, and zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University admission and English proficiency requirements apply. A B.S. in Biological Sciences or a related discipline; applicants without a biology degree need at least 15 upper-level undergraduate biology credit hours (e.g. ecology, genetics, evolution, zoology, botany) plus natural science and mathematics training. Three letters of recommendation, a statement of research and professional interests including a potential thesis topic, and agreement of a faculty member to supervise the thesis.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Master's and Educational Specialist admission is offered for Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.

Final university deadlines for master's and Educational Specialist programmes: June 1 for Fall, October 15 for Spring, February 15 for Summer. Programme-specific priority deadlines apply for funding and consideration; priority applications receive maximum consideration and later applications are considered on a space-available basis.

The nonrefundable graduate degree-seeking application fee is $30, paid through the Online Graduate Application site; international applicants may pay by electronic fund transfer from international banks. Test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, etc.) are required only if the programme requires them.

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