Colorado Department of Wildlife Fishing

Colorado State University offers two types of MS programs: Plan A and Plan B.

Plan A programs emphasize research. In partial fulfillment of degree requirements, the student is required to conduct research approved by their graduate committee and to present the results in a thesis.

Plan B programs emphasize course work and professional preparation. The student must submit a professional paper based on literature reviews, surveys, and other sources of information to the graduate committee as partial fulfillment of degree requirements.

Plan C degree is a coursework-only, non-thesis, professional master's degree. Applicant must have 5 years of previous professional experience in the natural resources arena.

Completion of the Plan A and Plan B M.S. degree generally requires at least two years of full-time work beyond the bachelor's degree. All master’s students must take at least 30 credits of formal coursework at the 300 level or higher. Graduate work may require undergraduate courses as prerequisites.

The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology offers MS degrees (both Plan A and Plan B) in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. FWCB also offers a Ph.D degree in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology.

A Plan C MS degree is also available in Fishery and Wildlife Biology.

Graduates of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology hold academic positions in state and federal natural resource agencies, in foreign countries, and in private organizations and industry.

Our Faculty have diverse professional interests and often work in interdisciplinary teams to understand and solve today's complex environmental and natural resource management problems.

Graduate students have also developed working relationships with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Research Center, and the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey which have offices and research facilities on or near the Colorado State campus. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program, the Larval Fish Laboratory, and the Water Center are on-campus interdisciplinary research programs associated with the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology.