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Professional Science Master’s Degree

SIU Zoology student doing research with sturgeon

SIU offers the Professional Science Master’s in Zoology with a Concentration in Wildlife Administration and Management to elevate your education to the next level of biological, ecological, and land management knowledge, as well as providing the coursework to meet requirements to be recognized as a Wildlife Society Certified Wildlife Biologist. The PSM will take you above and beyond a typical bachelor’s degree while simultaneously providing training in human dimensions, conflict resolution, and consensus building - skills critically important for modern land managers.

The Professional Science Master’s of Wildlife Administration and Management program is a collaborative effort between SIU, state and federal agencies, and non-government organizations and is accredited by the National Professional Science Master’s Association. The program seeks to provide employers with graduates who not only have adequate knowledge of biological and ecological principles to make appropriate land management decisions but also the social and practical skills to carry out those management actions.

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Professional Science Master’s

This is a non-thesis degree in which you will be required to take courses that provide training in the more practical skills needed by the modern wildlife administrator and land manager in addition to providing the opportunity to complete requirements of The Wildlife Society’s Certified Wildlife Biologist. The program requires 24 credit hours of coursework and a 6 credit hour internship. The degree will culminate in a capstone project consisting of the preparation and submission of a grant proposal supporting habitat restoration activities at the internship site.

View the Graduate Catalog for all other requirements.

Admission:

Applicants don't need to have an undergraduate major in zoology. However, the following academic background is required:
  • 24 semester hours (or equivalent) in courses covering the basic principles of zoology (including animal diversity, ecology, and evolution);
  • 9 credit hours of physical sciences (physics, chemistry, soil science, geology – at least 2 disciplines must be represented);
  • one year of college mathematics including college algebra and trigonometry (calculus and statistics are also desirable);
  • be within 9 credit hours of meeting class requirements for a Certified Wildlife Biologist (details can be found on The Wildlife Society web page);
  • an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0).
Applicants who do not meet these requirements will be considered on individual merit.

Degree Completion:

All requirements of the Graduate School must be satisfied. At least of 30 hours of graduate credit (15 hours at the 500 level) is required beyond the bachelor’s degree, including 24 hours of graded courses required by the program. Because of the diversity in backgrounds and interests of students accepted into this program, with the exception of the 6 credit hour summer internship, there are no specific courses required,only 3 specific learning objectives (Basic Ecological Knowledge [8-10 credit hours], Habitat Manipulation Skills [10-12 credit hours], and Social Management Skills [6-9 credit hours].  A grade-point average of 3.2 in graduate coursework must be maintained. Failure to meet this requirement will result in academic probation. A capstone project consisting of a grant proposal presented to the agency providing the summer internship and approved by the Program Director must be completed prior to graduation. 

Careers:

This program prepares students for jobs in many areas. Below are examples of the government and non-government areas in this field. 

 

Federal:

  • US Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Natural Resource Conservation Service
  • US Forest Service
  • National Park Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Environmental Protection Agency

State:

  • Departments of Conservation
  • Departments of Wildlife
  • Departments of Natural Resources

Non-government organizations:

  • Ducks Unlimited Inc.
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • The Audubon Society
  • The Wild Turkey Federation
  • Quail/Pheasants Unlimited
  • White-tails Unlimited
  • Private environmental consulting

Program External Advisory Board:

  • Matt Bowyer - Missouri Department of Conservation
  • Aaron K. Kuehl - Pheasants Forever
  • Megan Wandag - United States Fish and Wildlife Service
  • John Coluccy – Ducks Unlimited Inc.
  • Ed Burns - Natural Resource Conservation Service
  • Leonard Pitcher - United States Forest Service
  • Andy West - Ozark Koala Ecosystem Services
  • Jeff Walk - The Nature Conservancy

Contact Information

Frank Anderson
Program Coordinator
Life Science II 422
618-453-3226
feander@siu.edu

Mike Eichholz
Director of PSM Graduate Studies
254 Life Science II
618-453-6951
eichholz@siu.edu