Graduate Specializations in Fish and Wildlife Disease Ecology and Conservation Medicine

The Specialization in Fish and Wildlife Disease Ecology and Conservation Medicine is designed to provide students with improved understanding of the likely consequences of increased contact between fish and wildlife, domestic animals and human populations for emergence and spread of infectious diseases. Students will gain a sound understanding of the basis of fish and wildlife disease, and an appreciation of the diagnostic and surveillance tools needed to move toward effective disease control among wild populations and ecosystems. Students will also obtain the skills that will enable them to work effectively within interdisciplinary and interagency teams to develop disease surveillance, control, and prevention plans.

The specialization which is administered by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is available as an elective to master's and doctoral students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the College of Natural Science, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Students enrolled in Plan A (thesis) master's programs are encouraged to develop thesis topics which integrate their chosen discipline with the interdisciplinary focus integral to this specialization.

It is designed for students who are interested in combining study in their disciplines with the study of fish and wildlife disease ecology and in applying their knowledge to the management of emerging and resurging disease in fish and wildlife populations and in ecosystems.

With the approval of the department or school and college that administers the student's degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the graduate degree program.

The student's program of study must be approved by the student's academic adviser for the specialization.

Requirements for the Specialization in Fish and Wildlife Disease Ecology and Conservation Medicine

The student must: Complete two 1-credit enrollments in the following course: FW 893 Seminar in Fisheries and Wildlife 2 Complete the following capstone course: FW 823 Wildlife Disease Ecology and Management 3 Complete one course from each of the following topic areas: (9 to 11 cr.) Pathology and Disease FW 423 Principles of Fish and Wildlife Disease 3 FW 423L Principles of Fish and Wildlife Disease Laboratory 1 FW 822 Aquatic Animal Medicine 3 MMG 567 Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Disease I 5 MMG 569 Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Disease II 5 PTH 551 General Pathology 3 Students who select Fisheries and Wildlife 423 must also enroll in Fisheries and Wildlife 423L concurrently. Epidemiology and Quantitative Methods EPI 810 Introduction to Descriptive and Analytical Epidemiology 3 FW 824 Analysis of Wildlife Populations 3 VM 533 Veterinary Epidemiology 3 Policy and Management FW 434 Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife Management 3 FW 811 Fisheries and Wildlife Laws and Regulations 3 FW 884 Outreach in Fisheries, Wildlife and Natural Resource Management 3 Master's students will complete a thesis reflecting the integration of the student's discipline.

Upon completion of the requirements for the degree and the requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Fish and Wildlife Disease Ecology and Conservation Medicine, the student shall contact the Chairperson of the department that administers the student's degree program and request certification for the completion of the specialization. After the certification is approved by the Chairperson of the Department and the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Office of the Registrar will enter on the student's academic record the name of the specialization and the date that it was completed. This certification will appear on the student's transcript.