M.S. in Fisheries Science or Wildlife Science


photo by Jonny Armstrong

Graduate students of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife value scholarship in all its forms - discovery, integration, application, and teaching. We value understanding for its own sake, for the betterment of people, and for the conservation of the natural world.

Learner Outcomes for M. S. Students

Students will produce a professionally written thesis that meets peer-review publication standards. Students will be able to prepare and deliver a professional quality oral presentation. Students will be able to effectively communicate in discussions with peers and the general public. Students will demonstrate the ability to solve problems, evaluate evidence and recognize bias; ability to adjust conclusions/approaches in face of new data or interpretation tools. Students will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the area of expertise and general breadth in the field. Students will demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues in fisheries and wildlife sciences.

M.S. in Fisheries Science

The Fisheries Science graduate program focuses on quantitative analysis of marine and freshwater fish populations, water quality, fish systematics, fish and invertebrate physiology, stream ecology, modeling of aquatic ecosystems, land use interactions, endangered species, and aquaculture.

Areas of Concentration in Fisheries

Aquaculture, conservation biology, fish genetics, ichthyology, limnology, parasites and diseases, physiology and ecology of marine and freshwater fishes, stream ecology, toxicology, water pollution biology.

Marine Research

Students can choose to spend one term at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, an extended campus facility located in Newport, where we have courses emphasizing the marine environment.

The Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit has active research programs funded in part by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey. The Agricultural Experiment Station, the Sea Grant program, Forest Science Laboratory and other organizations fund major research projects.

The department maintains extensive collections of vertebrate species, which are curated by Brian Sidlauskas (fish), Clinton Epps (mammals), and Bruce Dugger (birds). The Oregon State Ichthyology Collection is also available to view online.  

M.S. in Wildlife Science

The Wildlife Science graduate program in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife emphasizes wildlife research concerning the interaction of wildlife with land uses, migratory bird biology, forestry-wildlife relationships, endangered species management, and population dynamics. 

Areas of Concentration in Wildlife

Animal-habitat relationships; behavior; conservation biology; community studies; ecology of birds, small and large mammals including cetaceans and pinnipeds, and herptiles; ecology of avian and mammalian predators; ecology of waterfowl and upland game birds; effects of parasites, diseases, and environmental contaminants; nutrition; population; population dynamics; reproductive biology; toxicology of pesticides; wildlife ecology; wildlife-forestry interactions. 

The department maintains extensive collections of vertebrate species, which are curated by Brian Sidlauskas (fish), Clinton Epps (mammals), and Bruce Dugger (birds).

How to Apply
Our Department's decision for admission is not the date of application but your acceptance by a faculty advisor. Please review more information on How to Apply prior to submitting an application. 

Current Students

If you have questions about any of the graduate programs please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.