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Catalog Home : Graduate School Catalog

Conservation Biology

Link to a list of faculty for this program.

Contact Information—Director of Graduate Studies, Conservation Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, 187 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108 (612-624-7751; consbio@umn.edu; www.consbio.umn.edu).

Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of this catalog for Graduate School requirements that apply to all major fields.

Curriculum—The conservation biology program has two complementary objectives leading to a unique multidisciplinary program. The first is to provide students with sound graduate training in the biological sciences relevant to the global conservation of plants, animals, and ecosystems. The second objective promotes the study of social, political, and economic sciences that relate to recognition and solution of conservation problems. Students may select a named track, fisheries and aquatic biology, which offers an aquatic specialization. Students may also pursue a joint degree in law and conservation biology through the joint law degree program. The overall goal of the program is to prepare students to develop solutions or approaches to address problems that are scientifically and environmentally sound and likely to be acted upon or implemented within their social and political context.

Prerequisites for Admission—A B.S./B.A. degree in biology or a closely related field is preferred. Applicants with a baccalaureate degree in another field are accepted, but these individuals may be required to take selected courses in biology. In general, Ph.D. applicants holding a baccalaureate degree are expected first to complete a master's degree.

Special Application Requirements—A statement of career goals and three letters of recommendation evaluating the applicant's potential for graduate study are required. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the Conservation Biology Program Office. Scores less than five years old from the General Test of the GRE are required. TOEFL is required for applicants who speak English as a second language. Applicants to the joint law degree program must also apply to the Law School. Application deadline is January 1. Typically, students only are admitted for fall semester.

Key to test abbreviations (GRE, TOEFL, GMAT, MELAB).

For an online application or for more information about Graduate School admissions, see the General Information section in this catalog, or visit the Graduate School Web site.

Research Facilities—Faculty are involved in local, regional, national, and international programs of research and education. Local research facilities include Cedar Creek Natural History Area, Cloquet Forestry Center, Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, the Bell Museum of Natural History. Fisheries and aquatic biology research is conducted in the many lakes, rivers, and streams that Minnesota is famous for and in 13,000 feet of wet-lab space on the St Paul campus with dedicated wells and water conditioning equipment. The program is strongly linked with on-campus institutes such as the Institute for Social, Economic, and Ecological Sustainability and the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change.

Courses—Conservation biology students take courses offered by a variety of colleges and departments across the University, including but not limited to fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology; ecology, evolution, and behavior; soil, water, and climate; forest resources; geography; sociology; applied economics; and public policy. Acceptable courses for the degree are chosen in consultation with the adviser.

Use of 4xxx Courses—Inclusion of 4xxx courses on degree program forms is subject to adviser and director of graduate studies approval.

M.S. Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits in the biological and social aspects of conservation biology. For Plan A students, 10 of these credits are thesis credits; for Plan B students, 10 of these credits are for electives.

Language Requirements—None.

Final Exam—The final exam is oral.

Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—A master's minor may be earned by completing the two required courses for a major, plus participating in one semester of the conservation biology seminar.

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

Ph.D. students complete 46 credits, including 10 credits in courses required as part of the major, 12 credits in a minor or supporting program, and 24 thesis credits. Students are expected to show competency in both the biological and social sciences. With their advisory committee, students develop a program that emphasizes the ecological and social aspects of conservation biology. Dissertation research may require proficiency in supporting areas (e.g., statistics, computing, communications).

Language Requirements—None.

Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—A doctoral minor may be earned by completing the two required courses for a major, participating in one semester of the conservation biology seminar, and completing 6 elective credits. Electives are determined in consultation with the director of graduate studies and the student's advisory committee.

Faculty

For latest graduate faculty listings, see <www.grad.umn.edu/faculty_rosters/faculty.html>.

Key to membership categories (abbreviations after faculty names).

Regents Professor
Peter B. Reich, Forest Resources, SM
G. David Tilman, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM

Professor
Ira R. Adelman, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Deborah L. Allan, Soil, Water, and Climate, SM
Dorothy H. Anderson, Forest Resources, SM
David A. Andow, Entomology, SM
Marvin E. Bauer, Forest Resources, SM
Jay C. Bell, Soil, Water, and Climate, M2
Charles R. Blinn, Forest Resources, SM
Paul V. Bolstad, Forest Resources, SM
Thomas E. Burk, Forest Resources, SM
Vernon B. Cardwell, Agronomy and Plant
Genetics, SM
Yosef Cohen, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
James W. Curtsinger, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Francesca J. Cuthbert, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
K. William Easter, Applied Economics, SM
Mohamed E. El Halawani, Animal Science, SM
Susan M. Galatowitsch, Horticultural Science, SM
Robert G. Haight, Forest Resources, SM
Nicholas R. Jordan, Agronomy and Plant Genetics, SM
Anne R. D. Kapuscinski, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Scott M. Lanyon, Bell Museum of Natural History, SM
Robert McMaster, Geography, SM
L. David Mech, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Richa Nagar, Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, SM
Claudia Neuhauser, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Raymond M. Newman, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Gerald J. Niemi, Natural Resources Research Institute, Duluth, SM
Craig Packer, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
John J. Pastor, Natural Resources Research Institute, Duluth, SM
James A. Perry, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
A. Stephen Polasky, Applied Economics, SM
Anne E. Pusey, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Patrick T. Redig, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, SM
Philip J. Regal, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Carlisle F. Runge, Applied Economics, SM
Abdi I. Samatar, Geography, SM
Ruth G. Shaw, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Donald B. Siniff, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
J. L. David Smith, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Peter W. Sorensen, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
George R. Spangler, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Robert W. Sterner, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Robert M. Zink, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM

Adjunct Professor
David E. Andersen, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Doug H. Johnson, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Jeffrey W. Lang, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Diane L. Larson, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Stephen J. O'Brien, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Bruce C. Vondracek, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
David Western, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM

Associate Professor
Neil Anderson, Horticultural Science, SM
Gerald T. Ankley, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Todd Arnold, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Robert B. Blair, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Jeffrey Broadbent, Sociology, SM
Jay S. Coggins, Applied Economics, SM
Tamara Giles-Vernick, History, SM
Jay T. Hatch, General Science, SM
Sarah Hobbie, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Frances R. Homans, Applied Economics, SM
Pamela Jakes, Forest Resources, ASM
Susan D. Jones, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Mike Kilgore, Forest Resources, SM
Katerine Klink, Geography, SM
John P. Loegering, Center for Ag/Natural Resources, Crookston, M2
Laura R. Musacchio, Landscape Architecture, SM
Kristen C. Nelson, Forest Resources, SM
Daniel J. Philippon, Rhetoric, SM
Ingrid E. Schneider, Forest Resources, SM
Andrew M. Simons, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Roderick H. Squires, Geography, SM
Steven J. Taff, Applied Economics, SM
Ronald Tilson, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, ASM
George D. Weiblen, Plant Biology, SM

Adjunct Associate Professor
David C. Fulton, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
David L. Garshelis, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Ullas K. Karanth, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM

Assistant Professor
Charles S. Anderson, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, AM2
Dennis R. Becker, Forest Resources, SM
Jeannnine M. Cavender-Bares, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Jacques Finlay, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Sharon A. Jansa, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Jennifer Kuzma, HHH Institute of Public Affairs, SM
Diane Larson, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Steven Manson, Geography, SM
Helene Murray, Agronomy and Plant Genetics, ASM
Karen S. Oberhauser, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Donald L. Pereira, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, ASM
Shinya Sugita, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM
Edward Swain, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, AM2
Susy Ziegler, Geography, SM

Adjunct Assistant Professor
David N. Bengston, Forest Resources, SM
Meredith W. Cornett, Forest Resources, SM
Frederick J. Jannett, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, SM
Clarence L. Lehman, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, SM

Lecturer
Thomas R Fiutak, HHH Institute of Public Affairs, SM

Research Associate
Dean A. Current, Forest Resources, AM2
Lee E. Frelich, Forest Resources, SM
Loren M. Miller, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, M2
Ronald Moen, Natural Resources Research Institute, Duluth, SM
Naomi Zeitouni, Applied Economics, SM

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