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Process for Admissions to WVU Graduate School, the Wildlife and Fisheries Resources Program, and graduate credit for courses in a non-degree status
Overview
West Virginia University (WVU) is offering a unique opportunity to FWS employees and other practicing biologists that could lead to a Master of Science or Ph.D. degree. Specific degrees are a M.S. in Wildlife & Fisheries Resources (fisheries focus) and a Ph.D. in Forest Resources (fisheries focus) from the Wildlife & Fisheries Resources Program within the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry & Consumer Sciences. If you are interested and are a FWS employee, please discuss what support options might be available to you from the FWS. Seek counsel from your Supervisor and Regional Office manager (typically the Assistant Regional Director) regarding what level of FWS support might be available to you before proceeding.
Besides the basic requirements for admission to the graduate program in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources (Bachelor’s degree, 3.0 undergraduate GPA, 1000 GRE General Test), you will need a project, usually at or near your duty station, that can be converted into a research project that will be in partial fulfillment of the degree. Thirty hours of coursework are required for a Master of Science degree, 24 regular and six research. This means that you will need to take eight classes. Currently, only one is on-line. Thus, you will need to travel to NCTC for seven courses. Typically, students take two classes per year. In this case, assuming the research project is completed in a timely fashion, the duration of the program would be around four years. Once your thesis is written, you are required to present and defend your thesis at WVU (about 2.5 hours drive time from NCTC).
*If you have any questions, please contact Alan Temple at NCTC alan_temple@fws.gov)*
There are two options available to students who wish to receive graduate credit for specific NCTC classes:
- Non-degree option - you wish to receive graduate credit for classes taken but will apply that credit to a degree through an institution other than WVU; note that you must be currently enrolled in a university graduate program; contact Alan Temple for approval.
- Degree option - please see below for the WVU graduate school entrance requirements.
Students wanting to receive graduate credit for select NCTC classes (transferable credits to another university) should apply to WVU graduate school as a "non-degree" student (Step 1).
Students who wish to pursue a graduate degree from WVU would apply to the Wildlife and Fisheries program (Step 2) in addition to Step 1. FWS applicants: please seek counsel from your Supervisor and Regional Office manager (typically the Assistant Regional Director) regarding what level of FWS support might be available to you before proceeding to Step 2.
Admission to WVU graduate school:
Step 1. You will be required to pay a one-time application fee of $50.00 and will need to have your undergraduate transcript(s) sent to WVU. If applying for non-degree graduate status, a bachelor’s degree with a 2.50 GPA minimum is required. For admission as a degree-seeking graduate student to the Wildlife & Fisheries Resources Program, you must have a bachelor’s degree with a mimimum 3.0 GPA, and a 1000 on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test. (If your GPA is lower than 3.0 but you have a relatively high GRE score and wildlife/fisheries related job experience, than a GPA somewhat lower than 3.0 may be accepted).
- Go to www.wvu.edu on the web.
- Click on “Graduate ” (left side of screen)
- Click on “Apply Online” (left side of screen)
- Follow instructions
When filling out the application form, enter your particular status under “Select Application Type”, such as “Domestic, out of state”. Under “Enrollment Information”, select the term during which your first NCTC graduate class will occur (under “Entry term for which you are applying”). If not sure, please call or email Alan Temple. Please note that you need to sign up for the class before the term begins, otherwise you’ll need to make arrangements via Alan Temple or Patricia Mazik. Select “Non-Degree” under admission type. If requested, the code for “non-degree” 0799. All FWS students seeking credit must use "Non-degree" option (even if you are planning to enter the Fisheries MS or PhD program). Finally, enter your intended major as “Agriculture & Forestry – Non-Degree”.
All students seeking graduate credit for NCTC classes will also pay to WVU a nominal fee of $40.00 per credit hour.
Courses offered at NCTC for graduate credit this fiscal year (through September 30th):
- FIS2301 Advanced Fisheries Management (Correspondence) (open in 3-month blocks beginning October 1, 2007) – 3 credit hours
- FIS4200 Data Analysis I (February 2 – 6, 2009) – 3 credit hours
- FIS4300 Data Analysis II (March 16 - 20, 2009) – 3 credit hours
- CSP1353 Fish Physiology (May 18 – 22, 2009) – 3 credit hours
**Please notify NCTC when you have received confirmation from WVU of your acceptance as a "non-degree" student.
Once you receive confirmation of acceptance by the university as a "non-degree" student, you will be given a user ID and password. This is important and necessary for registration for graduate credit classes. Class registration has two steps:
- Register for the class through NCTC - please let Alan Temple know that you are seeking graduate credit
- Register for the class through WVU; for your first class registration, call Extended Learning at 800-253-2762 (http://elearn.wvu.edu) - NCTC will provide you with the WVU class number after you have registered through NCTC
Admission to the Wildlife and Fisheries Graduate Program to pursue a MS or PhD in Fisheries through WVU:
Step 2. This step can be completed ONLY AFTER you have been accepted by the University through completing Step 1 (and for FWS applicants, you have approval from your Supervisor and Regional Office manager [ARD]).
Please contact Alan Temple at NCTC and Patricia Mazik at WVU with your interest in the Graduate Degree Program.
Please prepare the following:
- Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test,
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to evaluate the student's potential for masters studies and independent research,
- A typed composition of at least 600 words indicating the student's purpose and objective in undertaking graduate studies as related to major issues in that area.
Complete application packets are sent to:
Dr. Patricia Mazik, Ph.D., Unit Leader
WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
West Virginia University
322 Percival Hall
Morgantown, WV 26506
Dr. Mazik will review your package and, if complete, will then forward it on the WVU Admissions Office for final approval and acceptance. If accepted, Dr. Mazik will then notify you of your formal acceptance into the Degree Program and then assign a WVU faculty advisor. Your faculty advisor will contact you to discuss your Plan of Study and your research proposal.
For further information contact:
Dr. Alan Temple Dr. Patricia Mazik
alan_temple@fws.gov pmazik@wvu.edu
304/876-7440 304/293-3794 ext. 2431
304/839-1254 (cell) |
