The University of Florida’s online Master of Science in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation is open to qualified local, national, and international professionals who work in the fields of ecology, wildlife management, conservation biology, forensic science, veterinary medicine, and related disciplines.
This program is offered through UF’s Maples Center for Forensic Science in partnership with the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Students are prepared for real-world situations in wildlife forensics such as poaching and illegal trade and courses are taught by faculty members who have years of experience in the field working with law enforcement and wildlife organizations.
The MS in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation is comprised of four 3-credit core requirements plus 21 elective credits. Complete courses from the comfort of your home, on your own time. The degree is non-thesis, but does require the completion of a final cumulative exam that consists of a written and an oral component.
Note: Students are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the program
Master’s Degree Benefits
- Completely online, interactive courses
- Flexible for working professionals
- Earn a degree in as little as two years
- Build core skills in historical and contemporary laws and legislation, crime scene processing, and conservation medicine.
Why Wildlife Forensic Sciences & Conservation?
Fish and wildlife officers, conservationists, and park rangers are just a few professionals who will benefit from the online wildlife forensic sciences and conservation graduate program. Adding graduate-level coursework to your resume can provide potential earning increases and job advancements, as well as boost your knowledge in an area of interest.
What will you learn?
Students can expect to cover a wide variety of topics that dive into historical and contemporary laws and legislation, crime scene processing, and conservation medicine. Topics will include:
- Overview of crime scene procedures and protocols
- Various types of evidence unique to wildlife forensics
- Evidence recognition and handling
- Crime scene test methods and techniques
- Conservation and ecology issues in wildlife crime
- Current trends in wildlife and biodiversity threats
- Legalities in domestic and international wildlife issues
Courses Required for the Master’s Degree
(33 total credit hours required)
Core Courses – 12 Credit Hours Required (Updated 10/23/2023)
| Course # | Course Title | Instructor | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIS 6561 | Wildlife Crime Scene Processing | Susan Underkoffler | 3 | X | ||
| WIS 6559 | Forensic Science in Conservation Biology | Susan Underkoffler | 3 | X | ||
| Either 6557 or 6558: | ||||||
| WIS 6557 | International Wildlife Conservation Law, Policy & Ethics – OR – | Joseph Rivera | 3 | X | ||
| WIS 6558 | U.S. Wildlife Law, Policy & Ethics | Joseph Rivera | 3 | X | ||
| Either SUR, STA, or WIS: | ||||||
| SUR 6395 | GIS Fundamentals – OR – | Amr Abd-Elrahman | 3 | X | ||
| STA 6093 | Introduction to Applied Statistics for Agricultural and Life Sciences – OR – | Denis Valle/Ben Baiser | 3 | X | ||
| WIS 6934 | Forensic DNA Statistics and Applied Population Genetics | Jeff Rodzen | 3 | X | ||
(Master’s students must take EITHER WIS 6557 OR WIS 6558 and ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: SUR 6934 OR STA 6093 OR WIS6934 )
Electives – 21 Credit Hours Required
Students may take any electives from UF’s online Veterinary Forensic Sciences program to satisfy any elective requirements for the online Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation program.
View additional elective courses here.
Learn More
RFI – Wildlife – Bottom of program pages
An Application Coordinator will contact you with all the details about the online graduate program in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation.
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