2023-2024 Cal Poly Humboldt Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Cal Poly Humboldt Catalog

Natural Resources, Fisheries Concentration, M.S.


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The graduate program in Natural Resources is designed to provide students with the knowledge and experience necessary to address natural resource problems and to carry out scientific investigations including design, implementation, and evaluation of research in their specific area of study. While it is designed to provide and in-depth understanding of the student’s particular area of emphasis, it is also intended to develop an appreciation for the interdisciplinary character of natural resource problems. Each candidate for the degree is required to consult with an appropriate faculty committee and to prepare an individualized program of study which must be approved by that committee.

The Fisheries program is designed primarily to produce graduates who can assess, develop, and manage fish habitats, populations, and commercial and recreational fisheries. The program is broad enough to allow students to prepare themselves for work in additional areas such as water pollution ecology and fish culture. 

Program Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess preparation equivalent to the baccalaureate degree. Adequate academic preparation can best be demonstrated by a baccalaureate degree in the chosen option or in a closely related field. Applicants who lack adequate preparation may be required to make up academic deficiencies through additional course work. Such course work may not be used toward the graduate degree.

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 undergraduate units. Applicants not meeting this criteria, with extensive work experience, exceptional GPA, or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores may be reconsidered by appeal through the Graduate Coordinator. GRE scores are not required. All prospective graduate students in the Natural Resources program should contact a prospective major advisor.

Contact Information

Andrew Stubblefield, Ph.D., Graduate Coordinator
(707) 826-3258 
aps14@humboldt.edu

Requirements for the Degree (30 Units)


For a description of degree requirements to be fulfilled in addition to those listed below see, “Master’s Degree Requirements ”.



Natural Resources Graduate Program Core (16 Units)


Research and Thesis


Students complete a combination of thesis and research units for a total of 9 units with a maximum of 6 thesis units. Students select the courses based on their program concentration. All students are required to enroll in at least 1 unit of program specific 690 and 695 every semester.

Culminating Experience


A thesis, public oral presentation, and a closed formal defense are required.

 

Approved Electives


Approved upper division and graduate electives to bring total units to no fewer than 30 and no more than 60 units. At least half of these units must be courses organized and conducted at the graduate level. Select courses based on research needs and with approval of graduate committee.

Program Learning Outcomes


Program Learning Outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program.

  1. Scientific Investigation: Student carries out a scientific investigation of phenomena in a natural system that includes formulation and statement of a research question based on literature review.
  2. Written Communication: Student communicates scientific investigation in writing, using accepted structure, style, and format for scientific reports and papers in the discipline.
  3. Oral Communication:  Student communicates scientific investigation in oral presentation, using accepted structure, format, and visual aids for scientific presentations in the discipline.
  4. Quantitative and Qualitative Methods: Student applies appropriate mathematical, computer simulation, statistical models, and/or qualitative methods in their research.
  5. Link to Natural Resources: Student articulates the relationship of his/her scientific investigation to the physical, ecological, and/or socioeconomic aspects of a problem in the natural environment.

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