Graduate Programs

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Prospective Graduate Students

How to Apply

Faculty Advisors

We strongly recommend that applicants contact individual faculty in the department who work in their area of interest to determine if they are accepting applications before submitting a formal application to the Graduate School.  Most successful applicants have

1. developed a research focus
2. prepared a student ‘statement of purpose’  in the area of interest
3. the ability to relate their desired area of study to that of a particular faculty member
4. completed a copy of the advisor questionnaire.

Personal contact is very important. Applicants should make this contact at least 6-12 months prior to their anticipated admission, which can be anytime during the year (not only fall semesters). Note: such contact does not ensure admission; it merely serves to initiate a dialogue between a student and a potential advisor.  The applicant can learn whether there will be openings when they wish to apply.

Generally, the Department does not routinely accept new graduate students into the program unless they meet all admission requirements. Be aware that

1. financial support for the student is currently in the hands of a faculty member, or is assured by the time a student begins, or
2. a student brings independent funding and has contacted a faculty member who agrees to serve as advisor.

Thus, it is to the applicant’s advantage to contact potential advisors before applying because they may be able to save the application fee if no support is available or faculty are not accepting applications for the term they wish to enter the university.

Application Materials

The Forest and Wildlife Ecology department requires specific materials for the graduate application.  These materials include

• a completed Graduate School application form and application fee. The application form is available in an electronic format (for on-line submission).
• a current resume or CV which can be submitted through the supplemental application online (preferred) or via email to the Student Services Coordinator, Sara Rodock)
• two official sets of transcripts for all previous undergraduate and graduate study (international academic records must be in the original language accompanied by an official English translation. Documents must be issued by the school with the official seal/stamp and an official signature.) The Forest and Wildlife Ecology department requires all applicants to have a BA/BS degree from an accredited institution.  A minimum undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours from the most recent bachelor's degree institution is required for regular admission. Under some circumstances, applicants with lower averages are admitted on probation but this is not common.
• statement of purpose which should describe the applicant's graduate program objectives and career focus. The statement should be sufficiently detailed so that the admissions committee and potential advisors can determine whether the student would be a good fit for one of our graduate programs. Very general statements that provide little specificity about interests or career goals are not helpful.
• three letters of recommendation, preferably from people acquainted with the applicant's academic, research and/or professional qualifications; these letters may be submitted in one of two ways
• either online through the Graduate School's electronic format (see Electronic Letters of Recommendation Process for more information)
• or in hard copy, preferably on letterhead stationery; if the reference is submitting a letter in hard copy the applicant should also fill out the appropriate cover sheet (Forestry MS,  Forestry PhD, Wildlife Ecology MS and Wildlife Ecology PhD).
• general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (UW-Madison code R1846 - no departmental code is needed).  The department does not require any subject GRE test scores.
• every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). An admitted applicant whose TOEFL (paper-based) test score is below 580; TOEFL computer-based test (CBT) score below 237; TOEFL internet based (iBT) test score below 92; IELTS score below 7; or MELAB below 82 must take an English assessment test upon arrival. The student must then register for any recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) course(s) in the first semester they are enrolled.
• area of interest and advisor questionnaire, the admissions committees wishes to see information regarding a student’s area(s) of interest, potential advisors that have been contacted and any faculty members who have tentatively agreed to serve as the applicant’s advisor.  This questionnaire will appear as a part of the Graduate School application once an applicant has indicated that they are applying to either Forestry or Wildlife Ecology.

Note: International student financial information will only be requested by the Graduate School after the departmental recommendation for admission. The Graduate School provides a list of international student expenses.

Additional information can be found on the Graduate School website. Please refer to the Graduate School Checklist for items that should be sent to the Graduate School.

Submitting Application Materials

All materials that are submitted in hard copy should be mailed to:

Sara Rodock
284 Russell Laboratories
1630 Linden Dr
Madison WI 53706

All materials that are submitted electronically (that are not submitted through the Graduate School's online application) can be sent to the Student Services Coordinator, Sara Rodock.

All questions regarding the admissions process and an individual’s application should also be directed to Student Services Coordinator, Sara Rodock (email), or 608-262-9926.

Deadlines

The Forest and Wildlife Ecology department accepts applications on a rolling horizon basis; however, it is to the applicant’s advantage to apply as early as possible.  The Graduate School requires all admissions decisions, including reentry requests, to be made 5 days before the start of a term.  Applications will not be reviewed until all of the application materials (listed above) have been received.

Fall and Summer Admissions Deadline
There are certain fellowships, awards and prospective student recruitment funds that are only available to applicants who apply by February 1 for the following summer and fall term.  It is strongly recommended that applicants apply by the February 1 preference date unless instructed to do otherwise by a faculty member in the department.

We make every effort possible to have all admissions decisions finalized by April 15 for applicants who submit their materials by the February 1 preference date.

Spring Admissions Deadline
There is no set deadline for spring admissions consideration.

AOF Fellowship Deadline
The Forest and Wildlife Ecology department is a member of the Science and Medicine Graduate Research Scholars (SciMed GRS) Program at UW-Madison.  Students eligible for Advanced Opportunity Fellowships (AOF) are strongly encouraged to apply by the January 15th deadline for full fellowship consideration.  For more information on the fellowship please visit the Graduate School’s AOF page.

Curriculum Overview

Forestry MS and PhD

The Forestry program prescribes no specific graduate coursework beyond seminar requirements due to the diversity of research areas available; students select appropriate graduate-level coursework in consultation with their advisor and a graduate advisory committee.   All MS students are required to write and defend a thesis and all PhD students are required to pass their preliminary exam and produce and defend a dissertation.

For more information on the MS and PhD requirements in Forestry please visit the Current Forestry Graduate Students page.

Wildlife Ecology MS and PhD

The Wildlife Ecology program requires all students to meet the Wildlife Ecology minimum course requirements which include calculus, statistics, chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, plant taxonomy or plant ecology, animal ecology, wildlife management, animal physiology or vertebrate anatomy, biology of terrestrial vertebrates, research techniques, population ecology, genetics or evolution, natural resource conservation and management and wildlife policy and human dimensions.

Additional graduate-level coursework is selected by the students in consultation with their advisor and graduate advisory committee.  All MS students are required to write and defend a thesis and all PhD students are required to pass their qualifier and preliminary exams and produce and defend a dissertation.

For more information on the MS and PhD requirements in Wildlife Ecology please visit the Current Wildlife Ecology Graduate Students page.

Updated: 2008.05.07