Graduate Programs

Graduate Programs

Graduate degrees in the Biology and Wildlife Department prepare students for careers as professional biologists, whether in academia, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, or industry. In addition to gaining knowledge in a particular subdiscipline, graduate students receive training in research design and analysis, critical thinking, and professional skills such as scientific writing, oral communication, and grantsmanship. The department offers five graduate degree programs:

All graduate degrees in Biology and Wildlife require a research thesis. Graduate students have access to many modern research facilities, including the DNA core lab, a state-of-the-art greenhouse, and the extensive resources of the UA Museum of the North. Students enjoy unparalleled access to field sites throughout Alaska, including the Arctic and Bonanza Creek (boreal) Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites.

Our Graduates Have Exceptional Employment Outcomes:

The graph below classifies the employment type of students who graduated from our programs over the past 5 years. 100% of PhDs and 96% of MS students graduating between 2015 and 2020 were employed when surveyed in September 2020.

Requirements for Acceptance into a B&W Graduate Program:

• There are no specific course prerequisites for entry into the programs
• However, students must have a strong academic record in an appropriate discipline and evidence of ability to complete a graduate degree
• Research experience is highly valued, especially for PhD applicants
• A Biology and Wildlife Department faculty member must agree to serve as the major advisor
• The department will identify a funding plan for you and your research prior to admittance

Advisor requirements: your advisor or one of your co-advisors must be from within the Department of Biology & Wildlife. You can find a complete list of our department's faculty and sort through them by research area on our main faculty page.

Prospective graduate students who are searching for a faculty advisor may consider folks from institutes and groups such as the ones above to serve as a co-advisor. They may have projects or expertise that align with your research goals. If you go this route, your other co-advisor must be faculty from the UAF Biology & Wildlife Department.

Faculty and students also conduct research with:

• Institute of Arctic Biology
• UA Museum of the North
• Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
• Alaska IdEA Networks for Biomedical Research Excellence
• Center for Alaska Native Health Research (CANHR)
• International Arctic Research Center (IARC)
• Arctic Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program
• Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program
• NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)
• UAF Geophysical Institute
• UAF Department of Veterinary Medicine
• University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Biological Sciences