The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay offers a single-campus collaborative online Master of Science degree program in Biodiversity Conservation and Management.  The program represents a comprehensive, multidisciplinary curriculum that prepares students to advance their careers and pursue their academic ambitions through leadership and management positions within the biodiversity conservation field.  Defined courses provide students with a solid foundation in conservation ecology, evolution, biodiversity, data analytics and visualization, spatial mapping, emerging conservation concepts and technologies, conservation leadership and community engagement, and conservation research, monitoring, design, and management. In addition, the program offers four stand-alone certificates, utilizing the courses in the full program curriculum, to assist students in tailoring their coursework to meet their career goals.  Graduates of the program will gain the competencies required to manage conservation initiatives.

Learning Outcomes

Students completing the M.S. in Biodiversity Conservation and Management degree will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

• Conduct and communicate environmental research and monitoring.
• Critically evaluate ethical implications and relevance of conservation initiatives
• through multiple lenses.
• Interpret and comply with conservation regulations and policies.
• Cultivate and lead a collaborative and inclusive team representing diverse
• stakeholders.
• Design, implement and evaluate effective conservation projects.
• Integrate ecological information in conservation planning and actions.
• Adapt and apply innovative technology and ideas to conservation challenges.

Admission Requirements  

Each student’s prior academic background is evaluated by the UW-Green Bay program Chair. Students who show exceptional promise but lack the minimal prerequisites may be admitted provisionally. Applicants are not required to take the GRE for admission.

A completed application consists of a UW-Green Bay Graduate Application form, resume, personal statement, two letters of evaluation or recommendation letters, official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate), and a $56.00 application fee.

Minimum admission to the Master of Science in Biodiversity Conservation and Management program requires:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
• A minimum of a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) based on a 4.0 scale.
• Two letters of evaluation or recommendation letters (can be professional or academic)
• Resume
• Up to 1,000 word statement of personal intent describing your decision to pursue this degree and what you believe you will bring to the conservation field.

International students will also need to provide the following documentation:

• A test of English proficiency (TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS)
• Course-by-course transcript evaluation from a professional evaluation service currently recognized by NACES (www.naces.org). UW-Green Bay recommends one of the following evaluation services:
  • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)  http://www.ece.org/
  • World Education Services (WES)  http://www.wes.org/
• Please note that this program is entirely online. International students are welcome to apply for and enroll in an online program. However, they are unable to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa based on enrollment in this program. 

Degree Requirements  

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses:		31
BCM 700	Conservation Ecology
BCM 705	Conservation Research and Monitoring
BCM 710	Conservation Design and Management
BCM 720	Human Dimensions of Conservation
BCM 725	Evolution, Biodiversity, and Conservation
BCM 730	Data Analytics and Visualization
BCM 740	Conservation Leadership and Community Engagement
BCM 745	Emerging Conservation Concepts and Technologies
BCM 750	Spatial Analysis and Mapping
BCM 790	Biodiversity Conservation and Management Capstone Prep
BCM 795	Biodiversity Conservation and Management Capstone
Total Credits		31

Faculty 

Amy Carrozzino-Lyon, Restoration Scientist I, Natural & Applied Sciences.  Academic Director, Master of Science in Biodiversity Conservation Management (BCM).  B.S. (2006) Penn State; M.S. (2009) Virginia Tech; Ph.D. (2012) Virginia Tech.

Fields of interest: wetland ecology and conservation, fish and wildlife ecology and management, ecological restoration and monitoring, human dimensions of natural resources, environmental outreach and education, stakeholder engagement.

Forsythe, Patrick S., Professor, Natural and Applied Sciences (Biology). B.S. (2000), M.S. (2003) Eastern Illinois University, Ph.D. (2010) Michigan State University.

Fields of interest: fisheries biology and ecology with emphasis on ecosystems of the Great Lakes region; mating systems and early life history dynamics of fishes; behavioral ecology and species interactions; population/community ecology; landscape ecology; conservation biology; dynamic evolutionary processes that lead to adaptation.

Grubisha, Lisa C., Associate Professor, Natural and Applied Sciences (Biology). B.S. (1988) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, M.S. (1998) Oregon State University, Ph.D. (2005) University of California-Berkeley.

Fields of interest: Fungal ecology and evolution, Microbial diversity and function, Conservation Biology, Population Genetics, Phylogenetics.

Meinhardt, Daniel, Associate Professor, Natural and Applied Sciences (Biology). B.S. (1992) Southern Illinois University; Ph.D. (2002) University of Kansas. 

Fields of interest: human anatomy and physiology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, and evolutionary biology. 

Segre, Paolo, Assistant Professor, Natural & Applied Sciences. B.S. (2003) University of Illinois; M.S. (2006) University of Montana; Ph.D. (2015) University of British Columbia.

Fields of interest: movement ecology; conservation physiology; functional morphology; birds and mammals.

Stahlheber, Karen, Assistant Professor, Natural and Applied Sciences (Biology). B.A. Middlebury College; Ph.D. University of California Santa Barbara. 

Fields of interest: natural ecosystem restoration; connections among species diversity in plant communities; ecosystem procesess and human management.