Graduate Program 

Application Procedure

You may earn a Master of Science in Natural Resources from the College of Natural Resource (CNR), and choose an emphasis from a variety of areas, including forestry, wildlife, fisheries, limnology, resource management, youth programming, environmental education, international resource management, land use planning, soil science, aquatic toxicology, groundwater, watershed management, water chemistry.  The  Graduate Program offers many opportunities for advanced study, research, and involvement in natural resource professional activities. All of our programs are designed to meet your individual needs and interests.

Admission to the CNR Graduate Program requires that you recruit a member of the Colleges graduate faculty to agree to serve as your advisor. You are responsible for contacting faculty members in your area of interest to discuss your application. When a faculty member agrees to be your advisor, you will receive a letter of acceptance to the CNR Graduate Program.

To be considered for acceptance into the program you must submit the items listed below and have obtained at least a 3.00 grade point average** during your last two years as an undergraduate student. 

  1. CNR application (Information on where to send all application items is on this form.)
  2. Official graduate record exam scores (GRE)**
    • You must have a minimum combined Verbal and Quantitative score of at least 1,000
  3. TOEFL or IELTS (foreign students only)**
    • For the TOEFL, you must have  a score of at least 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 70 on the Internet-based test.
    • For the IELT, you must have a score  of at least 7.
  4. Resume
  5. Two letters of recommendation (A letter or this form will be acceptable)
  6. Essay describing your professional interests and goals
  7. Copy of a paper written by you
  8. Official copy of your college transcripts (If you are a current or former UWSP student you do not need to request your UWSP transcripts)
  9. UWSP graduate school applications

The application deadline for fall is March 1st and the spring deadline is November 1st.

**If you fail to meet the minimum guidelines for the grade point average requirement, GRE, TOEFL or IELT scores you may be accepted if your prospective advisor submits a letter of acceptance to the Associate Dean for inclusion in your graduate file.