UP Gazette

Lake Superior State University (LSSU) has introduced an accelerated 4+1 Master of Science program in Fisheries and Wildlife Management, allowing students to complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years. The program is the first of its kind in the Upper Midwest.

Dr. Kevin Kapuscinski, a professor in LSSU’s School of Natural Resources, said, “This program offers a rare, streamlined pathway for students to earn a master’s degree, which is the most marketable degree in the fisheries and wildlife field.”

The program is designed to provide students with hands-on learning and professional preparation. LSSU is located in the Great Lakes basin, which is known for its ecological diversity. Students will have opportunities for research, conservation work, and fieldwork in this environment.

Dr. Ashley Moerke, Dean of the College of Great Lakes Ecology and Education, stated, “LSSU is uniquely positioned to provide a strong and applied experience in natural resource management. Our campus is surrounded by the Great Lakes, state and national forests, and hundreds of miles of streams and rivers. The new MS program takes full advantage of our natural setting and our partnerships with tribal, state, and federal resource agencies to give students a seamless path from undergraduate training into advanced graduate opportunities.”

The program also utilizes LSSU’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education (CFRE), where students work with faculty and partners from agencies and organizations in both the U.S. and Canada.

Moerke added, “CFRE’s mission is to advance freshwater science and inspire the next generation to tackle real-world conservation challenges right here in the Great Lakes region, and this new MS degree program will allow CFRE to have an even greater impact.”

Students will begin graduate-level coursework in their senior undergraduate year before moving directly into the master’s portion of the program. The initiative is part of LSSU’s efforts to expand its Fisheries and Wildlife Management program, which has recently added new faculty, upgraded equipment, and broadened partnerships with various agencies.

Applications for the new MS program will open later this fall.