Master of Science (M.S.) Major in Population and Conservation Biology | Texas State University

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 19-1031.00

Skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingWritingScienceCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision Making

Knowledge

English LanguageBiologyMathematicsGeographyCustomer and Personal Service

Abilities

Oral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningInformation OrderingWritten ExpressionInductive ReasoningSpeech ClarityCategory Flexibility

Tasks

Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agri
Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vege
Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.

Technology

Document management softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareData base user interface and query software

Tools

Desktop computersDigital camerasDumpy levelsDutch augersGlobal positioning system GPS receiversLaptop computersLaser distance measurement systemsPersonal computersTheodolitesTotal stationsWater samplers

Work Values

RelationshipsAchievementWorking ConditionsIndependenceRecognitionSupport

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium19-1031.00	Conservation Scientists	title_inference	$67,950 median$107,720 top	+3.51%	100

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: advanced (Level 4)(based on Master's Degree)

Regional or statewide conservation science strategy — set direction by integrating emerging research across agronomy, soil science, hydrology, and ecology into agency-wide program goals and priorities.
Conservation planning frameworks and land management policies — develop and champion at organizational or interagency scale, shaping standards that govern practice across multiple districts or jurisdictions.
Quality assurance and adaptive management systems for construction monitoring — establish organization-wide protocols that ensure consistent project conformance and evidence-based program improvement.
Senior land managers, agency executives, and elected officials — advise on high-stakes conservation policy decisions, translating complex scientific findings into strategic guidance with broad resource impact.
Large-scale soil and water management initiatives — lead design, implementation, and evaluation, directing multidisciplinary teams and securing resources to achieve landscape-level conservation outcomes.
Technical standards and engineering guidance documents — author and peer-review at the national or regional level to advance the profession's capacity to compute and apply conservation practice specifications.
Enterprise GIS infrastructure and spatial data governance — direct development and integration strategies that enable organization-wide access to authoritative geographic information for conservation decision-making.
Cross-agency and public–private partnership programs targeting wetland, habitat, and groundwater restoration — lead coalition building, negotiate agreements, and oversee program governance to achieve systemic environmental outcomes.
Emerging conservation scientists and mid-career professionals — mentor, coach, and develop through structured training programs, fostering critical thinking, scientific integrity, and interdisciplinary problem-solving capacity.
Organization-level performance measurement and systems evaluation — design and apply to assess the cumulative environmental impact of conservation investments and drive data-informed resource allocation decisions.

Course Pathway

32 courses in this program

Program Requirements

Courses required to complete this program

BIO 7120Population Biology Seminar

1 cr

BIO 7405Statistics and Experimental Design I

4 cr

BIO 7406Statistics and Experimental Design II

4 cr

BIO 7336Evolutionary Ecology

3 cr

BIO 7346Conservation Biology

3 cr

BIO 7427Principles of Population Biology I

4 cr

BIO 7428Principles of Population Biology II

4 cr

BIO 7433Population Genetics

4 cr

BIO 7466Phylogenetics

4 cr

BIO 7469Introduction to Ecological Modeling

4 cr

BIO 5295Fundamentals of Research

2 cr

BIO 5301Evolution

3 cr

BIO 5410Field Biology of Plants

4 cr

BIO 5423Wildlife Management

4 cr

BIO 5435Techniques in Wildlife Management

4 cr

BIO 5454Plant Ecology

4 cr

BIO 5472Animal Behavior

4 cr

BIO 7308History of Vegetation and Climate

3 cr

BIO 7353Biogeography

3 cr

BIO 7402Molecular Field Techniques

4 cr

BIO 7410Aquatic Microbial Ecology

4 cr

BIO 7414Ecology of Infectious Diseases of Wildlife

4 cr

BIO 7419Stream Ecology

4 cr

GEO 5415Geographic Applications of Remote Sensing

4 cr

GEO 5417Advanced Cartographic Design

4 cr

GEO 5418Geographic Information Systems I

4 cr

GEO 5419Geographic Information Systems II

4 cr

BIO 5214Collaborative Research

2 cr

BIO 2400Microbiology

4 cr

BIO 2450Genetics

4 cr

BIO 5334International Studies of Wildlife Ecology and Natural History

3 cr

BIO 5333International Studies of Plant Ecology and Conservation

3 cr

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.