Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences

The Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences offers Master of Science degree in Range and Wildlife Management. The department also offers the Doctor of Philosophy in Wildlife and Rangeland Sciences.

Research projects in Wildlife Science have involved a variety of topics on game and nongame wildlife, habitat management, disease issues, natural history and basic theoretical aspects of wildlife ecology and management. Faculty from the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute are recognized internationally for their contributions to natural resource management. 

Department Faculty

Ballard, Bart M Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Chair; C. Berdon & Rolanette Lawrence Endowed Chair in Waterfowl Research, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., Iowa State University; M.S., Texas A&M University-Kingsville; Ph.D., Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Brennan, Leonard Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; C.C. "Charlie" Winn Endowed Chair for Quail Research, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., The Evergreen State College; M.S., Humboldt State University; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley.

Cherry, Michael Assistant Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., University of Georgia; Ph.D., University of Georgia.

DeYoung, Randall W Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., Texas A&M University-Kingsville; M.S., Texas A&M University-Kingsville; Ph.D., Mississippi State University.

Foley, Aaron Research Assistant Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S, State University of New York; M.S., Texas A&M University-Kingsville; Ph.D., Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Gonzalez-Valenzuela, Eduardo Instructional Assistant Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; B.S., Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua (Mexico); M.S., Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua (Mexico); Ph.D., Texas A&M University.

Henke, Scott Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; Regents Professor; B.S., Purdue University; M.S., Texas Tech University; Ph.D., Texas Tech University.

Hernandez, Fidel Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; Regents Professor; B.S., Angelo State University; M.S., Angelo State University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University.

Lobardi, Jason Research Assistant Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., Delaware Valley University; M.S., Stephen F. Austin University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Ortega-Santos, J. Alfonso Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas (Mexico); M.S., Universidad Autonoma Agraria (Mexico); Ph.D., University of Florida.

Perotto, Humberto Associate Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.Sc., Universidad Mayor de San Simón (Bolivia); M.S., Texas A&M University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University.

Rideout-Hanzak, Sandra Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.A., Ball State University; M.S.F., Stephen F. Austin University; Ph.D., Stephen F. Austin State University.

Schognamillo, Daniel Research Associate Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.Sc., Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (Argentina); M.Sc., University of Florida; Ph.D., Louisiana State University.

Tanner, Evan Assistant Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., University of Tennessee; M.S., University of Tennessee; Ph.D., Oklahoma State University.

Tewes, Michael E Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., Texas A&M University; M.S., Texas A&M University; Ph.D., University of Idaho.

Unger, Ashley Assistant Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., Delaware Valley University; M.S., University of Tennessee; Ph.D., Oklahoma State University.

Wester, David B Professor, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., Colorado State University; M.S., Texas Tech University; Ph.D., Texas Tech University.

Emeritus

DeYoung, Charles Research Scientist, Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; B.S., Texas A&M University; M.S., Texas A&I University; Ph.D., Colorado State University.

Range and Wildlife Management (RWSC)

RWSC 5306  Thesis  3 SCH  (3)  

Designed for thesis option students. The course requires completion of thesis research. Prerequisite: departmental approval. May be repeated for maximum of 6 semester hours.

RWSC 5390  Adv Studies Range/Wildlife Mgt  1-3 SCH  (1-3)  

Material offered will be determined by the needs of the students. Laboratory and lecture will vary according to the subject needs. May be repeated under a different topic.

RWSC 5399  Research Topics  1-9 SCH  (1-9)  

This course is specifically designed for Plan I students. Required during the research, data analysis, and initial writing stage. Grading for the course will be S for satisfactory or U for unsatisfactory.

Rangeland and Wildlife Management, M.S.

Rangeland and Wildlife, M.S. - Thesis Option I 

The 30 credit hour requirement is met through major core, major research, and major elective courses. A minimum of 18 credit hours in graduate level RWSC and/or WSCI courses, and six (6) hours of quantitative analysis statistic-based courses is required toward the RWSC Master of Science degree. Additionally, free elective courses may not count toward the credit hour requirement. 

Major Core-Support Field 16
Quantitative Analysis Course (stats based)
Quantitative Analysis Course (stats based)
Major Research6
In addition to the above, the course below must be taken twice for a total of six (6) semester credit hours
Thesis
Major Elective Courses 212-18
Free Elective Courses 30-6
TOTAL30 Credits
1

WSCI Stats Elective- WSCI 6401, 6402, 6403, 6404 or other stats graduate-level courses. 

2

RWSC or WSCI Elective- Electives from graduate-level courses in rangeland and wildlife sciences. List of courses to take is under recommendation with major advisor, and listed below.

3

Free Elective- Electives from graduate-level coursework in biology, geography/GIS, animal science, rangeland and wildlife science, plant and soil science, and ranch management. 

Students who received a graduate stipend are expected to be enrolled as a full-time student each semester. Research hours (5399 or 6999) can be taken to fulfill the obligation of being a full-time graduate students; however, research hours do not count toward formal course work hours.

List of Major Elective Course Options

WSCI 6302Biopolitics, PR & Wildlife Law3
WSCI 6310Teach & Comm Method Scientists3
WSCI 6315Landscape Ecology3
WSCI 6320Prescribed Burning3
WSCI 6325Fire Ecology3
WSCI 6330Remote Sensing for Wildlife St3
WSCI 6345Restoration Ecology3
WSCI 6371Wildlife Nutrition3
WSCI 6372Wildlife Conservation Biol3
WSCI 6374WildlifeResearch Methods3
WSCI 6382Waterfowl Ecology & Management3
WSCI 6387Wildlife Habitat Mgmt3
WSCI 6390Adv Studies Range and Nat Res1-3
WSCI 6391Ecosys Function and Management3
WSCI 6392Wildlife & Nat Resource Sci3
WSCI 6394Grazing Management3
WSCI 6395Probs in Range and Wldlfe Mgt1-3
WSCI 6396Avian Community Ecology3
WSCI 6397Wildlife Diseases3
WSCI 6401Experimental Design & Analysis4
WSCI 6402Applied Regression Analysis4
WSCI 6403Practical Non-Parametric Stats4
WSCI 6404Applied Multivariate Analysis4
WSCI 6381Wildlife Population Ecology3