Those interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the Department of Natural Resources Management should consult with a potential faculty advisor and the departmental chairperson. Doctoral candidates may focus their research in a variety of disciplines, including rangeland management, range improvement, range animal nutrition, fire ecology, plant ecology, plant ecophysiology, wildlife habitat management, big game ecology, upland gamebird ecology, wildlife population ecology, geospatial analyses, environmental DNA, fisheries, or wetland ecology and management. An oral and/or written preliminary examination is required of all students seeking a Ph.D. degree. If the preliminary examination reveals weaknesses in the student's background, remedial courses may be designated by the graduate advisory committee. The student's graduate advisory committee will also recommend courses to be taken in supporting disciplines. In accordance with the requirements of the Graduate School, a qualifying examination is prepared and administered by the candidate's graduate advisory committee and any other professors the committee may consider necessary. The doctorate normally requires completion of 72, or more, semester credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the bachelor's degree, exclusive of credit for the dissertation. In addition to the courses required for the major, an applicant for the doctorate must have taken at least 15 semester hours of graduate coursework outside the department. These hours may be taken in supporting fields without concern for a minor specialization, depending on recommendation of the student's graduate advisory committee. However, if they are taken in a block of related courses, they may be declared as a minor.