Our Program

Utah State University’s Human-Wildlife Interaction (HWI) certificate is designed for graduate students or professionals wanting skills and training to address the growing challenges of the human-wildlife interactions. The program integrates wildlife science with communication, policy, and stakeholder engagement to prepare graduates for collaborative natural resource management.

Students who complete the program will receive a graduate-level certificate in Human-Wildlife Interactions. Their USU transcript will list the courses and grades received to complete the program. The certificate is complementary to a wide variety of graduate programs, and is available as a standalone certificate.  However, credits obtained from the certificate may be applied toward a graduate degree. The certificate may be completed in one year, but students have six years to complete the certificate.

All online courses in this certificate program will be taught in English. International students from non-English speaking countries are expected to be able to communicate in English.  Students must communicate both orally and in writing, with the instructor as well as other fellow students in class.

Course descriptions are available on the Human-Wildlife Interaction (HWI) – Post-Bachelor's Certificate Catalog page.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Completed application form and application fee
• Official transcript(s) of ALL college credits

Registration Information

How to Apply:

• Applicants go to applynow.usu.edu.  Choose the Graduate Application and then the Human-Wildlife Interactions Certificate.
• Applicant must provide an official transcript showing a bachelor's degree or higher has been received. Please send official transcripts to the following address:  0900 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322-0900.  Official electronic transcripts may be sent to graduateschool@usu.edu from the institution.  (If you've attended USU, we will obtain your transcripts.)
• Application deadlines are two weeks prior to the start of each semester. Find important dates & deadlines on the USU Academic and Registration Calendars.

Course Requirements

Students must complete FOUR courses (3 credits each) in order to fulfill the requirements for the certificate. Each course is offered online and the semesters they are offered are listed below:

Course Name		Credits	Spring	Fall
Required courses:
NR 6500	WIldlife Ecology and Management for Natural Resource Managers	3	X	X
WILD 6400	Ecology Of Animal Populations	3		X
WILD 5300/7300	Human-Wildlife Interactions	3		X
Take one of the following courses:
ENVS 6010	Applying Human Dimensions Concepts to Natural Resource Management	3	X
ENVS 6110	Human Dimensions of WIldlife Management	3	X