Program Overview

Fisheries and Wildlife Science (Aquatic Ecology and Management) - Bachelor of Science in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology

The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology prepares students for careers in a variety of natural resource fields related to the management of wild animal populations and the natural systems they share.

Requirements

To graduate, an overall grade point average of 2.0 is required in courses taken in the major field and in all courses taken at NMSU. In addition, each required course must be passed with a grade of C- or better. The department offers a minor in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology for students majoring in other disciplines. The minor includes a minimum of 18 credit hours.

Course List

• General Education:
  • Area I: Communications
    • English Composition - Level 1: ENGL 1110G Composition I (4 credits)
    • English Composition - Level 2: ENGL 2210G Professional and Technical Communication Honors (3 credits)
    • Oral Communication: Select one from ACOM 1130G, COMM 1115G, or COMM 1130G (3 credits)
  • Area II: Mathematics
    • MATH 1430G Applications of Calculus I (3-4 credits) or MATH 1511G Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
  • Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences
    • ECON 2110G Macroeconomic Principles (3 credits) or ECON 2120G Principles of Microeconomics
    • BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory (4 credits)
    • PHYS 1115G Survey of Physics with Lab (4 credits) or PHYS 1230G & PHYS 1230L Algebra-Based Physics I and Algebra-Based Physics I Lab
  • Area V: Humanities (3 credits)
  • Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts (3 credits)
• Departmental/College Requirements:
  • Departmental Core Courses (29 credits)
    • FWCE 1110G Introduction to Natural Resources Management (4 credits)
    • FWCE 2110 Principles of Fish and Wildlife Management (3 credits)
    • FWCE 301 Wildlife Ecology (3 credits)
    • FWCE 330 Natural History of the Vertebrates (4 credits)
    • FWCE 391 Internship (1 credit)
    • FWCE 393 Professional Experience and Communication (3 credits)
    • FWCE 402 Seminar in Natural Resource Management (1 credit)
    • FWCE 409 Introduction to Population Ecology (3 credits)
    • FWCE 457 Ecological Biometry (3 credits)
    • FWCE 464 Management of Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems (3 credits)
  • Departmental Botany Requirements (9 credits)
    • BIOL 312 Plant Taxonomy (3 credits)
    • BIOL 313 Structure and Function of Plants (3 credits)
    • Select one from BIOL 314, RGSC 325, RGSC 357, or RGSC 440
  • Departmental Physiology Requirements (3-4 credits)
    • Select 3-4 credits from ANSC 370, BIOL 314, BIOL 381, or FWCE 432
  • Concentration Coursework
    • Techniques: FWCE 357 Fisheries Management and Analysis (4 credits)
    • Management: Choose one from FWCE 434, FWCE 459, or RGSC 318
    • Organismal Biology: Choose one from EPWS 462, FWCE 467, or FWCE 482
    • Wildlife Ecology and Management Electives (3-4 credits)
• Non-Departmental Requirements (in addition to Gen.Ed/VWW)
  • AGRO 305 Principles of Genetics (3 credits) or BIOL 305
  • A ST 311 Statistical Applications (3 credits)
  • BIOL 322 Zoology (3 credits)
  • CHEM 1215G General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors (4 credits)
  • CHEM 1225G General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors (4 credits)
  • Select one from GEOL 1110G or SOIL 2110 & 2110L
• Electives, to bring the total credits to 120

Roadmap

This roadmap assumes student placement in MATH 1430G Applications of Calculus I and ENGL 1110G Composition I. The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English.

First Year

• Semester 1:
  • MATH 1430G Applications of Calculus I (3 credits)
  • ENGL 1110G Composition I (4 credits)
  • FWCE 1110G Introduction to Natural Resources Management (4 credits)
  • ACES 1120 Freshman Orientation (1 credit)
  • Area V: Humanities Course (3 credits)
• Semester 2:
  • BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory (4 credits)
  • FWCE 2110 Principles of Fish and Wildlife Management (3 credits)
  • Choose from ACOM 1130G, COMM 1115G, or COMM 1130G (3 credits)
  • Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts (3 credits)
  • Choose from ECON 2110G or ECON 2120G (3 credits)

Second Year

• Semester 1:
  • CHEM 1215G General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors (4 credits)
  • CHEM 1121 General Supplemental Instruction I (1 credit)
  • FWCE 301 Wildlife Ecology (3 credits)
  • PHYS 1115G Survey of Physics with Lab (4 credits)
  • Elective Course (3 credits)
• Semester 2:
  • CHEM 1225G General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors (4 credits)
  • CHEM 1122 General Supplemental Instruction II (1 credit)
  • BIOL 2110G & BIOL 2110L Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory (4 credits)
  • BIOL 313 Structure and Function of Plants (3 credits)
  • Choose from FWCE 434, FWCE 459, or RGSC 318 (3-4 credits)

Third Year

• Semester 1:
  • ENGL 2210G Professional and Technical Communication Honors (3 credits)
  • BIOL 322 Zoology (3 credits)
  • A ST 311 Statistical Applications (3 credits)
  • VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course (3 credits)
  • Choose from SOIL 2110 & 2110L or GEOL 1110G (4 credits)
• Semester 2:
  • FWCE 330 Natural History of the Vertebrates (4 credits)
  • FWCE 357 Fisheries Management and Analysis (4 credits)
  • Choose from EPWS 462, FWCE 467, or FWCE 482 (3-4 credits)
  • Elective Course (2 credits)

Fourth Year

• Semester 1:
  • FWCE 391 Internship (1 credit)
  • FWCE 393 Professional Experience and Communication (3 credits)
  • BIOL 312 Plant Taxonomy (3 credits)
  • FWCE 457 Ecological Biometry (3 credits)
  • FWCE 402 Seminar in Natural Resource Management (1 credit)
  • Choose from BIOL 305 or AGRO 305 (3 credits)
  • Elective Course (1 credit)
• Semester 2:
  • FWCE 409 Introduction to Population Ecology (3 credits)
  • FWCE 464 Management of Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems (3 credits)
  • BIOL 314 Plant Physiology (3 credits)
  • Choose from ANSC 370, BIOL 314, BIOL 381, or FWCE 432 (3-4 credits)
  • Elective Course (1 credit)

Additional Electives

Take additional credits so the total adds up to at least 120 credits, including 55 credits of 300- and 400-level classes.

Notes

• No more than 6 credits of Physical Education classes will count towards the degree.
• Maximum of two grades of 'D' in FWCE classes will count towards a student's degree.