Program Overview

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Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (BS): Fisheries Science Concentration

The Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology (FWCB) major prepares students to manage and conserve populations of fish and wildlife in their natural habitats. This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) major gives students the skills they need to observe, research, monitor and assess the impact of environmental change, human behavior and public policy on wild populations of animals. Using a combination of lab work, technology and field study, students develop conservation strategies that ensure the long-term health of fish and wildlife populations.

After sophomore year, students spend six weeks in summer field courses. During the “summer camp” experience, students learn hands-on fish and wildlife management techniques in locations across the state. From plant and animal identification and bird mist netting to camera-trapping and radio telemetry, students gain experiences that prepare them for careers after graduation. FWCB students have the option to substitute the summer field course with approved internships or study abroad courses.

The Fisheries concentration meets the qualifications for certification by the American Fisheries Society. The fisheries concentration includes required courses in chemistry, aquatic ecology, and biology of fish that are not required in the other FWCB concentrations.

Plan Requirements

• ENV 100: Student Success in Environmental First Year (1 hour)
• ENV 101: Exploring the Environment (2 hours)
• MA 131: Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A (3 hours)
• BIO 181: Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity (4 hours)
• BIO 183: Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology (4 hours)
• CH 101 & CH 102: Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory (4 hours)
• Acad Writing Research 1 (4 hours)
• FW 221: Conservation of Natural Resources (3 hours)
  • Total Hours: 25

Second Year

• FOR 172: Forest System Mapping and Mensuration I (2 hours)
• PY 131: Conceptual Physics (4 hours)
• COM 110 or COM 112: Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
• CH 201 & CH 202: Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory (4 hours)
• AEC 360 or PB 360: Ecology or Ecology (4 hours)
• Select one of the following Organic Chemistry combinations: (4 hours)
  • CH 220 & CH 222: Introductory Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry I Lab
  • CH 221 & CH 222: Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab
• Economics Elective (3 hours)
• Communication Elective (3 hours)
  • Total Hours: 27

Summer

• Experiential Learning (6 hours)
  • Total Hours: 6

Third Year

• FW 353: Wildlife Management (3 hours)
• FW 373: Vertebrate Natural History (3 hours)
• FW 411: Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries (3 hours)
• AEC 420: Introduction to Fisheries Science (3 hours)
• Select one of the following Genetics courses: (3-4 hours)
  • FW 402: Genetics for Wildlife Management
  • GN 301: Genetics in Human Affairs
  • GN 311: Principles of Genetics
• ST 311: Introduction to Statistics (3 hours)
• ENG 333: Communication for Science and Research (3 hours)
• GIS 280: Introduction to GIS (3 hours)
• ENT 201: Insects and People (3 hours)
  • Total Hours: 27

Fourth Year

• FW 415: Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (1 hour)
• AEC 441: Biology of Fishes (3 hours)
• Quantitative Elective (3 hours)
• Policy Elective (3 hours)
• Aquatic Elective (3 hours)
• Physical Science Elective (3 hours)
• Biology Elective (3 hours)
• Technical Elective (3 hours)
• Technical Elective (2 hours)
  • Total Hours: 24
  • Total Hours: 109

Course List

• GEP Courses:
  • GEP Humanities (6 hours)
  • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (2 hours)
  • GEP Elective (3 hours)
  • GEP Global Knowledge (Verify Requirements)
  • GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement)
  • World Language Proficiency (Verify Requirements)
  • Total Hours: 11

Acad Writing Research

• ENG 101: Academic Writing and Research (4 hours)
• FLE 101: Academic Writing and Research (4 hours)
• Transfer Sequence:
  • ENG 202: Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing (3 hours)
  • ENG 1GEP (3 hours)

Communication Electives

• COM 201: Introduction to Persuasion Theory (3 hours)
• COM 211: Argumentation and Advocacy (3 hours)
• COM 226: Introduction to Public Relations (3 hours)
• COM 289: Science Communication and Public Engagement (3 hours)
• COM 301: Presentational Speaking (3 hours)
• EMS 350: Teaching Environmental Education (3 hours)
• ENG 214: Introduction to Editing (3 hours)
• ENG 216: Technologies for Texts (3 hours)
• ENG 316: Introduction to News and Article Writing (3 hours)
• PRT 485: Environmental Education in Practice (3 hours)

Economics Electives

• ARE 201: Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics (3 hours)
• ARE 201A: Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics (3 hours)
• EC 201: Principles of Microeconomics (3 hours)
• EC 205: Fundamentals of Economics (3 hours)
• NR 219: Natural Resource Markets (3 hours)

Experiential Learning

• Summer Camp 2:
  • FW 311: Piedmont Wildlife Ecology and Management (3 hours)
  • FW 312: Fisheries Techniques and Management (1 hour)
  • FW 313: Mountain Wildlife Ecology and Management (1 hour)
  • FW 314: Coastal Ecology and Management (1 hour)
• Internship 2:
  • FW 492: External Learning Experience (3-6 hours)
• Study Abroad 2:
  • FW 405: Tropical Wildlife Ecology (3 hours)
  • FW 445: Human Dimensions of Conservation Biology in the Bahamas (3 hours)

Quantitative Electives

• MA 231: Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B (3 hours)
• MA 241: Calculus II (4 hours)
• NR 300: Natural Resource Measurements (4 hours)
• ST 312: Introduction to Statistics II (3 hours)
• MA 107: Precalculus I (Only for cases when math placement exam results determine that pre-calculus is necessary before enrolling in MA 131.) (3 hours)

Policy Electives

• ARE 309: Environmental Law & Economic Policy (3 hours)
• NR 460: Renewable Natural Resource Management and Policy (3 hours)
• PS 320: U.S. Environmental Law and Politics (3 hours)
• PS 336: Global Environmental Politics (3 hours)

Aquatic Electives

• AEC 380: Water Resources: Global Issues in Ecology, Policy, Management, and Advocacy (3 hours)
• AEC 419: Freshwater Ecology (4 hours)
• MEA 200: Introduction to Oceanography (3 hours)
• MEA 220: Marine Biology (3 hours)

Physical Science Electives

• CH 201: Chemistry - A Quantitative Science (3 hours)
• CH 202: Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory (1 hour)
• CH 223: Organic Chemistry II (3 hours)
• ES 200: Climate Change and Sustainability (3 hours)
• ES 300: Energy and Environment (3 hours)
• MEA 100: Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections (4 hours)
• MEA 130: Introduction to Weather and Climate (3 hours)
• MEA 200: Introduction to Oceanography (3 hours)
• MEA 210: Oceanography Lab (1 hour)
• MEA 220: Marine Biology (3 hours)
• MEA 250: Introduction to Coastal Environments (3 hours)
• MEA 323: Geochemistry of Natural Waters (3 hours)
• PY 212: College Physics II (4 hours)

Biology Electives

• AEC 409: Ecology and Conservation of Freshwater Invertebrates (4 hours)
• ENT 425: General Entomology (3 hours)
• ZO 250: Animal Anatomy and Physiology (4 hours)
• ZO 402: Invertebrate Biology (4 hours)
• ZO 410: Introduction to Animal Behavior (3 hours)

Technical Electives

• FW 402: Genetics for Wildlife Management (3 hours)
• FW 404: Wildlife Habitat Management (3 hours)
• FW 413: Herpetology (4 hours)
• FW 453: Principles of Wildlife Science (4 hours)
• AEC 245: Practicing Conservation Ecology (3 hours)
• AEC 370: Parasite and Disease Ecology (3 hours)
• AEC 371: Parasite and Disease Ecology Lab (1 hour)
• AEC 380: Water Resources: Global Issues in Ecology, Policy, Management, and Advocacy (3 hours)
• AEC 384: Tropical Ecology in a Changing World (3 hours)
• AEC 390: Community Ecology (3 hours)
• AEC 400: Applied Ecology (3 hours)
• AEC 409: Ecology and Conservation of Freshwater Invertebrates (4 hours)
• AEC 419: Freshwater Ecology (4 hours)
• AEC 441: Biology of Fishes (3 hours)
• AEC 460: Field Ecology and Methods (4 hours)
• AEC 470: Urban Ecology (3 hours)
• ANS 230: Animal Nutrition (3 hours)
• CS 230: Introduction to Agroecology (3 hours)
• CS 415: Integrated Pest Management (3 hours)
• DSC 201: Introduction to R/Python for Data Science (1 hour)
• DSC 202: Introduction to Data Visualization (1 hour)
• DSC 205: Data Communication (1 hour)
• ENT 207: Insects and Human Disease (3 hours)
• ENT 212: Basic Entomology (1 hour)
• ENT 401: Honey Bee Biology and Management (3 hours)
• ENT 402: Forest Entomology (3 hours)
• ENT 425: General Entomology (3 hours)
• ES 113: Earth from Space (3 hours)
• ES 150: Water and the Environment (3 hours)
• ES 200: Climate Change and Sustainability (3 hours)
• ES 300: Energy and Environment (3 hours)
• FOR 248: Forest History, Technology and Society (3 hours)
• FOR 252: Introduction to Forest Science (3 hours)
• FOR 304: Theory of Silviculture (4 hours)
• FOR 318: Forest Pathology (3 hours)
• FOR 330: North Carolina Forests (3 hours)
• FOR 353: GIS and Remote Sensing for Environmental Analysis and Assessment (3 hours)
• FOR 401: Dendrology (4 hours)
• FOR 402: Forest Entomology (3 hours)
• FOR 414: World Forestry (3 hours)
• FOR 420: Watershed and Wetlands Hydrology (4 hours)
• FOR 472: Forest Soils (4 hours)
• MEA 200: Introduction to Oceanography (3 hours)
• MEA 210: Oceanography Lab (1 hour)
• MEA 220: Marine Biology (3 hours)
• MEA 250: Introduction to Coastal Environments (3 hours)
• MEA 251: Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory (1 hour)
• MEA 409: Watershed Forensics (3 hours)
• MEA 449: Principles of Biological Oceanography (3 hours)
• NR 203: Humans and the Environment (3 hours)
• NR 300: Natural Resource Measurements (4 hours)
• NR 350: International Sustainable Resource Use (4 hours)
• NR 400: Natural Resource Management (4 hours)
• NR 420: Watershed and Wetlands Hydrology (4 hours)
• NR 421: Wetland Science and Management (3 hours)
• NR 484: Environmental Impact Assessment (4 hours)
• PB 200: Plant Life (4 hours)
• PB 220: Local Flora (3 hours)
• PB 250: Plant Biology (4 hours)
• SSC 185: Land and Life (3 hours)
• SSC 200: Soil Science (3 hours)
• ZO 233: Human-Animal Interactions (3 hours)
• ZO 250: Animal Anatomy and Physiology (4 hours)
• ZO 317: Primate Ecology and Evolution (3 hours)
• ZO 350: Animal Phylogeny and Diversity (4 hours)
• ZO 402: Invertebrate Biology (4 hours)
• MEA 252: Biology of Marine Mammals (3 hours)
• MEA 350: Marine Conservation Biology (3 hours)
• AEC 424: Marine Fisheries Ecology (3 hours)

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Critical Path Courses

• Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan.

Plan of Study Grid First Year

• Fall Semester:
  • ENV 100 & ENV 101: Student Success in Environmental First Year and Exploring the Environment (3 hours)
  • MA 131: Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A (3 hours)
  • BIO 181: Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity (4 hours)
  • FW 221: Conservation of Natural Resources (CP) (3 hours)
  • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (1 hour)
  • Total Hours: 14
• Spring Semester:
  • CH 101: Chemistry - A Molecular Science (3 hours)
  • CH 102: General Chemistry Laboratory (1 hour)
  • BIO 183: Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology (4 hours)
  • ENG 101: Academic Writing and Research 1 (4 hours)
  • GEP Humanities (3 hours)
  • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (1 hour)
  • Total Hours: 16

Second Year

• Fall Semester:
  • FOR 172: Forest System Mapping and Mensuration I (2 hours)
  • Select one of the following: (4 hours)
    • CH 220 & CH 222: Introductory Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry I Lab
    • CH 221 & CH 222: Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab
  • Communication Elective (3 hours)
  • Economics Elective (3 hours)
  • Total Hours: 12
• Spring Semester:
  • AEC 360 or PB 360: Ecology or Ecology (CP) (4 hours)
  • CH 201 & CH 202: Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory (4 hours)
  • COM 110 or COM 112: Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
  • PY 131: Conceptual Physics (4 hours)
  • Total Hours: 15

Summer

• Experiential Learning (6 hours)
• Total Hours: 6

Third Year

• Fall Semester:
  • GEP Humanities (3 hours)
  • ENG 333: Communication for Science and Research (CP) (3 hours)
  • FW 353: Wildlife Management (CP) (3 hours)
  • ST 311: Introduction to Statistics (3 hours)
  • Select one of the following: (3-4 hours)
    • FW 402: Genetics for Wildlife Management
    • GN 301: Genetics in Human Affairs
    • GN 311: Principles of Genetics
  • Total Hours: 15
• Spring Semester:
  • FW 373: Vertebrate Natural History (CP) (3 hours)
  • FW 411: Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries (3 hours)
  • AEC 420: Introduction to Fisheries Science (CP) (3 hours)
  • ENT 201: Insects and People (GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives) (3 hours)
  • GIS 280: Introduction to GIS (3 hours)
  • Total Hours: 15

Fourth Year

• Fall Semester:
  • Quantitative Elective (3 hours)
  • GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives (2-3 hours)
  • Policy Elective (3 hours)
  • Aquatic Elective (CP) (3 hours)
  • FW 415: Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (1 hour)
  • Total Hours: 12
• Spring Semester:
  • AEC 441: Biology of Fishes (CP) (3 hours)
  • Biology Elective (3 hours)
  • Physical Science Elective (3 hours)
  • Technical Elective (CP) (3 hours)
  • GEP Elective (3 hours)
  • Total Hours: 15
• Total Hours: 120

Career Opportunities

Graduates are prepared for graduate school and entry-level professional positions in state and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations and private industry. Upon graduation, students are qualified to seek certification from The Wildlife Society or the American Fisheries Society.

Career Titles

• Conservation Scientist
• Environmental Scientist
• Environmental Scientist and Protection Technician
• Fisheries Manager
• Forest and Conservation Technician
• Forester

Learn More About Careers

• NCcareers.org
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Career One Stop Videos
• Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
• Focus 2 Apply Assessment (Available to prospective students)
• North Carolina Chapter of the Wildlife Society
• North Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society