Program Overview

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Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (BS): Wildlife 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 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.

Overview

After the 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 wildlife concentration provides students with specific coursework necessary to apply for the Associate Wildlife Biologist (AWB) certification from the Wildlife Society upon graduation. The AWB coursework includes extra courses in plant biology, communication, and wildlife habitat management that are not required in the other FWCB concentrations.

Plan Requirements

The plan of study grid for the first year includes:

• 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 for the first year: 25

The plan of study grid for the second year includes:

• FOR 172: Forest System Mapping and Mensuration I (2 hours)
• COM 110 or COM 112: Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
• PY 131: Conceptual Physics (4 hours)
• PB 200 or PB 250: Plant Life or Plant Biology (4 hours)
• AEC 360 or PB 360: Ecology or Ecology (4 hours)
• Communication Elective (3 hours)
• Quantitative Elective (3 hours)
• Economics Elective (3 hours)

Total hours for the second year: 26

The plan of study grid for the summer includes:

• Experiential Learning (6 hours)

Total hours for the summer: 6

The plan of study grid for the third year includes:

• FW 353: Wildlife Management (3 hours)
• FW 373: Vertebrate Natural History (3 hours)
• FW 411: Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries (3 hours)
• ST 311: Introduction to Statistics (3 hours)
• FOR 401: Dendrology (4 hours)
• ENG 333: Communication for Science and Research (3 hours)
• Select one of the following Genetics courses: (3 hours)
  • FW 402: Genetics for Wildlife Management
  • GN 301: Genetics in Human Affairs
  • GN 311: Principles of Genetics
• 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

Total hours for the third year: 26

The plan of study grid for the fourth year includes:

• FW 404: Wildlife Habitat Management (3 hours)
• FW 415: Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (1 hour)
• FW 453: Principles of Wildlife Science (4 hours)
• GIS 280: Introduction to GIS (3 hours)
• AEC 420: Introduction to Fisheries Science (3 hours)
• ENT 201: Insects and People (3 hours)
• Policy Elective (3 hours)
• Physical Science Elective (3 hours)
• Wildlife Elective (3 hours)

Total hours for the fourth year: 26

Total hours for the program: 109

A grade of C- or better is required.

Course List

• GEP Courses:
  • GEP Humanities (6 hours)
  • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (2 hours)
  • GEP Elective (3 hours)
  • GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
  • GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement)
  • World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
• 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)
• 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 (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)
• 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)
• 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)
• Wildlife Electives:
  • FW 402: Genetics for Wildlife Management (3 hours)
  • FW 403: Urban Wildlife Management (3 hours)
  • FW 405: Tropical Wildlife Ecology (3 hours)
  • FW 413: Herpetology (4 hours)
  • FW 444: Mammalogy (3 hours)
  • AEC 501: Avian Ecology (4 hours)
  • ZO 250: Animal Anatomy and Physiology (4 hours)
  • ZO 410: Introduction to Animal Behavior (3 hours)
  • MEA 252: Biology of Marine Mammals (3 hours)

Semester Sequence

The semester sequence is as follows:

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 (3 hours)
  • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (1 hour)
• 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 (4 hours)
  • GEP Humanities (3 hours)
  • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (1 hour)

Second Year:

• Fall Semester:
  • PB 200 or PB 250: Plant Life or Plant Biology (4 hours)
  • PY 131: Conceptual Physics (4 hours)
  • FOR 172: Forest System Mapping and Mensuration I (2 hours)
  • COM 110 or COM 112: Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
  • Economics Elective (3 hours)
• Spring Semester:
  • PB 360: Ecology (4 hours)
  • Quantitative Elective (3 hours)
  • GEP Elective (3 hours)
  • Communications Elective (3 hours)

Summer:

• Experiential Learning (6 hours)

Third Year:

• Fall Semester:
  • FW 353: Wildlife Management (3 hours)
  • FOR 401: Dendrology (4 hours)
  • ST 311: Introduction to Statistics (3 hours)
  • Select one of the following Genetics courses: (3 hours)
    • FW 402: Genetics for Wildlife Management
    • GN 301: Genetics in Human Affairs
    • GN 311: Principles of Genetics
• Spring Semester:
  • FW 373: Vertebrate Natural History (3 hours)
  • FW 411: Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries (3 hours)
  • ENG 333: Communication for Science and Research (3 hours)
  • GEP Humanities (3 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

Fourth Year:

• Fall Semester:
  • FW 415: Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (1 hour)
  • FW 404: Wildlife Habitat Management (3 hours)
  • ENT 201: Insects and People (3 hours)
  • GIS 280: Introduction to GIS (3 hours)
  • Policy Elective (3 hours)
• Spring Semester:
  • FW 453: Principles of Wildlife Science (4 hours)
  • AEC 420: Introduction to Fisheries Science (3 hours)
  • Wildlife Elective (3 hours)
  • Physical Science Elective (3 hours)

Total hours for the program: 120

A grade of C- or better is required.

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 provides high-quality job and career information for students, parents, educators, job seekers, and career counselors. The Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics offers state and area employment and wage statistics. Career One Stop Videos provide career details and information on wages, employment trends, skills needed, and more for any occupation. Focus 2 Career Assessment and Focus 2 Apply Assessment are available to current NC State students and prospective students, respectively, to explore and choose the right major and career path based on unique personality, interests, skills, and values. The North Carolina Chapter of the Wildlife Society and the North Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society are also available for career exploration and professional development.