Program Overview

Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)

The undergraduate curriculum for the Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences BS degree (180 credits) is composed of core courses as well as specializations of 24 credits. The core represents the educational foundation of fish and wildlife conservation, and the specializations provide students with an opportunity to build their curriculum to meet specific goals.

Specializations

Through the specialization, undergraduate students are encouraged to become engaged in designing their own education. Students work with faculty in formal and informal settings to define career and life goals and then develop a course of study to achieve those goals. Specialization plans should be developed during the junior year and will be presented to the faculty for review and comment. Specializations must contain at least 24 credits and must be upper division with four lower-division credits allowed. No courses included may be taken for a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grade. A maximum of two courses may be completed prior to approval of the specialization.

Internships

One of the best avenues to a permanent job in fisheries and wildlife is through a strong internship and temporary employment or volunteer positions. Students are required to complete a minimum of two internships or other approved alternative experiences (one of each type) for their degree. There are two types of internships: exploratory (12 credits) and intensive (36 credits).

Course Requirements

• Baccalaureate Core:
  • Skills Courses:
    • Fitness: HHS 231, HHS 241
    • Mathematics: Met with Fisheries and Wildlife Core
    • Speech: Met with Fisheries and Wildlife Communications
    • Writing I: Met with Fisheries and Wildlife Communications
    • Writing II: Met with Fisheries and Wildlife Communications
  • Perspective Courses:
    • Select 24 credits: Biological Science, Cultural Diversity, Literature and the Arts, Physical Science, Social Processes and Institutions, Western Culture
  • Synthesis Courses:
    • Select one course from each of the following sections: Contemporary Global Issues, Science, Technology, and Society, Writing Intensive Course
• Communications:
  • Select one of the following: COMM 111, COMM 114, COMM 211, WR 121
  • Select one of the following: WR 222, HC 199, WR 327, WR 362
• Fisheries and Wildlife Core:
  • Select one of the following options: Principles of Biology, Introductory Biology
  • Select one of the following options: General Chemistry, General Chemistry and Lab
  • FW 107: Orientation to Fisheries and Wildlife
  • FW 209: Career Skills in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
  • FW 251: Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
  • FW 255: Field Sampling of Fish and Wildlife
  • FW 289: Communication Skills for Fisheries and Wildlife Professionals
  • FW 307: Specialization Development
  • FW 320: Introductory Population Dynamics
  • FW 321: Applied Community and Ecosystem Ecology
  • FW 410: Internship
  • FW 488: Problem Solving in Fisheries and Wildlife Science
• Advanced Core:
  • Choose one course from each of the following categories, and one additional course from any category: Genetics and Evolution, Behavior and Physiology, Habitats and Ecosystems, Species Conservation and Management
• Physical and Earth Sciences:
  • Choose three courses from the two categories below: Physics, Math, and Chemistry, Earth Sciences
• Human Dimensions:
  • Select one course from each of the lists below: Difference, Power and Discrimination, Environmental Law, Policy and Economics, Other
• Specialization:
  • Select 24 credits

Plan of Study

The plan of study grid outlines the courses to be taken each term for four years. The grid includes the course number, title, and hours for each course.

Catalog

The catalog provides information on academic advising, academic calendar, academic regulations, administration, admission, alumni, and more.

Colleges, Schools, Departments, and Programs

The university has several colleges, schools, departments, and programs, including the College of Agricultural Sciences, College of Business, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, and more.

College of Agricultural Sciences

The College of Agricultural Sciences has several departments, including Agricultural Education and General Agriculture, Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Applied Economics, Botany and Plant Pathology, and more.

Fisheries and Wildlife Department

The Fisheries and Wildlife Department offers several programs, including Fisheries and Wildlife Administration Graduate Major, Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Minor, Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Undergraduate Major, and more.