FW Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife focuses on interactions between humans and the natural world. Students who major in Fisheries and Wildlife select at least one concentration as part of their undergraduate program.

The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife is currently transitioning from 1 undergraduate major (with a choice of 6 concentrations) to 4 distinct undergraduate majors (with no concentrations). The B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife is only available to students who declare a major in FW before Fall semester 2024.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife

Please note that all University and College course requirements for a bachelor's degree are described in detail in the Academic Programs Catalog. These requirements are not listed below. Course requirements specific to the major are as follows:

Biological Sciences (9 to 10 cr.)

Complete ONE of the following groups of courses:

Group 1

BS 161 - Cell and Molecular Biology (3 cr.)
BS 171 - Cells and Molecular Biology Lab (2 cr.)
BS 162 - Organismal & Population Biology (3 cr.)
BS 172 - Organismal & Population Biology Lab (2 cr.)

Group 2

LB 144 - Biology I: Organismal Biology (4 cr.)
LB 145 - Biology II: Cellular & Molecular Biology (5 cr.)

Physical Sciences (8 to 9 cr.)

Complete ONE of the following groups of Chemistry courses:

Group 1

CEM 141 - General Chemistry (4 cr.)
CEM 161 - Chemistry Laboratory I (1 cr.)

Group 2

CEM 151 - General and Descriptive Chemistry (4 cr.)
CEM 161 - Chemistry Laboratory I (1 cr.)

Group 3

LB 171 - Principles of Chemistry I (4 cr.)
LB 171L - Introductory Chemistry Lab I (1 cr.)

Complete ONE of the following Physics courses:

LB 273 - Physics I (3 cr.)
PHY 183 - Physics for Scientists & Engineers I (4 cr.)
PHY 231 - Introductory Physics I (3 cr.)

Earth Sciences (3 to 4 cr.)

Complete ONE of the following Earth Science courses:

CSS 210 - Fundamentals of Soil Science (3 cr.)
GEO 203 - Introduction to Meteorology (3 cr.)
GEO 206 - Physical Geography (3 cr.)
GLG 201 - The Dynamic Earth (4 cr.)

Math and Statistics (6 to 7 cr.)

Complete ONE of the following Calculus courses:

MTH 124 - Survey of Calculus I (3 cr.)
MTH 132 - Calculus I (3 cr.)
LB 118 - Calculus I (4 cr.)

Complete ONE of the following Statistics courses:

STT 224 - Intro to Prob. & Stat. for Ecologists (3 cr.)
STT 231 - Statistics for Scientists (3 cr.)
STT 421 - Statistics I (3 cr.)

Communication (6 cr.)

Complete TWO of the following courses:

COM 100 - Human Communication (3 cr.)
COM 225 - Intro to Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.)
COM 275 - Effects of Mass Communication (3 cr.)
CSUS 433 - Grant Writing & Fund Development (3 cr.)
FW 435 - Integrated Communication for the FW Professional (3 cr.)
JRN 472 - Environmental, Science and Health Reporting (3 cr.)
WRA 320* - Technical Communication (3 cr.)
WRA 331* - Writing in the Public Interest (3 cr.)
WRA 341 - Nature and Environmental Writing (3 cr.)
WRA 453* - Grant and Proposal Writing (3 cr.)

* Contact WRA for an override

Ethics and Philosophy (3 cr.)

Complete ONE of the following courses:

FW 439 - Conservation Ethics (3 cr.)
GEO 432 - Environmental Ethics (3 cr.)
PHL 340 - Ethics (3 cr.)
PHL 342 - Environmental Ethics (3 cr.)
PHL 380 - Nature of Science (3 cr.)

Experiential Learning (3 to 4 cr.)

Complete at least 3 credits from the following courses:

FW 493 - Professional Internship in FW (3 cr.)
FW 490 - Independent Study (3 cr.)
FW 480 - International Studies in FW (3 cr.)
FW 499 - Senior Thesis in FW (4 cr.)

Fisheries and Wildlife Core (19 to 20 cr.)

Complete ALL of the following courses:

FW 101 - Fish & Wildlife Fundamentals (3 cr.)
FW 101L - Fish & Wildlife Fundamentals Lab (2 cr.) OR FW 238 - Intro Fish & Wildlife Field Experience (3 cr.)
FW 293 - Undergrad Seminar in Fish & Wildlife (1 cr.)
FW 364 - Ecological Problem Solving (3 cr.)
FW 424 - Population Analysis and Management (4 cr.)
FW 434 - Human Dimensions of FW Management (3 cr.)
IBIO 355 - Ecology (3 cr.)