This program is available at the following locations:

• Corvallis
• Ecampus

The undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences prepares students for a variety of careers related to the conservation and management of fish and wildlife and their habitats that considers how individual and cultural values influence conservation. Many students in our program state they “want to make a difference in the world”. If you are interested in recovering endangered species, managing populations of fish and wildlife for sustainable harvest, restoring habitats and ecosystems, conserving biodiversity, mitigating the ecological impacts of climate change, conducting research, contributing to wildlife law enforcement, understanding how human decisions influence conservation, or educating the next generation about conservation, this degree will help you achieve your goals. Our graduates most commonly work for state and federal agencies (e.g., Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service), tribal agencies, non-governmental organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited), educational institutions, and the private sector (e.g., aquaculture, environmental consulting). We offer our degree on-campus in Corvallis, with some courses offered at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, and online through Ecampus.

Our curriculum helps students to think critically and evaluate problems using basic and applied science. The curriculum is composed of core courses required of all students, an advanced science core where students select courses within specific academic areas (e.g., vertebrate biology, habitats and ecosystems, human dimensions), and specialization courses. Combining that coursework with internships, professional development courses, and a capstone course prepares graduates with this degree to begin professional careers or to continue their education in graduate school. 

Specializations

In their junior year, students take a professional development course and work with their academic advisor to craft an individualized specialization plan. The plan consists of at least 24 credits of mostly upper-division elective coursework designed to help students achieve their stated professional and life goals. There is no limit on what a specialization might focus on, but example specializations include Wildlife Biology, Stream Ecology, Marine Fisheries, Aquaculture, Bird or Mammal Conservation and Management, Forest Wildlife Management, Marine Mammal Conservation, Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement, Conservation Education and Extension, Fisheries Business, Human Dimensions of Resource Management, and Conservation Biology.

Internships

Students work with our internship coordinator to identify and complete two required internships, which may include international experiences. Our graduates frequently state that internship was one of the best aspects of our program that helped them land their first job. For more information about internships, the bachelor’s degree, and the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, please see the Department’s website. 

Major Code: 018

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Understand the physical and ecological elements and processes sustaining ecosystems, and recognize the implications of altering those components.
• Apply conservation principles in developing conservation approaches for ecosystems or organisms within ecosystems.
• Incorporate social information in fisheries and wildlife management.
• Understand the biology, ecology, and evolution of at least one major vertebrate taxon, and explain how the structure, behavior, and physiology of animals in that taxon adapts them to their environment and influences their ecology.
• Interpret, represent, and present data in accordance with professional standards.
• Recognize biases and assumptions in published and unpublished scientific writing.
• Use logic, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis to arrive at defensible conclusions.
• Demonstrate the capacity to clearly and effectively express themselves in written communication.
• Demonstrate the capacity to clearly and effectively express themselves in oral presentations.
• Develop and learn about the importance of professional collegiality and team building.

One course used to meet major requirements may be taken for a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grade.

*

Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)

^

Writing Intensive Course (WIC)

+

Core Education course. Applies only to students admitted to an OSU undergraduate degree from Summer 2025 onwards

¹

No more than two courses (or lecture/lab combinations) from any one department may be used by a student to satisfy the Perspectives category of the core

²

The two courses used to fulfill the Synthesis requirement may not be in the same department

³

^WIC courses may double count

⁴

CGI, STS, WC, SPI, and DPD courses can double count as BCC. CGI and STS courses cannot be from the same department

Major Code: 018

Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.