Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
Also available via Ecampus.
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. Working with faculty in formal and informal settings, students are encouraged to become engaged in designing their own education. The core courses required of all students seeking the BS degree are listed below.
For further information, see the Fisheries and Wildlife website at http://fw.oregonstate.edu/.
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. Additional upper-division credits taken prior to approval of the specialization may be allowed through petition to advisor. Double counting (when credit is given twice for a course) is not permitted between the specialization and other university or departmental course work except in the following circumstances:
- The writing intensive courses (WIC) may double count with the OSU Baccalaureate Core requirements;
- Students completing their first BS degree may apply 12 credits from the minor towards the specialization (requires approval by advisor in minor department and FW advisor);
- Postbaccalaureate students who are completing their second degree may use a maximum of 12 credits from their first degree towards their specialization (approved by FW advisor).
Specializations are given titles to reflect their content, but titles must not substantially duplicate titles of existing degree programs. Examples of specializations include forest wildlife management, stream ecology, fish and wildlife law enforcement, marine fisheries, aquaculture, avian conservation and management, conservation education and extension, fisheries business, human dimensions of resource management, conservation biology, and many others. Specializations may include typical on-campus courses, special field courses (when college credit is earned), a full term of course work at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon, or one or more terms of international exchange. A maximum of 12 credits in any combination of FW 401 RESEARCH and FW 410 INTERNSHIP can be used towards the specialization. Combined with required internships and a capstone course, fisheries and wildlife sciences graduates will be well-prepared to begin professional careers in fish and wildlife conservation, or to continue their education in graduate school. For those students unsure of their professional goals or seeking diversity in course work, a broad specialization may be declared.
Specialization guidelines may be viewed at http://fw.oregonstate.edu/department-fisheries-and-wildlife/undergraduate/curricula-course-offerings.
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 (1–2 credits) and intensive (3–6 credits). Students are encouraged to start gaining professional experience by volunteering or interning with a natural resource agency as early as possible, and no later than their junior year. This requirement is listed as FW 410 INTERNSHIP, (2 required) (4–6), under the Fisheries and Wildlife Core.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Baccalaureate Core | ||
| Skills Courses | ||
| Fitness | ||
| HHS 231 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH | 2 |
| HHS 241 | *LIFETIME FITNESS (or approved Physical Activity Course (PAC)) | 1 |
| 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 1,2 | 24 | |
| Biological Science (Lecture/Lab) | ||
| Met with Fisheries and Wildlife Core | ||
| Cultural Diversity (CD) 2 | ||
| Literature and the Arts (LA) 2 | ||
| Physical Science (Lecture/Lab or Lab) | ||
| Met with Fisheries and Wildlife Physical and Earth Sciences sections | ||
| Social Processes and Institutions (SPI) 2 | ||
| Western Culture (WC) 2 | ||
| Difference, Power, and Discrimination Courses (DPD) | ||
| Met with Fisheries and Wildlife Human Dimensions section | ||
| Synthesis Courses | ||
| Select one course from each of the following section: | ||
Contemporary Global Issues (CGI) 2 | ||
Science, Technology, and Society (STS) 2 | ||
| Writing Intensive Course (WIC) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| ^WILDLIFE IN AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS | ||
| ^HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT | ||
| ^FISHERY BIOLOGY | ||
| ^AQUACULTURE | ||
| Communications | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| *PUBLIC SPEAKING | ||
| *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE | ||
| *COMMUNICATING ONLINE | ||
| WR 121 | *ENGLISH COMPOSITION | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| *ENGLISH COMPOSITION | ||
| *HONORS WRITING | ||
| *TECHNICAL WRITING | ||
| *SCIENCE WRITING | ||
| Fisheries and Wildlife Core | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 12 | |
Option 1: Principles of Biology | ||
| *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | ||
| *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | ||
| *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | ||
Option 2: Introductory Biology | ||
| *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | ||
| *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II | ||
| *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III | ||
| ECOLOGY | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 15 | |
Option 1: General Chemistry | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY | ||
| *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | ||
| *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | ||
Option 2: General Chemistry and Lab | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231 | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232 | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233 | ||
| FW 107 | ORIENTATION TO FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE | 1 |
| FW 209 | CAREER SKILLS IN FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE SCIENCES | 1 |
| FW 251 | PRINCIPLES OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION | 3 |
| FW 255 | FIELD SAMPLING OF FISH AND WILDLIFE | 3 |
| FW 289 | COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE PROFESSIONALS | 4 |
| FW 307 | SPECIALIZATION DEVELOPMENT | 1 |
| FW 320 | INTRODUCTORY POPULATION DYNAMICS | 4 |
| FW 321 | APPLIED COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY | 3 |
| FW 410 | INTERNSHIP | 4-6 |
| FW 488 | PROBLEM SOLVING IN FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE SCIENCE | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| *CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE | ||
| *MATHEMATICS FOR MANAGEMENT, LIFE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | ||
| *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | ||
| ST 351 & ST 352 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS and INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 8 |
| Vertebrate Biology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF MARINE MAMMALS | ||
or FW 302 | BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF MARINE MAMMALS | |
| ORNITHOLOGY | ||
| ICHTHYOLOGY | ||
| MAMMALOGY | ||
| ECOLOGY OF MARINE AND ESTUARINE BIRDS | ||
| HERPETOLOGY | ||
| Select one of the following: | 2-3 | |
| SYSTEMATICS OF BIRDS | ||
| SYSTEMATICS OF FISHES | ||
| SYSTEMATICS OF MAMMALS | ||
| SYSTEMATIC HERPETOLOGY | ||
| Select one additional course from the preceding two lists | 2-4 | |
| Advanced Core | ||
| Choose one course from each of the following categories, and one additional course from any category. ^WIC courses may double count. | ||
| Genetics and Evolution | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| ANIMAL GENETICS | ||
| GENETICS | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO EVOLUTION | ||
| CONSERVATION GENETICS | ||
| PLANT GENETICS | ||
| Behavior and Physiology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| PRINCIPLES OF ANIMAL NUTRITION | ||
| ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| METHODS IN PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF MARINE MEGAFAUNA | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY OF FISHES | ||
| EARLY LIFE HISTORY OF FISHES | ||
| WILDLIFE BEHAVIOR | ||
| FISH PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| ANIMAL BEHAVIOR | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| VERTEBRATE PHYSIOLOGY I | ||
| VERTEBRATE PHYSIOLOGY II | ||
| Habitats and Ecosystems | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-5 | |
| MARINE ECOLOGY | ||
| FOREST ECOLOGY | ||
| FOREST TYPES OF THE NORTHWEST | ||
| WILDLAND FIRE ECOLOGY | ||
| *GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY (Pending Approval) | ||
| COASTAL ECOLOGY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | ||
| ESTUARINE ECOLOGY | ||
| ^WILDLIFE IN AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS | ||
| ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION | ||
| BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN MANAGED FORESTS | ||
| FRESHWATER ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION | ||
| ECOSYSTEM SERVICES | ||
| ANTARCTIC SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION | ||
| WETLANDS AND RIPARIAN ECOLOGY | ||
| RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| Species Conservation and Management | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| THE NATURAL HISTORY OF WHALES AND WHALING | ||
| AQUATIC BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF WILDLIFE DISEASES | ||
| AVIAN CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| ^FISHERY BIOLOGY | ||
| MAMMAL CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| MARINE CONSERVATION BIOLOGY | ||
| MARINE FISHERIES | ||
| FISH ECOLOGY | ||
| WILDLIFE ECOLOGY | ||
| FISH DISEASES IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND AQUACULTURE | ||
| Botany | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| PLANT STRUCTURE | ||
| PLANT SYSTEMATICS | ||
| ^FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE WORLD | ||
| PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| PLANT ECOLOGY | ||
| AQUATIC BOTANY | ||
| FIELD METHODS IN PLANT ECOLOGY | ||
| PLANT POPULATION ECOLOGY | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY OF PLANTS | ||
| WILDLAND PLANT IDENTIFICATION | ||
| Physical and Earth Sciences | ||
| Choose three courses from the two categories below. 3 | ||
| Physics, Math, and Chemistry 4 | ||
| Select no more than two from below, cannot double count with FW Core: | 6-10 | |
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY OF LIVING SYSTEMS | ||
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | ||
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY | ||
| *CALCULUS AND PROBABILITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES I | ||
| CALCULUS AND PROBABILTITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES II | ||
| *CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE | ||
| *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | ||
| INTEGRAL CALCULUS | ||
| CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| *GENERAL PHYSICS | ||
| *GENERAL PHYSICS | ||
| *SOLAR SYSTEM ASTRONOMY | ||
| *STARS AND STELLAR EVOLUTION | ||
| *GALAXIES, QUASARS, AND COSMOLOGY | ||
| *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | ||
| *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | ||
| *SOUND, HEARING, AND MUSIC | ||
| *LIGHT, VISION, AND COLOR | ||
| Earth Sciences | ||
| Select no more than two from below: | 6-8 | |
| *CLIMATE SCIENCE | ||
| *PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | ||
| *EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE | ||
| *EVOLUTION OF PLANET EARTH | ||
| *ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY | ||
| *LIVING WITH ACTIVE CASCADE VOLCANOES | ||
| *MINERALS, ENERGY, WATER, AND THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| *NATIONAL PARK GEOLOGY AND PRESERVATION | ||
| *GLOBAL CHANGE AND EARTH SCIENCES | ||
| *OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| COASTAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| SOIL SCIENCE and *SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 (Corvallis campus only) | ||
| *SOIL SCIENCE (Ecampus only) | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF SOIL SCIENCE (EOU campus only) | ||
| Human Dimensions | ||
| Select one course from each of the lists below. (CGI), (STS), (WC), (SPI), and (DPD) courses can double count as baccalaureate core. (CGI) and (STS) courses cannot be from the same department. | ||
| Difference, Power and Discrimination | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| *ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE OF PACIFIC NW INDIANS | ||
| *MULTICULTURAL PERSPECTIVES IN NATURAL RESOURCES | ||
| *ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | ||
| Environmental Law, Policy and Economics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| *INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| *ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, POLICY, AND ECONOMICS | ||
| *NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| *ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL LAW | ||
| NATURAL RESOURCE POLICY AND LAW | ||
| *ENDANGERED SPECIES, SOCIETY AND SUSTAINABILITY | ||
| FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE LAW AND POLICY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO OCEAN LAW | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| Other | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| ECOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
| *NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY VALUES | ||
| ECONOMIC AND ETHNOBOTANY: ROLE OF PLANTS IN HUMAN CULTURE | ||
| MANAGEMENT FOR MULTIPLE RESOURCE VALUES | ||
| RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE | ||
| *CONSENSUS AND NATURAL RESOURCES | ||
| *FOOD FROM THE SEA | ||
| *GLOBAL CRISES IN RESOURCE ECOLOGY | ||
| *ORIGINS OF F&W MANAGEMENT-EVOLUTION, GENETICS, AND ECOLOGY | ||
| ^HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO WATER SCIENCE AND POLICY | ||
| *ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES | ||
| *ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS | ||
| *WORLD VIEWS AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICAL THEORY | ||
| *SCIENCE AND POLITICS | ||
| *ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY | ||
| *SOCIETY AND NATURAL RESOURCES | ||
| Specialization | ||
| Select 24 credits | 24 | |
| Total credits required for graduation | 180 | |
| 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 | Please reference the baccalaureate core course catalog for a list of approved courses: https://catalog.oregonstate.edu/earning-degrees/bcc/ |
| 3 | No more than two courses may be selected from one category. (CGI) and (STS) courses can double count with baccalaureate core. (CGI) and (STS) courses cannot be from the same department. |
| 4 | Cannot double count with FW Core. |
| * | Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC) |
| ^ | Writing Intensive Course (WIC) |
Major Code: 733
Notes:
- This is a sample plan for first-year entering students on the Corvallis Campus; individual plans will be developed after consultation with our head advisor.
- Ecampus students will consult with their advisor for course planning.
- Year 1: CH 231–CH 233 and CH 261–CH 263 series is optional. WR I and COMM requirement taken this year (COMM 111 or COMM 114).
- Year 2: FW 255: Field Sampling of Fish & Wildlife can be taken any term. WR II requirement taken this year.
- Year 3: ST 351 and 352 can be taken F, W or W, S. *FW 410: Intensive Internship can be taken any term, usually in summer.
- Year 4: WIC course can double count with other FW requirement.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| CH 121 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| FW 107 | ORIENTATION TO FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE | 1 |
| Math Requirement | 4 | |
| Baccalaureate Core Requirement – student choice | 3 | |
| PAC course elective | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| CH 122 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| Math requirement - if needed | 4 | |
| Baccalaureate Core Requirement – student choice | 3 | |
| PAC course elective | 1 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| CH 123 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| Baccalaureate Core Requirement – student choice | 3 | |
| Baccalaureate Core Requirement – student choice | 3 | |
| PAC course elective | 1 | |
| Physical and Earth Sciences Requirement – student choice | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BI 211 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | 4 |
| FW 209 | CAREER SKILLS IN FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE SCIENCES | 1 |
| Physical & Earth Sciences Course – student choice | 4 | |
| Baccalaureate Core Requirement – student choice | 3 | |
| Baccalaureate Core Requirement – student choice | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| BI 212 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | 4 |
| FW 251 | PRINCIPLES OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION | 3 |
| Physical & Earth Sciences Course – student choice | 4 | |
| PAC course elective | 1 | |
| Baccalaureate Core Requirement – student choice | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BI 213 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | 4 |
| FW 255 | FIELD SAMPLING OF FISH AND WILDLIFE | 3 |
| FW 289 | COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE PROFESSIONALS | 4 |
| Baccalaureate Core Requirement – student choice | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BI 370 | ECOLOGY | 3 |
| FW 307 | SPECIALIZATION DEVELOPMENT | 1 |
| Human Dimensions Course – student choice | 3 | |
| Vertebrate Biology Course – student choice | 3 | |
| Advanced Core Course – student choice | 4 | |
| PAC course elective | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| FW 320 | INTRODUCTORY POPULATION DYNAMICS | 4 |
| FW 410 | INTERNSHIP | 1 |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Advanced Core Course | 4 | |
| Vertebrate Biology Course | 2 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| FW 321 | APPLIED COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY | 3 |
| ST 352 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Advanced Core Course – student choice | 4 | |
| Vertebrate Biology Course – student choice | 3 | |
| PAC course elective | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| FW 410 | INTERNSHIP | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Advanced Core Course – student choice | 3 | |
| Human Dimensions Course – student choice | 3 | |
| Specialization Course | 4 | |
| Specialization Course | 4 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| FW 488 | PROBLEM SOLVING IN FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE SCIENCE | 3 |
| Advanced Core Course – student choice | 4 | |
| Specialization Course | 3 | |
| Specialization Course | 4 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Advanced Core Course – student choice | 3 | |
| Advanced Core Course – student choice | 3 | |
| Human Dimensions Course – student choice | 3 | |
| Specialization Course – student choice | 3 | |
| Specialization Course – student choice | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 177 | |