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.

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 and FW 410 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 are available online.

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, (2 required) (4–6), under the Fisheries and Wildlife Core.

Major Code: 733

• 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.

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.