The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's Applied Ecology and Environmental Science bachelor's degree with an focus on terrestrial ecology provides a semester-by-semester guide to core courses, labs, and requirements.
The Interactive Degree Audit is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample and adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan. A full list of undergraduate course descriptions is available.
First Year
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 1050 Natural Resource Professional | 2 | |
| FW 2010 Vegetation of North America | 4 | |
| FW 2051 Field Techniques | 2 | |
| BL 1400 Principles of Biology | 3 | |
| BL 1410 Principles of Biology Lab | BL 1400 (Concurrent) | 1 |
| UN 1015 Composition | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CH 1150 University Chemistry 1 | Math Placement | 3 |
| CH 1151 University Chemistry Lab 1 | CH 1150 (Corequisite) | 1 |
| MA 1135 Calculus for Life Sciences | Math Placement | 4 |
| Essential Education – Foundations in the Human World | 3 | |
| Essential Education – SHAPE | 3 | |
| Essential Education – Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 15 |
Second Year
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 3020 Forest Ecology | FW 2010 (Concurrent), FW 2051 (Concurrent) | 3 |
| FW 3330 Soil Science | CH 1150, CH 1151 | 4 |
| MA 2720 Statistical Methods | MA 1030 or MA 1032 | 4 |
| PH 1110 College Physics 1 | MA 1031 or MA 1032 or Placement | 3 |
| PH 1111 College Physics 1 Lab | PH 1110 (Corequisite) | 1 |
| Essential Education – Arts & Culture | 3 | |
| Total | 18 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 3200 Biometrics & Data Analysis | FW 2051 & MA 2720 | 4 |
| FW 3540 Intro to GIS | MA 2720 (Concurrent) | 4 |
| BL 2160 Botany | 4 | |
| Essential Education – Communication Intensive | 3 | |
| Essential Education – Arts & Culture | 3 | |
| Total | 18 |
Third Year
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 3012 Survey of Silviculture | FW 2010 & FW 2051 | 2 |
| FW 3170 Land Measurements/GPS | FW 3540 | 1 |
| FW 3180 Geomorphology, Landscapes, and Ecosystems | 2 | |
| FW 3190 Multi-Resource Assessment | FW 2051 & FW 3020 & FW 3200 | 3 |
| FW 3600 Wildlife Habitat | 3 | |
| FW 3800 Insect Ecology | 2 | |
| FW 3840 Forest Health | 3 | |
| Total | 16 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 4421 Climate Change & Forests | 3 | |
| FW 4710 Environmental Biogeochemistry | CH 1150 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Essential Education – Experience | 3 | |
| Essential Education – Intercultural Competency | 3 | |
| Essential Education – Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 16 |
Fourth Year
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 4800 Communications for Natural Resources | 2 | |
| BL 3490 Principles of Ecology & Evolution | BL 1400, BL 1410 | 4 |
| Applied Ecology Directed Elective | Varies | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Essential Education – Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 13 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 4370 Forestry and Landscape Hydrology | 3 | |
| Applied Ecology Directed Elective | Varies | 3 |
| Applied Ecology Directed Elective | Varies | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 12 |
Grand Total: 120 Credits
Essential Education Requirements (37 total credits)
Required courses are:
- a Math course (3 credits),
- a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
- STEM courses (6 credits),
- a Foundations in the Human World course (3 credits),
- Composition UN 1015 (3 credits),
- a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
- an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
- an Essential Ed Seminar course (UN 1013 or UN 2013 or major-specific, 1-3 credits),
- an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
- a SHAPE elective (3 credits)
- an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
- and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.
Up to five Essential Education requirements and the Michigan Tech Seminar may be shared (double-counted) with major requirements. Students should work with their advisor to determine which major requirements may satisfy Essential Education requirements.
For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.
Directed Electives
- Choose at least nine Credits
- Note: FW 4811 and FW 4830 must be taken together
|
Course |
Credits | Semester | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| BL 4034 Advanced Evolutionary Ecology | 3 | Fall - Odd years | BL 3490 |
| BL 4400 Microbial Ecology | 3 | Fall - Even years | BL 3490 |
| BL 4461 Ecosystem Ecology | 3 | On Demand | BL 3490 and (CH 1122 or CH 1160) |
| FW 3110 Natural Resource Policy | 3 | Spring | |
| FW 3410 Conservation Science | 3 | Fall | |
| FW 4111 Indigenous Natural Resource Management |
3 | Spring | |
| FW 4120 Tree Physiology | 3 | Spring | |
| FW 4300 Wildland Fire | 3 | Spring | FW 3020 and (FW 3010 or FW 3012) |
| FW 4380 Landscape Ecology & Planning | Spring | MA 2720 | |
| FW 4811 Integrated Resource Assessment Data | 2 | Fall | FW 3190 |
| FW 4830 Integrated Natural Resource Assessment | 2 | Spring | FW 4811 |
Additional Notes
- Prerequisite (pre-req) course must be successfully completed PRIOR to taking the subsequent
course.
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Required Corequisite (co-req) courses that MUST be taken together in the same semester.
- Class Standing: So (Sophomore Standing earned 30 credits) Jr (Junior Standing earned 60 credits), Sr (Senior Standing earned 90 credits)
- Semester Offered: Noted under electives with F (Fall), Sp (Spring), Su (Summer) or On Demand (no anticipated offering but may show in the schedule, consult with your advisor)
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Math: Students are placed into an initial math course based on ACT/SAT math score, the online ALEKS assessment, or a math placement exam score for credit (AP, IB, CLEP).
- Transfer, Advanced Placement, or study abroad courses are not included in credit hours used for GPA calculations. Transfer credit is awarded for Michigan Tech equivalent coursework only if a grade of ‘C’ or better (2.00/4.00) or equivalent is earned at a transfer institution. Study abroad credit will be awarded based on passing a course according to equivalent international standards. Advanced Placement credit is awarded according to published AP Exam score standards (also IB and CLEP).
This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.