The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's wildlife ecology and conservation bachelor's degree 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 |
|---|---|---|
| FW 1075 Current Issues in Wildlife | 1 | |
| CH 1150 University Chemistry I | Math Placement | 3 |
| CH 1151 University Chemistry I Lab | CH 1150 (Concurrent) | 1 |
| MA 1135 Calculus for Life Science | 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 | 16 |
Second Year
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 3020 Forest Ecology | FW 2010 (Concurrent), FW 2051 (Concurrent) | 3 |
| FW 3601 Wildlife Research Techniques | FW 2051 (Concurrent) | 3 |
| MA 2720 Statistical Methods | MA 1030 or MA 1032 | 4 |
| Essential Education – Communication Intensive | 3 | |
| Total | 14 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 3112 Human Dimensions of Conservation | FW 1050 | 3 |
| FW 3200 Biometrics & Data Analysis | FW 2051 & MA 2720 | 4 |
| FW 3540 Intro to GIS | MA 2720 (Concurrent) | 4 |
| Essential Education – Arts and Culture | 3 | |
| Essential Education – Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 15 |
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 | FW 2051 & FW 3020 & FW 3200 | 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 3320 Forest Genetics & Genomics or FW 4128 Conservation Genetics | 3 | |
| Wildlife Directed Elective | 3–4 | |
| Essential Education – Experience | 3 | |
| Essential Education – Intercultural Competency | 3 | |
| Essential Education – Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 13–14 |
Fourth Year
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 3410 Conservation Science | 3 | |
| FW 4260 Population Ecology | 3 | |
| FW 4610 Wildlife Ecology | FW 3020 | 3 |
| FW 4800 Communications for Nat Res | FW 3190 | 2 |
| FW 4815 Wildlife Capstone: Research | FW 3190 & FW 3601 | 2 |
| Wildlife Directed Elective | 4 | |
| Total | 17 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FW 4835 Wildlife Capstone: Conservation | FW 4815 | 2 |
| Wildlife Directed Elective | 3–4 | |
| Free Electives | 9 | |
| Total | 14–15 |
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.
Wildlife Directed Electives
Note: Prerequisites for all courses below are (BL 1400 and BL 1410) or (BL 1200 and BL 1210)
Note: A student cannot take both BL 4440 and BL 4447
| Course | Credits | Semester Offered |
|---|---|---|
| FW 3610 Ornithology |Essential Education - STEM | 4 | Spring |
| FW 3850 Animal Behavior | 3 | Spring - even years |
| FW 4240 Mammalogy | 4 | Fall |
| FW 4620 Herpetology | 3 | Spring - odd years |
| FW 4635 Wildlife Disease Ecology | 3 | Spring - even years |
| BL 4440 Fish Biology | 4 | Fall |
| BL 4447 Stream Ecology | 3 | Fall |
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)
- 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).
- 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)
This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.