Typical Four-year Outline: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation BS

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.

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First Year

Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
Essential Education: Foundations of the Human World   3
Essential Education: Shape   3
MA 1135 Calculus for Life Science Math Placement 4
CH 1150 University Chemistry I Math Placement 3
CH 1151 University Chemistry I Lab CH 1150 (Concurrent) 1
Essential Education: Activities   1
FW 1075 Current Issues in Wildlife   1
Total   16

Second Year

Fall Semester
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
Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
FW 3112 Human Dimensions of Conservation FW 1050 3
FW 3200 Biometrics and Data Analysis FW 2051 and MA 2720 4
FW 3540 Intro to Gis MA 2720 (Concurrent) 4
Essential Education: Arts and Culture   3
Essential Education: Activities   1
Total   15

Third Year

Fall Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
FW 3012 Survey of Silviculture FW 2010 and FW 2051 2
FW 3170 Land Measurements and Gps FW 3540 1
FW 3180 Geomorphology, Landscapes, and Ecosystems   2
FW 3190 Multi-Resource Assessment FW 2051 and FW 3020 and FW 3200 3
FW 3600 Wildlife Habitat   3
FW 3800 Insect Ecology   2
FW 3840 Forest Health   3
Total   16
Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
Essential Education: Experience   3
FW 3320 Forest Genetics and Genomics OR FW 4128 Conservation Genetics   3
Wildlife Directed Elective Varies 3-4
Essential Education: Intercultural Competency   3
Essential Education: Activities   1
Total   13-14

Fourth Year

Fall Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
FW 3410 Conservation Science   3
FW 4800 Communications for Nat Res   2
FW 4815 Wildlife Capstone: Research FW 3190 and FW 3601 2
FW 4260 Population Ecology   3
FW 4610 Wildlife Ecology FW 3020 3
Wildlife Directed Elective Varies 4
Total   17
Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
FW 4835 Wildlife Capstone: Conservation FW 4815 2
Wildlife Directed Elective Varies 3-4
Free Electives   9
Total   14-15

Grand total = 120 Credits

Wildlife Directed Electives

  • Choose three of the following courses. Prerequisites for all are BL 1400 and BL 1410 or BL 1200 and BL 1210
Course Course Title Credits Semester Offered
FW 3610 Ornithology
(Essential Education: STEM)
4 Spring
FW 3850 Animal Behavior Animal Behavior 3 Spring - even years
FW 4240 Mammalogy
(Essential Education: STEM)
4 Fall
FW 4620 Herpetology 3 Spring - odd years
FW 4635 Wildlife Disease Ecology 3 Spring - even years
BL 4440 Fish Biology 4 Fall

Essential Education Requirements (24 total credits)

Required courses are:

  • Essential Ed Seminar (UN 1013 or UN 2013, 1 credit),
  • Composition (UN 1015-3 credits),
  • a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
  • a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
  • an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
  • an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
  • an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
  • and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.

For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.

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).

This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.