University Catalog 2024-2025

Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (BS): Fisheries Science Concentration

Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology (FWCB) major prepares students to manage and conserve populations of fish and wildlife in their natural habitats. This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) major gives students the skills they need to observe, research, monitor and assess the impact of environmental change, human behavior and public policy on wild populations of animals. Using a combination of lab work, technology and field study, students develop conservation strategies that ensure the long-term health of fish and wildlife populations. 

After sophomore year, students spend six weeks in summer field courses. During “summer camp” experience, students learn hands-on fish and wildlife management techniques in locations across the state. From plant and animal identification and bird mist netting to camera-trapping and radio telemetry, students gain experiences that prepare them for careers after graduation. FWCB students have the option to substitute the summer field course with approved internships or study abroad courses.

The Fisheries concentration meets the qualifications for certification by the American Fisheries Society. The fisheries concentration includes required courses in chemistry, aquatic ecology, and biology of fish that are not required in the other FWCB concentrations.

Contact

Dr. Nicole Mihnovets
anmihnov@ncsu.edu
FWCB Undergraduate Coordinator

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
Box 8008
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8008

Plan Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
First YearHours
ENV 100 Student Success in Environmental First Year 1
ENV 101 Exploring the Environment 2
MA 131 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 3
BIO 181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 4
BIO 183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 4
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory
4
COM 110
Public Speaking
or Interpersonal Communication
3
Acad Writing Research 1 4
 Hours25
Second Year
FOR 172 Forest System Mapping and Mensuration I 2
FW 221 Conservation of Natural Resources 3
PY 131 Conceptual Physics 4
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
Select one of the following: 4
Introductory Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry I
Organic Chemistry I Lab
AEC 360
Ecology
or Ecology
4
Communication Elective 3
Select one of the following: 3
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Fundamentals of Economics
 Hours27
Summer
FW 311 Piedmont Wildlife Ecology and Management 3
FW 312 Fisheries Techniques and Management 1
FW 313 Mountain Wildlife Ecology and Management 1
FW 314 Coastal Ecology and Management 1
 Hours6
Third Year
FW 353 Wildlife Management 3
FW 373 Vertebrate Natural History 3
FW 411 Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries 3
AEC 420 Introduction to Fisheries Science 3
GN 301
Genetics in Human Affairs
or Principles of Genetics
3
ST 311 Introduction to Statistics 3
ENG 333 Communication for Science and Research 3
GIS 280 Introduction to GIS 3
ENT 201 Insects and People 3
 Hours27
Fourth Year
FW 415 Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology 1
AEC 441 Biology of Fishes 3
Quantitative Elective 3
Policy Elective 3
Aquatic Elective 3
Physical Science Elective 3
Biology Elective 3
Technical Elective 3
Technical Elective 2
 Hours24
 Total Hours109
1

A grade of C- or better is required.

GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Global Knowledge (Verify Requirements)
World Language Proficiency (Verify Requirements)
Total Hours11

Acad Writing Research

Acad Writing Research
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research4
FLE 101Academic Writing and Research4
Transfer Sequence
ENG 202Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing3
ENG 1GEP3

Communication Electives

COM 201Introduction to Persuasion Theory3
COM 211Argumentation and Advocacy3
COM 226Introduction to Public Relations3
COM 301Presentational Speaking3
ENG 214Introduction to Editing3
ENG 216Technologies for Texts3
ENG 316Introduction to News and Article Writing3

Quantitative Electives

CSC 2003
MA 231Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B3
MA 241Calculus II4
ST 312Introduction to Statistics II3

Policy Electives

ARE 309Environmental Law & Economic Policy3
FOR 472Forest Soils4
NR 460Renewable Natural Resource Management and Policy3
NR 560Renewable Natural Resource Management and Policy3
PS 320U.S. Environmental Law and Politics3
PS 336Global Environmental Politics3

Aquatic Electives

AEC 380Water Resources: Global Issues in Ecology, Policy, Management, and Advocacy3
AEC 419Freshwater Ecology4
AEC 519Freshwater Ecology4
MEA 200Introduction to Oceanography3
MEA 220Marine Biology3

Physical Science Electives

CH 201Chemistry - A Quantitative Science3
CH 202Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory1
CH 223Organic Chemistry II3
MEA 100Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections4
MEA 130Introduction to Weather and Climate3
MEA 200Introduction to Oceanography3
MEA 210Oceanography Lab1
MEA 220Marine Biology3
MEA 250Introduction to Coastal Environments3
MEA 323Geochemistry of Natural Waters3
PY 212College Physics II4

Biology Electives

ENT 425General Entomology3
ZO 250Animal Anatomy and Physiology4
ZO 402Invertebrate Biology4
ZO 410Introduction to Animal Behavior3

Technical Electives

AEC 515Fish Physiology3
AEC 5863
AEC 5871
FOR 252Introduction to Forest Science3
FOR 304Theory of Silviculture4
FOR 420Watershed and Wetlands Hydrology4
FOR 520Watershed and Wetlands Hydrology4
FW 404Wildlife Habitat Management3
FW 453Principles of Wildlife Science4
FW 515Fish Physiology3
FW 5863
FW 5871
MEA 200Introduction to Oceanography3
MEA 210Oceanography Lab1
MEA 220Marine Biology3
MEA 250Introduction to Coastal Environments3
MEA 251Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory1
MEA 449Principles of Biological Oceanography3
MEA 549Principles of Biological Oceanography3
NR 420Watershed and Wetlands Hydrology4
NR 520Watershed and Wetlands Hydrology4
PB 200Plant Life4

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ENV 100
ENV 101
Student Success in Environmental First Year
and Exploring the Environment
3
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
MA 131 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 3
BIO 181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Spring Semester
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
BIO 183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 4
COM 110
Public Speaking
or Interpersonal Communication
3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Second Year
Fall Semester
Select one of the following: 4
Introductory Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
FW 221 Conservation of Natural Resources (CP) 3
Communication Elective 3
FOR 172 Forest System Mapping and Mensuration I 2
 Hours12
Spring Semester
Economics Elective 3
AEC 360
Ecology (CP)
or Ecology
4
PY 131 Conceptual Physics 4
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
 Hours15
Summer
Summer Camp courses may be substituted by a combination of two approved FWCB internship2 or FWCB study abroad experiences.
FW 311 Piedmont Wildlife Ecology and Management 3
FW 312 Fisheries Techniques and Management 1
FW 313 Mountain Wildlife Ecology and Management 1
FW 314 Coastal Ecology and Management 1
 Hours6
Third Year
Fall Semester
GEP Humanities 3
FW 353 Wildlife Management (CP) 3
GN 301
Genetics in Human Affairs
or Principles of Genetics
3-4
ST 311 Introduction to Statistics 3
ENG 333 Communication for Science and Research (CP) 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
AEC 420 Introduction to Fisheries Science (CP) 3
FW 373 Vertebrate Natural History (CP) 3
FW 411 Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries 3
GIS 280 Introduction to GIS 3
ENT 201 Insects and People (GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives) 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
Quantitative Elective 3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2-3
Policy Elective 3
Aquatic Elective (CP) 3
FW 415 Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology 1
 Hours12
Spring Semester
AEC 441 Biology of Fishes (CP) 3
BIO Elective 3
Physical Science Elective 3
Technical Elective (CP) 3
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or better is required.

2

FW 492 External Learning Experience

Career Opportunities

Graduates are prepared for graduate school and entry-level professional positions in state and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations and private industry. Upon graduation, students are qualified to seek certification from The Wildlife Society or the American Fisheries Society.

Career Titles

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North Carolina Chapter of the Wildlife Society
North Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society