University Catalog 2024-2025

Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (BS): Wildlife 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 wildlife concentration provides students with specific coursework necessary to apply for the Associate Wildlife Biologist (AWB) certification from the Wildlife Society upon graduation. The AWB coursework includes extra courses in plant biology, communication, and wildlife habitat management 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
PB 200 Plant Life 4
AEC 360
Ecology
or Ecology
4
Communication Elective 3
Quantitative Elective 3
Economics Elective 3
 Hours26
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
FOR 339 4
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
Select one of the following: 4
Introductory Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
 Hours26
Fourth Year
FW 404 Wildlife Habitat Management 3
FW 415 Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology 1
FW 453 Principles of Wildlife Science 4
GIS 280 Introduction to GIS 3
AEC 420 Introduction to Fisheries Science 3
ENT 201 Insects and People 3
Policy Elective 3
Physical Science Elective 3
Wildlife Elective 3
 Hours26
 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 requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
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

Economics Electives

ARE 201Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics3
ARE 201AIntroduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics3
EC 201Principles of Microeconomics3
EC 205Fundamentals of Economics3

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

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

 Wildlife Electives

AEC 501Avian Ecology4
ENT 201Insects and People3
ENT 402Forest Entomology3
ENT 425General Entomology3
FOR 402Forest Entomology3
FW 333Conservation Biology in Practice3
FW 403Urban Wildlife Management3
FW 405Tropical Wildlife Ecology3
FW 444Mammalogy3
FW 460International Wildlife Management and Conservation3
FW 465African Ecology and Conservation4
FW 544Mammalogy3
FW 560International Wildlife Management and Conservation3
FW 565African Ecology and Conservation4
SSC 200Soil Science3
ZO 250Animal Anatomy and Physiology4
ZO 410Introduction to Animal Behavior3
ZO 5423

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Critical Path Courses – Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.

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
PB 200 Plant Life 4
FW 221 Conservation of Natural Resources 3
Communications Elective 3
PY 131 Conceptual Physics 4
FOR 172 Forest System Mapping and Mensuration I 2
 Hours16
Spring Semester
Economics Elective 3
PB 360 Ecology 4
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
Quantitative Elective 3
 Hours13
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
FOR 339 4
FW 353 Wildlife Management (CP) 3
GN 301
Genetics in Human Affairs
or Principles of Genetics
3-4
ST 311 Introduction to Statistics 3
 Hours13
Spring Semester
GEP Humanities 3
Select one of the following: 4
Introductory Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
FW 373 Vertebrate Natural History (CP) 3
FW 411 Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries (CP) 3
ENG 333 Communication for Science and Research 3
 Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
ENT 201 Insects and People (GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives) 3
GIS 280 Introduction to GIS 3
Policy Elective 3
FW 404 Wildlife Habitat Management (CP) 3
FW 415 Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology 1
 Hours13
Spring Semester
FW 453 Principles of Wildlife Science (CP) 4
Wildlife Elective 3
AEC 420 Introduction to Fisheries Science 3
Physical Science Elective 3
 Hours13
 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