Wildlife and Fisheries, Bachelor of Science
(95-97 credits in upper division)
Requirements
A student must receive a “C” or better in all required courses while maintaining an overall grade point average of 2.0 to graduate. Students transferring to the B.S. program after completing an Associate of Science degree in resource-related program at another college may substitute equivalent courses within the degree plan. Students must have completed all basic math and science courses. Although students will be introduced to a broad range of techniques and concepts, each student may specialize through his/her choice of electives offered, field problems and internships.
Career Opportunities
Completion of the Bachelor of Science Degree will prepare the student for entry level jobs or graduate school. This degree program provides students with the coursework and skills necessary to work for tribal, federal, and state governments, non-profit organizations, consultants and other employers in natural resource fields. Students following this degree program can meet the federal agency hiring standards for biology, ecology, zoology, fish and wildlife job series; as well as the educational requirements for certification by The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife and Fisheries, a student will, in addition to the goals listed for the Associate of Science, be able to:
- Demonstrate a broad-based theoretical, technological, and practical knowledge of the biological, ecological, and conservation sciences.
- Demonstrate an understanding of research methods, data analysis, and techniques applied in wildlife, fish and habitat monitoring and research projects.
- Explain how laws, policies, and cultural perspectives influence fish, wildlife, and habitat management and conservation.
- Effectively communicate written, oral, and visual information concerning natural resource issues, cultural information, and scientific data.
- Use critical thinking skills to analyze and resolve problems related to fish, wildlife, and habitat management, research, and conservation issues.
- Compare and contrast the economic, political, and cultural systems that influence natural resource management for tribal governments with other agencies and entities.
- Understand and practice the values of good citizenship, teamwork, and community service in the local community and reservation environment
Curriculum
Fall (Third Year)
| WILD301 | Biology of Fishes | 3 |
| WILD302 | Biology of Fishes Laboratory | 2 |
| NATR413 | Wildland Recreation Management | 3 |
| NASD308 | Ethnobotany | 3 |
| OR | |
| NATR342 | Environmental Adaptation of Plants | 3 |
| WILD310 | Habitat Conservation and Management | 5 |
| OR | |
| WILD210 | Wetland and Riparian Habitats | 3 |
| AND | |
| NATR306 | Rangeland Stewardship, Ecology, and Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16-17 |
Winter (Third Year)
ENGL 307 and 306 T recommended for the upper division communication elective.
| BIOS240 | Principles and Applications of Genetics | 4 |
| NATR441 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| WILD330 | Mammalogy | 4 |
| WILD331 | Mammalogy Laboratory | 1 |
| ELECTIVE | Upper Division Communication from List | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring (Third Year)
| CHEM270 | College Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry | 5 |
| NATR370 | Ecological Statistics | 3 |
| NATR375 | Research and Thesis Seminar | 1 |
| NATR390 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| WILD470 | Avian Studies | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
NATR 375 is designated as a course that emphasizes information literacy.
Fall (Fourth Year)
| WILD400 | Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology | 3 |
| WILD 401 | Aquatic Invertebrate Lab | 2 |
| ELECTIVE | Native American Studies Advanced General Education Elective 3 cr | 3 |
| WILD472 | Advanced Fisheries | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | Wildlife and Fisheries Emphasis | 3 |
| NATR319 | Soil Science | 3 |
| OR | |
| NATR240 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| OR | |
| GEOG100 | Introduction to Geography | 5 |
| OR | |
| GEOL105 | Physical Geology and Lab | 5 |
| OR | |
| GEOL130 | Geology of the Flathead Indian Reservation | 3 |
| OR | |
| ASTR110 | Introduction to Astronomy | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
*
NASD 320 Federal Indian Law is recommended for Native American Studies Advanced Elective general education requirement.
Winter (Fourth Year)
| NATR440 | NEPA Process | 3 |
| NATR460 | Restoration Ecology | 3 |
| NATR465 | Senior Research and Thesis Development | 2 |
| WILD440 | Applied Population Ecology | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | Wildlife and Fisheries Emphasis | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring (Fourth Year)
Wildlife and Fisheries Emphasis Electives List – Choose from this list or another course approved by your advisor.
| FORS100 | Survey of Forestry | 3 |
| FORS102 | Fire and Human Cultures | 3 |
| FORS146 | Dendrology | 3 |
| FORS310 | Forest Ecology | 3 |
| GEOG100 | Introduction to Geography | 5 |
| NATR374 | GIS III: Advanced Digitizing & Raster Analysis | 3 |
| NATR471 | Remote Sensing & Image Analysis | 3 |
| GEOL105 | Physical Geology and Lab | 5 |
| GEOL130 | Geology of the Flathead Indian Reservation | 3 |
| HYDR210 | Physical Hydrology | 3 |
| HYDR370 | Groundwater | 3 |
| HYDR422 | Water Law | 3 |
| HYDR425 | Watershed Management | 3 |
| LFSC320 | Mammalian Physiology | 5 |
| NASD108 | Tribal Uses of Wild Plants | 3 |
| NASD150 | Hide Tanning | 3 |
| NASD210 | Introduction to Indigenous Science | 3 |
| NASD308 | Ethnobotany | 3 |
| NASD323 | Native American Perspectives In Natural Resource Management | 3 |
| NATR172 | Forest Botany | 4 |
| NATR240 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| NATR280 | Special Topics in Natural Resources | 3 |
| NATR343 | Data Processing and Visualization in Natural Resources | 3 |
| WILD210 | Wetland and Riparian Habitats | 3 |
| WILD471 | Applied Wildlife Management | 3 |
| WILD472 | Advanced Fisheries | 3 |
| ASTR110 | Introduction to Astronomy | 5 |
| BIOS130 | Introduction to Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOS131 | Introduction to Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| BIOS138 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOS139 | Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | 1 |
| FORS210 | Forest Measurements I Lab | 2 |
| FORS220 | Forest Measurements II Lab | 2 |
| FORS230 | Forest Measurements III Lab | 2 |
| FORS240 | Fuels Measurements | 2 |
| FORS251 | Silviculture | 3 |
| FORS271 | Forest Health and Disturbance | 3 |
| HYDR101 | Introduction to Hydrology | 3 |
| LFSC310 | Essentials of Environmental Health | 3 |
| NATR239 | Geospatial Data Management | 3 |
| NATR243 | Advanced Cartography and Map Visualization | 3 |
| NATR306 | Rangeland Stewardship, Ecology, and Management | 3 |
| NATR374 | GIS III: Advanced Digitizing & Raster Analysis | 3 |
| NATR471 | Remote Sensing & Image Analysis | 3 |
| UASO101 | Remote Pilot Ground School | 3 |
| UASO103 | Unmanned Aerial Systems Basic Flight Operations | 3 |
| WILD325 | Entomology | 3 |
| WILD326 | Entomology Laboratory | 1 |
*or other emphasis course approved by your advisor
An emphasis elective cannot be included towards more than one degree requirement.
Total Credit Hours: 191-195