Wildlife Science, BS
The Wildlife Sciences program of study covers the ecology, behavior, conservation, and management of wildlife populations and communities in terrestrial ecosystems. There is an emphasis on the indigenous wildlife of the intermountain region of the western USA, although students are exposed to case studies from all over the world to ensure that graduates are qualified to work as practitioners of wildlife science in any terrestrial ecosystem on any continent. Graduates following the program curriculum meet the U.S. federal government’s Office of Personnel Management requirements for the post of Wildlife Biologist, and certification by The Wildlife Society.
Availability
This program is available at the Uintah Basin Campus via the following Instruction Type(s):
Courses are taught in a traditional setting with the professor and students participating together in the same classroom. Students meet at a designated time and place.
Admissions
Students must be admitted to Utah State University. For admissions requirements and information, or to complete an online application, visit www.usu.edu/admissions/applyonline.
New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to this major.
Transfer students from other institutions or from other USU majors need at least a 2.5 total GPA to be admitted to the Wildlife Science major in good standing. Special attention will be given to the number of, and performance in, prerequisite math and science courses.
Requirements
The first two years of study in the Wildlife Science program are designed to provide students with a sound background in the natural sciences and an introduction to the fields of natural resource and wildlife management. The last two years are designed to provide an advanced understanding of wildlife management and science with a concentration on wildlife and natural resource courses and gaining experience integrating scientific and management concepts.
The Wildlife Science major is an intensive program consisting of a mixture of courses taught on site and distance-delivered from the USU Logan campus. The degree is designed with the expectation that students will acquire additional practical experience through various internship and undergraduate research opportunities, which can be coordinated with Uintah Basin faculty. Furthermore, undergraduate students are encouraged to join the student chapter of The Wildlife Society at the Uintah Basin Regional Campus.
Contact Us
For specific questions regarding this program including admissions, courses, and requirements contact:
The Wildlife Science degree educates students for employment with state and federal wildlife or land management agencies, environmental consulting companies, private industry with environmental divisions, private land owners, and nonprofit environmental organizations. Graduates will typically work as wildlife biologists, conservation officers, habitat managers, or research technicians.
In addition, some will further their education in graduate school. Employment opportunities are becoming increasingly favorable for Wildlife Science graduates due to on-going retirements within the federal and state wildlife agencies and our society’s growing awareness of the need for improved understanding and conservation of our valuable wildlife resources.
Courses:
In addition to fulfilling general education requirements, students must take the following courses:
BIOL 1610: Biology I
BIOL 1620: (BLS) Biology II
NR 2220: General Ecology
CHEM 1110: (BPS) General Chemistry I*
or
CHEM 1210: Principles of Chemistry I*
CHEM 1120: (BPS) General Chemistry II
or
CHEM 1220: (BPS) Principles of Chemistry II
SOIL 3000: Fundamentals of Soil Science
WILD 2000: Introduction to Forest, Range, and Wildlife Sciences
WILD 3300: Management Aspects of Wildlife Behavior
WILD 3600: Wildland Plant Ecology and Identification
WILD 3610: Wildland Animal Ecology and Identification
WILD 3800: Wildland Ecosystems
WILD 3810: Plant and Animal Populations
WILD 4500: Principles of Wildlife Management
WILD 4750: Monitoring and Assessment in Natural Resource and Environmental Management
WILD 4850: Vegetation and Habitat Management
WILD 4880: Genetics in Conservation and Management
WILD 4900: Managing Dynamic Ecological Systems
WILD 4910: Assessment and Synthesis in Natural Resource Science
ENVS 3000: Natural Resources Policy and Economics
ENVS 4000: Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management
BIOL 5560: Ornithology**
or
BIOL 5570: Herpetology**
or
BIOL 5580: Mammalogy**
* This course has a required lab component
** Two out of three are required
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