Effective Spring 2023 - This is the new trackless curriculum available to FWCB students. More information will be in your inbox.
The FWCB major provides students with a broad science background emphasizing the biological and environmental sciences and other coursework needed for careers in fisheries, wildlife, conservation biology, and other natural resource and environmental careers.
Through careful choice of restricted electives, students completing the FWCB can also fulfill the requirements for minors such as Wildlife Care and Handling, Marine Biology, Park and Protected Areas Management, Water Science, Sustainability Sciences, and Forest Ecosystem Management and Conservation. FWCB offers two minors that are well-suited to students in many programs, such as Animal Science, ESPM, and Ecology.
Mathematical Thinking (8 credits)
- MATH 1142 - Short Calculus [MATH] (4.0 cr)
- or MATH 1271 - Calculus I [MATH] (4.0 cr)
- FW 4001 - Biometry (4.0 cr)
- or ESPM 3012 - Statistical Methods for Environmental Scientists and Managers [MATH] (4.0 cr)
Chemistry (4 credits)
- CHEM 1061 - Chemical Principles I [PHYS] (3.0 cr)
- CHEM 1065 - Chemical Principles I Laboratory [PHYS] (1.0 cr)
Biological Sciences (17 credits)
- BIOL 1009 - General Biology [BIOL] (4.0 cr)
- BIOL 3012 - Animal Diversity and Evolution (4.0 cr)
- PMB 2022 - General Botany (3.0 cr)
- FW 4301 - Conservation Genetics (3.0 cr)
- or GCD 3022 - Genetics (3.0 cr)
- EEB 3407 - Ecology (3.0 cr)
- or EEB 3408W - Ecology [WI] (4.0 cr)
Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Courses (13 credits)
The Interdisciplinary Learning requirement is met with FW 2001W.
- FW 1001 - Orientation in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (1.0 cr)
- FW 2001W - Introduction to Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology [ENV, WI] (3.0 cr)
- FW 3106 - Vegetation Sampling for Habitat Assessments (1.0 cr)
- FW 3108 - Field Methods in Research and Conservation of Vertebrate Populations (3.0 cr)
- FNRM 3131 - Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Natural Resources [TS] (4.0 cr)
Experiential Learning - Professional Experience
All students must take either CFAN 3096 or ESPM 4096. Students have three options for fulfilling the professional experience required in these courses: an official internship, a supervised research experience of at least 100 hours (e.g. UROP), or a major capstone research project in a study abroad program. Study abroad option must be discussed and approved by the FWCB major coordinator. Research option must be discussed and approved by an FWCB faculty supervisor.
- CFAN 4096 - Professional Experience Program: Internship (1.0 cr)
- or CFAN 3096 - Making the Most of your Professional Experience (1.0 cr)
Restricted Electives: Communications (3-4 credits)
Take exactly 1 course from the following:
- AECM 2421W - Professional and Oral Communication for Agriculture, Food & the Environment [WI] (3.0 cr)
- COMM 1101 - Introduction to Public Speaking [CIV] (3.0 cr)
- WRIT 3562W - Technical and Professional Writing [WI] (4.0 cr)
Restricted Electives: Human Dimensions (6-7 credits)
Take exactly 2 courses from the following:
- FW 3925 - Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife Management (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3011W - Ethics in Natural Resources [CIV, WI] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3014 - Tribal and Indigenous Natural Resource Management (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3202W - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning [WI] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3241W - Natural Resource and Environmental Policy [SOCS, CIV, WI] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy [ENV] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3261 - Economics and Natural Resources Management [SOCS, ENV] (4.0 cr)
- ESPM 3271 - Environmental Policy, Law, and Human Behavior [CIV, SOCS] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3921 - Science and Critical Thinking for Understanding Our World [CIV] (3.0 cr)
Restricted Electives: Animals and Plants (9-12 credits)
Take exactly 3 courses from the following:
- FW 2003 - Introduction to Marine Biology (3.0 cr)
- FW 4101 - Herpetology (4.0 cr)
- FNRM 1101 - Dendrology: Identifying Forest Trees and Shrubs (3.0 cr)
- FW 4136 - Ichthyology (4.0 cr)
- ENT 3021 - Insect Biodiversity and Evolution (4.0 cr)
- PMB 4321 - Minnesota Flora (3.0 cr)
- PMB 4511 - Flowering Plant Diversity (3.0 cr)
- EEB 4129 - Mammalogy (4.0 cr)
- or EEB 4839 - Field Studies in Mammalogy (4.0 cr)
- EEB 4134 - Introduction to Ornithology (4.0 cr)
- or EEB 4844 - Field Ornithology (3.0 cr)
Restricted Electives: Community and Ecosystem Ecology (3-4 credits)
Take exactly 1 course totaling 3 - 4 credits from the following:
- EEB 4609W - Ecosystem Ecology [ENV, WI] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3575 - Wetlands (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 5071 - Ecological Restoration (4.0 cr)
- FNRM 3203 - Forest Fire and Disturbance Ecology (3.0 cr)
- FNRM 3204 - Landscape Ecology and Management (3.0 cr)
- EEB 3603 - Science, Protection, and Management of Aquatic Environments (3.0 cr)
- or EEB 5601 - Limnology (3.0 cr)
Restricted Electives: Advanced Courses in FWCB (9-11 credits)
Select three classes in total from the following, including at least one of the first 3 choices.
- FW 4102 - Principles of Conservation Biology [ENV] (3.0 cr)
- FW 4103 - Principles of Wildlife Management (3.0 cr)
- FW 4107 - Principles of Fisheries Science and Management (3.0 cr)
- FW 4401 - Fish Physiology and Behavior (3.0 cr)
- FW 5051 - Analysis of Populations (4.0 cr)
- FW 5603W - Habitats and Regulation of Wildlife [WI] (3.0 cr)
- FW 5459 - Stream and River Ecology (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3015 - Invasive Plants and Animals: Ecology and Management (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3251 - Natural Resources in Sustainable International Development [GP] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 4061W - Water Quality and Natural Resources [ENV, WI] (3.0 cr)
- FNRM 3411 - Managing Forest Ecosystems: Silviculture (3.0 cr)
- FNRM 4232W - Managing Recreational Lands [WI] (4.0 cr)
Upper Division Writing Intensive within the Major
Take 0 - 1 course from the following:
Students are required to take one upper-division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
- EEB 3408W - Ecology [WI] (4.0 cr)
- EEB 4609W - Ecosystem Ecology [ENV, WI] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3011W - Ethics in Natural Resources [CIV, WI] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3202W - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning [WI] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 3241W - Natural Resource and Environmental Policy [SOCS, CIV, WI] (3.0 cr)
- ESPM 4061W - Water Quality and Natural Resources [ENV, WI] (3.0 cr)
- FW 5603W - Habitats and Regulation of Wildlife [WI] (3.0 cr)
- WRIT 3562W - Technical and Professional Writing [WI] (4.0 cr)