The Wildlife Biology concentration focuses primarily on terrestrial species and how they interact with their habitats while building a strong foundation in basic wildlife ecology, management, and conservation.

Effective Spring 2023

A minimum grade of C (2.000) is required in all biological, mathematical/ statistical, physical science, fish, wildlife and conservation biology, and natural resource courses used to meet graduation requirements for the Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology major. The minimum applies to courses taken as substitutions for meeting these requirements. 

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
FW 104Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (GT-SC2)3A3
FW 179New-to-the-Major Seminar 1
Select one group of courses from the following: 8
Group A:
  
Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)3A 
Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1)3A 
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)3A 
Group B:
  
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)3A 
Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1)3A 
Select one set of chemistry and physics courses from the following: 13-15
Group A:
  
Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)3A 
Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1)3A 
General Physics I (GT-SC1)3A 
General Physics II (GT-SC1)3A 
Group B:
  
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3A 
General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)3A 
General Chemistry II  
General Chemistry Lab II  
Physics of Everyday Phenomena (GT-SC2)3A 
Physics of Everyday Phenomena Laboratory (GT-SC1)3A 
Arts and Humanities3B3
 Total Credits 31-33
Sophomore
 
BZ 223Plant Identification 3
CHEM 245Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry 4
CHEM 246Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1
FW 260Principles of Wildlife Management 3
LIFE 320Ecology 3
MATH 155 or 160Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)
Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)
1B4
STAT 301 or 307Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
Introduction to Biostatistics
 3
Select one from the following: 3
Senior Honors Thesis  
Public Speaking  
Arts and Humanities3B3
Social and Behavioral Sciences3C3
 Total Credits 30
Summer 
NR 220Natural Resource Ecology and Measurements 5
 Total Credits 5
Junior
 
BZ 330 or 335Mammalogy
Ornithology
 3
FW 370Design of Fish and Wildlife Projects4A,4B3
Select one group from the following: 4
Group A:
  
Applied and General Entomology  
Entomology Laboratory: General  
Group B:
  
Aquatic Insects  
Group C:
  
Animal Biology-Invertebrates  
Select one course or course pair not taken elsewhere from the following:3 3-4
Animal Biology-Vertebrates  
Herpetology  
Mammalogy  
Ornithology  
Biology and Diversity of Fishes  
Select one course from the following: 3-4
Introduction to Evolution  
Population and Evolutionary Genetics  
Molecular and General Genetics  
Principles of Genetics  
Select one course from the following: 3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO3)2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)2 
Select one course from the following: 3-4
Mapping Diverse Perspectives in Conservation  
Geospatial Applications in Natural Resources  
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Historical Perspectives3D3
 Total Credits 28-31
Senior
 
FW 471Wildlife Data Collection and Analysis4C4
Select one Biology/Botany course not taken elsewhere from the following:  3-4
Biology Options  
Principles of Animal Nutrition  
Introduction to Evolution  
Animal Behavior  
Cell Biology  
Population and Evolutionary Genetics  
Comparative Animal Physiology  
Marine Biology  
Stream Biology and Ecology  
Limnology  
Conservation of Fish in Aquatic Ecosystems  
Waterfowl Ecology and Management  
Sustaining River Ecosystems in Changing World  
General Microbiology  
Pathology of Human and Animal Disease  
Concepts in Vertebrate Nutrition  
Coastal Environmental Ecology  
Botany Options  
Plant Systematics  
Developmental Plant Anatomy  
Introductory Phycology  
Introductory Mycology  
Plant Physiology  
Plant Ecology  
Forest and Rangeland Ecogeography  
Forest Ecology  
Select one Wildlife course not taken elsewhere from the following:  3-4
Conservation of Marine Megafauna  
Mapping Diverse Perspectives in Conservation  
Field Wildlife Studies  
Waterfowl Ecology and Management  
Principles of Conservation Biology  
Managing Human-Wildlife Conflicts  
Wildlife Disease Ecology  
Bird Ecology and Conservation  
Conservation and Management of Large Mammals  
Issues in Animal Conservation and Management  
Conservation Decision Making  
Wildlife Habitat Use and Management  
Ecotoxicology  
Travel Abroad-Wildlife Ecology/Conservation  
FW *** Travel Abroad Upper-Division5
  
Select one Human Dimensions course not taken elsewhere from the following:  3
Mapping Diverse Perspectives in Conservation  
Issues in Animal Conservation and Management  
American Environmental History  
Natural Resources History and Policy  
Public Communication in Natural Resources  
Social Aspects of Natural Resource Management  
Environmental Governance  
Applications in Environmental Communication  
Ethics of Sustainability  
Environmental Ethics  
U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy  
Population-Natural Resources and Environment  
Environmental Justice  
Environmental and Natural Resource Sociology  
Water and Social Justice  
Guided Electives6 9
Elective7 0-3
 Total Credits 24-25
 Program Total Credits: 120
1

Students taking this biology selection should choose a botany-related course in the department elective options to meet botany/plant course requirements for certain federal positions related to wildlife, fisheries, and/or conservation biology.

2

Students in the Honors Track 1 program must take HONR 499.

3

FW 300 and FW 301 count together as one selection in this choice.

4

Students will need to obtain a registration override from the appropriate department to take this course.

5

Restricted to FW subject code, department travel abroad courses, taught by FWCB faculty. No transfer or substitute courses will be accepted.

6

Guided Electives are courses intended to expand a student's depth and breadth in wildife biology and include any 300- or 400-level regular course with a BC, BMS, BSPM, BZ, CHEM, ESS, F, FW, GES, MATH, MIP, NR, NRRT, PH, RS, SOCR, STAT, or WR subject code (excluding courses ending in -80 to -99); SOCR 240; other courses with prior approval by department and advisor. Courses may not double-count as Guided Electives and for other requirements in the major.

7

Select enough elective credits to bring program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400- level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:The curriculum for the Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology major – Wildlife Biology concentration assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus.  Students who have not met the prerequisites for calculus, will be required to successfully complete the prerequisites in their first year.  A minimum grade of C (2.000) is required in all biological, mathematical/ statistical, physical science, fish, wildlife, and conservation biology, and natural resource courses used to meet graduation requirements for the fish, wildlife, and conservation biology major. The minimum applies to courses taken as substitutions for meeting degree requirements. NR 220 is a summer course in which students reside at CSU’s Mountain Campus. Students must choose ONE of two CHEM + PH paths: (Path A) CHEM 107/CHEM 108 and PH 121/PH 122 or (Path B) CHEM 111, CHEM 112, CHEM 113, CHEM 114 and PH 110/PH 111. Students must also choose ONE biology group A) BZ 110/BZ 111/BZ 120 or B) LIFE 102/LIFE 103.

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)  1A3
Select one group from the following:X  4
Group A:    
Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)  3A 
Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1)  3A 
Group B:    
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)  3A 
Select one path from the following:X  5
Path A:    
General Physics I (GT-SC1)  3A 
Path B:    
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)  3A 
General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)  3A 
FW 104Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (GT-SC2)  3A3
FW 179New-to-the-Major Seminar   1
MATH 117, MATH 118, and MATH 124 must be completed by the end of Semester 1. X   
 Total Credits   16
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one course from the following:X  4
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)  3A 
Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1)  3A 
Select one path from the following:X  8-10
Path A:    
Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)  3A 
Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1)  3A 
General Physics II (GT-SC1)  3A 
Path B:    
General Chemistry II    
General Chemistry Lab II    
Physics of Everyday Phenomena (GT-SC2)  3A 
Physics of Everyday Phenomena Laboratory (GT-SC1)  3A 
Arts and Humanities  3B3
CO 150, AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) and MATH 125 must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   15-17
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
BZ 223Plant Identification   3
CHEM 245Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry   4
CHEM 246Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory   1
FW 260Principles of Wildlife Management X 3
Select one course from the following:X  4
Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)  1B 
Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)  1B 
 Total Credits   15
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
LIFE 320Ecology X 3
Select one course from the following:   3
Senior Honors Thesis    
Public Speaking    
Select one course from the following: X 3
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods    
Introduction to Biostatistics    
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Social and Behavioral Sciences  3C3
FW 260 must be completed by the end of Semester 4.X   
 Total Credits   15
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
NR 220Natural Resource Ecology and MeasurementsX  5
 Total Credits   5
Junior
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one course from the following:   3-4
Mapping Diverse Perspectives in Conservation    
Geospatial Applications in Natural Resources    
Select one course from the following: X 3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)  2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO3)  2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)  2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)  2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO3)  2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)  2 
Select one group from the following: X 4
Group A:    
Applied and General Entomology    
Entomology Laboratory: General    
Group B:    
Aquatic Insects    
Group C:    
Animal Biology-Invertebrates    
Mammalogy    
Historical Perspectives  3D3
STAT 301 or STAT 307 and LIFE 320 must be completed by the end of Semester 6.X   
 Total Credits   13-14
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
FW 370Design of Fish and Wildlife Projects X4A,4B3
BZ 335Ornithology   3
Select one group from the following:   3-4
Group A:    
Animal Biology-Vertebrates    
Group B:    
Herpetology    
Group C:    
Mammalogy    
Group D:    
Ornithology    
Group E:    
Biology and Diversity of Fishes    
Ichthyology Laboratory    
Select one course from the following:   3-4
Introduction to Evolution    
Population and Evolutionary Genetics    
Molecular and General Genetics    
Principles of Genetics    
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  1C3
 Total Credits   15-17
Senior
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
FW 471Wildlife Data Collection and Analysis X4C4
Wildlife Elective (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)   3-4
Upper Division Guided Elective (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)   5
BSPM 302 / BSMP 303A, or BSPM 445, or BZ 212, and FW 370 must be completed by the end of Semester 8.X   
 Total Credits   12-13
Semester 9CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Human Dimensions Elective (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
Upper Division Guided Elective (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  4
Biology or Botany Elective (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3-4
ElectiveX  0-3
The benchmark courses for the 9th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   12-13
 Program Total Credits:   120