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Fisheries and Wildlife Management

The Fisheries and Wildlife Management program is designed to train students in both theoretical and applied aspects of fisheries and wildlife management.

Program Overview

This program is designed to train students in both theoretical and applied aspects of fisheries and wildlife management. This major is appropriate for those interested in natural resources management careers in state, federal or tribal agencies, non-profit organizations, industry or academia.

Students in this major must specialize in one of three tracks:
  • Fisheries
  • Wildlife
  • Enforcement

Completion of either the fisheries or wildlife tracks will result in meeting the academic requirements for professional certification in either fisheries (American Fisheries Society) or wildlife (The Wildlife Society). Students in the enforcement track will be assigned a secondary advisor in the Criminal Justice department.

Where a Major in Fisheries and Wildlife Management Can Take You

With a fisheries and wildlife management major, your career options are wide open. Some common paths for NMU alumni include:

  • Aquaculturist
  • Conservation/Enforcement Officer
  • Ecologist
  • Fish Biologist
  • Fisheries Scientist
  • Gamekeeper
  • Natural Resources Manager
  • Park Naturalist
  • Park Ranger
  • Wildlife Manager

Career possibilities available to you depend on the competencies and skills you acquire through both academic work and extracurricular experiences, so take advantage of every opportunity to learn from your NMU experience!​

Female student doing research in brook trout lab

The Fisheries and Wildlife Management major at NMU is a diverse program that will give you the opportunity to master many skills and gain competencies in a variety of fields.

Program Curriculum

There are a total of 120 credits required for students enrolled in this major. Students will complete 84 major-specific credits, along with 30-40 general education credits. The program curriculum includes:

  • Required courses (32-37 credits)
  • Physical science cluster (8 credits)
  • Communication cluster (4 credits)
  • Human dimensions cluster (8 credits)
  • A specialty track (32 credits)

Wildlife Track Curriculum (32 Credits)

Students in this program track are required to take the following core courses in addition to the other program requirements: 

In addition to the above wildlife track core, students must also complete courses from three additional clusters: wildlife biology, zoology and botany. The courses for this curriculum track total 32 credits.

 

Fisheries Track Curriculum (32 Credits)

Students in this program track are required to take the following core courses in addition to the other program requirements: 

 

In addition to the above fisheries track core, students must also complete eight credits from a cluster of biology courses. 

 

Enforcement Track Curriculum (32 Credits)

Students in this program track are required to take the following core courses in addition to the other program requirements: 

In addition to the above enforcement track core, students must also complete courses from three additional clusters: criminal justice, policy and regulation, and zoology.

 

Learn More

To learn more about pursuing your education at NMU, you can request additional information, schedule a visit, or apply online.

Sunset over a northern lake

The program is designed to train students for a career in fisheries and wildlife science. Students will learn about the administration, practice, theory, analysis, and human dimensions related to management of fisheries and wildlife resources and gain knowledge of ecosystem function, organismal biology, and taxonomy. Students will also gain applied skills in field and laboratory settings and will practice critical thinking and professional communication in a scientific context. Students completing this major will meet the academic requirements for professional certification in either The Wildlife Society or the American Fisheries Society.

Fisheries and Wildlife Management Program Mission