Bulletin Year: 2023 - 2024 Undergraduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.

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 must specialize in one of three tracks: fisheries, wildlife, or 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.

A minimum 2.00 grade point average is required for graduation with this major, based on all courses within the major. Exceptions must be requested via petition to the department’s academic programs committee.

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Biology department page.

For related information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/home.htm

Total Credits Required 120
General Education
30-40
Major 83-84
Required Courses 32-37
BI 111 Introductory Biology: Principles [SCII] 4
BI 112 Introductory Biology: Diversity 4
BI 210 Principles of Ecology [SCII] 4
BI 215 Principles of Evolution 4
BI 290 Fisheries and Wildlife Seminar 1
BI 327 Animal Physiology 4
BI 333 Genetics for Natural Resources or 3
     BI 218 Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4 cr.) [SCII] and  
     BI 312 Genetics (4 cr.)  
BI 441 Fisheries Management 4
BI 442 Wildlife Management 4
BI 489 Graduate Assessment for Biology Majors 0
Physical Science Cluster 8
Must include courses with two different prefixes. 8
CH 220 Introduction to Organic Chemistry (5 cr.)*  
GC 100 Physical Geography (4 cr.) [SCII]  
GC 202 Soils (4 cr.)  
GC 225 Introduction to Maps (2 cr.)  
GC 335 Geographic Information Systems (4 cr.)  
PH 201 College Physics I (5 cr.) [SCII]  
PH 220 Introductory Physics I (5 cr.) [SCII]*  
Communication Cluster 3-4**
Choose one course from the following: 3-4
CS 101 Web Site Construction (4 cr.) [INTT]  
SP 100 Public Address (4 cr.) [EFFC]  
SP 200 Argumentation (4 cr.)  
SP 432 Environmental Communication (4 cr.)  
Human Dimensions Cluster 8
Choose two courses from the following: 8
EC 345 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (4 cr.)  
GC 320 Environmental Policy and Regulation (4 cr.)  
GC 475 Environmental Impact Assessment (4 cr.)  
NAS 212 Michigan & Wisconsin Tribal Relations (4 cr.) [SOCR]  
NAS 310 Tribal Law and Government (4 cr.)  
NAS 342 Indigenous Environmental Movements (4 cr.) [INTT]  
PL 188 Introduction to Environmental Philosophy (4 cr.)
All students must complete one of the specialty tracks: 32
Wildlife Track 32
 
Required Courses for Wildlife Track 12
BI 240 Conservation Biology 4
BI 310 Ecology Theory and Methods 4
BI 412 Biostatistics 4
 
Wildlife Biology Cluster 6-8
Choose two courses from the following: 6-8
BI 423 Parasitology (3 cr.)  
BI 461 Herpetology (4 cr.)  
BI 462 Ornithology (4 cr.)  
BI 463 Mammalogy (4 cr.)  
BI 469 Wildlife and Fish Population Analysis (3 cr.)  
 
Zoology Cluster 5
Choose five credits from the following: 5
BI 221 Comparative Anatomy (4 cr.)  
BI 262 Field Ornithology (3 cr.)  
BI 288 Research in Biology (1 - 4 cr.)  
BI 324 Invertebrate Zoology (4 cr.)  
BI 390 Field Experience (1 - 2 cr.)  
BI 424 Entomology (4 cr.)  
BI 427 Ecological Animal Physiology (4 cr.)  
BI 460 Ichthyology (4 cr.)  
BI 461 Herpetology (4 cr.)  
BI 462 Ornithology (4 cr.)  
BI 463 Mammalogy (4 cr.)  
BI 465 Aquatic Insect Ecology (4 cr.)  
BI 467 Fish Ecology (4 cr.)  
BI 488 Advanced Research in Biology (1 - 4 cr.)  
BI 499 Internship (with wildlife) (1 - 6 cr.)  
 
Botany Cluster 9
Choose nine credits from the following: 9
BI 230 Plant Kingdom (4 cr.)  
BI 390 Field Experience (1 - 2 cr.)  
BI 431 Plant Physiology (4 cr.)  
BI 433 Boreal Flora (3 - 4 cr.)  
BI 434 Plant Ecology (4 cr.)  
BI 499 Internship (with plants) (1-4 cr.) 
Fisheries Track 32
 
Required Aquatic Biology Courses 24
BI 310 Ecology Theory and Methods 4
BI 411 Limnology 4
BI 412 Biostatistics 4
BI 443 Aquaculture 4
BI 460 Ichthyology 4
BI 465 Aquatic Insect Ecology or 4
     BI 467 Fish Ecology (4 cr.)  
 
Biology Cluster 8
Choose eight credits from the following: 8
BI 215 Principles of Evolution (4 cr.)  
BI 221 Comparative Anatomy (4 cr.)  
BI 229 Field Marine Biology (1 - 4 cr.)  
BI 240 Conservation Biology (4 cr.)  
BI 262 Field Ornithology (3 cr.)  
BI 288 Research in Biology (1 - 4 cr.)  
BI 314 Introduction to Marine Biology (4 cr.)  
BI 322 Vertebrate Zoology (4 cr.)  
BI 324 Invertebrate Zoology (4 cr.)  
BI 390 Field Experience (1 - 2 cr.)  
BI 410 Ecology of the Great Lakes (4 cr.)  
BI 423 Parasitology (3 cr.)  
BI 427 Ecological Animal Physiology (4 cr.)  
BI 429 Advanced Field Marine Biology (1 - 4 cr.)  
BI 462 Ornithology (4 cr.)  
BI 463 Mammalogy (4 cr.)  
BI 466 Stream Ecology (4 cr.)  
BI 467 Fish Ecology (4 cr.)  
BI 469 Wildlife and Fish Population Analysis (3 cr.)  
BI 488 Advanced Research in Biology (1 - 4 cr.)  
BI 499 Internship (1 - 6 cr.) (with fisheries)  
GC 390 Oceanography (2 cr.)  
GC 465 Hydrology (4 cr.)  
Enforcement Track 32
 
Required Courses 16
CJ 110 Introduction to Criminal Justice [PERS] 4
CJ 273 Environmental Conservation Criminology 4
CJ 383 Environmental Conservation Law 4
CJ 454 Wildlife Crime 4
 
Criminal Justice Cluster 4
Choose four credits from the following: 4
CJ 214 Criminal Investigation (4 cr.)  
CJ 223 Use of Force and Less Lethal Weapons (4 cr.)  
CJ 250 Investigative Interviewing and Interrogation (4 cr.)  
CJ 270 Conservation Law Enforcement (4 cr.)
 
Policy and Regulation Cluster 4
Choose four credits from the following: 4
GC 320 Environmental Policy and Regulation (4 cr.)  
NAS 310 Tribal Law and Government (4 cr.)  
 
Zoology Cluster 8
Choose eight credits from the following: 8
BI 460 Ichthyology (4 cr.)  
BI 462 Ornithology (4 cr.)  
BI 463 Mammalogy (4 cr.)  
Other Required Courses 14
CH 111 General Chemistry I [SCII] *** 5
CH 112 General Chemistry II *** 5
DATA 109 Introduction to Statistics [QUAR] 4

Track must be declared before a degree evaluation can be performed.

This major does not require a minor.

*Indicates courses that are recommended for students who will pursue graduate study in the sciences.

**Students seeking The Wildlife Society Certification must complete 4 credits in this cluster.

***Transfer students may satisfy this requirement with a minimum of 4 semester hours.

Note: All courses to be used for American Fisheries Society Certification must be passed with a grade of  “C” or better. This is not required for attainment of the degree and normal Biology Department standards apply (see bulletin). 


Bulletin Year: 2023 - 2024 Undergraduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.