Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (BS): Conservation Biology Concentration
Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology (FWCB) major prepares students to manage and conserve populations of fish and wildlife in their natural habitats. This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) major gives students the skills they need to observe, research, monitor and assess the impact of environmental change, human behavior and public policy on wild populations of animals. Using a combination of lab work, technology and field study, students develop conservation strategies that ensure the long-term health of fish and wildlife populations.
After sophomore year, students spend six weeks in summer field courses. During the “summer camp” experience, students learn hands-on fish and wildlife management techniques in locations across the state. From plant and animal identification and bird mist netting to camera-trapping and radio telemetry, students gain experiences that prepare them for careers after graduation. FWCB students have the option to substitute the summer field course with approved internships or study abroad courses.
The Conservation Biology concentration allows flexibility for students to pursue elements of conservation that align with their specific career goals. The degree requirements include 9 credits of technical electives that compliment the major such as courses in environmental policy, entomology, science communication, or environmental education.
Contact
Dr. Nicole Mihnovets
anmihnov@ncsu.edu
FWCB Undergraduate Coordinator
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
Box 8008
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8008
Plan Requirements
| First Year | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ENV 100 | Student Success in Environmental First Year | 1 |
| ENV 101 | Exploring the Environment | 2 |
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Acad Writing Research 1 | 4 | |
| FW 221 | Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| Hours | 25 | |
| Second Year | ||
| FOR 172 | Forest System Mapping and Mensuration I | 2 |
| PY 131 | Conceptual Physics | 4 |
| COM 110 or COM 112 | Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| Select one of the following Ecology courses: | 4 | |
| Ecology | ||
| Forest Ecology | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Plant Elective | 3 | |
| Quantitative Elective | 3 | |
| Physical Science Elective | 3 | |
| Economics Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 25 | |
| Summer | ||
| Experiential Learning | 6 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| GIS 280 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| FW 333 | Conservation Biology in Practice | 3 |
| FW 353 | Wildlife Management | 3 |
| FW 373 | Vertebrate Natural History | 3 |
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| FW 411 | Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries | 3 |
| ENG 333 | Communication for Science and Research | 3 |
| Select one of the following Genetics courses: | 3-4 | |
| Genetics for Wildlife Management | ||
| Genetics in Human Affairs | ||
| Principles of Genetics | ||
| Select one of the following Organic Chemistry combinations: | 4 | |
| Introductory Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry I Lab | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | ||
| Hours | 28 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| FW 415 | Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology | 1 |
| FW 453 or FW 404 | Principles of Wildlife Science or Wildlife Habitat Management | 3 |
| ENT 201 | Insects and People | 3 |
| Policy Elective | 3 | |
| Conservation Biology Elective | 3 | |
| Fisheries & Wildlife Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 25 | |
| Total Hours | 109 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or better is required.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (Verify Requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (Verify Requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 11 | |
Acad Writing Research
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Acad Writing Research | ||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| FLE 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| Transfer Sequence | ||
| ENG 202 | Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing | 3 |
| ENG 1GEP | 3 | |
Plant Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FOR 401 | Dendrology | 4 |
| PB 200 | Plant Life | 4 |
| PB 220 | Local Flora | 3 |
| PB 250 | Plant Biology | 4 |
Quantitative Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MA 231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II | 4 |
| NR 300 | Natural Resource Measurements | 4 |
| ST 312 | Introduction to Statistics II | 3 |
| MA 107 | Precalculus I (Only for cases when math placement exam results determine that pre-calculus is necessary before enrolling in MA 131.) | 3 |
Physical Science Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CH 223 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| ES 200 | Climate Change and Sustainability | 3 |
| ES 300 | Energy and Environment | 3 |
| MEA 100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections | 4 |
| MEA 130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 |
| MEA 200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| MEA 210 | Oceanography Lab | 1 |
| MEA 220 | Marine Biology | 3 |
| MEA 250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments | 3 |
| MEA 323 | Geochemistry of Natural Waters | 3 |
| PY 212 | College Physics II | 4 |
Economics Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARE 201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| ARE 201A | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| EC 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| NR 219 | Natural Resource Markets | 3 |
Experiential Learning
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
Summer Camp 2 | ||
| FW 311 | Piedmont Wildlife Ecology and Management | 3 |
| FW 312 | Fisheries Techniques and Management | 1 |
| FW 313 | Mountain Wildlife Ecology and Management | 1 |
| FW 314 | Coastal Ecology and Management | 1 |
Internship 2 | ||
| FW 492 | External Learning Experience | 3-6 |
Study Abroad 2 | ||
| FW 405 | Tropical Wildlife Ecology | 3 |
| FW 445 | Human Dimensions of Conservation Biology in the Bahamas | 3 |
- 2
Six credits of experiential learning can be accomplished by completing one of the following four options:
1) Summer Camp field courses (FW 311, FW 312, FW 313, FW 314)
2) Two FWCB approved internships (FW 492)
3) Two study abroad experiences (FW 405, FW 445, or other FWCB-approved wildlife study abroad)
4) One FWCB-approved internship and one study abroad experience.
Click here and here for more information about FWCB's experiential learning opportunities. Click here to view additional opportunities offered through NCSU's Pack Abroad portal.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARE 309 | Environmental Law & Economic Policy | 3 |
| NR 460 | Renewable Natural Resource Management and Policy | 3 |
| PS 320 | U.S. Environmental Law and Politics | 3 |
| PS 336 | Global Environmental Politics | 3 |
Conservation Biology Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FW 403 | Urban Wildlife Management | 3 |
| FW 405 | Tropical Wildlife Ecology | 3 |
| FW 460 | International Wildlife Management and Conservation | 3 |
| NR 406 | Conservation of Biological Diversity | 3 |
| AEC 245 | Practicing Conservation Ecology | 3 |
| AEC 384 | Tropical Ecology in a Changing World | 3 |
| AEC 390 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| AEC 400 | Applied Ecology | 3 |
| AEC 409 | Ecology and Conservation of Freshwater Invertebrates | 4 |
| AEC 424 | Marine Fisheries Ecology | 3 |
| AEC 460 | Field Ecology and Methods | 4 |
| AEC 470 | Urban Ecology | 3 |
| MEA 350 | Marine Conservation Biology ! | 3 |
Fisheries & Wildlife Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FW 402 | Genetics for Wildlife Management | 3 |
| FW 413 | Herpetology | 4 |
| FW 444 | Mammalogy | 3 |
| FW 453 | Principles of Wildlife Science | 4 |
| AEC 420 | Introduction to Fisheries Science | 3 |
| AEC 501 | Avian Ecology | 4 |
| AEC 441 | Biology of Fishes | 3 |
| ZO 410 | Introduction to Animal Behavior | 3 |
| AEC 424 | Marine Fisheries Ecology ! | 3 |
| MEA 252 | Biology of Marine Mammals ! | 3 |
- !
Course offered only during Semester at CMAST, a 'study away' program at NC State's Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, in Morehead City. Click here for more information about this program.
Technical Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FW 402 | Genetics for Wildlife Management | 3 |
| FW 403 | Urban Wildlife Management | 3 |
| FW 404 | Wildlife Habitat Management | 3 |
| AEC 245 | Practicing Conservation Ecology | 3 |
| AEC 370 | Parasite and Disease Ecology | 3 |
| AEC 380 | Water Resources: Global Issues in Ecology, Policy, Management, and Advocacy | 3 |
| AEC 384 | Tropical Ecology in a Changing World | 3 |
| AEC 390 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| AEC 400 | Applied Ecology | 3 |
| AEC 409 | Ecology and Conservation of Freshwater Invertebrates | 4 |
| AEC 419 | Freshwater Ecology | 4 |
| AEC 424 | Marine Fisheries Ecology | 3 |
| AEC 441 | Biology of Fishes | 3 |
| AEC 460 | Field Ecology and Methods | 4 |
| AEC 470 | Urban Ecology | 3 |
| ANS 230 | Animal Nutrition | 3 |
| COM 289 | Science Communication and Public Engagement | 3 |
| CS 230 | Introduction to Agroecology | 3 |
| CS 415 | Integrated Pest Management | 3 |
| DSC 201 | Introduction to R/Python for Data Science | 1 |
| DSC 202 | Introduction to Data Visualization | 1 |
| DSC 205 | Data Communication | 1 |
| EMS 350 | Teaching Environmental Education | 3 |
| ENT 207 | Insects and Human Disease | 3 |
| ENT 212 | Basic Entomology | 1 |
| ENT 401 | Honey Bee Biology and Management | 3 |
| ENT 402 | Forest Entomology | 3 |
| ENT 425 | General Entomology | 3 |
| ES 150 | Water and the Environment | 3 |
| ES 200 | Climate Change and Sustainability | 3 |
| ES 300 | Energy and Environment | 3 |
| FOR 248 | Forest History, Technology and Society | 3 |
| FOR 252 | Introduction to Forest Science | 3 |
| FOR 304 | Theory of Silviculture | 4 |
| FOR 318 | Forest Pathology | 3 |
| FOR 330 | North Carolina Forests | 3 |
| FOR 353 | GIS and Remote Sensing for Environmental Analysis and Assessment | 3 |
| FOR 402 | Forest Entomology | 3 |
| FOR 414 | World Forestry | 3 |
| FOR 472 | Forest Soils | 4 |
| MEA 409 | Watershed Forensics | 3 |
| NR 203 | Humans and the Environment | 3 |
| NR 350 | International Sustainable Resource Use | 4 |
| NR 400 | Natural Resource Management | 4 |
| NR 420 | Watershed and Wetlands Hydrology | 4 |
| NR 421 | Wetland Science and Management | 3 |
| NR 484 | Environmental Impact Assessment | 4 |
| PB 403 | Systematic Botany | 4 |
| NR 300 | Natural Resource Measurements | 4 |
| PRT 485 | Environmental Education in Practice | 3 |
| SSC 185 | Land and Life | 3 |
| SSC 200 | Soil Science | 3 |
| ZO 233 | Human-Animal Interactions | 3 |
| ZO 250 | Animal Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| ZO 317 | Primate Ecology and Evolution | 3 |
| ZO 350 | Animal Phylogeny and Diversity | 4 |
| ZO 402 | Invertebrate Biology | 4 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
Critical Path Courses – Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENV 100 & ENV 101 | Student Success in Environmental First Year and Exploring the Environment | 3 |
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| FW 221 | Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PY 131 | Conceptual Physics | 4 |
| FOR 172 | Forest System Mapping and Mensuration I | 2 |
| COM 110 or COM 112 | Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| Plant Elective (CP) | 3 | |
| Physical Science Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Economics Elective | 3 | |
| Ecology Elective (CP) | 4 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| Quantitative Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Summer | ||
| Experiential Learning | 6 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FW 333 | Conservation Biology in Practice (CP) | 3 |
| FW 353 | Wildlife Management (CP) | 3 |
| GIS 280 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Select one of the following Genetics courses: | 3-4 | |
| Genetics for Wildlife Management | ||
| Genetics in Human Affairs | ||
| Principles of Genetics | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| FW 373 | Vertebrate Natural History (CP) | 3 |
| FW 411 | Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries (CP) | 3 |
| ENG 333 | Communication for Science and Research | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Select one of the following Organic Chemistry combinations: | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | ||
| Introductory Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry I Lab | ||
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FW 415 | Professional Development in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology | 1 |
| ENT 201 | Insects and People (GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives) | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Fish & Wildlife Elective | 3 | |
| Policy Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| FW 453 or FW 404 | Principles of Wildlife Science (CP) or Wildlife Habitat Management | 3-4 |
| Conservation Biol Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or better is required.
Career Opportunities
Graduates are prepared for graduate school and entry-level professional positions in state and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations and private industry. Upon graduation, students are qualified to seek certification from The Wildlife Society or the American Fisheries Society.
Career Titles
- Conservation Scientist
- Environmental Scientist
- Environmental Scientist and Protection Technician
- Fisheries Manager
- Forest and Conservation Technician
- Forester
Learn More About Careers
NCcareers.org
Explore North Carolina’s central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to view state and area employment and wage statistics. You can also identify and compare similar occupations based on your interests.
Career One Stop Videos
View videos that provide career details and information on wages, employment trends, skills needed, and more for any occupation. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your career counselor to discuss the results.
Focus 2 Apply Assessment (Available to prospective students)
A career assessment tool designed to support prospective students in exploring and choosing the right major and career path based on your unique personality, interests, skills and values. Get started with Focus 2 Apply and see how it can guide your journey at NC State.
North Carolina Chapter of the Wildlife Society
North Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society