BS in Natural Resource Science and Management with Emphasis in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences

Degree Program Description

The Natural Resource Science and Management degree with an emphasis in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences has a strong focus on taxonomy and includes additional required courses on research and management techniques. Students with degrees in Natural Resource Science and Management with an emphasis in Fisheries and Wildlife work as conservation biologists, ecologists, fisheries biologists, ornithologists, and wildlife biologists.

Major Program Requirements

In addition to completing major program requirements, students must complete the following additional requirements:

Degree Program Requirements-Emphasis Area
F_W 1100Introductory Zoology with Laboratory5
or BIO_SC 1500 Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory
or BIO_SC 1010
BIO_SC 1020
General Principles and Concepts of Biology
and General Biology Laboratory
F_W 2500Introduction to Genetics and Evolution for Conservation3-4
or BIO_SC 2200 General Genetics
or AN_SCI 3213 Genetics of Agricultural Plants and Animals
F_W 2900Principles of Wildlife Management4
F_W 4300Fisheries Management3
F_W 4400Fisheries Techniques3-4
or F_W 4700 Wildlife Ecology Methods
or ENV_SC 4308 Methods in Stream Ecology
F_W 4500Animal Population Dynamics and Management3
Zoology Courses (choose 3; 2 of which need to be F_W)
F_W 2600Ornithology4
F_W 2700Ichthyology4
F_W 3660Mammalogy4
BIO_SC 3260WInvertebrate Zoology - Writing Intensive 3
PLNT_SCI 3710Introductory Entomology 3
Professional Electives (Choose 3 Courses)
Exceptions may be made for related minors, certificates, study abroad, and service learning experiences
NAT_R 2080Outdoor Recreation Consortium2
F_W 3700Animal Behavior3
F_W 4200WUrban Wildlife Conservation - Writing Intensive3
F_W 4220Human Dimensions of Fish and Wildlife Conservation3
F_W 4810Wildlife Disease Ecology3
NAT_R 4353Natural Resource Policy/Administration If took ENV_SC 4400W or PRST 3230 to complete degree req3
ENV_SC 2600Sustainability Foundations: An Introduction to Sustainability 3
ENV_SC 3400Water Quality and Natural Resources Management3
or FOREST 4390 Watershed Management and Water Quality
ENV_SC 4024Foundations of Environmental Education If used PRST 3231 to complete degree req3
ENV_SC 4051Environmental Art3
ENV_SC 4100Lake Ecology3
ENV_SC 4200WStream Ecology and Hydrology - Writing Intensive3
ENV_SC 4400WEnvironmental Law, Policy, and Justice - Writing Intensive If used NAT_R 4353 or PRST to complete degree req3
ENV_SC 4600WSustainability Science Problem Solving - Writing Intensive3
FOREST 3207Forest Fire Control and Use3
FOREST 4330Practice of Silviculture4
FOREST 4341Forest Harvesting and the Environment3
PRST 2111Park Planning and Design3
PRST 3230Outdoor Recreation Policy If took NAT_R 4353 or ENV_SC 4400W to complete degree reqs3
PRST 3231Interpretation of Natural and Cultural Resources If took ENV_SC 4024 to complete degree requirement3
PRST 4250Parks, Health and Wellness3
PRST 4340Recreation Land Management3
AN_SCI 3242Principles and Applications of Animal Nutrition4
AN_SCI 3254Physiology of Domestic Animals5
or AN_SCI 3253 Physiology of Domestic Animals- All Majors

Semester Plan

Below is a sample semester plan for the Fisheries and Wildlife Emphasis Area. A student’s actual plan may vary due to course choices, course availability, transfer courses, and minors/certificates pursued. Please consult with your advisor prior to registering for courses.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
PLNT_SCI 1500 or BIO_SC 12004F_W 11005 
MATH 11003ENGLSH 10003 
NAT_R 10703NAT_R 23253 
ATM_SC 10503CHEM 14003 
SSC 11502CHEM 14011 
 15 15  
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
F_W 29004SOIL 21003NAT_R 49503
ABM 2070W3PRST 32313 
FOREST 21514Zoology Course4 
STAT 25003MATH 14003 
 Humanities & Fine Arts3 
 14 16 3
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Humanities & Fine Arts3Zoology Course4 
NAT_R 41104Zoology Course4 
BIO_SC 22004F_W 45003 
FOREST 43205Behavioral or Social Science3 
 SOIL 21062 
 16 16  
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Missouri State Law Requirement3NAT_R 43533 
F_W 43003F_W 46504 
Professional Elective3Professional Elective3 
F_W 4600W3Professional Elective4 
F_W 47004  
 16 14  
Total Credits: 125

Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • Change your Major. If you are considering changing your undergraduate major or are choosing between several majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573) 884-9700 or through the Discovery Center service in your MU Connect success network.
  • Decided on a Major. If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring that major.
  • Identify your Interests and Strengths. If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values, and talents, visit the staff at the MU Career Center. No appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
  • Explore MU Majors. If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit Majors at Mizzou or the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.