2023-24 Catalogs

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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
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 4400Techniques for Fisheries Management and Conservation3-4
or F_W 4700 Wildlife Ecology Methods
or NAT_R 4300 Methods in Lake Ecology
F_W 4500Animal Population Dynamics and Management3
Zoology Courses (choose 3; minimum 2 courses from FW)11-13
F_W 2600Ornithology5
F_W 2700Ichthyology4
F_W 3660Mammalogy4
BIO_SC 3260WInvertebrate Zoology - Writing Intensive
PLNT_SCI 3710Introductory Entomology
Emphasis Courses 9
NAT_R 2080Outdoor Recreation Consortium2
NAT_R 3400Water Quality and Natural Resource Management3
or FOREST 4390 Watershed Management and Water Quality
NAT_R 4100Lake Ecology3
ENV_SC 2600Sustainability Foundations: An Introduction to Sustainability 3
ENV_SC 4200Stream Ecology and Hydrology3
ENV_SC 4600WSustainability Science Problem Solving - Writing Intensive3
F_W 3700Animal Behavior3
F_W 3900Ecology of Fishes3
F_W 4200WUrban Wildlife Conservation - Writing Intensive3
F_W 4220Human Dimensions of Fish and Wildlife Conservation3
F_W 4800Environmental Toxicology3
F_W 4810Wildlife Disease Ecology3
F_W 4880Waterfowl Ecology and Management3

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Semester Plan

Below is a sample semester plan for the Fisheries and Wildlife Emphasis Area. Please consult with your advisor prior to registering for courses.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIO_SC 12005F_W 11005 
NAT_R 10703ENGLSH 10003 
ATM_SC 10503NAT_R 23253 
MATH 11003CHEM 13204 
 14 15  
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
F_W 29004SOIL 21003 
FOREST 43205PRST 32313 
NAT_R 41104Zoology Course4 
FOREST 21514MATH 14003 
 Humanities & Fine Arts3 
 17 16  
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
SOIL 21062Zoology Course4NAT_R 4950 or 49403
F_W 45003Professional Elective3 
Humanities & Fine Arts3F_W 47004 
ABM 2070W3BIO_SC 22004 
ABM 21233  
 14 15 3
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Missouri State Law Requirement3NAT_R 43533 
F_W 43003F_W 46504 
Professional Elective3Zoology Course5 
F_W 4600W3Professional Elective4 
Behavioral or Social Science3  
 15 16  
Total Credits: 125

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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/.

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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.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • 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 the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

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

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