ESF Academic Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science
Wildlife science is the application of ecological knowledge in a manner that strikes
a balance between
the needs of wildlife populations and the needs of people. Coursework and faculty
expertise span the
animal kingdom and the planet, with a programmatic emphasis on North American species,
policies, and
practices. The focus is applied ecology, and students gain the skills, knowledge,
and abilities required to
meet contemporary and future challenges facing wildlife such as restoring habitat,
securing populations
of rare and vulnerable species, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, controlling invasive
species and
disease, managing sustainable harvests, and ensuring species persistence under climate
change. The
curriculum prepares students for working in state or federal wildlife agencies, non-governmental
conservation organizations, or consulting firms and also prepares students for continuing
on to a graduate
degree program, which may greatly expand employment opportunities and is often necessary
for careertrack positions.
Required Courses
Course Number | Course | Codes * | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
APM 105 | Survey Of Calc & Appl I | 4 | |
APM 391 | Intro/Probability&Stats | 3 | |
EFB 101 | Gen Bio I:Organismal Bio&Ecol | 3 | |
EFB 102 | General Biology I Laboratory | 1 | |
EFB 103 | Gen Bio II:Cell Bio & Genetics | 3 | |
EFB 104 | General Biology II Laboratory | 1 | |
EFB 120 | The Global Envirnmnt & Society | 3 | |
EFB 132 | Orientation Seminar:EFB | 1 | |
EFB 202 | Ecol Monitor&Bio Assessmnt | 3 | |
EFB 210 | Diversity of Life I | 3 | |
EFB 211 | Diversity of Life II | 3 | |
EFB 307 | Principles Of Genetics | 3 | |
EFB 308 | Prin Of Genetics Lab | 1 | |
EFB 311 | Principles of Evolution | 3 | |
EFB 320 | General Ecology | 4 | |
EFB 390 | Wildlife Ecology&Mgt | 4 | |
EFB 491 | Applied Wildlife Science | 3 | |
EFB 493 | Wildlife Habitats & Populatns | 4 | |
ESF 300 | Intro/Geospatial Info Tech | 3 | |
EWP 190 | Writing And The Envrnment | 3 | |
EWP 220 | Public Presentation Skills | 2 - 3 | |
FCH 150 | General Chemistry I | 3 | |
FCH 151 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 | |
FCH 152 | General Chemistry II | 3 | |
FCH 153 | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 | |
FOR 110 OR FCH 210 OR FOR 345 |
Environmental Physics Elements Of Organic Chem Introduction to Soils |
3 4 3 |
|
FOR 465 OR FOR 489 |
Natural Resources Policy Natural Resources Law & Policy |
3 3 |
|
EFB 482 OR EFB 483 |
Ornithology Mammal Diversity |
4 4 |
Electives
Course | Codes* | Credits |
General Education Course in two of the following categories: US History & Civic Engagement, The Arts, World History and Global Awareness, World Languages |
G | 6 |
General Education Course in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice | G | 3 |
Directed Electives | 18 | |
Open Electives | 22 |
Directed Electives
To ensure that Wildlife Science undergraduates obtain both strength and breadth of knowledge, and position themselves for professional certification by The Wildlife Society, 18 elective credits must be obtained in the following subject areas (A-D), through specific courses that are designed for juniors or seniors (i.e. courses numbered 300 or higher)
- Field experience (3 credits):
This requirement can be satisfied during any year, and is normally done via coursework at Cranberry Lake Biological Station. ESF field courses offered during semester break, field courses offered by other institutions or organizations (e.g, School for Field Studies), independent research projects, or job-related internships during the summer session. - Vertebrate Structure and Function (3 credits):
Choose at least one course from the following:- EFB 385 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4 cr.) S
- EFB 462 Animal Physiology: Environmental and Ecological (4 cr.) F
- EFB 480 Principles of Animal Behavior (4 cr.) F
- Botany and Plant Science (6 credits)
Choose at least two courses from the following:- EFB 326 Plant Evolution, Diversification and Conservation (3 cr.) S
- EFB 336 Dendrology (3 cr.) F
- EFB 337 Field Ethnobotany (3 cr) CLBS
- EFB 340 Forest Shade and Tree Pathology (3 cr.) F
- EFB 427 Plant Anatomy and Development (3 cr.) F
- EFB 429 Plant Physiology (3 cr.) S
- EFB 435 Flowering Plants: Diversity, Evolution and Systematics (3 cr.) F
- EFB 440 Mycology (3 cr.) F
- EFB 445 Plant Ecology and Global Change (3 cr.) S
- EFB 446 Ecology of Mosses (3 cr.) S
- EFB 496 Wetland Plants & Communities of Adirondacks (3 cr.) CLBS
- EFB 496 Flora of Central NY (3 cr.) Maymester
- Wildlife Specialization (6 credits): choose at least two courses from one or more categories as listed below:
-
- Population and habitat management:
EFB 370 Population Ecology and Management (3 cr.) S
EFB 438 Ecology and Management of Waterfowl (3 cr.)
EFB 449 Wetlands Conservation and Management (3 cr.) S, even years
EFB 487 Fisheries Science and Management (3 cr.) F
EFB 502 Ecology and Management of Invasive Species (3 cr.) S
EFB 518 Systems Ecology: Ecological Modelling and Design
FOR 232 Natural Resources Ecology (3 cr.) S
FOR 442 Watershed Ecology and Management (3 cr.) F
FOR 496 Forest Management and Wildlife (3 cr.) S - Wildlife Health:
EFB 360 Epidemiology (3 cr.) F
EFB 400 Toxic Health Hazards (3 cr.) F
EFB 453 Parasitology (3 cr.) F
EFB 462 Animal Physiology: Environmental and Ecological (4 cr.) S - Biodiversity
EFB 352 Entomology (3 cr.) F
EFB 355 Invertebrate Zoology (4 cr.) S
EFB 413 Introduction to Conservation Biology (3 cr.) F
EFB 486 Ichthyology (3 cr.) S
EFB 485 Herpetology (3 cr.) F - Human dimensions of conservation
EFB 305 Indigenous Issues and the Environment (3 cr.) S EST 353 Behavior Change and the Environment (3 cr.) F
EST 390 Social Processes and the Environment (3 cr.) S
EST 366 Attitudes, Values and the Environment (3 cr.) S, even years
EST 460 Land Use Law (3 cr.) S
EST 312 Sociology of Natural Resources (3 cr.) S
EST 493 Environmental Communication Workshop (3 cr.) S
- Population and habitat management:
Total Minimum Credits For Degree: 126