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ESF Academic Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science

Orange horizontal rule

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
APM 391
EFB 101
EFB 102
EFB 103
EFB 104
EFB 120
EFB 132
EFB 202
EFB 210
EFB 211
EFB 307
EFB 308
EFB 311
EFB 320
EFB 390
EFB 491
EFB 493
ESF 300
EWP 190
EWP 220
FCH 150
FCH 151
FCH 152
FCH 153
FOR 110
OR
FCH 210
OR
FOR 345
FOR 465
OR
FOR 489
EFB 482
OR
EFB 483

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)

  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Wildlife Specialization (6 credits): choose at least two courses from one or more categories as listed below:
    1. 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
    2. 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
    3. 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
    4. 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

Total Minimum Credits For Degree: 126