Pre-Professional Tracks

This course introduces students to the institutions, policies, ethical frameworks, and professional practices that shape wildlife conservation and management. Emphasis is placed on the historical development of conservation in North America, the roles of federal, state, tribal, academic, and non-governmental organizations, and the human dimensions of wildlife management, including communication, stakeholder engagement, and co-management. Students examine how scientific information is generated, evaluated, shared, and applied within real-world conservation decision-making, while developing professional skills necessary for careers in wildlife conservation and management. Population and habitat manipulation are examined from a management, governance, practical, and ethical perspective; data collection methods and detailed ecological modeling and quantitative evaluation are addressed in subsequent advanced ecology and quantitative courses. 

This course introduces students to the institutions, policies, ethical frameworks, and professional practices that shape wildlife conservation and management. Emphasis is placed on the historical development of conservation in North America, the roles of federal, state, tribal, academic, and non-governmental organizations, and the human dimensions of wildlife management, including communication, stakeholder engagement, and co-management. Students examine how scientific information is generated, evaluated, shared, and applied within real-world conservation decision-making, while developing professional skills necessary for careers in wildlife conservation and management. Population and habitat manipulation are examined from a management, governance, practical, and ethical perspective; data collection methods and detailed ecological modeling and quantitative evaluation are addressed in subsequent advanced ecology and quantitative courses. 

This course introduces students to the institutions, policies, ethical frameworks, and professional practices that shape wildlife conservation and management. Emphasis is placed on the historical development of conservation in North America, the roles of federal, state, tribal, academic, and non-governmental organizations, and the human dimensions of wildlife management, including communication, stakeholder engagement, and co-management. Students examine how scientific information is generated, evaluated, shared, and applied within real-world conservation decision-making, while developing professional skills necessary for careers in wildlife conservation and management. Population and habitat manipulation are examined from a management, governance, practical, and ethical perspective; data collection methods and detailed ecological modeling and quantitative evaluation are addressed in subsequent advanced ecology and quantitative courses. 

Plants structure ecosystems and provide habitat and food for wildlife. As such, identifying and classifying plants are essential skills for wildlife biologists but are often underemphasized in wildlife curriculums or overlooked altogether. This course gives students a foundation in the practical skills needed to identify and classify plants in their location of interest (e.g., study area, forest, park, management unit). Students will learn principles and practices of plant taxonomy, including the hierarchical structure of plant classification and the rules governing botanical nomenclature. Modern approaches to classification, including phylogenetic systems, are introduced to highlight evolutionary relationships among plants. Students will also learn how to define characteristics of plants, classify plants into major plant groups and common plant families, and use technical keys to identify plant species from their local areas. By the end, students will produce a digital plant collection for their location of interest. Credit from successful completion of this course can be used to earn professional certifications (e.g., The Wildlife Society’s Certified Wildlife Biologist®), and if taken for academic credit, can meet the minimum educational requirements for federal and state wildlife biology jobs that require formal education in botany and the related plant sciences. 

This 4-credit course provides a comprehensive study of mammals, including their anatomy, functional morphology, evolution, identification, ecology, and research methods. Students will develop a range of practical skills, including specimen preparation and taxonomic identification in the field and laboratory. Emphasis is placed on integrating evolutionary history with ecological function and applied wildlife science. 

This course provides hands-on training in essential skills for conducting wildlife research and management in field settings. Students learn navigation and tracking using map and compass, GPS, and VHF telemetry, and develop wilderness first-aid competencies for responding to emergencies in remote environments. Participants gain experience in wildlife survey and capture techniques, including handling, marking, and measuring mammals, birds, and herpetofauna. An online module introduces the principles and safety considerations of wildlife chemical immobilization. Emphasis is placed on teamwork, safety, ethical practice, and professional standards for wildlife fieldwork.

This course provides an integrated study of bird biology, ecology, and field identification, emphasizing both scientific foundations and applied skills used by ornithologists and wildlife professionals. Students examine avian anatomy, physiology, and the mechanics of flight; explore ecological relationships and behavioral adaptations; and learn field-based survey techniques and analytical approaches used to study bird populations. A dedicated identification unit develops proficiency in recognizing birds by visual characteristics, vocalizations, and habitat associations. Through classroom instruction and field experiences, students gain practical skills in observation, data collection, and interpretation while developing an understanding of birds’ ecological roles and conservation importance.

This upper-level course focuses on developing the ecological and quantitative knowledge necessary for the modern wildlife professional. Students examine the ecological theory underlying wildlife populations and habitats, with a primary focus on the drivers of population change, energy flow, and the spatial requirements of species. Moving beyond simple observation, students develop the basic quantitative skills required to model population dynamics, evaluate complex habitat relationships, and interpret monitoring data through a lens of statistical uncertainty. 
The curriculum integrates advanced themes in animal behavior and extinction theory, exploring how behavioral budgets and the "Ecology of Fear" influence habitat selection and population persistence. Students will learn information-theoretic methods, such as AIC model ranking, and learn to navigate the philosophy of science by moving beyond null-hypothesis significance testing toward biological relevance and multiple competing hypotheses. 

This 3-credit upper-level course examines the principles and application of wildlife management in North America. The course begins with a focused overview of the historical development of wildlife conservation, foundational statutes, and funding mechanisms to gain an understanding as to why wildlife is managed and how management is supported institutionally and financially. The majority of the course emphasizes science-based approaches to managing and monitoring wildlife populations across ecological systems, including forests, wetlands, grasslands, and agricultural landscapes. Students examine management of major wildlife groups (e.g., big game, upland game, waterfowl, nongame species, raptors, and endangered species), with substantial attention to habitat definition, scale, monitoring, and manipulation. Students integrate ecological principles, human dimensions, and practical constraints by developing and presenting a wildlife management plan for a designated landscape. Foundational literature, beginning with Game Management by Aldo Leopold and extending to contemporary scientific publications, provides the intellectual framework for the course.