BS Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences

Also available via Ecampus.

The undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences prepares students for a variety of careers related to the conservation and management of fish and wildlife and their habitats that considers how individual and cultural values influence conservation. Many students in our program state they “want to make a difference in the world”. If you are interested in recovering endangered species, managing populations of fish and wildlife for sustainable harvest, restoring habitats and ecosystems, conserving biodiversity, mitigating the ecological impacts of climate change, conducting research, contributing to wildlife law enforcement, understanding how human decisions influence conservation, or educating the next generation about conservation, this degree will help you achieve your goals. Our graduates most commonly work for state and federal agencies (e.g., Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service), tribal agencies, non-governmental organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited), educational institutions, and the private sector (e.g., aquaculture, environmental consulting). We offer our degree on-campus in Corvallis, with some courses offered at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, and online through Ecampus.

Our curriculum helps students to think critically and evaluate problems using basic and applied science. The curriculum is composed of core courses required of all students, an advanced science core where students select courses within specific academic areas (e.g., vertebrate biology, habitats and ecosystems, human dimensions), and specialization courses. Combining that coursework with internships, professional development courses, and a capstone course prepares graduates with this degree to begin professional careers or to continue their education in graduate school.

In their junior year, students take a professional development course and work with their academic advisor to craft an individualized specialization plan. The plan consists of at least 24 credits of mostly upper-division elective coursework designed to help students achieve their stated professional and life goals. There is no limit on what a specialization might focus on, but example specializations include Wildlife Biology, Stream Ecology, Marine Fisheries, Aquaculture, Bird or Mammal Conservation and Management, Forest Wildlife Management, Marine Mammal Conservation, Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement, Conservation Education and Extension, Fisheries Business, Human Dimensions of Resource Management, and Conservation Biology.

Students work with our internship coordinator to identify and complete two required internships, which may include international experiences. Our graduates frequently state that internship was one of the best aspects of our program that helped them land their first job. For more information about internships, the bachelor’s degree, and the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, please see the Department’s website.

Major Code: 018