Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Designed for the student with a keen interest in wildlife ecology and conservation, this major provides training for a variety of wildlife careers, as well as a solid foundation for professional employment or advanced graduate study. The primary focus of our undergraduate teaching is to develop the student's knowledge of the conservation and management of wildlife and their habitats for the greatest aesthetic, ecological, economic and recreational values.
About This Major
- College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Science
- Hours for the Degree: 120
- Specializations: Preprofessional, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Ecology
- Minor: Yes
- Website: www.wec.ufl.edu/undergrad/major.php
Overview
Students must designate a specialization no later than the semester after 60 credit hours are completed and before registration for classes the following semester. Earlier selection of the preprofessional specialization is recommended. Consult an adviser for guidance. The specialization must be provided to WEC Student Services Office, 102 Newins-Ziegler Hall.
The department also co-administers a major in natural resource conservation with the School of Forest Resources and Conservation. Refer to the forestry section in this guide for information.
Specialization: Preprofessional
Specialization: Wildlife Conservation
Specialization: Wildlife Ecology
Preprofessional
This specialization satisfies the coursework requirements for admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Students pursuing admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine must take six credits of general education composition, nine credits of humanities and six credits of social and behavioral science.
Some students can also satisfy requirements for certification as an associate wildlife biologist by The Wildlife Society. Certification requirements and application material are available at www.wildlife.org/.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined semesters 1-5
- Complete 2 of 7 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BSC 2010/2010L,
BSC 2011/2011L, CHM 2045/2045L, CHM 2046/2046L, ECO 2023 or AEB 3103, MAC 2311, STA 2023
Semester 2
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| WIS 3403C Perspectives in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| AML 2070 Survey of American Literature or AML 2410 Issues in American Lietature and Culture or ENL 2012 Survey of English Literature, Medieval to 1750 or ENL 2022 Survey of English Literature, 1750 to Present (all are GE-C, H) | 3 |
| BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Elective | 1 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) | 3 |
| CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) | 4 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics or ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (GE-S) | 4 |
| CHM 2211 and 2211L Organic Chemistry 2 (3) and Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory (2) | 5 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| WIS 3402 and 3402L Wildlife of Florida (3) and Wildlife of Florida Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| FOR 3153C Forest Ecology (3) or PCB 3034C Introduction to Ecology (4) or PCB 3601C Plant Ecology (3) or PCB 4043C General Ecology (4) | 3-4 |
| PHY 2053 and 2053L Physics 1 (4) and Physics 1 Laboratory (1) | 5 |
| WIS 3401 Wildlife Ecology and Management | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 14-15 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| AGR 3303 Genetics (3) or PCB 3063 Genetics (4) | 3-4 |
| PHY 2054 and 2054L Physics 2 (4) and Physics 2 Laboratory (1) | 5 |
| WIS 4501 Introduction to Wildlife Population Ecology | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 14-15 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| ANS 3440 Principles of Animal Nutrition | 4 |
| BCH 3025 Fundamentals of Biochemistry or BCH 4024 Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or CHM 3218 Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry 2 (4) | 4 |
| WIS 4523 Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation or FNR 4070C Environmental Education Program Development or FOR 4664 Sustainable Ecotourism Development | 3 |
| WIS 4554 Conservation Biology | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
| ANS 3006C Introduction to Animal Science | 4 |
| MCB 3020 and 3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms (3) and Basic Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| WIS 4203C Introduction to Landscape Ecology or WIS 4427C Wildlife Habitat Management or WIS 4601C Quantitative Wildlife Ecology | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
Note: Electives are used to complete the balance of 120 credits required for graduation.
All electives are free; wildlife conservation students can choose any electives. Suggested electives include any WIS course and approved focus courses for the wildlife conservation specialization.
Wildlife Conservation
This specialization allows students the flexibility to select a secondary focus comprised of seven courses (21 credit hours) in one of three areas: land management, quantitative science and human dimensions.
All students must file a plan of study as early as possible for the secondary focus in 102 Newins-Ziegler Hall. The plan must be approved and signed by the student's adviser and then filed no later than the semester after 60 credit hours are completed and before the student registers for classes the following semester.
Lists of approved courses are available in the WEC Student Services Office, 102 Newins-Ziegler Hall. Course substitutions must be approved by an adviser. Some students in this specialization can also satisfy requirements for certification as an associate wildlife biologist by The Wildlife Society. Certification requirements and applications are available at www.wildlife.org/.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined semesters 1-5
- Complete 1 of 6 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BSC 2010/2010L,
BSC 2011/2011L, CHM 2045/2045L, ECO 2023 or AEB 3103, MAC 2311,
STA 2023
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 3
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| WIS 3403C Perspectives in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Electives or approved physical science courses | 5 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| AML 2070 Survey of American Literature or AML 2410 Issues in American Lietature and Culture or ENL 2012 Survey of English Literature, Medieval to 1750 or ENL 2022 Survey of English Literature, 1750 to Present (all are GE-C, H) | 3 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics or ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (GE-S) | 4 |
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) | 3 |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) | 4 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| WIS 3402 and 3402L Wildlife of Florida (3) and Wildlife of Florida Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| FOR 3153C Forest Ecology (3) or PCB 3034C Introduction to Ecology (4) or PCB 3601C Plant Ecology (3) or PCB 4043C General Ecology (4) | 3-4 |
| GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems (4) or MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (4) (GE-M) or SUR 3393 and 3393L Geographic Information Systems and Laboratory (3) or URP 4273 Survey of Planning Information Systems (3) | 3-4 |
| STA 3024 Introduction to Statistics 2 | 3 |
| WIS 3401 Wildlife Ecology and Management | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15-17 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| WIS 3553 Introduction to Conservation Genetics | 3 |
| WIS 4501 Introduction to Wildlife Population Ecology | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Two focus courses | 6 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| FNR 4070C Environmental Education Program Development or FOR 4664 Sustainable Ecotourism Development or WIS 4523 Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation | 3 |
| WIS 4554 Conservation Biology | 3 |
| Three focus courses | 9 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| AEB 4274 Natural Resource and Environmental Policy or FNR 4660C Natural Resource Policy and Administration | 3 |
| Two focus courses | 6 |
| Choose two: WIS 4203C Introduction to Landscape Ecology (3) WIS 4427C Wildlife Habitat Management (3) WIS 4601C Quantitative Wildlife Ecology (3) | 6 |
| Total | 15 |
Note: Electives are used to complete the balance of 120 credits required for graduation.
Wildlife Ecology
Students in this specialization train in the biological, social, physical and management sciences, and excel at both the scientific and human dimensions of managing wildlife and natural resources. With appropriate choice of electives and course options (below), graduates satisfy requirements for certification as an associate wildlife biologist with The Wildlife Society.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined semesters 1-5
- Complete 1 of 6 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BSC 2010/2010L,
BSC 2011/2011L, CHM 2045/2045L, ECO 2023 or AEB 3103, MAC 2311,
STA 2023
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 3
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| WIS 3403C Perspectives in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics or AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics (GE-S) | 4 |
| AML 2070 Survey of American Literature or AML 2410 Issues in American Lietature and Culture or ENL 2012 Survey of English Literature, Medieval to 1750 or ENL 2022 Survey of English Literature, 1750 to Present (all are GE-C, H) | 3 |
| Elective | 1 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) | 3 |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) | 4 |
| SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| WIS 3402 and 3402L Wildlife of Florida (3) and Wildlife of Florida Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Summer | Credits |
| BOT 3151C Local Flora of North Florida or FNR 3131C Dendrology/Forest Plants | 3 |
| Total | 3 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| BOT 2710C Practical Plant Taxonomy | 3 |
| FOR 3153C Forest Ecology (3) or PCB 3034C Introduction to Ecology (4) or PCB 3601C Plant Ecology (3) or PCB 4043C General Ecology (4) | 3-4 |
| STA 3024 Introduction to Statistics 2 | 3 |
| WIS 3401 Wildlife Ecology and Management | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| ENY 3005 and 3005L Principles of Entomology (2) and Principles of Entomology Laboratory (1) or ZOO 2203C Invertebrate Zoology (4) | 3-4 |
| WIS 3553 Introduction to Conservation Genetics | 3 |
| WIS 4501 Introduction to Wildlife Population Ecology | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 12-13 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems (4) or MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (4) (GE-M) or SUR 3393 and 3393L Geographic Information Systems (2) and Laboratory (1) or URP 4273 Survey of Planning Information Systems (3) | 3-4 |
| FNR 4070C Environmental Education Program Development or FOR 4664 Sustainable Ecotourism Development or WIS 4523 Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation | 3 |
| WIS 4554 Conservation Biology | 3 |
| ZOO 2303C Vertebrate Zoology | 4 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 16-17 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| FAS 4305 Introduction to Fishery Science (3) or ZOO 4472C Avian Biology (4) | 3-4 |
| FNR 4660C Natural Resource Policy and Administration or AEB 4274 Natural Resource and Environmental Policy | 3 |
| WIS 4547C Avian Field Techniques or WIS 4945C Wildlife Techniques | 2 |
| Choose two: WIS 4203C Introduction to Landscape Ecology (3) WIS 4427C Wildlife Habitat Management (3) WIS 4601C Quantitative Wildlife Ecology (3) | 6 |
| Total | 14-15 |
Note: Electives are used to complete the balance of 120 credits required for graduation. All electives are free; wildlife ecology students can choose any electives. Suggested electives include any WIS course and approved focus courses for the wildlife conservation specialization. Lists of approved focus courses are available in the WEC Student Services Office, 102 Newins-Ziegler Hall.
Wildlife Society Certification: Nine credits of physical science are required for certification as an associate wildlife biologist through The Wildlife Society (TWS). Students who wish to meet the requirements for certification and do not have these credits should choose one of the following physical science courses as an elective.
Approved Physical Science Courses
| CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| EES 4370 Environmental Meteorology and Oceanography | 3 |
| GEO 3250 Climatology | 3 |
| GLY 2030C Environmental and Engineering Geology | 3 |
| PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Applied Physics 1 Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| PHY 2053 and 2053L Physics 1 (4) and Physics 1 Laboratory (1) | 5 |
One course in the biology of birds and mammals is also required by TWS: Students should choose ZOO 4435 Comparative Biology of Birds and Mammals -- or ZOO 4472C Avian Biology -- in semester 8.
Details of certification requirements and application materials are available at www.wildlife.org/.