Fisheries & Wildlife

The fisheries and wildlife major equips students to become fisheries and/or wildlife biologists.  The major has three areas of emphasis from which students can choose:

  • Aquatic Sciences
  • Pre-Vet Wildlife Sciences
  • Wildlife Sciences

The Fisheries and Wildlife program is recognized as one of the premier programs in the country.

Curriculum

The course work is broad-based, furnishing an understanding of the interrelationships among the physical and biological elements of the natural environment, an appreciation of the social, political, and economics forces that influence fish and wildlife management, and the ability to analyze natural resource problems to forge realistic solutions. 

Aquatic Sciences Area of Emphasis

The aquatic sciences area of emphasis meets the Professional Certification requirements recommended by the American Fisheries Society.  The curriculum is field oriented and offers opportunities to participate in faculty research projects and agency internships. Courses such as fisheries management, limnology, ichthyology, ecology, aquaculture, water quality, and fish physiology provide students with the information needed to appreciate, understand, and manage aquatic systems.

Course Sequences

Related Minors and Certificate Programs

Students pursuing the aquatic sciences area of emphasis in the fisheries and wildlife major may be able to complete one or more of the following programs alongside the fisheries and wildlife major, as circumstances allow. Warnell offers other certificate options as well.

  • Water Resources certificate - no additional coursework is needed to earn the water resources certificate, but students must complete an associated seminar series and must take Senior Project (FANR 4500S) instead of Senior Thesis (FANR 4990). Students taking Senior Thesis may complete the certificate with careful elective selection.
  • Biology minor - if ECOL 3500 taken for ecology, then one additional course from the following is required: BCMB 3100, BCMB 4020, CBIO 3400, CBIO 3600, or GENE 3200. A minimum grade of C is required for all courses applying towards this minor.
  • Ecology minor - if ECOL 3500 taken for ecology, then a student must take ECOL 4000, 4010, or 4310 as a major elective, as well as one major elective from the following list, to earn the ecology minor: ECOL 3220, 3520, 4050, 4070, FISH 4300, 4360, 4550, WILD 4040, 4060, or 4575. A minimum grade of C is required for all courses applying towards this minor.

Pre-Vet Wildlife Sciences Area of Emphasis

Students who select the Pre-Vet option will fulfill all course requirements for entrance into UGA's College of Veterinary Medicine. Students on this track often take courses in animal behavior, wildlife physiology and nutrition, and wildlife disease, in addition to many of the organismal biology courses (herpetology, mammalogy, ornithology, etc.) taken by all wildlife students.

Course Sequences

Related Minors and Certificate Programs

Students pursuing the pre-vet wildlife sciences area of emphasis in the fisheries and wildlife major may be able to complete one or more of the following programs alongside the fisheries and wildlife major, as circumstances allow. Warnell offers other certificate options as well.

  • Biology minor - if ECOL 3500 taken for ecology, then all coursework for this minor will be met. A minimum grade of C is required for all courses applying towards this minor.
  • Ecology minor - if ECOL 3500 taken for ecology, then a student must choose ECOL 4000 or 4240 as a major elective, as well as one major elective from the following, to complete the minor: ECOL 3220, WILD 4040, 4060, or 4575. A minimum grade of C is required for all courses applying towards this minor.

Wildlife Sciences Area of Emphasis

Students choosing the wildlife sciences area of emphasis will fulfill the educational requirements to become Certified Wildlife Biologists, as stipulated by The Wildlife Society.  Wildlife Biologists determine the biological and ecological conditions required for maintenance of healthy populations of game and non-game species, tend these species, and manage their environments to meet wildlife conservation objectives.

Course Sequences

Double Dawgs Programs

Related Minors and Certificate Programs

Students pursuing the wildlife sciences area of emphasis in the fisheries and wildlife major may be able to complete one or more of the following programs alongside the fisheries and wildlife major, as circumstances allow. Warnell offers other certificate options as well.

  • Water Resources certificate - students taking Senior Project (FANR 4500S) instead of Senior Thesis (FANR 4990) should take FISH 4200 or FISH 4650L as one of their electives to finish the coursework requirements. Students taking Senior Thesis (FANR 4990) may take WASR 4400 as a major elective and either FISH 4200 or FISH 4650L as a major elective to finish the coursework requirements. For all students completing the certificate, an associated seminar series is required.
  • Biology minor - if ECOL 3500 taken for ecology, then one additional course from the following is required: BCMB 3100, BCMB 4020, CBIO 3400, CBIO 3600, or GENE 3200. A minimum grade of C is required for all courses applying towards the minor.
  • Ecology minor - if ECOL 3500 taken for ecology, then a student must take WILD 4040 or 4060 for an organismal elective, as well as choosing one of the following as a major elective: ECOL 4000, 4010, 4240, or 4310. A minimum grade of C is required for all courses applying towards this minor.