Fisheries & Wildlife

Recognized as one of the premier programs in the country, the Fisheries and Wildlife major provides undergraduates with the foundational skills and knowledge to understand and execute scientifically rigorous management of fish and wildlife populations. Our graduates are prepared for employment or graduate studies in fisheries and wildlife biology management.

This degree program is certified by the American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society. Certification means that our graduates are trained to provide professional advice regarding fisheries and wildlife management, and it increases the competitiveness of our graduates when seeking employment.

Students may choose from among three areas of emphasis:

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

Curriculum

Coursework for this degree recognizes that wildlife management is fundamentally a biological discipline requiring an understanding of organisms and their environments. As a result, we view the foundational disciplines of the Fisheries and Wildlife major as:

  • Organismal biology
  • Population biology and ecology
  • Ecosystems and habitat management

Because fisheries and wildlife management involves humans interacting with our natural resources, we also require that our students have an understanding of economic and natural resources policies and laws. We also feel it’s essential for our students to receive training in spatial and population modeling, verbal and written communication, and decisionmaking in order to become successful fisheries and wildlife biologists.

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.

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.

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.