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    Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

    Designed for those 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 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.

    To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

    Overview

    The department also co-administers a major in natural resource conservation with the School of Forest Resources and Conservation.

    Preprofessional

    Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan

    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 sciences.

    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.

    Critical Tracking

    Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

    Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

    Semester 1

    • Complete 2 of 7 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BSC 2010/2010L, BSC 2011/2011L, CHM 2045/2045L, CHM 2046/2046L, AEB 2014 or AEB 3103 or ECO 2023, MAC 2311, STA 2023
    • 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 2

    • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
    • 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 3

    • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
    • 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 4

    • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
    • 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 5

    • Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
    • 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined
    • 2.0 UF GPA required
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    Model Semester Plan

    To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

    This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

    Semester 1 Credits
    BSC 2010 Integrated Principles of Biology 1, 3 credits, and
    BSC 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 1, 1 credit
    GE-B
    4
    CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1, 3 credits, and
    CHM 2045L General Chemistry 1 Laboratory, 1 credit
    State Core GE-P
    4
    WIS 2920 Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Colloquium 1
    Composition
    State Core GE-C; WR-6
    3
    Humanities (GE-H) or
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)
    3​
    Total 15
    Semester 2 Credits
    BSC 2011 Integrated Principles of Biology 2, 3 credits, and
    BSC 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2, 1 credit
    GE-B
    4
    CHM 2046 General Chemistry 2, 3 credits, and
    CHM 2046L General Chemistry 2 Laboratory, 1 credit
    GE-P
    4
    IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
    GE-H
    3
    Composition
    GE-C; WR-6
    3
    Total 14
    Semester 3 Credits
    AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences
    WR-6
    3
    CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 1 3
    MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
    GE-M
    4
    Humanities
    State Core GE-H
    3
    Social and Behavioral Sciences
    State Core GE-S
    3
    Total 16
    Semester 4 Credits
    AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You, 3 credits, or
    AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics, 4 credits, or
    ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics, 4 credits, (GE-S)
    3-4
    CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry 2, 3 credits, and
    CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 2 credits
    5
    STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1
    State Core GE-M
    3
    WIS 3402 Wildlife of Florida, 3 credits, and
    WIS 3402L Wildlife of Florida Laboratory, 1 credit
    4
    Total 15-16
    Semester 5 Credits
    FOR 3153C Forest Ecology, 3 credits, or
    PCB 3601C Plant Ecology, 3 credits, or
    PCB 4043C General Ecology, 4 credits
    3-4
    PHY 2053 Physics 1, 4 credits, and
    PHY 2053L Laboratory for Physics 1, 1 credit
    5
    WIS 3401 Wildlife Ecology and Management 3
    Elective 3
    Total 14-15
    Semester 6 Credits
    AGR 3303 Genetics, 3 credits, or
    PCB 3063 Genetics, 4 credits
    3-4
    PHY 2054 Physics 2, 4 credits, and
    PHY 2054L Laboratory for Physics 2, 1 credit
    5
    WIS 4501 Introduction to Wildlife Population Ecology 3
    Elective 4
    Total 15-16
    Semester 7 Credits
    AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication 3
    BCH 4024 Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or
    CHM 3218 Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry 2
    4
    WIS 4523 Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation or
    FNR 4070C Environmental Education Program Development or
    FOR 3202 Society and Natural Resources or
    FOR 4664 Sustainable Ecotourism Development
    3
    WIS 4554 Conservation Biology or
    WIS 4203C Landscape Ecology and Conservation
    3
    Elective 3
    Total 16
    Semester 8 Credits
    ANS 3006 Introduction to Animal Science and ANS 3006L Introduction to Animal Science Laboratory, 4 credits, or
    ANS 3440 Principles of Animal Nutrition, 4 credits, or
    WIS 4203C Landscape Ecology and Conservation, 3 credits, or
    WIS 4427C Wildlife Habitat Management, 3 credits, or
    WIS 4601C Quantitative Wildlife Ecology, 3 credits, or
    WIS 4941 Practical Work Experience in Wildlife Ecology, 3-4 credits, or
    WIS 4945C Wildlife Techniques, 4 credits
    9-11
    MCB 3020 Basic Biology of Microorganisms, 3 credits, and
    MCB 3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory, 1 credit
    4
    Elective 2
    Total 15-17

    Additional electives may be needed to complete the 120 credits required for graduation. Students can choose any courses as electives.

    State core courses can be selected to meet the university's requirements for writing, international and diversity focused courses.

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    Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

    Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan

    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.

    Students select a focus area comprised of four courses (minimum of 12 credits) in one of the following areas: ecology, management, human dimensions, quantitative science or urban and regional planning (combined degree program only).

    All students must file a plan of study for focus area courses with Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (WEC) Student Services before completing 60 credits in the major or before the end of the first term of enrollment for transfer students. The plan must be approved by both the student's faculty advisor and the undergraduate coordinator. Any changes to the plan must be approved by the undergraduate coordinator.

    Lists of approved courses are available in the WEC Student Services Office, 102 Newins-Ziegler Hall.

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    Critical Tracking

    Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

    Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

    Semester 1

    • Complete 1 of 6 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BSC 2010/2010L, BSC 2011/2011L, CHM 2045/2045L, AEB 2014 or AEB 3103 or ECO 2023, MAC 2311, STA 2023
    • 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 2

    • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
    • 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 3

    • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
    • 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 4

    • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
    • 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 5

    • Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
    • 2.5 GPA on required math and science courses combined
    • 2.0 UF GPA required
    Back to Top

    Model Semester Plan

    To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

    This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

    Semester 1 Credits
    BSC 2010 Integrated Principles of Biology 1, 3 credits, and
    BSC 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 1, 1 credit, (GE-B)
    4
    WIS 2920 Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Colloquium 1
    Composition
    State Core GE-C; WR-6
    3
    Elective ​ 2​
    Humanities
    State Core GE-H
    3
    Total 13
    Semester 2 Credits
    AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You, 3 credits, or
    AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics, 4 credits, or
    ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics, 4 credits, (GE-S)
    3-4
    BSC 2011 Integrated Principles of Biology 2, 3 credits, and
    BSC 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2, 1 credit
    GE-B
    4
    IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
    GE-H
    3
    STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1
    State Core GE-M
    3
    Social and Behavioral Sciences
    State Core GE-S
    3
    Total 16-17
    Semester 3 Credits
    AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication 3
    AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences
    WR-6
    3
    CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1, 3 credits, and
    CHM 2045L General Chemistry 1 Laboratory, 1 credit
    State Core GE-B/P
    4
    FOR 3153C Forest Ecology, 3 credits, or
    PCB 3601C Plant Ecology, 3 credits, or
    PCB 4043C General Ecology, 4 credits
    3-4​
    Composition
    GE-C; WR-6
    3
    Total 16-17
    Semester 4 Credits
    MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
    GE-M
    4
    ​SWS 3022 Introduction to Soils in the Environment, 3 credits, and
    SWS 3022L Soils in the Environment Laboratory, 1 credit
    GE-P
    4​
    WIS 3402 Wildlife of Florida, 3 credits, and
    WIS 3402L Wildlife of Florida Laboratory, 1 credit
    4
    Humanities (GE-H) or
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)​
    3​
    Total 15
    Semester 5 Credits
    Plant Diversity and Taxonomy: 1 of 2
    BOT 2011C Plant Diversity, 4 credits, or
    BOT 2710C Practical Plant Taxonomy, 3 credits, or
    BOT 3151C Local Flora of North Florida, 3 credits, or
    FNR 3131C Dendrology/Forest Plants, 3 credits, or
    ORH 3513C Environmental Plant Identification and Use, 3 credits
    3-4
    ENY 3005 Principles of Entomology, 2 credits, and ENY 3005L Principles of Entomology Laboratory, 1 credit, or
    ENY 4210 Insects and Wildlife, 3 credits, or
    ZOO 2203C Invertebrate Zoology, 4 credits, or
    ZOO 4205C Invertebrate Biodiversity, 4 credits
    3-4​
    FOR 3434C Forest Resources Information Systems, 3 credits, or
    GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems, 4 credits, or
    GIS 3072C Geographic Information Systems, 3 credits, or
    URP 4273 Survey of Planning Information Systems, 3 credits
    3-4
    WIS 3401 Wildlife Ecology and Management 3
    WIS 4934 Mammalogy, 4 credits, or
    ZOO 4307C Vertebrate Biodiversity, 4 credits, or
    ZOO 4472C Avian Biology, 4 credits, or
    ZOO 4926 Mammalogy, 4 credits
    4
    Total 16-19
    Semester 6 Credits
    Plant Diversity and Taxonomy: 2 of 2
    BOT 2011C Plant Diversity, 4 credits, or
    BOT 2710C Practical Plant Taxonomy, 3 credits, or
    BOT 3151C Local Flora of North Florida, 3 credits, or
    FNR 3131C Dendrology Forest Plants, 3 credits, or
    ORH 3513C Environmental Plant Identification and Use, 3 credits
    3-4​
    WIS 3553C Introduction to Conservation Genetics 4
    WIS 4945C Wildlife Techniques 4
    Focus course 3
    Total 14-15
    Semester 7 Credits
    FNR 4660 Natural Resource Policy and Economics, 3 credits, or
    ECP 3302 Environmental Economics and Resource Policy, 4 credits
    3-4
    FNR 4070C Environmental Education Program Development or
    FOR 3202 Society and Natural Resources or
    FOR 4664 Sustainable Ecotourism Development or
    WIS 4523 Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation​
    3​
    WIS 4554 Conservation Biology or
    WIS 4203C Landscape Ecology and Conservation
    3
    WIS 4601C Quantitative Wildlife Ecology​ 3​
    Focus course 3
    Total 15-16
    Semester 8 Credits
    WIS 4501 Introduction to Wildlife Population Ecology 3
    Electives 6
    ​Focus courses, two 6​
    Total 15

    Additional electives may be needed to complete the 120 credits required for graduation. Students can choose any courses as electives.

    State core courses can be selected to meet the university's requirements for writing, international and diversity focused courses.

    Wildlife Society Certification: Full details regarding the distribution of coursework and credit hours required for certification as an associate wildlife biologist through The Wildlife Society (TWS) are found on www.wildlife.org. In addition to WEC major requirements, many of which match up to TWS certification requirements, students should plan to take additional courses as follows:

    1. Because nine credits of physical science, representing two different disciplines, are required for TWS certification, students who wish to meet the requirements and do not have these credits should choose one of the following Approved Physical Science Courses as a WEC Focus Course or as an elective.

    Approved Physical Science Courses
    CHM 2046 and CHM 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Lab (1)
    GEO 3250 Climatology (3)
    GLY 1150L Florida Geology Lab (1)
    GLY 2030C Environmental and Engineering Geology (3)
    PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Applied Physics 1 Laboratory (1)
    PHY 2053 and 2053L Physics 1 (4) and Physics 1 Laboratory (1)

    2. Because six credits of wildlife biology are required for TWS certification, students who wish to meet the requirements should plan to complete WIS 3402 Wildlife of Florida and choose one of the following wildlife biology courses as a WEC Common Requirement or as a WEC Focus Course.

    Approved Wildlife Biology Courses:
    WIS 4934 Mammalogy
    ZOO 4472C Avian Biology
    ZOO 4926 Herpetology
    ZOO 4926 Mammalogy

    3. Because six credits of natural resource policy, administration, and law are required for TWS certification, students who wish to meet the requirements should plan to complete FNR 4660 Natural Resource Policy and Economics as a WEC Common Requirement and choose one additional course, such as AEB 4123 Agricultural and Natural Resource Law or AEB 4126 Agricultural and Natural Resource Ethics as a WEC Focus Course or as an elective.

    Note: Other UF courses may be acceptable for use for TWS certification purposes, but the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Undergraduate Program Committee should be consulted before selections are made.

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    Related Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Programs

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majors: wildlife-ecology-and-conservation