This 4-year plan represents one possible arrangement of required and elective courses leading to a BS-ANR degree in Wildlife Ecology in 4 years. Please be aware that a delayed declaration of major or option, placement test results (e.g. math), transfer status, personal situations (illness, job, etc), course access, and many other factors can all affect specific course selection and graduation schedule..

Graduation requires 124 credits. If you start to fall behind a 15.5 credit-per-semester accumulation, additional credits can be earned in independent study (WL ECOL 299, 699), internships (WE ECOL 399); additional electives; and surnmer school. You are certainly free to explore other topics and interests with electives at any time although this can add a semester or two to your degree program. Note that in this example there is an opportunity to take several electives in year 4. If courses are closed in year 2 or 3, those classes (required) may be deferred until year 4. 

YEAR 1. Fall Semester (15 credits)

WL ECOL 100 (0) - Departmental and Career Orientation; required

WL ECOL 318 (2) - Principles of Wildlife Ecology

WL ECOL 319 (1) - Principles of Wildlife Ecology-major only

ZOO 151 (5) - Biology and Laboratory; separate ZOO(101-102) and BOT 130 possible; ZOO 151-152 preferred

CHEM 103 (4) -General Chemistry

MATH 112 (3) - Algebra; if math placement scores dictate, go directly to calculus or select an elective from the communications list.

YEAR 1. Spring Semester (15 credits)

WL ECOL 379 (3) - Principles of Wildlife Management

ZOO 152 (5) - Biology and Laboratory

FOR 100 (2)- Introduction to Forestry

MATH 113 (2) - Trigonometry; if math placement scores dictate, go directly to calculus or select an elective from the communications list.

Written or Spoken Communication -Freshmen course (3). Minimum of 1 written and 1 spoken communication class required. Required courses vary, based on placement scores. See written/oral communication guidelines.

YEAR 2. Fall Semester (15 credits)

Economics 101 (3) - Microeconomics (choice: from AAE 215, 323, 336 or ECON 101, 102, 121, 181, 261)

Written or Spoken Communication - Choice (3). Minimum of 1 written and 1 spoken communication class required. Required courses vary, based on placement scores. See written/oral communication guidelines.

GEOG 139 (3) - Resources and People

Elective (6) - Choose from humanities, ethnic studies, social sciences, or international studies. See natural resources curriculum sheet for options in these categories.

YEAR 2. Spring semester (18 credits)

BOT 400 or 401 (4) - Vascular Flora of Wisconsin; BOT 400 -- Plant Systematics -- is an option, but it is only taught in fall

WL ECOL 379 (3) - Principles of Wildlife Management

GEOG 339 (3) - Environmental Conservation or SOIL SCI 324 (3) - Soils and Environmental Quality (Fall course)

ENVIR ST 127 (5) - Physical Systems of the Environment

Elective (3) - Choose from humanities, ethnic studies, social sciences or international studies. See natural resources curriculum sheet for options in these categories.

YEAR 3. Fall Semester. (17 credits)

ZOO 315/316 (4) - Limnology lecture and Lab

GENETICS 466 (3) - General Genetics

COMP SCI 132 (4) - Using Computers

Elective (3) Choose from humanities. ethnic studies, social sciences, or international studies. See natural resources curriculum sheet for options in these categories.

Human - resource interactions - Choose 1 course from ENTOM 201; GEOG 338, 536, 537, 538; RUR SOC/SOC 551

YEAR 3. Spring Semester (13-15 credits)

WL ECOL 301 (3) - Terrestrial Vertebrates

ZOO 520/521 - Ornithology or ZOO 510-511 (5) - Ecology of Fishes. One zoology lab/class dealing with a taxonomic group is required.

STAT 301 (3) - Introduction to Statistical Methods (choice from Stat 201, 224, 301, 541, or 571)

Elective (3) - Student's choice

YEAR 4. Fall Semester (15-17 credits)

WL ECOL 360 (3) - Extinction of Species.

Select 1 of the following courses: WL ECOL 401(3) -Physiological animal ecology (Recommended). PHYSIOL335(5)- Physiology; AHABS 301 (3) - Physiology of domestic lab animals; ZOO 430/431, 469, 525, 545.

WL ECOL 561 (3) - Wildlife Management Techniques

Elective (3) Choose from humanities, ethnic studies. social sciences, or international studies. See natural resources curriculum sheet for options in these categories.

Elective (3)- Student's choice

YEAR 4, Spring Semester (13 credits)

WL ECOL 375 (3) - Capstone Course

WL ECOL 655 (3) - Animal Population Dynamics

WL ECOL 651 (3) - Conservation Biology (Required, only if you did not take WL ECOL 548 in Fall, Year 3)

Breadth Requirement (3) - Choose from humanities, ethnic studies, social sciences, or international studies) See natural sciences curriculum sheet for options in these categories.

Free Elective (1) - Student's choice

Total Credits 124-130