This 4-year plan represents one possible arrangement of required and elective courses leading to a BS-ANS 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 (13 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

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.

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 1. Spring Semester (16 credits)

WL ECOL 379 (3) - Principles of Wildlife Management

CHEM 104 (5) - General Chemistry

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.

Free Elective (3) - Student's choice

YEAR 2. Fall Semester (17 credits)

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

MATH 211 (5) - Calculus

PHYSICS 103 (4) - Introduction to physics

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

YEAR 2. Spring semester (17 credits)

ZOO 152 (5) - Biology and Laboratory

PHYSICS 104 (4) - Introduction to physics

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

CHEM 341 & 342 (4) - Organic chemistry and lab

YEAR 3. Fall Semester. (16 credits)

GENETICS 466 (3) - General Genetics

COMP SCI 132 (4) - Using Computers

WL ECOL 401 (3) - Physiological Animal Ecology (recommended) or ZOO 430/431 (5) Comparative Anatomy (choice) or AHABS 301 (4) - Physiology of domestic lab animals or PHYSIOL 335(5)- Physiology;

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

Free Elective (3) - Student's choice

YEAR 3. Spring Semester (16 credits)

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 (or Stat 201, 224, 571)

WL ECOL 301 (3) - Terrestrial Vertebrates

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

YEAR 4. Fall Semester (16 credits)

ZOO 315/316 (4) - Limnology and Laboratory or ZOO 540 - Theoretical Ecology

WL ECOL 360 (3) - Extinction of Species.  Space is limited in WL ECOL 360.  Note that there are 3 courses in this requirement box on the curriculum sheet for natural sciences (WL ECOL 360, 548, 651); you must take 2 of these courses.

WL ECOL 548 (3) - Wildlife Diseases

WL ECOL 561 (3) - Wildlife Management Techniques

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

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)

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