Wildlife & Natural Resources Program

Majoring Wildlife and Natural Resources leads to a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree. In addition, supporting courses and general education courses in biology are available to meet a wide range of interests, backgrounds and needs. The Wildlife and Natural Resources Program emphasizes an understanding of fish and wildlife ecology and management with practical skills obtained during laboratory and field exercises. Graduates are prepared for positions with state and federal agencies, tribal departments, conservation organizations, and higher academic degrees. Carefully supervised career planning is provided to all students.

The Wildlife and Natural Resources Program offers Aquatic and Terrestrial concentration areas, with curriculum for each meeting the certification requirements of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) or The Wildlife Society (TWS), respectively.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will develop a broad-based knowledge of concepts and terminology in organismal, and ecological biology.
2. Students will know the taxonomy, ecology and natural history of flora and fauna in southern Colorado and the desert southwest.
3. Students will know the principles and concepts of fish and wildlife science and how they are combined with human dimensions to make informed decisions on difficult management issues.
4. Students will develop skills in reading and interpreting the scientific literature and in presenting a synthesis of it accurately in oral and written form.
5. Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills using experimental design and the scientific process.

Outcomes Assessment Activities

• To assess knowledge of organismal and ecological biology we will administer the GRE to each class of First Year Seminar (BIOL 171) for baseline assessment and administer the GRE and MFAT exam to each class of Senior Seminar (BIOL 493). For each of these exams, only the organismal and ecological portions will be considered. The MFAT in particular is divided into Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Organismal Biology, and Population Biology, Evolution and Ecology. The first two will not be considered as they are not extensively covered in the WANR curriculum.
• Knowledge of local flora and fauna will be measured in taxonomy classes (BIOL 479 Ichthyology, BIOL 481 Entomology, BIOL 482 Herpetology, BIOL 483 Mammalogy, BIOL 484 Ornithology, BIOL 485 Plant Taxonomy). All of these courses include taxonomy exams that focus on identification of local species. The raw score on these exams will be used to assess student knowledge of local species.
• Assessment of fisheries and wildlife management will occur in the 400 level wildlife courses, WANR 401 (Fisheries Science) and WANR 402 (Management of Endangered Species). Each of these classes culminate in a final project involving management science. These projects will be assessed by faculty using a rubric.
• Interpretation of scientific literature will be assessed twice, once during the second year in Botany (BIOL 201) or Zoology (BIOL 202) and again in Senior Seminar (BIOL 493). A rubric will be developed to assess proficiency at reading, interpreting, and presenting scientific literature.
• Critical thinking and problem skills will be assessed in College Biology I (BIOL 181 Lab) and in Senior Seminar (BIOL 493) using a rubric. In College Biology Lab (BIOL 181L) the second full scientific paper will be evaluated by the instructor. In Senior Seminar, the capstone research proposal will be evaluated by the entire faculty.

Specific Program Requirements

Program Overview

• Students majoring in wildlife and natural resources must receive a grade of C or better (2.000) in all core biology and wildlife and natural resources courses.
• Students graduating with a BS in wildlife and natural resources must have at least a cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major area.
• Transfer students are required to earn a minimum of 15 semester credit hours in approved biology and wildlife and natural resources upper division courses from CSU Pueblo, including BIOL 493 Seminar (1 c.h.), for graduation with a BS degree in wildlife and natural resources.
• Students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship or temporary employment in a natural resources discipline prior to graduation.

Planning Sheet

Disclaimer: The Planning Sheet is designed as a guide for student's planning their course selections. The information on this page provides only a suggested schedule. Actual course selections should be made with the advice and consent of an academic advisor. While accurately portraying the information contained in the college catalog, this form is not considered a legal substitute for that document. Students should become familiar with the catalog in effect at the time in which they entered the institution.