for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Biology Concentration

---

Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology emphasizes the ecology, conservation, and sustainable management of fish and wildlife species and communities. It is designed for students interested in understanding interactions among humans, wild animals, and their habitats. The concentration includes coursework in conservation of threatened and endangered species, management of harvested species, aquatic ecosystem conservation, animal behavior, vertebrate natural history, identification of animals and plants, and advanced ecology. 

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Biology Concentration

---

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours for graduation: 126 hours.

University Requirements

Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework generally at the 300- and 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Composition I		4-6
Advanced Composition		3
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)		6
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)		6
fulfilled by CHEM 102, CHEM 104, IB 103; and IB 104 or IB 150; and ABE 152 or ACES 102 or ATMS 140 or CPSC 113 or GEOL 107 or GEOL 118 or GGIS 103 or MCB 100 or MCB 150 or NPRE 101 or PHYS 101 or PHYS 211
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)		6
fulfilled by ACE 100 or ECON 102; and NRES 287
Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course)		3
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course)		3
fulfilled by NRES 287
Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course)		3
Quantitative Reasoning (6-10 hours; at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I)		6-10
fulfilled by MATH 220 or MATH 221 or MATH 234; and ACE 262 or CPSC 241 or ECON 202 or PSYC 235 or SOC 280 or STAT 100 or STAT 107
Language Requirement (0-15 hours; completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required)		0-15

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Major Requirements
Communications Requirement		3 or 6
Select from the following:
CMN 101	Public Speaking
CMN 111 & CMN 112	Oral & Written Comm I and Oral & Written Comm II
ALEC 115	Let’s Talk about Food, Agriculture, and the Environment
Economics Requirement		3-4
Select from the following:
ACE 100	Introduction to Applied Microeconomics
ECON 102	Microeconomic Principles
Math Requirement		4-5
Select from the following:
MATH 220	Calculus
MATH 221	Calculus I
MATH 234	Calculus for Business I
Statistics Requirement		3-4
Select from the following:
ACE 262	Applied Statistical Methods and Data Analytics I
CPSC 241	Intro to Applied Statistics
ECON 202	Economic Statistics I
PSYC 235	Intro to Statistics
SOC 280	Intro to Social Statistics
STAT 100	Statistics
STAT 107	Data Science Discovery
Science Requirements		19-22
CHEM 102 & CHEM 103	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I
CHEM 104 & CHEM 105	General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II
IB 103	Introduction to Plant Biology
IB 104	Animal Biology
or IB 150 & IB 151	Organismal & Evolutionary Biol and Organismal & Evol Biol Lab
Select one additional course from the following:
ABE 152	Water in the Global Environment
ACES 102	Intro Sustainable Food Systems
ATMS 140	Climate and Global Change
CPSC 113	Environment, Agriculture, and Society
GEOL 107	Physical Geology
GEOL 118	Natural Disasters
GGIS 103	Earth's Physical Systems
MCB 100	Introductory Microbiology
MCB 150	Molecular & Cellular Basis of Life
NPRE 101	Introduction to Energy Sources
PHYS 101	College Physics: Mech & Heat
PHYS 211	University Physics: Mechanics
College of ACES Requirements (Core)		2
ACES 101	Contemporary Issues in ACES
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Requirements (Core)		31-33
NRES 102	Introduction to NRES
NRES 201	Introductory Soils
NRES 219	Applied Ecology
NRES 287	Environment and Society
NRES 325	Natural Resource Policy Mgmt
NRES 348	Fish and Wildlife Ecology
NRES 385	Field Experience
NRES 421	Quantitative Methods in NRES
NRES 454	GIS in Natural Resource Mgmt
NRES 456	Integrative Ecosystem Management
Select one additional field experience course from the following:
NRES 293	Professional Internship
NRES 294	Resident Internship
NRES 295	Undergrad Research or Thesis
NRES 385	Field Experience
NRES 396	UG Honors Research or Thesis

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Concentration Core Requirements
NRES 407	Wildlife Population Ecology	4
NRES 409	Fishery Ecol and Conservation	4
Concentration Elective Requirements
One Organismal Biology/Identification Course		4
IB 461	Ornithology
IB 462	Mammalogy
IB 463	Ichthyology
IB 464	Herpetology
One Specialization Course		3-4
NRES 362	Ecology of Invasive Species
NRES 418	Wetland Ecology & Management
NRES 419	Env and Plant Ecosystems
NRES 420	Restoration Ecology
NRES 429	Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation
NRES 465	Landscape Ecology
NRES 480	Human-Wildlife Interactions
NRES 485	Stream Ecology
IB 329	Animal Behavior
IB 361	Ecology and Human Health
IB 444	Insect Ecology
IB 451	Conservation Biology
One Plant Classification/Identification Course		4
NRES 302	Dendrology
NRES 415	Native Plant ID and Floristics
IB 407	Plant Diversity and Evolution
Total Concentration Hours		19-20
Total Hours		126

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Biology Concentration

---

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence. For guidance on creating your own degree sequence, consult the Graduation Plan Handout. 

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page. 

First Year
First Semester	Hours
NRES 102	3
ACES 101	2
Composition I or Communications Requirement	4
IB 104 or 150 and 151	4
Language Other Than English (3rd level)	4
	17
Total Hours 17

First Year
Second Semester	Hours
CHEM 102	3
CHEM 103	1
Communications Requirement or Composition I	3
Math Requirement	4
IB 103	4
	15
Total Hours 15

Second Year
First Semester	Hours
NRES 219	3
CHEM 104	3
CHEM 105	1
ACE 100 or ECON 102	4
Choose additional course from Science Requirement list	3
General Education course	3
	17
Total Hours 17

Second Year
Second Semester	Hours
NRES 287	3
NRES 201	4
Statistics Requirement	3
General Education course	3
Free Elective course	3
	16
Total Hours 16

Third Year
First Semester	Hours
NRES 454	4
NRES 348	3
Plant Classification/Identification course	4
General Education course	3
Free Elective course	3
	17
Total Hours 17

Third Year
Second Semester	Hours
NRES 407	4
Specialization course	3
Field Experience course	2
General Education course	3
Free Elective course	2
	14
Total Hours 14

Fourth Year
First Semester	Hours
NRES 385	2
NRES 325	3
NRES 409	4
Organismal Biology/Identification course	4
General Education course	3
	16
Total Hours 16

Fourth Year
Second Semester	Hours
NRES 421	3
NRES 456	3
Free Elective course	2
Free Elective course	3
Free Elective course	3
	14
Total Hours 14

Total Hours: 126

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Biology Concentration

---

Students graduating with the B.S. in NRES should be able to:

1. Understand the scientific method/ways of knowing and critically evaluate information.
2. Integrate principles of biological, chemical, physical, and social sciences and apply them to resource and environmental issues using a systems approach.
3. Understand ecological principles underpinning management of resources, populations, communities, and ecosystems.
4. Use data collection and analysis tools (such as field methods, GIS, modeling, and statistics) to develop plans for managing resource/environmental challenges and adapt plans in response to rapid change.
5. Understand the policies governing resources and the environment and identify social dimensions (stakeholders, interests, trade-offs, synergies, ethical principles) to consider in the development of management plans.
6. Communicate effectively with colleagues, stakeholders, and the public about environmental and resource management issues.
7. Recognize how diverse groups understand the environment, experience positive and negative environmental impacts, and perceive just and equitable solutions.

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Biology Concentration

---

Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences

Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences website
W-503 Turner Hall
1102 S. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2770
nres@illinois.edu

Advising

Advising Website
(217) 333-5824
nres-ssc@illinois.edu

College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences

College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences website

ACES Office of Academic Programs

128 Mumford Hall
1301 West Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3380
aces-academics@illinois.edu

Admissions

ACES Undergraduate Admissions
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions
(217) 333-3380
visitACES@illinois.edu