Introduction
The Forest – Wildlife degree is specifically designed to satisfy the needs of biologists wishing to pursue applied careers within state and federal agencies. The curriculum includes a core of organismal courses (botany and zoology) that possess strong field components. Lab associated activities within this curriculum are rich with practical, hands-on approaches to quantifying, sampling, and surveying components of natural communities and ecosystems. Graduates of the Forest-Wildlife program should be able to walk through local habitats and understand what they are seeing. The ultimate goal to prepare graduates (of this program, as well as the Zoology and Botany programs) for careers as field biologists, botanists, wildllife biologists, natural resource specialists, land managers, park rangers, as well as to provide a background for post-graduate education.
The Forest/Wildlife Law degree includes study in the law enforcement academy with the ultimate goal to prepare graduates for a successful career as a wildlife law enforcement officer.
Bachelor of Science in Forest-Wildlife/Forest-Wildlife Law - Learning Outcomes
Students are able to comprehend, apply, analyze, and synthesize the following core concepts in the natural sciences:
- Evolution.
- Biodiversity
- Structure and function.
- Information flow, exchange, and storage.
- Pathways and transformations of energy and matter.
- Systems.
Students will demonstrate the ability to apply the scientific process.
- Understand the defining characteristics of the process of science.
- Apply the methods of scientific inquiry.
- Develop testable hypotheses, design appropriate experiments, and present reasoned analyses and interpretations of results.
- Demonstrate proper and safe field and laboratory practices including the proper use of equipment and the ability to use basic field and lab techniques.
- Demonstrate the ability to employ modern library search tools to locate, retrieve, evaluate, and apply scientific information.
Students will be able to reason quantitatively.
- Understand common quantitative approaches in science.
- Evaluate and interpret quantitative data using the scientific method.
- Interpret and act on quantitative data from a variety of sources.
- Understand the role of uncertainty in science.
- Evaluate information by discriminating between science and non-science.
Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate within and outside the field of forest-wildlife.
- Communicate concepts through peer interactions and collaboration.
- Communicate science through written, visual, and oral methods.
- Recognize the interdisciplinary nature of science.
Students will understand the relationship between science and society.
- Explain the historical context of scientific discoveries.
- Evaluate the impact of science on society.
- Evaluate the ethical implications of science.
- Explain why science is integral for addressing social and environmental problems.
- Explore how science is applied in a social context.
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to use their degrees to undertake careers in forest-wildlife/forest-wildlife law or to gain admittance to graduate or professional schools.
Core Courses
Please see the official degree plan for additional details.
CHEM 151/153. General Chemistry I & lab. Introductory course in chemistry; three lectures and one lab per week. Prerequisite: MATH 131 or equivalent (may be taken concurrently). (NMCCN CHEM 1213/1211)(Area III). (4)
CHEM 152/154. General Chemistry II & lab. Second introductory course in chemistry; three lectures and one lab per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 151/153. (NMCCN CHEM 1223/1221)(Area III). (4)
BIOL 202/203 Majors I: Plant Form, Function and Diversity. Introduction to plant biology: summarizes the major disciplines of botany and includes study of the more important plant groups: three lectures and one laboratory period per week. This course, BIOL 204, and BIOL 206 constitute the prerequisite for all biology related majors and minors. BIOL 202, 204 and 206 can be taken in any order. (NMCCN BIOL 1213/1211) (Area III). (4)
BIOL 204/205 Majors II. Animal Form, Function and Diversity. Introductory biology covering biological macromolecules, ecology, evolution, systematics, phylogeny, developmental biology, and a survey of major animal groups; three lectures and one two-hour laboratory a week. This course, BIOL 202, and BIOL 206 constitute the prerequisite for all biology related majors and minors. BIOL 202, 204, and 206 can be taken in any order.(NMCCN BIOL 1223/1221)(Area III). (4)
BIOL 206/207 Majors III: Intro Cell Biology & lab. Introductory biology for majors covering biological molecules, eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell form and function, cellular metabolism and mechanisms of heredity; three lectures and one two-hour laboratory a week. This course, BIOL 202 and 204 constitute the prerequisites for all biology related majors and minors. BIOL 202, 204, and 206 can be taken in any order. (4)
BIOL 301/303 Ecology & lab. The study of the interactions between organisms, their abiotic environment, and other biotic components of natural systems; the structure and function of biotic communities and ecosystems; three lectures and one laboratory or field period per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 202/203, 204/205, and ENGL 102. Offered every Spring. (4)
BIOL 310/312 Invertebrate Zoology & lab. Systematic study of invertebrate groups including taxonomy, ecology, anatomy reproduction and natural history of invertebrates; three lectures and one laboratory period per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 204/205 and ENGL 102. Offered alternate years. (4)
BIOL 311/313 Vertebrate Zoology & lab. Study of vertebrate animals, their evolution, morphology, and ecology: three lectures and one laboratory period per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 204/205 and ENGL 102. Offered every Fall. (4)
BIOL 322/324 Dendrology & lab. Identification and natural history of North American trees, shrubs, and vines, with emphasis on species native to the Southwest. Considerable time spent in field study. Three major projects involving analysis and interpretation of field data collected by the class in lab. Prerequisites: BIOL 202/203, 204/205, 206/207, and ENGL 102. Offered alternate years. (4)
BIOL 351/353. Plant Taxonomy & lab. Flowering plants and their classification, with emphasis on flora of the Southwest: three lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 202/203 and ENGL 102. Offered alternate years. (4)
BIOL 366/368 Genetics & lab. Methods and results of the transmission of hereditary characteristics; three lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 202/203, 204/205, 206/207, and ENGL 102. (4)
BIOL 375/377. Principles of Wildlife Biology & lab. This course studies the application of wildlife principles to various animal species. Topics will include population dynamics, species introduction, predator-prey interactions, hunting and management techniques; three lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 202/203, 204/205, 301/303, and ENGL 102. Offered alternate years, even years spring. (4)
BIOL 422. Evolution. The study of changes in natural populations of organisms and the dynamics underlying those changes. Evolutionary processes including mutation, genetic recombination, natural selection, migration, and genetic drift are reviewed, as well as their microevolutionary and macroevolutionary consequences; three lectures or discussion periods per week. Prerequisites: ENGL 102 and 15 credit hours of biology including BIOL 366. Offered alternate years. (3)
BIOL 442/443. Ornithology & lab. Introductory scientific study of birds, with emphasis on North American species; three lectures and one laboratory period per week; two Saturday field trips required. Prerequisites: BIOL 202, BIOL 204, BIOL 311, and ENGL 102, or Instructor permission. Offered alternate years. (4)
BIOL 425/427 Range Vegetation & lab. Focuses on plants of rangelands of the southwest, with emphasis on identification of range plants and ecology of rangeland plant communities. Prerequisites: BIOL 202/203, 204/205, and ENGL 102. (4)
BIOL 442/443. Ornithology & lab. Introductory scientific study of birds, with emphasis on North American species; three lectures and one laboratory period per week; two Saturday field trips required. Prerequisites: BIOL 202, BIOL 204, BIOL 311, and ENGL 102, or Instructor permission. Offered alternate years. (4)
BIOL 451/453. Mammalogy & lab. The study of fur-bearing animals, including their structure, behavior, life histories, and taxonomic relationship; three lectures and one laboratory period per week; one weekend field trip required. Prerequisite: BIOL 202/203, 204/205, 311/313, ENGL 102, or Instructor permission. Offered alternate years. (4)
BIOL 481. Practicum. For Forest/Wildlife and Forest/Wildlife Law Enforcement majors only. This course involves 150 hours of volunteer work in the field with professional biologists that gives students practical educational experiences to help prepare them for their professional career. All students must take an appropriate biology exit exam by the eight week of the semester to receive a grade. Students must apply to the Advisor of the Forest/Wildlife Program 4 months prior to the beginning of this course. Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL 102. (3)
Degree Plans
Advisor Contact
Dr. Bill Norris
Email: norrisw@wnmu.edu
Office: Harlan Hall 142
Office phone: 575-538-6625
Dr. Kathy Whiteman
Email: whitemank@wnmu.edu
Office: Harlan Hall 122
Office phone: 575-538-6253