Wildlife Biology Minor

Chad Bishop, Director

The Wildlife Biology Program combines the best features of a liberal arts curriculum with scientific preparation in wildlife conservation. The Program provides students with an extensive knowledge in ecology, population biology, conservation biology, and critical thinking and quantitative skills. Our students receive a strong academic and scientific background with an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning. The educational requirements for certification by The Wildlife Society can be met within the framework of the undergraduate program. 

While some employment opportunities exist in wildlife conservation for students with the baccalaureate degree, we encourage students to continue their education through the master's degree to qualify for most state, federal, and private positions.

Three optional curricula are offered in the Wildlife Biology Program: terrestrial, aquatic, and honors. All three options follow the same schedule of courses for the freshman and most of the sophomore year and then pursue different curricula for the last two years. Each leads to a B.S. in Wildlife Biology. The University is well-suited for instruction in wildlife biology because of the excellent opportunities for field instruction and research at Lubrecht Experimental Forest, Flathead Lake Biological Station, and the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial and Bandy ranches. The Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, the Division of Biological Sciences, and the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit facilitate research.

Minor - Wildlife Biology

College of Forestry & Conserv

Catalog Year: 2016-2017

Degree Specific Credits: 21

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0


Required courses

Rule: must take the following courses

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BIOB 170N - Princpls Biological Diversity
Offered spring and summer.  Survey of the diversity, evolution and ecology of life including prokaryotes, viruses, protista, fungi, plants and animals.
3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 171N - Princpls Biological Dvrsty Lab
Offered spring and summer.  Coreq., BIOB 170N. The diversity of life including prokaryotes, viruses, protista, fungi, plants and animals including structure and evolutionary relationships.
2 Credits
Show Description BIOO 101N - Survey MT Wldlife & Habitats
Offered online autumn. Prereq., one course in biology. Interpreting biological patterns associated with selected Montana wildlife species, including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
3 Credits
Show Description WILD 105N - Wildlife & People
Offered autumn. Intended for non-wildlife biology majors. Interactions of wildlife and people in today’s society.
3 Credits
Show Description WILD 180 - Careers in Wildlife Biology
Offered autumn and spring. Subject matter and fields of study within wildlife biology conservation and management. Topics to include wildlife ecology, aquatic ecology, human dimensions, conservation and management, and other opportunities for careers in wildlife biology.
2 Credits
Show Description WILD 275 - Wildlife Conservation
Offered spring. Prereq., sophomore standing or consent of instr. Principles of animal ecology and framework of wildlife administration as a basis for the conservation of wild birds and animals, and biodiversity. Intended for non-wildlife biology majors.
2 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 15 Total Credits Required

Required courses

Rule: must take the following courses

Note: Can take NRSM 360 Rangeland Mgmt in place of FORS 330

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BIOO 335 - Rocky Mountain Flora
Offered spring. Prereq., one college-level course in Biology or consent of instr. Elements of the evolution, geography and natural affinities of flowering plants. Identification using a manual of native plants of Montana.
3 Credits
Show Description FORS 330 - Forest Ecology
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., FORS 210 or ENSC 245N or NRSM 210N; and BIOO 105N or BIOB 170N or BIOE 172 or BIOB 160N or FORS 240; and FORS 201 or STAT 216 or SOCI 202 or WILD 240 or PSYX 222. Examination of physical and biological factors affecting forest structure, composition, and function, including biodiversity, disturbance, and nutrient cycling. Field labs throughout Northern Rockies including developing skills in field observation, data interpretation and problem solving.
3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 6 Total Credits Required