Fisheries and Wildlife (B.S.)

The Fisheries and Wildlife undergraduate program provides a strong base in the foundational and applied sciences of natural resource management. The program is designed to develop understanding of the cultural, recreational and economic values of biological resources.

Majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife is also a path to pre-veterinary graduate studies.

FishandWildlife

Core areas of study include:

  • Ecology and management.
  • Ecological problem solving.
  • Population analysis and management.
  • Ecosystem management.
  • Fisheries and wildlife laboratories.

In addition to the core areas, students select a concentration to customize the program based on individual interests.

Concentrations include:

  • Conservation Biology.
  • Wildlife Biology and Management.
  • Fisheries Biology and Management.
  • Water Sciences.
  • Fish and Wildlife Disease Ecology and Management.
  • Pre-Veterinary Track.

Learn more about requirements and courses in Fisheries and Wildlife.

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Fisheries and Wildlife Graduates

$27,319

Average starting salary

97%

Job placement rate

$46,000

Top of starting salary range

Data from 2018 MSU Destination Survey of graduating students in this major

Career Opportunities

Employment is generally found with state and federal natural resource agencies such as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. There are also excellent job opportunities with private companies, non-profit organizations, and colleges and universities.

Fisheries and Wildlife prepares students for a variety of career paths:

  • Conservation officer.
  • Environmental consultant.
  • Wetland monitoring assistant.
  • Fisheries/wildlife technician.
  • Fish hatchery manager.
  • Water quality specialist.
  • Land management planner.
  • Fisheries/wildlife biologist.

Faculty members and advisors maintain close relationships with natural resource agencies which can help with internships, scholarships and employment opportunities.

MSU senior Charlie Booher was one of 55 students awarded the prestigious Udall Undergraduate Scholarship in 2019.

MSU senior taps talents in wildlife management and public policy

November 25, 2019

Charlie Booher uses his diverse experiences to develop a unique career path in fisheries and wildlife, conservation and social science.

Student holding lake trout

MSU researchers receive Chandler-Misener Award

June 14, 2019

Three MSU researchers from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife are part of a team that has won the Chandler-Misener Award.

Advisor Information

Schedule advising appointments online.

Read more about academic advising in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Jim Schneider

Jim Schneider

Senior Specialist; Undergraduate Program Coordinator
College Curriculum Committee
schne181@msu.edu
517-353-2979

Student Life

In addition to student jobs and internships, there are study abroad and undergraduate research opportunities.

There are also a variety of student clubs and organizations including:

  • MSU Fisheries & Wildlife Club.
  • MSU Fishing Club.
  • Leadership in Environment and Agricultural Fields.
  • Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences.

Apply to Michigan State University

Natural Resources Majors

  • Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education (B.S.)

    This program prepares students for careers as school-based agriculture, food and natural resources teachers at the secondary level, careers in education fields, or professional or graduate school program.

  • Entomology (B.S.)

    Courses are designed to give the student an understanding of the structure, classification, identification, function, biology, ecology, and management of beneficial and harmful arthropods, and the communities and ecosystems where insects occur.

  • Environmental Economics and Management (B.S.)

    Environmental Economics and Management is a broad, integrated study of environmental economics, public finance, economic development, community and regional studies and environmental science.

  • Environmental Studies and Sustainability (B.S.)

    Environmental Studies and Sustainability examines resource use and allocation through the lenses of community engagement, sustainability and environmental justice.

  • Fisheries and Wildlife (B.S.)

    Fisheries and Wildlife concentrations include conservation biology, wildlife biology and management, fisheries biology and management, water sciences, fish and wildlife disease ecology and management, and pre-veterinary.

  • Forestry (B.S.)

    The Forestry program prepares students to address pressing natural resource, environmental and energy issues through coursework in the biological and social sciences.

  • Sustainable Parks, Recreation and Tourism (B.S.)

    Sustainable Parks, Recreation and Tourism is an interdisciplinary program integrating sustainability with the study of natural, social, management and behavioral sciences related to natural resources recreation and tourism.

Fisheries and Wildlife (B.S.)