You begin with the University's General Education requirements and a select curriculum of additional math and science courses that help prepare you for the natural resources core curriculum. These core courses provide a strong base for the in-depth, focused knowledge you develop as you complete your major.

Natural resources sample courses
- Introduction to Natural Resources Management
- Introduction to Measurements and Computers
- Introduction to Wildlife Management
- Natural Resource Ecology
- Natural Resources and Society
- Forest Plants and Ecosystems
- Natural Resource Economics
- Conservation Biology
- Restoration Ecology
- Natural Resource and Environmental Policy and Law

Wildlife ecology major sample courses
- Chemistry
- Wildlife Nutrition
- Wildlife Ecology
- Advanced Wildlife Management
- Population Ecology and Conservation
Animal Systematics Electives:
- Biology and Management of Fishes
- Ornithology
- Mammalogy
- Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles
- Special Topics

Wildlife ecology options
Specialize your degree to fit your interests and career goals by choosing one of two options:

• Directed studies: Working with your faculty advisor, you choose 5 to 7 courses that match your interests and enhance your professional development in wildlife ecology.

• Pre-veterinary studies: Expert advisors help you fulfill prerequisites and build the skills you need to successfully apply to veterinary school—whether at WSU or elsewhere. Because pre-veterinary requirements include additional science courses, you should begin this option in your freshman year.

For wildlife ecology majors

The Department of Natural Resource Sciences and the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences award thousands of dollars to qualified students each year.

The department administers a number of scholarships for undergraduate students, including the E.H. Steffen, Frank and Ethel Lenzie, Elmer Kegel Memorial, Keith Henrickson Memorial, Norman and Linda Baer, Wildlife Conservation Conclave, and Safari Club International scholarships. Additional scholarships are available from the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.

For all students

A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs. Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.

Students should complete the Washington State University general scholarship application and the FAFSA to ensure their eligibility for the widest range of scholarships and need-based financial aid.

For information or to apply for financial aid and scholarships from WSU, see the Scholarships and Finances section of the WSU website.

Students who become wildlife ecology majors often enjoy:

• Science, especially biology/life sciences
• Hands-on learning
• Working with animals, working outdoors, and being outside
• Applying analytical techniques to solving problems
• Finding practical solutions to problems
• Making a difference in the real world

High school preparation should emphasize biological/physical sciences, mathematics, communication, reading/reasoning, and computer literacy.

If you plan to transfer from another college, completion of pre-calculus mathematics, one semester of general chemistry, one semester of microeconomics, and one year of general biology and English/communication is recommended; this preparation will greatly expedite fulfillment of the natural resource curriculum at WSU.

animal damage specialists, aquatic ecologists, cultural resource educators, educators, scientists, environmental consultants, environmental educators, environmental lawyers, social and environmental impact analysts, game wardens, information specialist/communicators, land restoration specialists, land-use specialists, landscape ecologists, lobbyists, museum curators, natural resource managers, naturalists, nature center interpreters, Peace Corps workers, professors, range conservationists, researchers, resource planners, resource policy advisors/analysts, restoration ecologists, watershed managers, wildlife biologists, wildlife ecologists, wildlife educators, wildlife managers, wildlife refuge managers