2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog - R 
    
    Nov 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog - R

Natural Resources Management: Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Concentration, B.S.N.R.M.


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Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management (B.S.N.R.M.) - Major in Natural Resources Management


The B.S.N.R.M. with a major in Natural Resources Management prepares graduates for employment with state or federal natural resources agencies or private sector positions, as well as for graduate studies in the various fields of Natural Resources Management.   

There are four concentrations (one with two options) in this major: 

  • Environmental Management 
  • Park Administration 
  • Soil and Water Conservation 
  • Wildlife and Fisheries Biology 
  • Wildlife Science 
  • Fisheries Science 

The Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Concentration includes foundational sciences, vertebrate ecology, applied wildlife management coursework, and communications skills for effective performance as a wildlife or fisheries biologist, manager, or officer.  It also prepares students for continued study at the graduate level. Students learn to view wildlife and fisheries and problems associated with their management from a broad perspective, while also being exposed to social, cultural, and ethical issues.  Seminar courses and supervised experience in the field with wildlife agencies provide extensive opportunities for hands-on learning of wildlife population management. Nearby wildlife management areas maintained by state and federal agencies are utilized as living laboratories.   

Graduates with the wildlife science option are eligible for certification by The Wildlife Society as Associate Wildlife Biologists and graduates with the fisheries science option are eligible for certification by the American Fisheries Society as Associate Fisheries Professionals. Both options qualify graduates for employment by state wildlife resources agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other governmental agencies, as well as private and commercial entities. However, students interested in the more technical phases of this field and in meeting standards for higher managerial positions should plan for graduate study. 

This concentration does not require a minor.  

 

General Education 

38 hours 

Major Core Requirements 

20 hours 

Concentration Requirements 

36 hours 

Fisheries Science or Wildlife Science Option 

26 hours 

TOTAL 

120 hours 

 

For more information about the Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Concentration, please contact: 

Dr. Eric Pelren 
Professor of Wildlife Science 
256 Brehm Hall 
epelren@utm.edu 
731-881-7263 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS


  

  • 120 credit hours are required 
  • Minimum 30 credit hours completed at The University of Tennessee at Martin 
  • Minimum 30 credits in Upper Division coursework (courses numbered 300-499) 
  • Minimum 60 credits earned at an accredited four-year institution required. 
  • A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 is required. 
  • A minimum institutional GPA of 2.0 is required. 
  • Must meet all General Education Requirements 
  • Must meet all Major Requirements 
  • If a Minor is required, must meet all Minor Requirements  
  • Must meet all Exit Exam Requirements 
  • General Education Exam 
  • Major Field Test / Exit Exam 
  • If a student is admitted to the University of Tennessee at Martin with documented entrance deficiencies OR is subject to mandatory placement requirements, then the student must meet those requirements.  

COURSEWORK REQUIRED FOR THE DEGREE


  

Guidance for choosing general education courses: 

BIOL 130 and BIOL 140 are pre-requisites for other required courses in this major; students are strongly encouraged to use these courses to fulfill the University General Education requirement for Biological and Physical Systems.  Concentrations within this degree program also include required MATH courses that are also options within the University-Wide General Education Mathematics Requirement. If a student completes a MATH course that simultaneously satisfies a requirement for their concentration and also for the University-Wide General Education Mathematics Core, then the student may need to complete additional elective coursework in order to meet the minimum number of credit hours (120) required for the degree. 

Major in Natural Resources Management (82 credit hours)


Course Requirements 

Core coursework:  These courses are required for every program in this major (20 hours): 

Concentration in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology (36 credit hours)


Complete either the Fisheries Science option or the Wildlife Science option:


Option in Fisheries Science (Program Code 1155) (26 credit hours)


Botany Elective: Choose 3 hours from:


General Science Elective: Choose 3 hours from:


Zoology Elective: Choose 6 hours from:


General Elective Credit(s): 2


Option in Wildlife Science (Program Code 1156) (26 credit hours)


Zoology Elective: Choose 9 hours from:


  • Credit(s): 3
  • Credit(s): 3
  • Either ZOOL 321 - Ornithology Credit(s): 3 or ZOOL 323 - Field Ornithology Credit(s): 3 
  • Either ZOOL 322 - Herpetology Credit(s): 3 or ZOOL 327 - Field Herpetology Credit(s): 3 

General Elective Credit(s): 2


 

 

Neither option in this concentration requires a minor.  

 

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES


  1. Field work is required for some course laboratories. Course syllabi will provide recommended footwear, clothing, etc. 
  2. Students may choose to pursue additional coursework to obtain certificates or minors.  Advisors can recommend these based on student career aspirations.   
  3. Some pre-requisite courses require a grade of “C” or higher to take the next required course or to satisfy University graduation requirements.  These include but may not be limited to Biology 130 and 140 and English 105, 111, 112, and 113.   

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