Course Work - Department of Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management

Undergraduate Coursework

WFSC 101: Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries

Introduction to variety of topics in the wildlife and fisheries discipline to prepare to be successful both in the field and in further studies; case studies will guide through current issues and laboratory concepts will provide hands-on experience in methods and skills important in the field of wildlife and fisheries. Open only to students with less than 36 hours at Texas A&M University. Registration through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences only.*

WFSC 304: Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation

Ecological principles used to conserve and manage wildlife and fisheries resources at the individual, population and community levels; topics include conservation biology, species interactions, animal-habitat relationships, population dynamics and harvesting, habitat management and restoration and human dimensions of fish and wildlife conservation. Prerequisites: RENR 205 and junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

WFSC 311: Ichthyology

Introduction to the study of fishes, their biology, classification, evolution, distribution, ecology, and economic importance. Prerequisite: WFSC 302 or BIOL 318.

WFSC 401: General Mammology

Mammalian biology; evolution, classification, biogeography, reproduction, physiology, ecology, and behavior; focus on basic concepts necessary for a foundation in both wildlife science and biology. Prerequisites: WFSC 302 or BIOL 318; junior classification.

WFSC 402: General Ornithology

Introduction to study of birds, their structure, classification, geographic distribution, ecological relations, and economic status; the foundation of wildlife science, also for museum work. Prerequisites: WFSC 302 or BIOL 318; junior classification.

WFSC 403: Animal Ecology

Concepts of animal ecology which emerge at various levels of organization; the ecosystem, the community, the population, and the individual; laboratories emphasis on the quantitative analysis of field data and the simulation of population dynamics. Prerequisites: RENR 205 or approval of instructor; junior classification.

WFSC 408: Techniques of Wildlife Management

Techniques available to directly and indirectly manipulate wild animal populations to achieve balance between socioeconomic and aesthetic values. Prerequisites: Senior classification; WFSC 403 and WFSC 406 or registration therein or approval of instructor.

WFSC 433: Molecular Ecology in Wildlife and Fisheries

Fundamentals of molecular ecology applied to conservation and management of wildlife and fisheries; presentation and discussion of scientific papers on wildlife and fisheries molecular ecology; topics in conservation, management, and aquaculture. Prerequisites: BIOL 112 or equivalent; junior or senior classification.

WFSC 484: Internship

Practical experience working in a professional wildlife or fisheries facility. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

Graduate Coursework

WFSC 619: Wildlife Restoration

Study of the fundamentals of the restoration of animal populations and the resources they require; factors that control the distribution and abundances of animals in relation to restoration; and how restoration plans for wildlife are developed. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.

WFSC 628: Wetland Ecology

Wetlands as ecological systems that are prime habitats for wildlife and fish; geomorphology, hydrology, limnology, plant and animal communities, and human use and management. Prerequisite: WFSC 403 or RLEM 316 or equivalent.

WFSC 639: Wildlife Ecotoxicology

Distribution, fate, and effects of environmental pollutants on wildlife behavior and reproduction. Global distribution of pollutants and effects on near and remote ecosystems. Field studies, biomarkers, stable isotope and various techniques for evaluating pollutant hazards on wildlife. Prerequisites: Courses in CHEM and BICH and graduate classification or approval of instructor.

WFSC 655: Applied Biodiversity Science

Students will study in the areas of Conservation genetics, metapopulations, landscape ecology, and ecosystem management. Prerequisite: Graduate classification. Cross-listed with RPTS 655.

WFSC 695: Directed Studies

Credit 2 to 6 each semester. Individual study and research on selected problem approved by instructor and graduate advisor. Credit adjusted in accordance with requirements of each individual case. Prerequisite: Approved proposal.

BUSH 631: Quantitative Methods in Public Management

Introduction to the common methods for social and policy analysis with a focus on application of methods such as analysis of variance and regression, to tasks including policy analysis, evaluation and survey research; emphasis on the performance of social and policy analysis, although some statistical theory is introduced.

BUSH 632: Quantitative Methods in Public Management II

Continuation of BUSH 631. Numerous formal aspects and methods of decision-making useful in public management including benefit-cost analysis, program evaluation, and survey sampling; emphasis on theoretical foundation and practical application; collection and analysis of information, formulation of results and presentation of conclusions.

BUSH 635: Quantitative Methods in Public Management III

Policy Analysis Emphasis. Continuation of BUSH 631. Advanced instruction in making useful policy recommendations based on regression analysis, survey design, data analysis, and techniques for interpreting statistical output from multiple disciplines; application of analysis software.

PSAA 601: Foundations of Public Service

Different perspectives on management and leadership in public service; provides an overview of how public and nonprofit organizations work; discuss ethical dilemmas that occur in public service careers.

PSAA 601: Foundations of Public Service

PSAA 611: Public Policy Formation

Examination of public policy formation processes in the United States, with an emphasis on national government.

PSAA 615: Policy Analysis

Provides solid working knowledge of the techniques involved in public policy analysis; gives both the theoretical framework and practical experience necessary for a public manager to analyze public policy effectively.

PSAA 621: Economic Analysis

Microeconomic analysis of consumers, firms and markets; macroeconomic analysis of growth and stabilization policies; the government’s role in the economy.

PSAA 622: Public Finance

Framework for positive and normative economic analysis of public sector spending and taxation; application of fundamental analytical principles of public finance to current issues in public policy.

PSAA 623: Budgeting in Public Service

Designed to introduce selected topics in public administration and political science literature on the politics of public finance and budgeting; introduce the practice of budgeting by learning language and issues common to budgeting in government.

PSAA 632: Fiscal Management for Nonprofits

Introduction to the underlying fundamental principles, concepts and methods of managerial finance in nonprofit organizations; interpretation and evaluation of the financial reports to inform strategic decision-making in planning and budgeting.

PSAA 634: Public Management

Addresses three critical aspects of public management; the role of management in the public sector, validity of the argument that government should be run like a business and the tools public managers need to be effective. Application of organizational theory concepts applied to case studies.

PSAA 643: Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector

Overview of the origins, size, scope, and composition of the nonprofit and voluntary sector in American society today; introduction to the historical, political and religious foundations of the nonprofit sector; examines theoretical and conceptual framework.

PSAA 644: Management and Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations

Introduction and overview of nonprofit organizations and the environment they operate in; examination of the distinctiveness of these organizations and the special skills required for effective management of them; empirical and normative issues surrounding nonprofit management and leadership

PSAA 675: Public Service and Administration Capstone Seminar

Provides a capstone experience for students as they operate in teams to address important policy and administrative issues; draws on the coursework and experiences of their Bush School education to develop specific recommendations for design, implementation, and evaluation of this project task.

PSAA 676: Pubic Service and Administration Capstone Seminar II

Continuation of PSAA 675. Provides a capstone experience as they operate in teams to address important policy and administrative issue; draws on the coursework and experiences of their Bush School education to develop specific recommendations for design, implementation, and evaluation of this project task.

Sample Degree Plan

Semester	Course Number	Course	Hrs.
First Year
Fall	BIOL 111	Introductory Biology I	4
	MATH 140	Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences	3
	RENR 205	Fundamentals of Ecology	3
	WFSC 101	Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries	3
	Free Elective		3
Total Hours			16
Spring	BIOL 112	Introductory to Biology II	4
	ENGL 104	Composition and Rhetoric	3
	HIST 105	History of the United States	3
	MATH 142	Business Calculus	3
	Language, Philosophy and Culture Elective		3
Total Hours			16
Second Year
Fall	CHEM 119	Fundamentals of Chemisty I	4
	HIST 106	History of the United States	3
	POLS 206	American National Government	3
	WFSC 302	Natural History of the Vertebrates	3
	Free Elective		1
	Creative Arts		3
Total Hours			17
Spring	CHEM 222	Elements of Organic and Biological Chemistry	3
	POLS 207	State and Local Government	3
	RENR 215	Fundamentals of Ecology Laboratory	1
	PHYS 201	College Physics	4
	WFSC 303	Fish and Wildlife Laws and Administration	3
	WFSC 401	General Mammalogy	3
Total Hours			17
Third Year
Fall	ESSM 351/ RENR 405	Geographic Information Systems for Resource Management	3
	WFSC 311	Ichthyology	3
	WFSC 403	Animal Ecology	3
	WFSC 408	Techniques of Wildlife Management	3
	WFSC 433	Molecular Ecology in Wildlife and Fisheries	3
	Social Science Elective		3
Total Hours			18
Spring	COMM 203 or ENGL 210	Public Speaking or Technical and Business Writing	3
	WFSC 304	Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation	3
	WFSC 402	General Ornithology	3
	WFSC 484	Internship	3
	Select one of the following:		3
	ESSM 301	Wildland Watershed Management
	ESSM 302	Wildland Plants of North America
	ESSM 303	Agrostology
	Select one of the following:		3
	STAT 301	Introduction to Biometry
	STAT 302	Statistical Methods
	STAT 303	Statistical Methods
Total Hours			18
Fourth Year
Fall	BUSH 631	Quantitative Methods in Public Management I	3
	PSAA 601	Foundations of Public Service	3
	PSAA 621	Economic Analysis	3
	PSAA643	Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector	3
Total			12
Spring	PSAA 611	Public Policy Formation	3
	Select one of the following:		3
	BUSH 632	Quantitative Methods in Public Management II
	BUSH 635	Quantitative Methods in Public Management II: Policy Analysis Emphasis
	PSAA 630	Program Evauation in Public and Nonprofit Organization
	Select one of the following:		3
	PSAA 622	Public Finance
	PSAA 634	Public Management
	PSAA 644	Management and Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations
	Select one of the following:		3
	WFSC 619	Wildlife Restoration
	WFSC 628	Wetland Ecology and Pollution
	WFSC 639	Wildlife Ecotoxicology
	WFSC 655 / RPTS 655	Applied Biodiversity Science I
	WFSC 685	Directed Studies
Total			12
Fifth Year
Fall	PSAA 675	Public Service and Administration Capstone Seminar	3
	Directed Electives		6
	Select one of the following:		3
	PSAA 615	Policy Analysis
	PSAA 623	Budgeting in Public Service
	PSAA 632	Fiscal Management for Nonprofits
Total			12
Spring	PSAA 676	Public Service and Administration Capstone Seminar II	3
	Directed Electives		9
Total			12
Total Semester Credit Hours			150

Undergraduate Coursework

Graduate Coursework

Sample Degree Plan

Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management