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Fisheries and Water Resources Transfer Guide

College of Natural Resources, UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481 Telephone (715) 346-4081

Admission to UW-Stevens Point

  • Application Procedure

To apply to UW-Stevens Point as a transfer student, complete the UW System admission application form. You may apply online at apply.wisconsin.edu or by submitting a paper application to:

UW-Stevens Point Office of Admissions
Student Services Center
UW-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI 54481

Paper applications can be obtained through UW College Student Services Offices and the UWSP Admissions Office, or downloaded at apply.wisconsin.edu.

Request that your official transcripts be forwarded directly to the UWSP Admissions Office both from your high school and from any colleges or universities you have attended. List your intended major on your application form.

While there is no deadline for applying to the University, early application is recommended because enrollment management efforts may require us to limit our enrollment.

  • General Admission to the University

Students from the UW Colleges who will have earned 54 or more credits by the time they transfer to UWSP are eligible for admission with a grade point average of 2.00 or higher. If you will have earned fewer than 54 transfer credits by the time you transfer, you will need to meet the admission requirements in effect at the time your application file is complete.

Please note that admission to the University does not guarantee admission to a particular major.

  • Requirements for Admission to Programs in the College of Natural Resources

You will be accepted as a Fisheries and Water Resources major after you complete a total of 45 credits (including transfer credits) and have a GPA in your major of 2.0 or higher. Application deadlines are October 1 and February 15. Prior to being accepted as a Fisheries and Water Resources major, your status will be "pre-major". Once you are accepted as a major, you will be assigned an advisor in your major and will be able to register for restricted 300 and 400 level courses, summer camp, internships and the European Environmental Studies Seminar.


  • When Should You Transfer?

Students interested in a major in the College of Natural Resources at UWSP should transfer after completion of no more than one year at the UW Colleges. The majors in Forestry, Resource Management, Soil and Waste Resources, Water Resources, and Wildlife have a summer camp &/or internship requirement that should be completed after the sophomore year. Before you can attend summer camp, you must have completed a core of natural resources courses (Natural Resources 250 and 251) only offered at UWSP, and Natural Resources 150 and 151 at UWSP or their equivalents from the UW-Colleges.

UWSP General Degree Requirements

Students with natural resources majors should complete the General Degree Requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. The General Degree Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree are listed below, along with courses from the UW Colleges that may be applied toward the requirements.

  1. Freshman English -- 3-6 credits required
    Students from the UW Colleges take ENG 101 & 102. Students who are exempt from ENG 101 at the UW Colleges will also be considered exempt from English 101 at UWSP but will still need ENG 102. 

  2. Communication -- 2 credits required
    COM 103 at the UW Colleges

  3. Mathematics -- 7 credits required
    MAT 105 at the UW Colleges plus 4 credits beyond MAT 105
    Most Fisheries and Water Resources Options: Math 211 (Calculus) and Math 117 (Statistics) are required.

  4. Natural Science -- 12-15 credits required
    Most Fisheries and Water Resources Options: Botany 130, Zoology 101, Chemistry 145 and 155 will complete this requirement.

    PLEASE CONSULT THE TRANSFER INFORMATION SYSTEM (TIS) FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON WHICH COURSES FROM THE UW COLLEGES MAY BE APPLIED TOWARD THE FOLLOWING UWSP GENERAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

  5. History -- BS: 3 credits required 

  6. Humanities and Social Science -- 18 credits required
    6 must be in Humanities and 6 must be in Social Science; the remaining 6 credits may be from either Humanities or Social Science. In the Humanities, courses must be selected from at least two of the four areas. In the Social Sciences, courses must be taken in two or more social science disciplines, with a minimum of 6 credits in Category 1.

    • Humanities is divided into 4 areas as follows: Area 1-history and appreciation of art, communication, dance, theater and music; Area 2-literature; Area 3-philosophy, political theory and religious studies; Area 4-civilization, area studies and interdisciplinary courses.

    • Social Science is divided into 2 categories. Most traditional social science courses are in Category 1, which includes such disciplines as anthropology, economics, political science, psychology and sociology.

    ***NOTE: Most of the Fisheries and Water Resources majors require Natural Resources 150 and Economics 210 or Natural Resources 372, all of which are social science courses. When you choose your remaining humanities and social science courses, look for courses that also fulfill the Minority Studies (MNS) or Non-Western (NW) requirements. Some possible choices at the UW Colleges include: Sociology 101 or 130, Anthropology 100, 102, 200 or 204, Geography 101, 102, 110 or 115, and Music 273.

  7. Foreign Language -- None required 

  8. Environmental Literacy -- 3 credits required
    UWSP Natural Resources 150 completes this requirement or this may be satisfied by Bio 103 or Bio 107, Geog 350, Geol 169, or Nat 170 (2-3 credits) at the UW Colleges.

  9. Wellness -- 3 credits required
    The Wellness requirement is divided into two categories: Aerobic/Activity and Health Enhancement. At least 1 credit must be taken in each category; the third credit may be from either category.

  10. Minority Studies (MNS) & Non-Western Culture (NW)
    Please note that at least one course that you take must be designated "Minority Studies", and at least one course that you take must be designated "Non-Western Culture". Courses with these designations will usually also meet another general degree requirement, such as Humanities or Social Science.

  11. Writing Emphasis (WE) -- 6 credits required
    You must take at least 6 credits of courses that are designated as "Writing Emphasis". 

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR STUDENTS TRANSFERRING FROM THE UW COLLEGES TO UW-STEVENS POINT WITH THE ASSOCIATE OF ARTS & SCIENCE DEGREE:

If you are transferring to UWSP and have earned an Associate of Arts & Science degree at one of the UW Colleges, you will automatically have satisfied the following general degree requirements for the BS degree at UWSP: Natural Science, History, Humanities and Social Science, Environmental Literacy, Minority Studies and Non-Western Culture. You will not automatically have satisfied the general degree requirements in Freshman English, Communication, Mathematics, Foreign Language, Wellness and Writing Emphasis. Of course, you may have satisfied these requirements if you took the specific course work to do so. You may still have additional major specific courses to take at UWSP in order to complete the Forestry, Resource Management, Soil and Waste Resources, Water Resources, or Wildlife degree.


Course Requirements for the Water Resources Major

To complete a degree in Fisheries and Water Resources at UWSP, you must choose and complete the requirements for one of the following options: Fisheries, Watershed Management or Water Resources. Through your Fisheries and Water Resources degree you prepare for management positions with public agencies or private industry.

To graduate from UWSP with a major in Fisheries and Water Resources, you must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

  1. Fisheries option:
    Consists of 132 credits (including general degree requirements).

    • Fisheries and aquatic sciences, 27 credits: NRES 250; Biology 374, 375; Water 353, 354, 387, 481, 483, 484.

    • Biological sciences, 20 credits: NRES 151, Biology 130, 160, 210, 281.

    • Physical sciences, 24 credits: NRES 251; Chemistry 105, 106, 221; Physics 201, 202.

    • Mathematics and statistics, 8 credits: Math 111 or 120, and 355 or 356.

    • Human dimensions, 11 credits: NRES 150, 372, 490; Philosophy 380.

    • Water resources electives, 12 credits: Any water resources courses not already specified above.

    • Professional field experience, 7-8 credits: Option A or B (below).

  2. Watershed Management option:
    Consists of 128 credits (including general degree requirements).

    • Watershed management, 20-21 credits: Water 382, 389, 480 or 487, 481, 493; Geography 279; NRES 377.

    • Biological Sciences, 12 credits: Biology 130 or 160; NRES 151, 250.

    • Chemical sciences, 13-14 credits: Chemistry 105, 106, and 221 or 325.

    • Physical Sciences, 15 credits: Geology 104; NRES 251; Physics 201, 202.

    • Mathematics and Statistics, 12 credits: Math 120, 121, 355.

    • Human dimensions, 11 credits: NRES 150, 372, 490; Philosophy 380.

    • Water resources electives, 9 credits: Select from Water 383, 420, 482, 480 or 487 (whichever is not taken above).

    • Electives, 6 credits: Select from NRES 373; Soil 461 or 465; Geology 352.

    • Professional field experience, 7-8 credits: Option A or B (below).

  3. Water Resources option:
    Consists of 121 credits (including general degree requirements).

    • Water resources, 10 credits: Water 389, 480, 481.

    • Natural resources, 22 credits: NRES 150, 151, 250, 251, 372, 490; Philosophy 380.

    • Chemical sciences, 10 credits: Chemistry 105 and 106, or 115 and 116.

    • Biological sciences, 5 credits: Biology 101 or 130 or 160.z.Physical sciences, 6 credits: Geography 279; Geology 104.

    • Mathematics and statistics, 8 credits: Math 111 or 120, and 355.

    • Science electives, 15 credits: Select from Math 121, Physics 101, 201, 202; any biology, chemistry, geology or soils courses that are not taken to satisfy other requirements.

    • Water electives, 15 credits: Select from any water courses numbered 300 or above that are not taken to satisfy other requirements.

    • Professional field experience, 7-8 credits: Option A or B (below).

  4. Professional field experience
    Choose one:

    • A. Summer camp, 7 credits: Forestry 319, 320; NRES 405; Soils 359, 360; Wildlife 340; Water 380.

    • B. European summer program, 8 credits: NRES 475.

Internships can play a crucial role during your college career. While we highly recommend an internship, it is not required for the Water Resources major. For more information on internships and job opportunities through the CNR, check out our Web page: http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/internships/

Courses that will transfer from the UW Colleges to UWSP and can be applied toward the Water Resources Major:
UW Colleges Course and Course Title UWSP Course Requirement UWSP General Degree Requirement Satisfied
Botany 130 - General Botany* Biology 130 - Plant Biology Natural Science
Zoology 101 - Animal Biology* Biology 160 - Animal Biology Natural Science
Chemistry 145 & 155 - General Chemistry Chemistry 105 & 106 - Fundamental Chemistry Natural Science
Math 105 - Intro to College Algebra Math 100 - College Algebra Math
Math 117 - Elementary Statistics* Math 355 -Statistics Math
Math 211 - Calculus* Math 111 - Applied Calculus Math
Economics 203 - Economics-Macro* Economics 210 - Principles of Macroeconomics Social Science - Area 1
Biology 103 Human Environ Bio OR Biology 107 Biol Aspect Conserv OR Geography 350 Env Conserv OR Geology 169 Erth Sci & Hum Env OR NAT 170 (if taken for 2-3 credits) NRES 150 - People, Resources & Biosphere SS2 & EL
Biology 250 Principles of Ecology NRES 151 - Ecol Basis Natural Resources Mgmt Natural Science
NAT 250 Intro to Fish, Forest and Wildlife Resources NRES 250 - Intro to Fisheries, Forestry, & Wildlife Natural Science

* Check the major requirements listed above for differences between the options.


Contact Person

For more information concerning the Water Resources major in the UWSP College of Natural Resources, please call Sue Kissinger, Coordinator of Advising and Recruitment, at (715) 346-4081 or e-mail her at skissing@uwsp.edu.

Updated: 12/06