About the Wildlife major
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General Overview |
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Internships |
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Curricula |
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Location & Facilities |
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Extracurricular Activities |
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Career Opportunities |
The wildlife program is designed to give students the necessary background and knowledge to make intelligent decisions regarding the use of natural resources. A broad education in English, communication, social science, and humanities is consistent with general university requirements. The curriculum of the wildlife major exceeds the criteria recommended by graduate schools and academically qualifies students for certification as Certified Wildlife Biologists by The Wildlife Society (the society of professional wildlife biologists).
Introductory instruction includes courses in wildlife, water, forestry,
soils, botany, zoology, chemistry, ecology, and computer science. Advanced
courses for the wildlife major include wildlife techniques, habitat management,
population dynamics, plant taxonomy, mammalogy, ornithology, organic chemistry,
statistics, animal physiology, and comparative anatomy. Related courses such as
plant ecology, range, fire and forest management, and management for
nonconsumptive use are also available. Field trips that allow students to
develop techniques and observe current management practices are an integral part
of most courses. A six-week summer camp in northern Wisconsin involving the
intensive application of field techniques is required of all CNR students at the
end of their sophomore year. The CNR also offers a summer study program in
Germany's Black Forest and other European countries as an alternative to the
summer camp program. High school courses in biology, chemistry,
physics, mathematics, English, and speech will help to prepare incoming students
for the wildlife major.
UWSP has more than a classroom education to offer students. The Wildlife Society and several other groups maintain active student chapters on campus. An arts and lecture series, wildlife seminar series, outdoor recreation programs, concert series, intramurals, university newspaper, and the student government all complement the CNR education program.
Summer internships with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other employers provide qualified students with on-the-job experience, while allowing them to earn both a salary and college credit. The intern program provides students with an opportunity to practice their profession prior to graduation.
UWSP is located on the north edge of Stevens Point (population 23,000) in Portage County, the geographic center of Wisconsin. An ecological "tension zone" dividing northern plant and animal communities from those in the south, is also located in Portage County, creating a rich diversity of wildlife. A general inventory of the county includes: 160,000 acres of forestlands (60 percent hardwood); 32,000 acres of wetlands; 31,000 acres of public lands within a 20-mile radius of the campus; 64 streams (430 miles); and 135 lakes (4,915 acres). Wisconsin is also inhabited by 63 species of mammals, 330 species of birds, 71 species of fish, 18 species of amphibians, and 33 species of reptiles, most of which are in Portage County. The CNR building at UWSP provides students and faculty with the latest in classroom facilities. Thirty-eight full-time faculty members instruct wildlife majors and other CNR students. The Museum of Natural History, along with an outstanding collection of books, journals, and audiovisual materials, is housed in the Center for Learning Resources. Schmeeckle Reserve, a 200-acre outdoor laboratory containing recreational areas, wetlands, and a lake, borders the northern edge of campus.
Graduates with a wildlife major may obtain positions in management with state or federal agencies, private landholders, or private consulting firms. Wildlife managers manipulate habitat to control game and other wildlife populations. Wildlife researchers conduct experiments to help solve problems faced by the wildlife manager. Increasing numbers of students have found employment with businesses specializing in the preparation of environmental impact statements. The CNR offers a master of science program. Graduate research projects on habitat manipulation, prairie chickens, waterfowl, sand hill cranes, black bears, fisher, deer, Cooper's hawk, loon, beaver, wildlife diseases, E. Turkey, songbirds, amphibians, urban wildlife, and others have been thesis projects. Undergraduates are encouraged to become involved with graduate students and their research to gain valuable experience. Students who are planning a career in wildlife should set a graduate degree as their ultimate goal.