2026-2027 Academic Catalog

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Fish and Wildlife Sciences (FIW)

FIW 2114 - Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation (3 credits)

Basic principles, key people, agencies and laws guiding the science-based conservation and management of fish and terrestrial animals. Conservation and management of organisms, habitats, and human users examined in terms of biological, physical, ecological, ethical and sociological theories and practices. Local to global illustration from both recreational and commercial resources.

Pathway Concept Area(s): 4 Reasoning in Natural Sci., 10 Ethical Reasoning

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 2234 - Fish, Fishing, and Conservation (3 credits)

Sensory perception, behavior, and consciousness in fish. Principles, as related to fish and why they matter, fish conservation ethics, food security, recreational fishing, and responsible fishing practices. Ethical reasoning applied to the contemporary issues of conservation and use of fish, such as subsistence fishing, fish farming, marine protected areas, highly migratory fishes, sharks tourism, and ornamental fishes.

Pathway Concept Area(s): 3 Reasoning in Social Sciences, 4 Reasoning in Natural Sci., 10 Ethical Reasoning

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 2314 - Wildlife Biology (3 credits)

Summary of biological characteristics of wild birds and mammals, especially relating to management by humans. Physiological, functional, structural, and behavioral adaptations of individuals to their environments and foods.

Prerequisite(s): (BIOL 1105 or BIOL 1205H) and (BIOL 1106 or BIOL 1206H)

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 2324 - Wildlife Field Biology (3 credits)

Systematics, identification, and natural history of common native vertebrates and plants. Exposure to habitats/ecosystems of western Virginia. Observation, collection, and reporting of field data. Self-scheduled field and media lab activities required.

Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 6 Lab, 3 Crd)

FIW 2334 - Urbanization and Biodiversity Conservation (3 credits)

Overview of challenges and opportunities that urban environments create for biodiversity conservation and human wellbeing, with a focus on social sciences theories and approaches. How urbanization is changing people’s relationship with their environment and what that means for biodiversity conservation and human wellbeing. Examination of how data collection, analysis, and interpretation occur using social sciences methods applied to biodiversity conservation. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the context of urbanization and conservation.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

Course Crosslist: UAP 2334

FIW 2514 - Fish and Wildlife Conservation Policy (3 credits)

Foundations of U.S. and Virginia fish and wildlife conservation policy (FWC), including international agreements. Ethical, religious, and legal foundations of FWC policy. Roles of values and beliefs in conservation behavior. Constitutional basis for FWC policy in the U.S. How FWC policies are made, implemented, and revised through state and federal agencies. Major conservation policy strategies, particularly the value of stakeholder collaboration for successful policy development, passage, and implementation. Conduct independent and group social science research to identify and present compelling policy solutions for an FWC problem.

Pathway Concept Area(s): 3 Reasoning in Social Sciences, 10 Ethical Reasoning

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 2964 - Field Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 2974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 2984 - Special Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 2994 - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 3514 - Fisheries Techniques (3 credits)

Application of field and laboratory methods in fisheries management and research. Experience with fisheries equipment and techniques.

Prerequisite(s): FIW 2114 and STAT 3615

Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 6 Lab, 3 Crd)

FIW 3954 - Study Abroad (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 3954C - Study Abroad (1-19 credits)

Pathway Concept Area(s): 3 Reasoning in Social Sciences

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 3954D - Study Abroad (1-19 credits)

Pathway Concept Area(s): 4 Reasoning in Natural Sci.

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 3964 - Internship Through Directed Field Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

Repeatability: up to 12 credit hours

FIW 3984 - Special Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 4114 - Biodiversity Conservation (3 credits)

Advanced concepts and practices related to the conservation and enhancement of biological diversity. Understanding and analysis of causes of biological scarcity. Designing actions to mitigate biodiversity loss. Integration of legal, economic, social, and biological principles to develop solutions to conservation of organisms, populations and ecosystems. Cannot be taken for credit by Wildlife Conservation (WLC) majors.

Prerequisite(s): FIW 2114

Pathway Concept Area(s): 3 Reasoning in Social Sciences, 4 Reasoning in Natural Sci., 11 Intercultural&Global Aware.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 4214 - Wildlife Field Techniques (3 credits)

Field research methods for wild vertebrates in terrestrial environments. Application of research methodology including animal capture and marking, determination of sex, age, and condition, radio telemetry and map/compass/GPS orienteering, non-invasive methods of capture, habitat selection, and supervised group research projects. COURSE FEE $299.

Prerequisite(s): FIW 4414 and STAT 3615

Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd)

FIW 4244 - Applied Epidemiology of Fish and Wildlife Diseases (3 credits)

Theory and data analyses from veterinary epidemiology applied to fish and wildlife management. Biological sampling methods and data collection in fish and wildlife for epidemiological surveillance in free-ranging populations. Fish and wildlife epidemiology concepts, methods and applications for private, non-profit, academic, state, and federal agencies. Ethically measure, characterize, and forecast epidemics in fish and wildlife.

Prerequisite(s): (BIOL 2704 or BIOL 2704H) and STAT 3615

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 4314 - Conservation of Biological Diversity (4 credits)

Principles and practices of conserving biological diversity. Causes, consequences and rates of extinction. Application of philosophical, biological, sociological and legal principles to the conservation of genes, plant and animal species and ecosystems.

Prerequisite(s): FIW 4414 and FIW 4434

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd)

FIW 4324 - Genetics of Natural and Managed Populations (3 credits)

Introductory genetics with an emphasis on evolutionary processes relevant to natural and managed populations of both plant and animal species. Traditional and modern genetics, including quantitative and population genetics, molecular evolution, genomics, and biotechnology.

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1105 and BIOL 1106 and (STAT 3005 or STAT 3615 or FREC 3214)

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

Course Crosslist: FREC 4324

FIW 4334 - Mammalogy (4 credits)

Biology of mammals, including evolution, systematics, anatomy, physiology, ecology, and conservation challenges. Laboratory focus on identification, morphology, and zoogeography.

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 2704 or BIOL 2704H

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd)

FIW 4344 - Herpetology (4 credits)

Biology of amphibians and reptiles, including evolution, systematics, anatomy, physiology, ecology, and conservation challenges. Laboratory focus on identification, morphology, and zoogeography.

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 2704 or BIOL 2704H

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd)

FIW 4414 - Population Dynamics and Estimation (3 credits)

Population growth, structure, and regulation of fish and wildlife populations including harvested populations, non-harvested populations, and small or declining populations. Methods of estimating demographic parameters such as population size, survival, and recruitment. Population viability analysis and genetic considerations in population dynamics.

Prerequisite(s): FIW 2114

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 4424 - Ichthyology (4 credits)

Morphology and physiology, systematics, zoogeography, and identification of fishes.

Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 6 Lab, 4 Crd)

FIW 4434 - Wildlife Habitat Ecology and Management (3 credits)

Relationship of wildlife species to their habitats. Factors influencing distribution and abundance of wildlife populations. Vegetation succession and structure, habitat classification, modeling wildlife habitat relationships and management of habitats in forests, agricultural lands, rangelands, riparian/wetland and urban areas.

Prerequisite(s): FIW 2114

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 4454 - Human-Wildlife Conflicts (3 credits)

Current and emerging human-wildlife interactions that lead to conflict; application of knowledge of animal behavior and life history, population dynamics, human dimensions, and ecosystem functions to analyze conflicts and formulate effective resolution; legal statutes and regulatory constraints on resolution; reliance on case studies of existing conflict situations to gain applied experience in diagnosing and solving human-wildlife conflicts using Vertebrate Integrated Pest Management protocols. Pre: Senior Standing.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 4464 - Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife (3 credits)

Values, attitudes, and opinions of people toward fish and wildlife. Social, economic, legal, and political aspects of fisheries and wildlife management. Roles of professionals and the public in fish and wildlife policy processes. Contemporary fish and wildlife policy issues. Senior standing required.

Prerequisite(s): FIW 2114

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 4474 - Wildlife Habitat Evaluation (1 credit)

Methods to evaluate habitat quality for selected wildlife species. Determining habitat characteristics important to a selected species. Developing a habitat assessment approach to estimate habitat quality. Measuring and quantifying habitat characteristics. Assessing effects of management actions and habitat alterations on a selected wildlife species. Applying habitat assessment models to guide management and mitigation decisions. Techniques for oral and written presentations. Restricted to Wildlife Conservation Majors.

Corequisite(s): FIW 4434

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lab, 1 Crd)

FIW 4484 - Freshwater Biomonitoring (4 credits)

Concepts and practices of using macroinvertebrates and fish to monitor the environmental health of freshwater ecosystems. Effects of different types of pollution and environmental stress on assemblages of organisms and underlying ecological principles. Role of biological studies in environmental regulation. Study design, field and laboratory methods, data analysis and interpretation, verbal and written presentation of results.

Prerequisite(s): (BIOL 2804) and (BIOL 4354 or BIOL 4004 or ENT 4354 or FIW 4424 or FIW 4614)

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd)

Course Crosslist: BIOL 4484, ENT 4484

FIW 4534 - Ecology and Management of Wetland Systems (3 credits)

Introduction to the variety of wetland systems found in North America, though emphasis will focus on eastern and mid-Atlantic wetland systems. Origin and processes of formation of wetlands, functions and values of wetlands, wetland delineation, wetland classification, regulatory processes affecting wetlands. Objectives of and management techniques used to protect and/or manipulate wetland systems for wildlife and other human needs. Enrollment restricted to junior, seniors and graduate students.

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 3204

Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd)

FIW 4614 - Fish Ecology (3 credits)

Interactions of fish with the physical and biological environment. Adaptations of organisms, populations, and communities. Impacts of human activities on major aquatic ecosystems and important fishes. Ecological principles for management of important sport, commercial, and prey fishes.

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1106

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 4624 - Marine Ecology (3 credits)

Marine organism, biological, ecological, chemical and physical processes of marine ecosystems in open sea, coastal and benthic environments, research methods and models in marine ecosystem simulation; fisheries in a dynamic ecosystem: human interference and conservation.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 4714 - Fisheries Management (4 credits)

History, theory, and practice of fisheries management. Emphasis on basic strategies used in effective management and setting management objectives. Synthesis of fish population dynamics and manipulation, habitat improvement, and human management to achieve objectives. Case studies of major fisheries.

Prerequisite(s): FIW 3514

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd)

FIW 4964 - Field Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 4974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 4984 - Special Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 4994 - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 5004 - Graduate Seminar (1 credit)

Advanced exploration of special topics in fisheries and wildlife, through literature reviews, guest speakers, student/faculty presentations, and small group projects. Topics and format vary depending on interests of faculty and graduate students. May be repeated.

Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd)

FIW 5024 - Dimensions and Careers in Conservation (2 credits)

This course will introduce students to the socio-political contexts and disciplinary trajectories of the science underpinning and informing fish and wildlife conservation since the mid-1980s, how that trajectory shapes the career options available to them, and how they might contribute to the field in the future. Pre: Graduate standing

Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd)

FIW 5034 - Fish and Wildlife Noon Seminar (1 credit)

This one credit seminar is designed to support the community of fish and wildlife conservation graduate students, facilitate interactions between other department members and visitors, and promote a sense of belonging among faculty and students. Invited speakers and presentations on specific topics will vary depending on interests of faculty and graduate students but will include student engagement in dialogue and reflection on VT’s Principles of Community, cultural competency, equity in access to natural and scientific resources, and barriers and opportunities in collaboration. Offered every Fall/Spring. Course may be repeated 2 times for a maximum of 3 credit hours. Pre: Graduate standing

Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd)

Repeatability: up to 3 credit hours

FIW 5124 - Research Design in Social and Ecological Sciences (3 credits)

Advanced theory and methods for research in conservation, human dimensions, and applied fish and wildlife management. Philosophical concepts and rationale underlying the scientific method, hypothesis testing, sampling techniques, and types of evidence and data for social and ecological research applications. Principles of strong research design, development of research hypotheses and objectives, discussion of meaningful ecological and social effect sizes. Pre: Graduate standing.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 5314 - Vertebrate Population Ecology and Management (3 credits)

Wild animal population and evolutionary ecology. Historical and current research concerning theories of population growth, population regulation, spatially structured populations, evolution of life histories, and the scaling up of population concepts to community and ecosystem applications. Graduate standing required.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 5464G - Advanced Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife (3 credits)

Values, attitudes and opinions of people towards fish and wildlife. Social, economic, legal and political aspects of fisheries and wildlife management. Roles of professionals and the public in fish and wildlife policy processes. Contemporary fish and wildlife policy issues. Graduate Standing required.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 5514 - Fish Population Dynamics and Modeling (4 credits)

Theory and application of fish population models for managing recreational and commercial fisheries. Estimation of basic fish population statistics (abundance, mortality, growth). Development and application of models for age-structured populations, bioenergetics, growth, stock-recruitment, yield, predation, and competition.

Prerequisite(s): FIW 4714

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd)

FIW 5534G - Advanced Wetland Ecology and Management (3 credits)

Introduction to the variety of wetland systems found in North American, with emphasis on eastern and mid-Atlantic wetland systems. Origin and processes of formation of wetlands, functions and values of wetlands, wetland delineation, wetland classification, regulatory processes affecting wetlands. Objective of management and techniques used to protect and/or manipulate wetland systems for wildlife and other human needs. Graduate Standing required.

Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd)

FIW 5714G - Advanced Fisheries Management (4 credits)

History, theory, and practice of fisheries management. Emphasis on basic strategies used in effective management objectives. Synthesis of fish population dynamics and manipulation, habitat improvement, and human management to achieve objectives. Case studies of major fisheries. Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing required.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd)

FIW 5764 - Systems Ecology and Conservation (3 credits)

Holistic approaches to understanding sustainable management and conservation of natural environments. Review of the Systems Ecology and Social-Ecological Systems school of thought. Focus on the use of energy principles and the resilience concept to articulate natural resource problems as integrated systems. Application of energy principles and resilience concept to real world examples. Discussion-based class. Pre: Graduate standing.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 5774 - Spatial Modeling of Species and Niches (3 credits)

Theory and practice of species distribution modeling, emphasizing statistical and ecological niche theory underpinnings; probability and matrix algebra for data manipulation and inference; scale, hierarchy, and network concepts for aquatic and terrestrial habitats; spatial dependence and autocorrelation in species and habitat data; sources and limitations of data for modeling species distributions; foundations, choice, and implementation of statistical models in appropriate software, emphasizing machine learning techniques; model assumptions, uncertainty, and model evaluation; model-based inference and null hypothesis testing in species distribution modeling; interpretation and conservation and management applications of models for binary data.

Prerequisite(s): STAT 5605 or STAT 5615

Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd)

FIW 5894 - Final Examination (3 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

FIW 5954 - Study Abroad (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 5974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 5984 - Special Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 5994 - Research and Thesis (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 6004 - Topics: Fisheries & Wildlife (12 credits)

Readings and discussion in a specific area of fisheries and wildlife conservation. Topic will vary and course may be taken for credit more than once. Background in fisheries or wildlife required. Variable credit course. Graduate standing required. I, II.

Instructional Contact Hours: (12 Lec, 12 Crd)

FIW 6414 - Animal Movement Ecology and Modeling (3 credits)

Spatiotemporal analysis of animal movement provides a lens through which we can observe how the structure and dynamics of ecosystems influence, and are influenced by, a variety of cognitive processes (e.g., learning and decision making) and behaviors (e.g., habitat selection, migration, and dispersal). Further, when, where, and why individuals move has consequences for intraspecific interactions and individual fitness (i.e., population dynamics), interspecific interactions (i.e., community dynamics), the dispersal of elements, propagules, and infectious agents (i.e., ecosystem and disease dynamics), and hence many eco-evolutionary processes. Movement is therefore a primary linkage between the ecology of individuals and the ecologies of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Students will attend a weekly 50-minute lecture and discussion session where lecture material is augmented with a detailed discussion of 2-3 essential papers from the primary literature. Students are expected to have read the papers prior to class, come prepared with questions about the papers, and contribute significantly to the discussion. There are two, 3-hour labs per week. The first lab is a coding session based on R-markdown tutorials provided by the instructor. Following the tutorial, students will have 1-2 hours work through the code using their own data. During the second lab section, students continue to adapt the code to their own data while working on their weekly lab report and getting further guidance from the instructor. Pre: Graduate standing (or instructor approval) and a course in linear modeling using Program R, such as BIOL 5504 (Quantitative Methods in Ecology and Evolution) OR equivalent from Virginia Tech or another university

Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 2 Lab, 3 Crd)

FIW 6984 - Special Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

FIW 7994 - Research and Dissertation (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course