Coursework

A total of 47 quarter credits are required to earn your Undergraduate Certificate in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences online. This includes 20 credits of foundational biological sciences and chemistry and 27 credits of specialized coursework. You will develop the knowledge you need to understand species, habitats, ecosystems and the human dimensions of conservation through foundational coursework, advanced fisheries and wildlife courses and applied learning experiences.  

The program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, where research and education help address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Curriculum details and certificate requirements are available on Oregon State’s academic catalog.

Prerequisites

This postbaccalaureate certificate is designed for students who hold a four-year bachelor’s degree in any subject that isn’t fisheries, wildlife and conservation sciences. If you hold a bachelor’s degree in the biological sciences, your credits may transfer and reduce your required credit completion requirements. 

A note on federal financial aid for this program

The U.S. Department of Education has approved this certificate for federal financial aid when included in a full degree program. Approval for federal aid for the standalone certificate is currently pending. In the meantime, alternate funding sources (such as private loans or scholarships) may be needed.

Please contact Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences advising to discuss your options before you apply.

Prepare for professional certifications

Your courses can help you meet some minimum education requirements for valuable third-party certifications from The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society. These certifications can help you demonstrate your expertise to potential employers and help to advance your career. 

Sample course topics

• Principles of biology
• Community and ecosystem ecology
• Principles of fish and wildlife conservation 
• Ornithology
• Mammalogy
• Introductory population dynamics 
• Conservation genetics 
• Wildlife behavior
• Environmental physiology 

Start on the pathway toward a bachelor’s degree

Once you complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, you can apply the credits you earn directly toward Oregon State’s bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife, and conservation sciences.

If you plan to apply these credits toward a full degree, we encourage you to first contact the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences program to learn about the degree requirements. Please note that acceptance into a certificate program does not guarantee acceptance into a full degree program.