Undergraduate Course Descriptions

The key to any program is course offerings and experiences offered to students.  Most of the classes on our program (WMAN) are hands-on with ample field lab classes.  The proximity of the campus to areas such as The University Forest, the Monongahela River, Cheat Lake , and Coopers Rock State Forest means field class experiences are only 15 minutes away.

An energetic Faculty with strong research programs leads the Wildlife and Fisheries Resources Program at WVU. An active research program benefits students in several ways. First, the Faculty remain abreast of new trends and approaches in the field. Secondly, an active research program means many opportunities for students to gain experience in field and laboratory applications through paid and volunteer work with the Faculty and their graduate students. Active Faculty also maintains many professional contacts in the field that translates into job opportunities for students.

Undergraduate Courses

WMAN 100.  The Traditions of Hunting.  I. 3 hr.   This course will provide students an introduction to the cultural and spiritual role of hunting in society; use of hunting as a wildlife management tool; and its economic value in wildlife conservation programs.  Discussion topics will include gun control, anti-hunting, and animal rights. ( Anderson and Edwards ).

WMAN 150. Essentials of Conservation Ecology . I. 3 hr. Defining issues such as the nature of conservation ecology, the concept of global biodiversity and its preservation/loss, and perceived threats to biodiversity including the science of extinction. Economics of international biodiversity. Conservation at the population level including problems of loss of genetic diversity, endangered species concepts, and establishing, designing and managing protected areas. ( Whitmore) .

WMAN 150H. Essentials of Conservation Ecology - honors . SUM I. 3 hr. Defining issues such as the nature of conservation ecology, the concept of global biodiversity and its preservation/loss, and perceived threats to biodiversity including the science of extinction. Economics of international biodiversity. Conservation at the population level including problems of loss of genetic diversity, endangered species concepts, and establishing, designing and managing protected areas.  ( Whitmore ).

WMAN 175.  Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries Management.  II.   3 hr.  This course is an introduction to the elements of the basic science and management of natural resources.  Particular emphasis is placed on how natural resource management depends on the interface of science, economics, and sociology.   ( Petty and Hartman ).

WMAN 221. Interpretive Bird Study. SUM I. 3 hr. PR :BIOL 102 or BIOL 117 or consent. Intensive field studies in recognition through sight, song, and behavioral patters of birds, and their ecology in the Central Appalachians . 2 hr. lec ., 2 hr. lab.  ( Whitmore ).

WMAN 224. Vertebrate Natural History . I. 3 hr. PR: BIOL 102 or BIOL 117 or consent. Relationships of fish, amphibians, and reptiles to the forest, with emphasis on the ecology, taxonomy, evolution, natural history, and field identification of these groups. Laboratory emphasizes natural history and anatomy of fish, amphibians, and reptiles.  ( Whitmore ).

WMAN 226. Ornithology. II (odd years). 3 hr. PR: BIOL 102 or BIOL 118, or consent. Identification, distribution, and ecology of birds (particularly of forested lands). 2 hr. lec ., 1 hr. lab.  ( Whitmore ).

WMAN 234. Forest Wildlife Management. II. 3 hr. PR: Wildlife major or consent. Principles, practices and problems of forest wildlife management with emphasis on habitat management at the stand and landscape levels. Habitat manipulations through use of appropriate silvicultural practices, wildlife enhancement techniques, and regulations are evaluated. ( Edwards ).

WMAN 300. Wildlife and Fisheries Techniques. I. 3 hr. PR: WMAN 234 and 313, and Algebra. The tools and techniques used in scientific investigations and management of wildlife and fisheries populations. Laboratory emphasizes hands-on field techniques. ( Anderson and Hartman ).

WMAN 313. Wildlife Ecosystem Ecology. II. 4 hr. PR :BIOL 101/103 and 102/104 or BIOL 115 and 117, and FOR 205 or consent. Basic principles of ecosystem and population ecology, emphasizing structure and function, succession, adaptation of organisms to the environment (physiological ecology), and survey of major ecosystems with emphasis on their roles as wildlife habitat.  ( Hartman ).

WMAN 425. Mammalogy . II (even years). 3 hr. PR: BIOL 102 or BIOL 117 or consent. Mammals and their biological properties with emphasis on life history, ecology, and distribution of regional forms. (Also listed as BIOL 258).  ( Edwards ).

WMAN 421. Renewable Resource Policy and Governance. I. 3 hr. PR: None. The history, laws, policies and administrative structure of agencies dealing with renewable natural resources. ( Anderson ).

WMAN 445. Introduction to Fisheries Management. I. 3 hr. PR: WMAN 224 or consent. Basic principles of management of fishery resources, with an emphasis on freshwater stocks. Includes current environmental and management issues, concepts, and methods used in management of commercial and recreational fisheries.  ( Petty ).

WMAN 446. Forest Limnology. II. 3 hr. PR: BIOL 102 or BIOL 117 or equivalent.  Physical, chemical, biological, and ecological properties of streams, rivers, and lakes.  ( Petty ).

WMAN 450. Advanced Wildlife and Fisheries Management. II. 4 hr. PR: WMAN 300. This course serves as the capstone experience and will emphasize habitat management, human dimensions, and ethics in a framework of combining your knowledge from previous classes into a wildlife or fisheries research project or management plan. A writing intensive course. ( Anderson and Hartman ).

WMAN 550. Fish Ecology. II (even years). 3 hr. PR: WMAN 445 and consent. Study of the interactions of fish and their environment including bioenergetics, energy budgets, life history, ontogeny, feeding and guilds, and trophic ecology.  ( Hartman )