Bachelor of Science in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology

Welcome to the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology.

With the continuous growth of human populations and the ever-dwindling of natural resources, natural resource professionals are needed now more than ever. Learn how to sustainably manage fish and wildlife populations and the habitats they utilize to ensure their long-term successful conservation. We offer two options within this degree. The Wildlife Ecology and Management option focuses on the ecology, conservation and management of wildlife (including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles) in their natural habitats. The Aquatic Ecology and Management option focuses on the ecology, conservation and management of aquatic resources and the animals and plants found in them.

The department offers a minor in Wildlife Science for students majoring in other disciplines. The minor includes a minimum of 18 credit hours.

Fisheries and Wildlife Science (Aquatic Ecology and Management) - Bachelor of Science in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology

The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology prepares you for careers in a variety of natural resource fields related to the management of wild animal populations and the natural systems they share.

To graduate, an overall grade point average of 2.0 is required in courses taken in the major field and in all courses taken at NMSU. In addition, each required course must be passed with a grade of C- or better. The department offers a minor in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology for students majoring in other disciplines. The minor includes a minimum of 18 credit hours.

The Aquatic Ecology and Management Concentration is for students who want to focus on fish and aquatic systems.

Fisheries and Wildlife Science (Wildlife Ecology and Management) - Bachelor of Science in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology

The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology prepares you for careers in a variety of natural resource fields related to the management of wild animal populations and the natural systems they share.

To graduate, an overall grade point average of 2.0 is required in courses taken in the major field and in all courses taken at NMSU. In addition, each required course must be passed with a grade of C- or better. The department offers a minor in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology for students majoring in other disciplines. The minor includes a minimum of 18 credit hours.

The Wildlife Ecology and Management Concentration is for students who plan to focus on terrestrial organisms.

About NMSU

A comprehensive land-grant institution of higher learning, New Mexico State University is dedicated to teaching, research, and service at the undergraduate and graduate levels. NMSU is a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is home to the very first Honors College in New Mexico. U.S. News and World Report rank NMSU in the top tier among Best National Universities.

A Brief History

New Mexico was still a territory when Las Cruces College opened the doors of its two-room building in the fall of 1888. The organizers of Las Cruces College—led by Hiram Hadley, a respected educator from Indiana—had even bigger plans in mind.

In 1889, the New Mexico territorial legislature authorized the creation of an agricultural college and experiment station in or near Las Cruces. The institution, which was designated as the land-grant college for New Mexico under the Morrill Act, was named the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.

Las Cruces College merged with N.M.A. & M.A., and the new school opened on January 21, 1890. That first semester there were 35 students in the college level and preparatory classes and six faculty members. Classes met in the old two-room building of Las Cruces College until suitable buildings could be put on the 220-acre campus three miles south of Las Cruces.

By 1960, the school had grown greatly, and its name was changed by state constitutional amendment to New Mexico State University.

Today New Mexico State University sits on a 900-acre campus and enrolls 16,428 students from all 50 states and from 71 nations. Regular faculty members number 694 and staff, 3,113.

Be Bold. Shape the Future

New Mexico State University sits on a 900-acre campus and enrolls more than 14,000 students from 49 states and 89 foreign countries. NMSU is a NASA Space-Grant College and is home to the very first Honors College in New Mexico. A Hispanic-Serving Institution, NMSU serves a multi-cultural population of students and community members across the state at five campuses, a satellite learning center in Albuquerque, cooperative extension offices located in each of New Mexico's 33 counties, and 12 agriculture research and science centers. Plus, distance education programs give students maximum flexibility.

Our Honors College, the very first one established in New Mexico, offers qualified undergraduates the opportunity to further enrich a challenging academic program via rigorous classes taught by master teachers.

NMSU Leads 2025

The strategic goals outlined in NMSU LEADS 2025 reflect the university’s mission and vision and are vital to NMSU’s success. These include advancing student success; elevating research and creativity; amplifying extension and outreach, and building a robust NMSU system. The strategic goals are designed to be broad enough for each unit within the university system to find a way to contribute. Additionally, the university will focus on a number of grand challenges facing the state and communities around the globe. These include creating healthy borders, modernizing critical infrastructure and transforming education in New Mexico.

Our Mission

The mission of the New Mexico State University system is to serve the diverse needs of the state through comprehensive programs of education, research, extension and outreach, and public service. As the state’s land-grant and space-grant university, and as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, NMSU fosters learning, inquiry, diversity and inclusion, social mobility, and service to the broader community.

Our Vision

By 2025, the NMSU system will excel in student success and social mobility for our diverse student populations, achieve the highest Carnegie research status (R1) and maintain our Carnegie Community Engagement classification.

Our Values

• Leadership : Promoting and creating the ability for Aggies to shape the future
• Excellence : Providing the highest level of education, research, outreach, and service
• Access : Welcoming diverse populations to higher education and to the NMSU community
• Diversity & Inclusion : Embracing our differences as an asset and actively seeking to include wide-ranging perspectives
• Student-Centered : Supporting the education of our students through every aspect of our university, every day

These values are encapsulated as BE BOLD. Shape the Future.

New Mexico is Our Campus

NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at five campuses, a satellite learning center in Albuquerque, cooperative extension offices located in each of New Mexico's 33 counties, 12 research and science centers and through distance education.

Degrees and Certification

Bachelor's and graduate degree programs are available through the following colleges based in NMSU Las Cruces: Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences; Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering; Health and Social Services; Honors and the Graduate School. Certificates, licensure programs and associate degree programs are available from the community colleges in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Doña Ana County and Grants, and the College of Arts and Sciences in Las Cruces.

• Undergraduate Majors
• Graduate Programs

Athletics

A member of the NCAA Division 1 Western Athletic Conference in 15 of its 16 varsity sports. NMSU football plays as an independent. Our Pan American Center can accommodate 12,590 and Aggie Memorial Stadium seats 30,000.

Arts and Recreation

The university offers a variety of arts and recreational activities. Museums and art galleries, professional theater, music ensembles and symphony, visiting artists, national performers, professional roadshows, on-campus public radio and TV stations, a student-run radio station, an 18-hole golf course, tennis, activity and aquatic centers are available at NMSU Las Cruces.

Accreditation

New Mexico State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604. Telephone: 800-621-7440.