Fisheries and Wildlife - Area of Emphasis in Aquatic Sciences
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Overview
Warnell’s Aquatic Sciences area of emphasis meets the professional certification requirements recommended by the American Fisheries Society and prepares graduates to work as fisheries biologists. This program allows students to pursue their passions for fish conservation, fisheries management, aquaculture, and other aspects of fisheries science. Students take field-oriented classes and have opportunities to participate in faculty research projects and agency internships. Coursework helps shape students’ ability to understand, appreciate, and manage aquatic systems.
This area of emphasis is part of Warnell’s Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences major, recognized as one of the premier programs in the country. Coursework is broad-based; not only will students understand the interrelationships between the physical and biological elements of the natural environment, but they will also gain a deeper understanding of the social, political, and economic forces that influence fish and wildlife management and the ability to analyze natural resource problems to develop realistic, data-driven solutions.
Career opportunities include employment in state and federal natural resource agencies, environmental consulting firms, non-governmental conservation organizations, and private aquaculture ventures among others. Students are also prepared to pursue graduate degrees in fisheries and aquatic science.
Study Abroad Options: Warnell hosts study away programs in Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, the Smoky Mountains, and the United Kingdom.
Explore Careers With This Program
Fisheries Biologist
Assist in the development and implementation of aquatic restoration programs; be part of a team planning projects such as aquatic restoration, vegetation management, recreation, and transportation; conduct population and habitat surveys and monitoring; and provide support and oversight when working with other agencies, organizations, and local communities.
Spotlight
Jordan’s plans after graduation are to get some experience in watershed restoration. This could be at a public or private agency, in any part of the state. Eventually, she says, she would like to land in the private sector. But her overall goal is to improve habitat and water quality for rivers or marshes.
“I’m mostly interested in restoration—river or marsh restoration. I wouldn’t limit myself to just freshwater possibilities,” she says. “I’m also interested in ‘living shorelines,’ which are replacing natural oyster beds and act as a natural barrier for hurricanes and also improve the water quality.”