Wildlife Biology

A Specialized Program of Study Offered in the Department of Biology, Ball State University

Description

The Wildlife Biology option is the study of wild animals, with emphasis on their habitat and their management. The Wildlife Biology option is an integrated program that requires completion of coursework in the classroom, laboratory, and field. The Bachelor of Science is composed of pre-professional training for future employment in Wildlife Biology and management, and provides an excellent background in ecology and conservation biology. The educational requirements for certification by The Wildlife Society can be met within the framework on the undergraduate program. These requirements include 26 semester hours of biology, 9 hours of zoology, 6 hours of botany, 3 hours of Biometry, and 19 hours of study in the physical and mathematical sciences. Students also are encouraged to obtain practical experience as summer employees, interns, or volunteers with natural resource management agencies and conservation organizations.

Faculty

The Department of Biology at Ball State University has a very diverse faculty whose teaching and research interests span the ecological spectrum. All faculty members participate in classroom instruction. In addition, faculty are involved in wildlife research projects at the state, national, and international level. Opportunities exist for undergraduate students to gain research experience working with professors on specific projects or an projects developed by themselves. Wildlife projects that the faculty have been involved in include investigations seeking information on the status of marsh birds in northern Indiana, affect of forest management on bird communities in Mississippi, behavioral ecology of spiders, roost-site selection by bats in Arizona, habitat use by raptors, status of flying foxes in American Samoa, management or urban dwelling javelina, and more.

Career Opportunities

The Wildlife Biology option prepares students for careers that apply to ecological sciences for the management and conservation of wildlife resources. Career opportunities include positions with state fish and wildlife agencies, federal wildlife and land management agencies, environmental consulting firms, and nongovernmental conservation organizations. While employment opportunities do exist in wildlife management and research, most students plan to continue their education through the Master degree to qualify for wildlife management and research positions.

The Program

Bachelor of Science in Biology - Wildlife Biology

A.  Required Courses                                Hours    
   1.   Biology Common Core Courses
        -----------------------------
        Bio 111 Principles of Biology 1               4
        Bio 112 Principles of Biology 2               4
	Bio 210 Life Systems                          3
        Bio 214 Genetics                              4
        Bio 215 Cell Biology                          4
        Bio 216 Ecology                               4
        Chem 111 General Chemistry 1                  4
        Chem 112 General Chemistry 2                  4
        Chem 231 Organic Chemistry                    4
        Phycs 110 General Physics 1                   4
        Math 117 or 161 Precalculus or Calculus       3
                                                     --
                                                     40

    2.  Wildlife Biology Option Required Courses
        ----------------------------------------
        Bio  448 Biometry                             3
        Bot  380 Forestry                             3
        Bot  440 Plant Taxonomy                       4
	Bot  470 Dendrology			      3
	  OR
	Bot  481 Aquatic Botany			      4
        Zool 440 Ornithology                          3
        Zool 446 Mammalogy                            3
        Zool 483 Wildlife Biology                     3
        NREM 221 Soil Resources                       3
                                                     --
                                                  25-26
    
	TOTAL PROGRAM                             65-66

B.  Other Offered Courses   
    Bio 416 Population Ecology                        3
    Bio 418 Community and Ecosystem Ecology           3
    Bio 420 Field Biology of Distant Areas            3
    Bio 440 Evolution                                 3
    Bio 445 Herpetology                               3
    Bio 483 Marine Biology                            3
    Zool 441 Entomology                               3
    Zool 444 Ichthyology                              3
    Zool 484 Aquatic Entomology (Insects)             3

Faculty

Dr. Kemuel K. Badger. Physiological plant ecology, conservation biology
Dr. Gary N. Dodson. Animal behavior, ecology, entomology
Dr. David C. LeBlanc. Forest ecology
Dr. Thomas E. Lauer Aquatic ecology, limnology, fisheries biology
Dr. Thomas E. Morrell. Wildlife ecology and management
Dr. Kamal Islam Ornithology

Inquiries

The faculty in Wildlife Biology invites inquiries concerning the program, admission, and employment opportunities.
Please direct all correspondence to:

Dr. Thomas E. Morrell
Department of Biology
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306-0440
Telephone 765-285-8842
Message 765-285-8820
tmorrell@bsu.edu