How Do I Apply to the Undergraduate Program

All Students

         Apply Here

All degree-seeking students applying to Oregon State University apply through the Admissions website. You may want to consider the Degree Partnership Program to have access for some of your coursework at a community college. Post-baccaluareate students please see the deadlines to apply below before applying.

If you are a prospective Ecampus student we recommend that you speak to an Ecampus Enrollment Services Specialist. You can contact them at ecampus@oregonstate.edu or 1-800-667-1465.

First Year Students

First Year Students can learn more about how to apply, along with deadlines and residency requirements, at the Office of Admission's First Year Students Portal.

Students interested in the BS in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences should contact fw.advising@oregonstate.edu. In the email specify your campus (Corvallis or Ecampus).

Transferring Students

About half of our students transfer in from other colleges. Students planning to transfer to the department should focus on courses in biology, general chemistry, mathematics, and the baccalaureate core requirements during their freshman and sophomore years. 

Many community colleges offer two-year transfer degrees (AA, AAS, AAOT). A transfer degree is not necessary and often leaves you with several courses you cannot use towards your FW degree. Consultation with a Fisheries and Wildlife Academic advisor is recommended. Prospective Corvallis campus students should reference the Office of Admissions Prospective Transfer Student webpage for a better understanding of how credits transfer to OSU and have regular contact with an advisor fw.advising@oregonstate.edu to make sure they are taking the right courses for transferring into our program. If you are a prospective Ecampus student we recommend that you speak to an Ecampus Enrollment Services Specialist. You can contact them at ecampus@oregonstate.edu or 1-800-667-1465. 

OSU Transfer Student Admission Requirements:

Admission information about application materials, whether or not you qualify as a transfer student, and international student information can be found on the OSU Transfer Student Requirements webpage. 

Transferable Credits Entering OSU
GPA
Writing Requirement
Math Requirement
1 to 23 quarter hours (1 to 15 semester hours)2.25+ transfer GPA AND 3.0+ high school GPA Preferred, but not required College-level math preferred, but not required 24 or more quarter hours (16 or more semester hours) 2.25-2.49 transfer GPA College-level writing equivalent to WR 121 (English Composition) with C- or higher College-level mathematics equivalent to MTH 111 (College Algebra) -or- MTH 105 (Contemporary Math) with C- or higher 24 or more quarter hours (16 or more semester hours)2.50+ transfer GPA College-level writing equivalent to WR 121 (English Composition) with C- or higher College-level math is preferred, but not required

 

There are courses that can generally be completed at a Community College either before transferring or through the Degree Partnership Program.
 

General Community College Course

Oregon State University Equivalent

General Chemistry (CH 121,122,123 or 221, 222, 223). Two semesters or three-quarters equivalent to OSU General Chemistry.

General Chemistry (121, 122, 123 or 231, 232, 233 plus labs 261, 262, 263).

General Biology- must be equivalent to the OSU 200 series. Two semesters or three-quarters equivalent to BI 211, 212, 213 (or BI 204, 205, 206). Make sure to check for a sequence that is intended for biology majors. The BI 20X and 21X series are not interchangeable, you must complete one series or the other. *

General Biology (BI LD2; BI 211, 212, 213) Note: If OSU equivalency is LD2, then the entire series (two semesters or three-quarters) of biology courses need to be taken at the same college. *

Physical sciences**: 3 courses, no more than 2 from one category. Geology, Physics, Organic Chemistry

GEO 201, 202, 203, PH 201-203, CH 331, 332. See FW curriculum for complete list

One course in each of the following:

Math - choice of calculus or math for BIO/MGMT/SOC SCI (MTH 241 or 245 or 251)

Math (MTH 241, 245, 251)

English Composition (WR 121)

English Composition (WR 121)

English Composition (WR 122, 222 or 227)

English Composition (WR 222 or 327)

Public Speaking (COMM or SP 111)

Public Speaking (COMM 111)

Health & Fitness (HPE 295 or PE 231)*

Lifetime Fitness for Health (HHS 231, 241)

For the following Perspectives courses one course is required in each category, no more than two courses from any one subject area may be used to fulfill the Perspectives requirement. GEO courses listed under Physical Science are considered to be from a different department than GEO courses listed under any other Perspective category.

Social Processes & Institutions*

Social Processes & Institutions

Literature & Arts*

Literature & Arts

Western Culture*

Western Culture

Cultural Diversity*

Cultural Diversity

Difference, Power & Discrimination*

Difference, Power & Discrimination

* Check the Baccalaureate Core Course Equivalencies Page for these courses.

**Make sure to look at the FW curriculum requirements for Physical Sciences.

Check transfer credit equivalency from institutions outside of Oregon.

Check transfer credit equivalency from Oregon institutions.

If you've taken one or more courses not listed here that you feel match the description of any course required by our program then you can submit a petition for a transfer course equivalency course petition form.

Current or admitted students may petition their biology courses by filling out the: Biology Course/Series Equivalency Petition.

Post Baccalaureate Students 

The department deadline is earlier than the OSU Admission deadline. This allows the Office of Admissions and our department sufficient time to evaluate your application and transcripts. Be sure you have your online application and official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended submitted to the Office of Admissions prior to the deadline for the term you wish to apply:

Term

Deadline to Apply

Fall (Sept-Dec)

August 1

Winter (Jan-Mar)

November 1

Spring (Mar-Jun)

February 1

Summer (Jun-Aug)

May 1

All transfer credit and course substitutions must be approved by a Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Academic Advisor. To determine how prior coursework may transfer into Oregon State University visit the transfer course articulations page. All courses you intend to transfer to OSU must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university. Specific university requirements for Post Baccalaureate students can be found on OSU's Admission site. A college math course equivalent to MTH 111 or 112 with a C- or better is required for admission. 

Students who have completed their bachelor's degree and are now only working on earning a minor are considered minor-only students. Minor only students should complete a Biology series equivalent to the OSU 200 series before acceptance into the minor.  

Students interested in the BS or minor in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences should contact fw.advising@oregonstate.edu. In the email specify your campus (Corvallis or Ecampus).

For additional questions about transfer course articulations contact the OSU Admissions Office at 800-291-4192 or osuadmit@oregonstate.edu. If you are a prospective Ecampus student we recommend that you speak to an Ecampus Enrollment Services Specialist. You can contact them at ecampus@oregonstate.edu or 1-800-667-1465.

Additional Recommended Coursework

Although not necessary for admission, we recommend that students complete a full year of general chemistry prior to enrolling in the Post Baccalaureate program in the department. 

Course Planning for Post Baccalaureate Students

Students whose first degree is in a field other than a biological or physical science will often need to complete a suite of prerequisite courses prior to taking upper division Fisheries and Wildlife courses. This can include biology, chemistry, math, and statistics. Including all of these prerequisites, Post Baccalaureate students in the department will need to complete a minimum of 105 credits in order to obtain a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.

The transfer of equivalent or acceptable coursework from prior education at a regionally accredited college or university may reduce the number of courses that need to be taken at OSU. However, independent of how many credits transfer in, a minimum of 45 credits are required to be completed in residence at OSU (32 credits if your first degree was granted from OSU). Full-time students typically take 12-18 credits per term. Students who are working part- or full-time should reduce their course load accordingly. Your advisor can help you determine the right course load for you.  

Because of course prerequisites (listed below), there are core Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences courses that need to be completed in a specific order. In order to complete a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences in two years, you should refer to the course sequences below and use it as the base for your academic plan in MyDegrees.

Course Prerequisites and Sequences

Prerequisites and sequencing require thoughtful planning and regular consultation with your advisor.

  • BI 221, 222, and 223 (BI 204, 205, and 206) are prerequisites to BI 370
  • BI 370 is pre- or corequisite for FW 320
  • FW 320 is pre- or corequisite for FW 321
  • FW 320 and FW 321 are prerequisites to FW 488
  • Calculus-level math should be completed prior to enrolling in ST 351
  • ST 351 is prerequisite to ST 352
  • ST 351 should be completed prior to enrolling in FW 320

These classes are offered various terms:
FW 255: Field Sampling of Fish and Wildlife
FW 410: Internship Experience (confer with internship advisor)

Visit the Curricula & Course Offerings page to learn more.

BS Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, Chemistry, and Math Requirements

These guidelines have been developed to aid prospective students who want to complete some of their biology, chemistry, and math requirements prior to admittance to Oregon State University and the Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences program. Because financial aid may only be applied to one school at a time it can be to your advantage to take the biology series (and perhaps a few other requirements to get you to a financial aid eligible course-load) at your local institution prior to enrolling at Oregon State University.

These are general guidelines only – all credit transfers and course substitutions must be approved by a Fisheries and Wildlife Academic Advisor. To determine how prior coursework may transfer into OSU visit the transfer course articulations page. All courses you intend to transfer to OSU must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university. For additional questions about transfer course articulations contact the OSU Admissions Office at 800-291-4192 or osuadmit@oregonstate.edu. If you are a prospective Ecampus student we recommend that you speak to an Ecampus Enrollment Services Specialist. You can contact them at ecampus@oregonstate.edu or 1-800-667-1465.

Biology

Biology courses with online laboratories at other institutions are not accepted. Students can find an equivalent biology series at a local college or take the online OSU Biology series: BI 204, 205, 206. Please note that this series does not serve as a prerequisite to the following courses in the Fisheries and Wildlife curriculum: Z 422, Z 431, and Z 432. Also, this series may not be appropriate for careers in Veterinary, Dental, or Medical Sciences or any degrees offered through the OSU College of Science, please consult with your advisor before enrolling in the series. The biology courses should all be taken at the same institution, with rare exceptions made by the Department. It is difficult to patch together one series with courses from different colleges. Also, the BI 20X and 21X series are not interchangeable, you must complete one series or the other.

An acceptable biology series will most often consist of two semesters or three-quarters of coursework and include approximately 3 hours of in-person laboratory work per week. The course content should be equivalent to the OSU Biology series for science majors (BI 211/212/213): origins of life, energy transformations, plant and animal diversity and physiology, cell biology, organ systems, genetics, evolution, natural selection, and ecology. OSU currently uses “Campbell Biology” Reece et al., Benjamin Cummings, Ed. as the textbook for these courses.

If it is not clear from the college course description that the biology series is intended for science majors or meets the above requirements you need to contact the college’s science department or biology instructor to obtain course syllabi. Once you have this information, contact the OSU Fisheries and Wildlife advising team at fw.advising@oregonstate.edu to verify whether a particular biology series is acceptable.

Note: Students must earn a C- or better in each biology course taken as a prerequisite for some upper division Biology (BI) or Zoology (Z) courses. This prerequisite change will be enforced beginning fall 2015. This is important for Fisheries and Wildlife students because Ecology BI 370 is required for this degree.

Chemistry

A general chemistry series (with a laboratory component) of two semesters or three-quarters, equivalent to CH 121/122/123 or CH 231+261/232+262/233+263 at OSU, is required.

CH 121/122/123 General Chemistry
Content: Chemistry and measurement; atoms, molecules and ions;  chemical formulas and equations; reactions; gases; thermochemistry; quantum theory of the atom; atomic electron configurations; bonding and molecular structure; hybridization and molecular orbitals, intermolecular forces; chemical kinetics and equilibrium; acids and bases equilibrium; thermodynamics; electrochemistry; nuclear chemistry; transition elements and coordination compounds; organic chemistry.

CH 231+261/232+262/233+263 General Chemistry
Content: a general chemistry sequence for students majoring in science.

Only the complete CH 121/122/123 sequence is available online through OSU Ecampus. CH 231/232/233 are available online but each requires attendance during an intensive three-day weekend in Corvallis to complete the laboratory (CH 261/262/263) that coincides with each course.

OSU Chemistry Department's transfer articulations of introductory and general chemistry courses to OSU from other public universities.

Mathematics

A mathematics course covering higher-level applied mathematics or calculus is required for the BS Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences degree. This should be one-quarter or one-semester equivalent to MTH 241, 245, or 251 at OSU. Students should complete a precalculus course (MTH 105, MTH 111 or MTH 112) before attempting one of the calculus courses. We recommend MTH 111.

MTH 105: Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics
Elementary linear programming, combinatorics, descriptive statistics, elementary probability, exponential growth and decay, examples of major mathematical ideas and models. Lec/rec. (Bacc Core Course) PREREQS: MTH 095 or MTH 103 or (MPT=Math Placement Test score of 17; MPAL=Math Placement Test-ALEKS score of 46%) recommended.

MTH 111: College Algebra
Content: Polynomial equations and inequalities, polynomial functions and graphs, inverse functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, elementary mathematical modeling and applications.

MTH 112: Elementary Functions
Content: Triangle trigonometry, circular functions, and graphs, trigonometric equations and identities, inverse trigonometric functions, polar coordinates, vectors, and applications. Prereq: MTH 111

MTH 241: Calculus for Management and Social Science
Content: Elementary differential and integral calculus of polynomial, logarithmic, and exponential functions and their applications to business, management, and social sciences. Prereq: MTH 111 or MTH 112

MTH 245: Mathematics for Management, Life, and Social Sciences
Content: Techniques of counting, probability, and elements of statistics including binomial and normal distributions. Introductory matrix algebra. Elements of linear programming. Prereq: MTH 111

MTH 251: Differential Calculus
Content: Rates of change: the derivative, velocity, and acceleration. The algebraic rules of differential calculus and derivatives of polynomial, rational, and trigonometric functions. Maximum-minimum problems, curve sketching, and other applications. Antiderivatives and simple motion problems. Prereq: MTH 112

These courses are all available online through OSU Ecampus.

Statistics

Students are required to complete two semesters or two-quarters of statistical methods equivalent to ST 351 and ST 352 at OSU.

ST 351: Introduction to Statistical Methods
Content: Descriptive statistics, random variables, normal distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals and hypothesis tests for means using one and two samples; must include a lab.

ST 352: Introduction to Statistical Methods
Content: Simple and multiple linear regression, correlation, analysis of categorical data. Prereq: ST 351

Ecampus Availability? Both ST 351 and 352 are available online through OSU Ecampus.

NOTE: Many colleges offer introductory statistics courses (at the Oregon Community Colleges this is MTH 243) which transfer to OSU as ST 201. If you take a statistics course of this level prior to transferring to OSU you will still be required to take both ST 351 and ST 352 at OSU. Until Fall 2012, students could combine ST 201 with a one-credit lab at OSU (ST 211) as the equivalent of ST 351. This is no longer the case; the statistics department has determined that the combination of ST 201 and 211 are not an adequate prerequisite series for ST 352.   

Considering Graduate School?

For students considering continuing on to graduate school, it might be advisable to take additional chemistry (200-level instead of 100-level, plus organic chemistry) and Math 241 or 251 instead of Math 245. Graduate school is very competitive and requires the graduate record exam (GRE) for admission. More rigorous math and science courses can help you be more competitive.