Fisheries and Ocean Sciences with a Concentration in Fisheries Science, B.S.

The goal of the B.S. in Fisheries and Ocean Science with a Concentration in Fisheries Science degree program is to educate undergraduate students in fisheries sciences, with a particular emphasis on the biology, assessment, and management of fish and invertebrate populations and their associated physical, chemical, geological, and biological marine and freshwater environments, in preparation for a career in the fisheries in Alaska and elsewhere. This degree is offered jointly between UAS and UAF; students have the option of completing their degree at Juneau or Fairbanks, most courses listed below can be taken at either university, and many are offered distance or online.  Student research is emphasized throughout the program. Program faculty are actively involved in a wide range of disciplines, including marine ecology, evolution, marine mammalogy, invertebrate physiology, cryobiology, biological oceanography, aquatic contaminant studies, and marine fisheries. The B.S. in Fisheries and Ocean Science with a Concentration in Fisheries Science prepares students for graduate studies in related fields, and provides students with the knowledge base, skill sets and hands-on experience to obtain positions in state, federal, Alaska Native, Native American, and nongovernmental fisheries and natural resources conservation and management agencies in Alaska and throughout North America.

Admission Requirements

Applicants will be considered for full admission to the B.S. in Fisheries and Ocean Science with a Concentration in Fisheries Science, and be assigned a faculty advisor, after completion of the following:

  1. MATH S151 (may be met by placement examination)
  2. WRTG S111
  3. BIOL S115 and BIOL S116
  4. High school chemistry or CHEM S103 with a C (2.00) or higher.

Degree Requirements

Candidates must complete the General Education Requirements (GERs), the Alaska Native Knowledge Graduation Requirement, as well as the specific program requirements listed below for a minimum of 120 credit hours.

Courses in a degree program may be counted only once. Courses used to fulfill the major requirements cannot be used to fulfill the GERs. Specific requirements for GERs in Fisheries are listed below. The degree must include 44 credits of upper-division (300 or above) courses, 24 of which must be completed at UAS or UAF.

Minimum Credit Hours120
General Education Requirements 36
Alaska Native Knowledge Graduation Requirement3
Must include:
BIOL S115*Fundamentals of Biology I4
BIOL S116*Fundamentals of Biology II4
MATH S251*Calculus I4
Major Requirements 66-68
Introduction to Marine Fisheries Science
Introduction to Marine Biology
Ecology
Animal Physiology
Genetics
Introduction to Ichthyology
Internship (Biology Internship)
Research in Biology
*General Chemistry I
*General Chemistry II
*Principles of Microeconomics
FISH F102
(Fact or Fishin’: Case Studies in Fisheries) 1
FISH F103
(The Harvest of the Sea) 1
FISH F261
(Introduction to Fisheries Utilization) 1
Alaska Salmon Culture II
FISH F288
(Fish and Fisheries of Alaska) 1
FISH F487
(Fisheries Management) 1
*Elementary Statistics
Regression and Analysis of Variance
Select one of the following:3
FISH F315
(Freshwater Fisheries Techniques) 1
FISH F414
(Field Methods in Marine Ecology and Fisheries) 1
Select one of the following:3
FISH F425
(Fish Ecology) 1
FISH F426
(Behavioral Ecology of Fishes) 1
FISH F428
(Physiology of Fishes) 1
Select one of the following:
*College Physics I
*General Physics I
Select one of the following:3
Culture and Ecology 2
Environmental Sociology
Upper-Division Electives 312-14
Communicating Science
Biological Oceanography
Experimental Design and Data Analysis
Conservation Biology
Current Topics in Biology: 4
Marine Ornithology and Herpetology
Marine Mammalogy
Field Studies in Behavior and Ecology
Invertebrate Zoology
Physiology of Marine Animals
Animal Behavior
Field Studies in Biology: 4
Aquatic Pollution
Marine Ecology
Evolution
Internship (Biology Internship)
Research in Biology
Biology Seminar 4
Physical Science4
Complete 4 credits of electives from Chemistry, Geology, Environmental Sciences, or Physics
1

FISH courses available from UAF.

2

SOC S101 pre-requisite for SOC S404; take as GER.

3

Or other upper-division electives from UAF: Fisheries, Marine Science and Limnology, or Natural Resources Management.

4

Only 4 credits from BIOL S375, 4 credits from BIOL S475, and 2 credits from BIOL S492 may be applied toward the Electives.

  1. Students will gain a broad background in biological sciences.
  2. Students will develop critical thinking skills.
  3. Students will improve oral and written scientific communication skills.
  4. Students will gain practical experiences in basic biological research.