WILD 1100e: Wildlife in America

Course Information: currently offered during spring and summers annually through the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Course Number: WILD1100e
Faculty Directors: Jim Beasley

Course Description: This course is a 2-credit hour online course offered at the undergraduate level and is designed for anyone with an interest in the conservation and management of wildlife; non-wildlife majors are especially encouraged. The course provides an introduction to the history of wildlife management and conservation, with particular emphasis on wildlife populations in the U.S. The course is set up in a modular format, with each module covering a specific topic pertaining to the ecology, conservation, and management of wildlife.

Course Goals: Students completing WILD/ECOL 3580 will develop a deeper understanding of the evolution and natural history of the various vertebrate groups, as well as the identifying characteristics and specific nomenclature for nearly 400 common vertebrates in the United States, with particular emphasis on southeastern species.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:

1. Provide an overview of the history of wildlife ecology, conservation, and management in the US and describe the importance of these fields in modern society.

2. Describe seminal laws and policies central to the management and conservation of wildlife.

3. Distinguish among the various wildlife taxa and be able to describe important aspects of their life history and ecology.

4. Explain the association between wildlife and habitat and the fundamental role wildlife play in ecosystems.

5. Describe the impacts of human land use and other anthropogenic activities on wildlife.