A Fisheries, Range, and Wildlife degree at BYU–Idaho opens the door to many opportunities for students who are passionate about the natural world. This major prepares students to help protect the intricate balance between land, water, animals, and people.
Students in the FRW program choose one of three emphasis areas: Fisheries, Range, or Wildlife Management. Each emphasis offers its own specialized skills, but all share the same core focus of conservation, scientific research and application, and building a healthy relationship between communities and the ecosystems around them.
Shared Foundation
All three degrees share 12 core classes (33 credits) that give students a strong foundation in ecology, biology, conservation, and scientific research. These courses build the essential skills needed for any emphasis. Each degree also requires an internship, allowing students to gain practical experience and apply what they’ve learned.
Students take an additional 34–37 credits of emphasis-specific classes. These specialized courses deepen their knowledge in their chosen field and provide real-world, hands-on learning opportunities.
Fisheries Emphasis
Fisheries Management focuses on aquatic ecosystems, freshwater ecology, and fish biology. This emphasis prepares students to monitor, restore, and manage fish populations and the habitats they depend on.
Key Learning Areas:
- Fish biology and conservation.
- Fish population assessments and growth
- Stream ecology
- Assessing aquatic habitats and environments
- Evaluating water quality
- Managing invasive species
Ideal for Students Who…
- Are interested in fish biology, aquatic conservation, and ecosystem health.
- Enjoy hands-on fieldwork in aquatic environments.
- Want careers within fisheries agencies, fish hatcheries, aquatic restoration organizations, or conservation organizations.
Range Emphasis
Range Management focuses on rangelands, livestock and wildlife, and communities that depend on rangeland support. This emphasis prepares students in assessing land health, maintaining thriving rangelands, and balancing land health with human use.
Key Learning Areas:
- Range ecology
- Grazing systems and livestock behaviors
- Habitat restoration
- Soil and watershed management
- Rangeland plant identification and monitoring
Ideal for Students Who…
- Enjoy the outdoors and want to work outside.
- Are interested in plant ecology, land stewardship, and working with both wildlife and agricultural systems.
- Want careers within land management agencies, ranching operations, habitat restoration programs, or similar organizations.
Wildlife Emphasis
Wildlife Management focuses on the management and conservation of wildlife species and their habitats. This emphasis prepares students in the ecology, biology, behavior, and protection of wildlife.
Key Learning Areas:
- Wildlife biology and ecology
- Species monitoring
- Habitat conservation and management
- Human and wildlife relationships
- Managing invasive species
Ideal for Students Who…
- Love and want to work with all sorts of wildlife
- Are passionate about animal and habitat conservation
- Want careers within wildlife biology and research, conservation agencies, government protection agencies, or similar organizations
What is the Right Emphasis for You?
Choosing the right emphasis for you comes down to your interests, career goals, and the environments you feel connected with. No matter which emphasis you choose, your work will allow you to make a real difference in the natural world. Your work will support the health of ecosystems and the animals, plants, and communities that depend on them.