Welcome to Oregon State University's Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Marine Science page
The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife offers a variety of courses relating to coastal ecology and the management of natural resources. Our program is designed to provide a diverse array of hands-on educational experiences as well as traditional classroom instruction.
The Fall program includes a field-oriented course in Coastal Ecology and Resource Management (CERM) FW426/526. This five-credit course is taught by a team of faculty and agency scientists and is based at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, on the coast in Newport, Oregon. The class consists of a one-week intensive field (Sept. 21-25) lab and lecture series, followed by weekly seminars, discussions and field trips for the term. Students learn basic biological, chemical, and physical processes of coastal habitats, and some of the issues associated with human use of coastal resources. The course is open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students from any department but is of particular interest to those majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife, Biology, Zoology, Environmental Science, or Natural Resources.
Other courses offered for 2009 include: FW 407/507: HMSC seminar; FW 454/554: Fishery Biology; FW 499/599: Ecology of Coastal Fishes; and FW499/599: Whales and Whaling.
Advanced undergraduate and graduate students who have an interest in coastal ecology, marine fish ecology, and the management of natural resources can participate in the Fall program.
Most of the courses in our program are currently offered as 400/500-level splits (undergrad/grad), with additional laboratory or primary literature discussions for graduate students. Many courses have pre-requisites - please check the schedule and contact us if you have questions. Registration for OSU students is identical to registration for classes on campus. Students from other institutions are also encouraged to apply. Many schools have tuition and credit transfer agreements with OSU, and special admissions arrangements can be made.
About HMSC
In addition to being Oregon State University's primary marine laboratory, the Hatfield Marine Science Center is also home to a number of federal and state natural resource agencies. Agencies include NOAA'S Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Science Centers, the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. The presence of academic, state, and federal labs in this context makes HMSC a facility unlike any other in the country. Many scientists at these agencies actively participate in classes and provide internship opportunities, creating an educational opportunity well beyond that which is usually offered in an academic setting. This also presents potential employment prospects for our students.
When does it start?
Fall term 2008 begins on September 29th. The week prior to fall term is dedicated to the all-day, intensive lecture and field course, Coastal Ecology and Resource Management (FW426/526). It is recommended that all students attending classes in the program register for this core course. The fall schedule of classes for HMSC can be found here. Click here for Course Descriptions.
What does it cost?
Tuition and fees are through Oregon State University and are dependent on the number of credit hours enrolled. We are also requesting a $50 lab fee from each student enrolled in Coastal Ecology and Resource Management (FW426/526). This will help cover some of the costs for field trips and equipment. Students will also be asked to contribute to the cost of one charter fishing trip ($49) for some classes.
What about housing?
Inexpensive housing is available from dormitory apartments at the Hatfield Marine Science Center. One- and two-bedroom apartments are available on the HMSC campus. Rates depend on the number of students sharing an apartment. For details, please contact Melody Pfister at 541-867-0203, and see: http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/facreq/housing.html.
For additional information please contact Nancy Allen (541) 737-1941 Nancy.Allen@oregonstate.edu, or Scott Heppell (541) 737-1086, Scott.Heppell@oregonstate.edu in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, or Itchung Cheung (541) 867-0380 at the Hatfield Marine Science Center.