Major Requirements
SAFS majors are required to complete both the College of Environment’s General Education requirements and the School’s degree requirements listed below. These requirements lead to a Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in Aquatic Conservation and Ecology (ACE), or a major in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (AFS).
NOTE: The last day to declare a major in AFS is December 12, 2025.
College of the Environment General Education requirements
| English Composition (C) | 5 credits. Minimum 2.0 grade required |
|---|---|
| Reasoning (RSN) | 10 credits. Calculus and Statistics, taken as part of the AFS degree requirements will fulfill this requirement. |
| Additional writing courses (W) | 10 credits. Courses taken as part of core AFS degree requirements will fulfill RSN and W requirements. |
| Diversity (DIV) | 5 credits |
| Natural Sciences (NSc) | 20 credits. 10 credits of NSc must be outside the major (i.e., not a major prefix and no overlap with major). This is a good opportunity to take courses in Oceanography, Forestry, Biology, Atmospheric Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences, etc. |
| Social Sciences (SSc) | 20 credits. 10 credits of SSc must be outside the major (i.e., not a major prefix and no overlap with major). AIS courses are recommended. |
| Arts and Humanities (A&H) | 10 credits. CLAS 205 and COM 220 are recommended. |
| Additional Areas of Inquiry | 10 credits |
| Total for General Education | = 88 credits |
Please note that the College of the Environment does not have a foreign language requirement
ACE Departmental Degree Requirements
Basic Science Courses
| Calculus and Statistics (15 credits) | 2 quarters of calculus, 1 quarter of probability and statistics
|
| Chemistry (10–15 credits) | 1–2 quarters of general chemistry, 1 quarter of organic chemistry
Majors are encouraged to take CHEM classes as soon as possible, as two quarters of chemistry are required to take BIOL 200 (see below) |
| Biology (15 credits) |
Majors are encouraged to complete the BIOL series as soon as possible, as many upper-level FISH Core and Elective courses have BIOL pre-requisites |
Introductory Courses
| Life in Water (3–5 credits) | One of the following:
|
| People and the Environment (5 credits) | One of the following (or other, approved by petition)
|
| Connecting to Career Pathways (1–2 credits) | One of the following:
|
| Programming & Data Science (4 credits) | One of the following:
|
Core Knowledge & Skills Courses
|
FISH Core Courses (15 credits) All of these courses will count towards the UW Additional Writing (W) requirement. |
One of the following:
|
| Communicating Science (3 credits) | One of the following:
|
| Data Analysis & Modelling (5 credits) | One of the following:
|
Advanced Topics Courses
Students must complete at least 20 credits total of approved elective courses with the following distribution requirements:
- At least 5 credits in the Aquatic Ecology category
- At least 5 credits in the Conservation & Resource Management Issues category
- At least 5 credits with the Quant/Data Science designation (Q); this may overlap with the above requirements
| Aquatic Ecology (min. 5 credits) | Options include:
|
| Aquatic Conservation & Resource Management Issues (min. 5 credits) | Options include:
|
|
Practicum Option (max. 7 credits) This is optional, but recommended for students who intend to pursue advanced degrees. |
Students can complete the SAFS Capstone (review the Capstone Page for more information):
Or students can complete independent study credits through either or a combination of the following:
Practicum coursework may count toward the Quant/Data Science requirement by petition. |
AFS Departmental Degree requirements
The last day to declare a major in AFS is December 12, 2025. Students who have declared AFS by that deadline will be able to continue in the major until they graduate.
Planning Your Degree The following documents will be helpful in planning your degree. It is also recommended that students meet with the SAFS Undergraduate Adviser early and often for help in degree planning and staying on track to graduation.
-
- DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System)
- Degree Planning Worksheet
- Degree Requirements Checklist
- Sample 4-Year Plan
- Degree Courses By Quarter (subject to change w/o notice)
Students may petition for course substitutions – contact the SAFS Undergraduate Adviser for more info.
Basic Science Courses
| Mathematics and Statistics (15 credits) |
2 quarters of calculus, 1 quarter of probability and statistics
|
| Chemistry (10 credits) |
Majors are encouraged to take CHEM classes as soon as possible, as two quarters of chemistry are required to take BIOL 200 (see below) |
| Biology (15 credits) |
Majors are encouraged to complete the BIOL series as soon as possible, as many upper level FISH Core and Elective courses have BIOL pre-requisites |
| Physics (4–5 credits) |
|
| Physical World (minimum 2 courses and 6 credits) |
Two of the following (or other, approved by petition)
|
Upper Level FISH Courses
| Science Writing (3 credits) |
|
| Natural History FISH Courses (10 credits) |
|
| FISH Core Courses (15 credits)all of these courses will count towards the UW Additional Writing (W) requirement. |
Take three of the following courses:
|
| Upper Division 400-level FISH classes (minimum 4 courses and 16 credits) |
Choose four 400-level FISH classes from the list on the Courses page. Restrictions:
|
|
Capstone Research (7 credits total) Review the Capstone page for more information. |
|