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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

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Training Pathways

Updated September 21, 2026

These pathways suggest a progression of courses to help you gain proficiency in a subject area.

**Decision Analysis Pathways**
Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Quantitative Decision Analysis Builds basic skills in decision theory and the use of analytical tools to support the decision analysis process	■ Introduction to Structured Decision Making, ALC3171	■ Adaptive Management: Structured Decision Making for Recurrent Decisions, ALC3176 ■ Decision Analysis: Tools, ALC3191	Choose from a series of electives
Facilitative Decision Analysis Builds basic skills in decision theory with a focus on facilitating decision analysis	■ Introduction to Structured Decision Making, ALC3171	■ Decision Analysis: Elicitation and Facilitation, ALC3190 ■ Collaboration and Conflict Transformation in Multiparty Process, ALC3199	Choose from a series of electives

**Fisheries Pathways**
Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Quantitative Fisheries Gain tools in analysis of fish and fisheries data for population assessment and evaluation of alternative management strategies.	■ Introduction to R, CSP4201	■ Introduction to Population Modeling, CSP3156b	■ Fish Population Dynamics and Assessment, CSP2300
Fish Sampling Gain practical knowledge and skills in deploying gear for improved sampling data.	■ Principles and Techniques of Electrofishing (in-person or online), CSP2201 or CSP2c01	■ Fish Sampling Techniques, (Online, Field, Lab, and Classroom), CSP2204	■ Electrofishing Sampling Advanced Practicum, CSP2203

Habitat Restoration and Management Pathways
Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Habitat Restoration & Management Build skills in plant identification and in aquatic and upland habitat assessment, restoration and management.	■ Wetland Plant Identification, CSP3107 ■ Field Techniques for Invasive Plant Management, CLM2139 ■ Stream Habitat Measurement Techniques, CSP3200 ■ Applied Fluvial Geomorphology, CSP3210 ■ Forest Ecology and Management, CSP2110	■ River Morphology and Applications, CSP3310 ■ Wetland Assessment, Restoration and Management, CSP3106	■ Advanced Plant Identification: Grasses, Sedges, Rushes and Composites, CSP3130

Statistics and Modeling Pathways
Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Status and Trend Assessment Pathway Builds abilities to develop efficient sampling designs and perform analyses to estimate population attributes (e.g., abundance) at a location and over time.	■ Making Sense of Biological Data with R, CSP4200 ■ Data Wrangling with R, CSP1004 ■ or Introduction to R, CSP4201	■ Statistical Modeling for Conservation, CSP4210	■ Design and Analysis of Biological Monitoring, CSP4230
Species Distribution Modeling and Conservation Design Pathway Builds skills to develop and/or implement models identifying species-habitat relationships and important conservation areas.	■ Data Wrangling with R, CSP1004 ■ Making Sense of Biological Data with R, CSP4200 ■ or Introduction to R, CSP4201	■ Statistical Modeling for Conservation, CSP4210	■ Species Distribution Modeling, CSP4220 ■ Occupancy Modeling, CSP4141
Data Manipulation Analysis Become proficient in data handling and an array of common approaches to analyzing biological data. Foundation for monitoring and distribution modeling	■ Introduction to R, CSP4201 ■ or Data Wrangling with R, CSP1004	■ Making Sense of Biological Data with R, CSP4200	■ Statistical Modeling for Conservation, CSP4210

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