Wildlife Conservation

The Wildlife Conservation major focuses on the ecology and conservation of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians and their habitats. The program provides a comprehensive understanding of wild animal ecology, habitats, and human uses and values of wildlife. You’ll study a broad scope of issues, including disease, genetics, endangered species, invasive species, and the human dimensions of wildlife management. You’ll graduate prepared to take an active role in finding new and better ways to conserve, use, and sustain the world’s vital wildlife resources.

This major provides excellent preparation for graduate school. Students majoring in wildlife conservation take courses in the following core areas: natural resources and environment, population dynamics, human dimensions of fisheries and wildlife, evolutionary biology, legal foundations, public speaking and writing, chemistry, and statistics.

Additional major coursework is also required in wildlife biology, wildlife field biology, conservation, wildlife habitat, genetics, geographic information systems (GIS), ecology, biology, and physical science.

Career options

• Biological science technician/wildlife technician
• Environmental educator/conservation education specialist
• Fishing and hunting guide
• Game warden
• GIS programmer/computer mapping specialist
• Public affairs specialist
• Urban wildlife specialist/animal damage control specialist
• Wildlife biologist
• Wildlife/environmental consultant
• Wildlife refuge manager
• Zookeeper