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What will I learn in a wildlife ecology and conservation degree program?

The bachelor's degree in wildlife ecology and conservation prepares you to study wild animal populations and learn about ways to protect threatened and endangered species. You'll study how humans have impacted our environment and how we can conserve important ecosystems, including forests and rangelands.

Your classes will give you a strong foundation in basic science, including biology, chemistry and math, before you move on to classes specific to your major, such as managing wildlife populations, ecology and population biology, and environmental pollution.

In addition to general major requirements, you'll take courses in plant and animal physiology and behavior, different kind of animal organisms, and plant biology.

Hands-on classes and both indoor and outdoor laboratories are a hallmark of our program, and you'll be able to work with nationally renowned faculty to gain experience in both fieldwork and research.

Learn more about the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources

In the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, you'll receive valuable hands-on experience that prepares you for a successful career in high-demand industries.  With four departments and nearly 200 courses in agriculture, veterinary and rangeland sciences; biochemistry and molecular biology; natural resources and environmental science; and nutrition, we're ready to help you grow your future.

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Careers with a degree in wildlife ecology and conservation biology

CABNR students working in a field

Graduates with a major in wildlife ecology and conservation biology are typically employed by government agencies, nonprofit organizations or natural resource consulting firms. You may find jobs such as the following: 

  • Wildlife biologist or specialist
  • Wildlife manager or conservationist
  • Game warden/conservation officer
  • Environmental consultant
  • Wildland manager
  • Ecologist
  • Park ranger

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities will increasingly focus on the interaction between humans and wild animal populations, as a growing human population and increasing development threaten existing animal habitats. 

Conservationists can also expect to focus on increasing threats to ecosystems and animal populations due to climate change, including the growing risk of wildfires in the American West. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, zoologists and wildlife biologists had a median annual salary of $64,650 in 2021, and conservation scientists and foresters had a median annual salary of $63,750 in 2021.

You can afford the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ

76% of students receive financial aid

Almost everyone is eligible to receive some kind of aid. We offer need-based and merit-based forms of financial aid to help you afford college.

54% of all students graduate with no debt

That's right. More than half of our students leave the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ with no student debt.

Related programs

Environmental Science, B.S.
Forest Management and Ecology, B.S.
Rangeland Ecology and Management, B.S.
Veterinary Science, B.S.

Life's a journey. Honors makes it meaningful.

At the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Honors College, our students maximize their unique gifts and passions through a series of personalized experiences that deepen their capacity for transformative societal impact.

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Four honors students standing near Manzanita Lake; one is holding a soccer ball.

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