Student in green UVM shirt carefully removes chickadee from a mist net.

Are you passionate about wildlife, fish, and the state of the environment? Are you driven to understand relationships between animals and people and to find solutions to challenges in conservation and management? If so, a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology may be for you.

 

What is wildlife and fisheries biology?

Wildlife and fisheries biology is the science and profession involving the biology, ecology, management, and conservation of animal and fish populations that range from species common enough to be hunted/fished to species that are threatened and endangered. Management and conservation strategies include direct manipulation of populations or indirect manipulation through alteration of habitat and other landscape conditions.

What will I learn?

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Program will be able to:

  • Understand and apply life history and concepts of behavior, ecology, population dynamics, and conservation biology to issues surrounding the management and conservation of fish and wildlife;
  • Apply the scientific method – develop a hypothesis, use deduction to make predictions, observe and collect data (through appropriate sampling), analyze data, and use induction to infer, verify, or falsify the hypothesis;
  • Effectively communicate scientific information for a variety of audiences and purposes;
  • Define key local, national, and international environmental legislation, policies, and agreements, their impact on the management and conservation of fish and wildlife, and which agency/organization is responsible for their development and implementation;
  • Evaluate the diversity of values, attitudes, and beliefs that affect the management and conservation of fish and wildlife within local, regional, and global contexts.

Learn more about the B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology >>

What will I do after I graduate?

Wildlife and Fisheries Biology graduates find employment with federal and state government agencies, nonprofit conservation organizations, land trusts, zoos, and other employers, or they go on to graduate school. Program faculty are available to guide students as they forge their career paths. The Rubenstein School Student Services team also offers career development assistance.

Learn more about career development in the Rubenstein School >>