Wildlife Management Major

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The Wildlife Management Major

Required Courses
Course Descriptions
UAM Schedule of Classes

The wildlife management major is a professional program designed to give students a broad scientific background for management and perpetuation of wildlife resources. The curriculum emphasizes basic and applied sciences as well as communication skills and social sciences. This educational foundation serves students who plan to enter the wildlife profession directly, or those who plan to continue their education at the graduate level. Through appropriate selection of courses in consultation with his or her advisor, students can satisfy course work requirements for professional certification by The Wildlife Society. Students are encouraged to cultivate their academic, social, and career interest through membership in the student chapter of the Wildlife Society. The program requires 124 college credits and usually takes about four years to complete.
With a well-balanced technical background, you may work directly with wild animals and their environments, including soil, water, vegetation, and people, performing such duties as managing a wildlife refuge or public recreation area. In such a position you might be responsible for counting a "censusing" animal populations, establishing harvest regulations, or working with foresters to develop integrated management plans. Wildlife biologists also often perform basic or applied research to obtain facts on such subjects as physiology, genetics, ecology, behavior, disease, nutrition, or pollution. Those in the public relations field interpret research and management efforts for the public so people will understand, accept and perhaps utilize the research or management results. This involves working with landowners, writing articles or pamphlets and news releases, photography, public speaking and work with radio and television

Since most wildlife resource problems relate to people, in addition to a thorough education in physical and biological sciences, you will find it helpful to have training in such subjects as English, psychology, history, statistics, and economics. Communication skills, especially speaking, writing, and public relations, must be an integral part of your training. High school students may prepare for college by taking as much math, physics, English, chemistry, and biology as possible. Completing a Master of Science degree after the Baccalaureate degree is recommended and almost essential. A graduate degree is especially useful if you wish to enter research or education, but also may stimulate more rapid advancement from a starting position. Advanced degrees do not guarantee success, but will improve your chances.