Wildlife Biology

Overview

Wildlife biology programs prepare people to study vertebrate wildlife and their habitats.

Wildlife biology programs include topics such as:

Animal ecology
Adaptational biology
Specializations including birds, fish, or mammals
Natural and artificial habitat management
Urban ecosystems
Wildlife pathology
Limnology

Schools

Community colleges and other two-year schools offer associate degree programs in wildlife biology. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete. After earning an associate degree students can transfer to a college or university for further study.

Several colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in wildlife biology. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

A few universities offer graduate degrees in wildlife biology. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

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Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Environmental Science
Pre-Calculus
Wildlife Management

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree (usually in biology), good grades, and good test scores.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
Letters of recommendation

Graduate programs in wildlife biology are usually located in ecology, biology, or forestry departments.

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically offers courses in the following subjects:

Biology
Chemistry
Cell Biology
Conservation and Preservation
Ecology
Fish Populations
Genetics
Mammalogy
Natural Resources Management
Ornithology
Statistics
Wildlife Biology

Things to Know

This program is often in ecology, biology, or forestry departments.

Take every opportunity to get hands-on experience doing fieldwork. Get a summer or part-time job at a park or nature center, or attend a summer field camp.

Many jobs in this field require you to write technical reports and give presentations on your findings. Taking writing and speaking courses will develop your communication skills.

Some wildlife biologists spend a large part of their time conducting field research.