Wildlife & Fisheries Science Major

The major in Wildlife and Fisheries Science provides an integrated program of study for undergraduate students interested primarily in conservation and management of wildlife and fish species and their environments. This major is designed to help provide a broad background in quantification, the humanities, the physical and biological sciences, and natural resource management. Graduates may pursue graduate-level training in wildlife and fisheries sciences or careers in wildlife or fish management, research, or information and education.

Flexibility in course selection permits students to plan their programs in keeping with their specific interests, goals, and objectives for the future. Graduates may fulfill the standards established by The Wildlife Society, The American Fisheries Society, and the federal Office of Personnel Management for employment in wildlife biology, fisheries, research, extension, and management. The options in the Wildlife and Fisheries Science program offer students specialized training in their focus area.

Fisheries Option
This option provides a strong foundation in the principles and practices of wildlife and fisheries conservation, research, and management with a focus on fisheries issues and biology.

Wildlife Option
This option provides a strong foundation in the principles and practices of wildlife and fisheries conservation, research, and management with a focus on wildlife issues and biology.

Why Major in Wildlife and Fisheries Science?
You may be interested in the Wildlife and Fisheries Science major if you

• are interested in management of game or non-game wildlife or fish species;
• are concerned about man's impact on wildlife and fish and their habitats;
• wish to increase desirable human/wildlife/fish interactions and alleviate undesirable interactions;
• want a career that combines indoor and outdoor activities.

Career Opportunities for Wildlife and Fisheries Science Graduates
Wildlife and fisheries scientists find employment as technicians, conservation officers, natural resource managers, information and education specialists, research scientists, teachers, and administrators. If your goal is a career in the wildlife and fisheries sciences, then you should consider attending graduate school. Surveys show that about one-third of baccalaureate degree holders find wildlife-related or fisheries-related employment, whereas the majority of M.S. and Ph.D. degree holders are employed in the field.

B.S. graduates generally find technician-level jobs with state and federal agencies or with private firms. Federal agencies that employ wildlife and fisheries biologists include the Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Environmental Protection Agency. State agencies include departments of fish and game, forestry, conservation, and environmental resources. Private companies employ wildlife and fisheries biologists to manage habitats or to participate in environmental impact assessments.

For additional information about Wildlife and Fisheries Science, contact:

Paul Blankenhorn
310 Forest Resources Lab
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-6972
E-mail: prb@psu.edu

 

Jamie Murphy

114 Forest Resources Builing

University Park, PA 16802

Phone:  814-863-0362

E-mail: jam563@psu.eu

 

Or visit the Wildlife and Fisheries Science Web site.