WILDLIFE BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION

BS Biology: Wildlife Biology/Management

Advisor: Dr. Margaret O’Connell

GENERAL INFORMATION

What do wildlife biologists do? Wildlife biologists work in a variety of jobs including research

biologists, educators, law enforcement personnel, planners, impact analyzers, and supervisors or

administrators. Wildlife biologists can work for a wide array of employers. Many wildlife biologists

work for local, state, or federal agencies. State agencies include the Washington Department of Fish and

Wildlife, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and Washington Department of Ecology.

Federal agencies that hire wildlife biologists can be with the Department of Interior (U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Parks, Bureau of Land Management; Environmental Protection Agency), the

Department of Agriculture (U.S. Forest Service; APHIS; Natural Resource Conservation Service), the

Department of Commerce (Customs); the Department of Defense (Army Corps of Engineers, many

military bases have wildlife biologists on their staff). Others wildlife biologist are employed in the

private sector by local utility companies, forestry product companies, and private consulting firms.

Many tribal organizations hire wildlife biologists. Different non government organizations (e.g.,

Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund) at the regional, national, and international

levels hire wildlife biologists. Zoological parks can have research wildlife biologists on their staff.

CHOOSING A MAJOR

Although Eastern Washington University does not have a degree in Wildlife Biology/Management, we

do provide that courses that are required by the agencies or organizations that hire wildlife biologists.

These agencies will look at the student’s coursework; the title of the degree is not the deciding factor.

Students interested in Wildlife Biology career typically major in Biology or in Environmental Science

with the Biology emphasis. The Biology degree affords a student somewhat more flexibility in selecting

electives. If these electives are selected with close consultation with an advisor, the student can design a

program that fulfills the basic requirements for employment with different agencies. The course program

for the Environmental Sciences with Biology option includes many of these courses that would be

recommended for a student and ensures that students receive exposure to a breadth of disciplines in

environmental science (e.g., geology, chemistry).

PREREQUISITES

In planning your academic program, you should be aware of your individual needs and career

aspirations, but view your preparation from three perspectives: 1) major requirements, 2) graduation

requirements, and 3) requirements of different hiring agencies.

BS IN BIOLOGY WITH ELECTIVES RECOMMENDED FOR WILDLIFE

BIOLOGY/MANAGEMENT/CONSERVATION

Required Biology Courses: 28 credits

BIOL 171 Biology I (5)

BIOL 172 Biology II (5)

BIOL 173 Biology III (5)

BIOL 270 Biological Investigation (3)

BIOL 310 Fundamentals of Genetics (5)

BIOL 490 Department Senior Capstone (5)

Select one of the following courses: 5 credits

BIOL 304 Vertebrate Zoology (5)

BIOL 302 Botany (5)

BIOL 303 Invertebrate Zoology (5)

BIOL 301 Microbiology (5)

[Note: Listed in order of applicability for wildlife major, additional course will count

towards elective credit for Biology BS (see below)]

Select one of the following courses: 4-5 credits

BIOL 423 Evolution (5)

BIOL 440 Ecology (4)

[Note: Both are recommended, additional course will count towards elective credit for

Biology BS (see below)]

Select one of the following courses: 5 credits

BIOL 436 Cell Biology (5)

BIOL 438 Molecular Biology (5)

Select one of the following courses (4–5 credits)

BIOL 334 Human Anatomy and Physiology III for Biology Majors (5)

BIOL 351 Principles of Animal Physiology (4)

BIOL 352 Principles of Plant Physiology (4)

BIOL 353 Principles of Microbial Physiology (4)

Required Supporting Courses: 20 credits

CHEM 171 General Chemistry (4)

CHEM 171L General Chemistry Lab (1)

CHEM 172 General Chemistry (4)

CHEM 172L General Chemistry Lab (1)

CHEM 173 General Chemistry (4)

CHEM 173L General Chemistry Lab (1)

MATH 161 Calculus I or MATH 380 Elementary Probability

and Statistics or BIOL 380 Data Analysis for Biologists (5)

ELECTIVE COURSES: 36 credits (21 must be Biology electives) of upper division (300- or 400-

level) courses with advisor’s consent. Courses recommended for wildlife biologists include

BIOL 411 Field Botany (5)

BIOL 442 Conservation Biology (alternate years) (4)

BIOL 443 Wildlife Management (alternate years) (4)

BIOL 445 Stream Ecology (5)

BIOL 446 Riparian Ecology (5)

BIOL 450 Mammalogy (alternate years) (5)

BIOL 454 Ornithology (alternate years) (5)

BIOL 462 Ichthyology (5)

BIOL 481 Freshwater Invertebrate Zoology (5)

GEOG 323 GIS for Environmental Science (3)

PLAN 431 Environmental Impact Statements (3)

The federal register and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service job requirements can serve as a general guide

for preparing oneself for a career in wildlife biology. The course requirements for a wildlife biologist

position though the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service are as follows:

 Entry Wildlife Biologist – 30 semester hours = 45 quarter hours

12 [18] hours – general biology, zoology/biology (vertebrate + invertebrate zoology;

physiology; genetics; ecology; cell biology, molecular biology)

9 [13.5] hours – wildlife subjects (wildlife management; mammalogy; ornithology;

conservation biology)

9 [13.5] hours – botany or related plant courses (botany, field botany, limnology)

 Research Wildlife Biologist – Additional courses

15 [22.5] hours – statistics; chemistry; physics; geology; GIS

The requirements for the different GS (government service) levels are as follows:

 GS-5 Bachelor’s degree

 GS-7 One year experience beyond BS

 GS-9 Two years experience or Masters

 GS-11 Three years experience or PhD

Your academic record is the best indication that potential employers or graduate schools will have in

their assessment of your ability. It is very important to maintain as high a GPA as possible.

BEYOND THE COURSEWORK

While you are at EWU you should always work closely with your advisor. In addition to academic

advice, he or she can help you identify scholarships and potential avenues to gain hands-on experience

in wildlife biology. This experience is often a critical factor and can include independent research, work

study, and internships.

While you are a student:

 Become aware of scholarship opportunities. In addition to general university scholarships, there

are several for Biology and Environmental Science majors. Check out the scholarship

information center near the Biology Office in SC 258. There are two scholarship opportunities

specifically for students interested in wildlife careers: the Safari Club Scholarship and the

Richard Fitzner Memorial Scholarship.

 Investigate opportunities for volunteer work with local agencies. Turnbull National Wildlife

Refuge, Conservation Northwest, WA Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Inland Northwest

Land Trust are a few possibilities for volunteer work. Such work gives you a sense of the

different types of jobs available as well as introduces you to local professionals.

 Look into different opportunities for summer jobs or internships in wildlife areas. Be proactive

and plan ahead. For example, The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds Undergraduate

Research Programs around the country, many of these have a wildlife biology/conservation

component. Visit the NSF http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/list_result.cfm?unitid=5047

 Join organizations both on campus and in the community (e.g., Audubon Club,) these help you

get involved and meet people.

GOING ON FOR A GRADUATE DEGREE

Many positions in the wildlife conservation field, especially the more challenging ones, require

education beyond the bachelor degree level. Often, these positions offer greater opportunities for

advancement. They include positions in research, teaching, management and administration. At an early

date in your training, consider the desirability of taking graduate studies to secure a master's or doctor's

degree. It is very important to work with your advisor at each step (e.g., planning for, finding a school

and graduate advisor, identifying funding sources to support your graduate studies, and applying to the

schools). Again, your academic record is the best indication that potential graduate schools will have in

their assessment of your ability. It is very important to maintain as high a GPA as possible; most schools

require a GPA of > 3.0. Most schools will also require that you take the general GRE exam. Some

schools might also require that you take the Biology Subject GRE. It is a very good idea to obtain a

study guide book for the GRE and take practice exams.

USE THE WEB

There are many resources available on the internet to help you identify jobs (e.g.,

http://www.ecojobs.com/, the websites of the different agencies or organizations)

and internships (http://www.thesca.org/; http://www.americorps.org/; http://www.peacecorps.gov/).

Also us the web to research different university graduate program.

QUESTIONS, contact:

Dr. Margaret A. O'Connell

Office: 262 Science Building

Phone: 509-359-6812

Email: [email protected]

Biology ETS Field Exam required for graduation.

voice: (509) 359-2339 email: biolog[email protected]

Department of Biology



Eastern Washington University

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258 Science Bldg., Cheney, WA 99004

2019-2020