Undergraduate Programs

A Bachelor of Science in Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management equips students with the skills, educational background and ethical standards needed to pursue a successful and rewarding career in the diverse fields of conservation and natural resource management.

The program prides itself in providing students with immersive and relevant field experiences, professional development opportunities, and a focus on mentored undergraduate research. The curriculum places a special emphasis on applied knowledge, skills and research to provide a solid foundation that empowers students to continue their education into graduate and other professional programs or pursue a wide range of careers in conservation and land management with leading conservation and science-based agencies at state and federal levels, as well as private land enterprises and non-governmental organizations. In response to the complexity and diversity of the field, the B.S. in RWFM program offers five unique specialization tracks to further tailor a student’s degree to best meet post-graduation needs.

Career Options

We facilitate the journey from student to natural resource professional, offering experiences and opportunities that will prepare students for diverse careers in public or private sectors in a variety of capacities. Below is a selection of common career paths taken by our graduates.

Job Title	Description
Wildlife Biologist	Work to protect biodiversity, often with threatened and endangered species, specializing in a group of species or specific habitats in which the species live. They work in the outdoors collecting data and implementing monitoring or management techniques, in addition to working in indoor laboratories, analyzing their data from the field, writing reports on their findings, and coordinating with other biologists, researchers and agencies.
Fisheries Biologist	Work to protect and conserve the health of a variety of fish species and their habitat. They can work in a variety of environments including freshwater and saltwater, as well as aquacultural operations to collect data on fish and water quality. Laboratory analysis of data is an important component of this career, as well as report writing and collaboration with a variety of agencies and other biologists.
Environmental Consultant	Conducts biological surveys as part of clearance and approval for mostly privately funded projects such as housing and commercial developments, resource extraction (e.g., mining), and other developments on private and public lands. Often must be familiar with government regulations (NEPA, EIS), use of GIS, literature reviews, and report writing. Permanent positions are available, but much of the work is seasonal for smaller organizations.
Game Warden	Responsible for patrolling assigned areas to prevent fish and game law violations. They investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife and compile biological data for subsequent reports and management information.
Ranch Manager	Responsible for overseeing livestock, crop or dairy operations, implementing land and wildlife management techniques, managing hunting programs, and coordinating ranch personnel on designated properties.
Environmental Lobbyist	Work to persuade politicians to pass laws, policies, and regulations for a cleaner environment. They accomplish this by developing campaigns, advocating, fundraising, and creating advertising campaigns aimed to make a difference on political and environmental issues. Their job involves many meetings and coordination with legislators, representing their organization at media events as well preparing press releases and information literature.
Environmental Policy Analyst	Objectively research and analyze the potential impacts that policies and laws have on the environment, public health, and the economy to make recommendations to governmental officials and organizations on how to improve policy effectiveness or implementation. Analysts  may also be involved in designing new policy.
Extension Agent or Specialist	Develop and deliver science-based educational resources and programming related to the management and conservation of natural resources. Extension agents and specialists are affiliated with land-grant universities and provide critical information and education to communities, producers, and landowners.
Outdoor Educator or Interpreter	Responsible for educating the public about environmental science and issues, ecology, and wildlife. They often work with school-aged children, engaging with them daily with lesson plans, and environmental focused activities, and may handle ambassador animals.
Natural Resource Communicator	Plans and creates content to deliver information related to natural resources, research, land management, current environmental issues or trends to advance public knowledge and understanding. Communicators utilize a variety of mediums including, digital, print, video, and podcast and work across an array of industries, public agencies, and non-profits.