Undergraduate Degrees

The Bachelor of Science in Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management (RWFM) degree equips students with the skill sets, educational background and ethical standards needed to obtain career building certifications required in our natural resource professions. This program provides the sound foundation that prepares students to continue their education into graduate and other professional programs or pursue a wide range of careers in 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 four unique specialization tracks to further tailor a student’s degree to best meet post-graduation needs.

  

B.S. Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management

• Rangeland Management Track
• Wildlife Management Track
• Aquaculture and Fisheries Management Track
• Natural Resources Management and Policy

Dr. Red Duke Wildlife and Conservation Policy Program

A five-year joint-degree program with The Bush School of Government and Public Service to earn both B.S. Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management and Master of Public Service degrees.

Career Options

We facilitate the journey from student to professional, offering experiences and opportunities that will best prepare students for diverse careers in public or private sectors, serving in a variety of capacities. Here we describe common career paths taken by our graduates.

Job Title	Description	Average Salary
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.	$50,000
Wildlife or Fisheries 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.	$50,000
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.	$77,000
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.	$125,000
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.	$58,000
Outdoor Educator	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.	$42,000