Wildlife Conservation major

The program choice that equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to protect and properly conserve wildlife in an increasingly human-dominated world.

Major highlights

• Develop an expertise in using wildlife management tools including population viability analysis and habitat assessment and analysis.
• Gain experience using state-of-the-art wildlife sampling and monitoring technologies, GIS/GPS technologies, statistical analysis and others. 
• Become an environmental professional in wildlife conservation and be prepared for a career in one of the fastest growing sectors in Canada. 

Our program

Wildlife conservation involves understanding the science of animals, plants, and ecosystems, as well as developing and implementing management strategies to protect both endangered and common species in an increasingly human-dominated world. The ultimate goal is to ensure viable populations of all species over the long term.

To meet this wildlife conservation goal, we require fundamental knowledge of wildlife and human systems, as well as an in-depth understanding of the sensitivity and dependency of one on the other. In addition, we require an ability to analyze the risks and impacts of human activities on wildlife, as well as develop and implement strategies that meet our often competing and often-conflicting objectives.

Our Wildlife Conservation major will help you understand wildlife and human systems (along with their interactions) through courses in conservation biology, wildlife management, evolutionary genetics, zoology, social ecology and social ethics. You will take specialized wildlife courses in mammalogy, ornithology, fish ecology, animal behavior and others. This major will also prepare you to understand risks to wildlife and their habitat by equipping you with wildlife management tools including population viability analysis and habitat assessment and analysis. These tools are supported with wildlife sampling and monitoring technologies, GIS/GPS technologies, statistical analysis and others to ensure you have the expertise to excel in your career as an environmental professional in wildlife conservation.

Students in this major can become certified as a wildlife biologist by selecting an appropriate grouping of courses in consultation with the program coordinator.

As with all majors of the BScENR degree program, you will integrate your knowledge with critical thinking and structured problem solving to help you design management plans that meet social, environmental and economic objectives. You will learn both indoors and outdoors in our classrooms and laboratories. You will also undertake projects involving research, planning, and implementation for real-world clients such as the cities of Fredericton and Saint John, Parks Canada, Nature Trust NB and others. Furthermore, you will become eligible to officially acquire an Environmental Professional in Training (EPt) designation through ECO Canada. This will allow you to be recognized and employed by organizations in the environment and natural resource sector across Canada.

BScF students follow a course map, which defines the course requirements taken in each year.

Students interested in transferring into the BScF program from other College or University programs should visit our transfer student web page 

Your career

This degree program prepares you for a broad range of careers in the environment and natural resource sectors including:

• Wildlife biologist
• Protected natural areas manager
• Environmental consultant
• Biodiversity conservation officer
• Wildlife and environmental researcher