Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation

Study the biology and conservation of wild animal populations and their habitats, including birds, mammals, and other wildlife species in forests, wetlands, and grasslands, as well as marine and freshwater fishes. Learn modern methods to preserve biological diversity in the face of human-caused changes in the environment.

This major is also available as a minor.

Concentrations

There are two options in this major, one in Fisheries Conservation and one in Wildlife Conservation. Requirements for both options are similar through at least the first two years, but do differ in the junior and senior years to provide students with training specific to whichever of the two options they have identified as being of greatest interest.

	5 (+16)	There are 5 dedicated Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation faculty members. However, this major has a lot of overlap with other majors in the same department. The 16 other faculty members contribute significantly to students in this major.
	16	students in class of 2006
	#2	department ranking in a UMass 2004-2006 satisfaction survey of graduating seniors
	100%	of juniors surveyed in 2006 were very satisfied or satisfied with their major

Study Abroad - where students have studied

Bosvuana, Africa and Hawaii
Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences: Ecuador
School for Field Studies: British Columbia, Canada
Siena, Italy

Internships/Co-ops - where students have interned

Bayshore Discovery Project
Bioshelters Inc.
Center for Marine Science and Technology
Elephants Without Borders, Inc.
Kenya, School for Field Studies
MASSPIRG, Bayshore Discovery Project
Richard Cronin National Salmon Station
Student Conservation Association - Oregon
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Forest Service, South Dakota

	$ 24,757	Average salary 1 year after graduation for 2003-2005 grads.
	$ 33,124	Average salary 5 years after graduation for 1998-2000 grads.

Jobs held by recent grads (up to 5 years after graduation)

Assistant Camp Director, Massachusetts Audubon Society
Aviculture Intern, Mavi Bird Construction Center and International Crane Foundation
Environmental Associate, Alden Research Laboratory, Inc.
Hack Site Attendant, The Peregrine Fund
Project Manager, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services
Raptor Propagation Assistant, The Peregrine fund
Seasonal Fish and Wildlife Technician, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Wildlife Technician, Department of Defense
Windpower Asian Migration Field Technician, Woodlot Alternatives

Advanced degrees graduates have pursued

Masters of Wildlife Biology, Cornell University
Masters of Fisheries Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Description of the Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation major in the UMass Amherst guide to undergraduate programs

Department website for the Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation major

Explore NRE majors based on your interests