Wildlife and Environmental Biology Major

Learning Format

On-Campus

Types

Bachelor's
Wildlife and Environmental Biology Major

Contribute to the Health of our Natural World

Do you love to work outdoors, watch birds, identify trees, study insects or monitor plant populations? If so, Wildlife and Environmental Biology could be the right major for you! Wildlife conservation is the preservation and protection of animals, plants, and their habitats. By conserving wildlife, we're ensuring the long-term sustainability of ecosystems so that future generations can enjoy our natural world and its species. 

Through our program, you will gain knowledge of the conservation and management of wildlife and habitats through studying biology, chemistry, ecology, plant taxonomy, wildlife biology, sustainability, and more. You’ll work closely with passionate faculty to do related field work on projects such as bird banding or the biology of bees.  

You may participate in on-campus research or off-campus internships, joining previous students who have completed field internships with state and federal agencies, at zoos, and with non-profit organizations, among others. FSU offers many related clubs and activities including Wildlife Club, campus sustainability efforts, community garden, owl banding, and more. 

Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for seasonal field jobs, graduate programs, federal jobs with organizations such as US Fish & Wildlife Services and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, state jobs with organizations such as the Department of Conservation and Recreation, town jobs such as Conservation Commission Agent, Problem Animal Control Officer, and Tree Warden, or jobs with non-profits including land trusts and conservation organizations. 

Bird Watcher

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Undergraduate degree in Wildlife and Environmental Biology program, students will have acquired the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to manage wildlifeservices, resulting in their abilities to:

  • Explain how the basic principles of the biological hierarchy (molecular, cellular, organismal, population, communal, ecological, and global) are interconnected.

  • Differentiate diverse organismal characteristics by their causal evolutionary mechanism.

  • Investigate a hypothesis relevant to their major by using the scientific process.

  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate biological information and deliver it in a form appropriate for the target audience.

  • Use a biological perspective as a foundation for civic engagement in discussion of contemporary policy, including anti-racism, public health, and climate change. 

Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Students in this major take courses in animal and plant systems, ecology, wildlife biology, and communication. Graduates of this program are prepared for graduate studies or careers as wildlife biologists, wildlife managers, conservation biologists, environmental consultants, park rangers and zookeepers. Upon graduation students will have completed the majority of the curriculum requirements for certification as a Wildlife Biologist by the Wildlife Society. Students interested in learning more about this certification should meet with their advisor prior to choosing electives. 

Major Requirements

  • BIOL 125 The Biology Experience
  • BIOL 135/135L Foundations of Biological Science with Lab
  • BIOL 208/208L Genetics with Lab
  • BIOL 230 Professional Communication in Biology
  • BIOL 402 Processes of Organic Evolution
  • CHEM 107/107L Principles of Chemistry with Lab
  • CHEM 108/108L Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis with Lab
  • MATH 123 Introduction to Functions or
  • MATH 180 Precalculus or
  • MATH 219 Calculus I
  • STAT 203 Statistics for the Natural Sciences or
  • ENVS 202 Data Analysis for Scientists or 
  • STAA 127 Statistics for the Social Sciences

Biology Major Capstone:

BIOL 460 Research Experience in Biology**

**An original research project is required of all Biology majors. Prior to enrollment in BIOL 460 Research Experience in Biology, the student should meet with their academic advisor and with other Biology faculty to tailor the research project to the student’s interests and career goals. 

Students must take an additional ten (10) concentration requirements:

  • BIOL 251/251L Vascular Plant Taxonomy with Lab
  • BIOL 248/248L Principles of Ecology with Lab     
  • BIOL 335/335L Principles of Wildlife Biology with Lab
  • GEOG 216 Geographic Information Systems

      One (1) course from Cell and Molecular Systems:

  • BIOL 228/228L Microbiology with Lab
  • BIOL 260/260L Cellular Biology with Lab
  • BIOL 262/262L Molecular Biology with Lab
  • BIOL 432 Vertebrate Development

      Two (2) courses from Organismal and Physiological Systems

  • BIOL 212/212L Wildlife Specimen Preparation Techniques
  • BIOL 232/232L Invertebrate Zoology with Lab
  • BIOL 235/235L Principles of Human Physiology with Lab
  • BIOL 236/236L Ornithology with Lab
  • BIOL 241/241L Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
  • BIOL 242/242L Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
  • BIOL 255/255L Plant Physiology with Lab
  • BIOL 323 Biology and Conservation of Crocodiles
  • NEUR 225 Biopsychology
  • NEUR 306 Neurophysiology

      Two (2) courses from Ecological Systems:

  • BIOL 203 Plants and Society
  • BIOL 233/233L Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy with Lab
  • BIOL 320/320L Animal Behavior with Lab
  • BIOL 321/321L Limnology with Lab
  • BIOL 344/344L Animal Physiological Ecology with Lab
  • BIOL 381 Theories of Infectious Diseases
  • BIOL 393 Wildlife Management and Conservation Topics

      One (1) course from the following list of Restricted Electives:

  • CSCI 156 Python Programming for Applications
  • ENVS 333 Digital Field Methods: Drones, Data, & Artificial Intelligence 
  • GEOG 240 Municipal Land Use
  • GEOG 316 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
  • GEOG 375 Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

Career Opportunities

Wildlife and Environmental Biology majors will be prepared to pursue career opportunities across a wide range of exciting fields, including:

Student wearing headlamp holding an owl

Wildlife Rehabilitator

Provide healthcare and rehabilitation to wild animals that are sick or injured. 

Wildlife Biologist

Study wild animals and how they interact with their environments.

Ecologist

Investigate how organisms interact with each other and their environments.

Environmental Consultant

Offer advice to clients in managing environmental issues and reduce their overall carbon footprint.

Meet Your Faculty

Amanda Simons

Amanda Simons, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, Biology Department
(508) 626-4681
asimons@framingham.edu
Hemenway 608
Brandi Van Roo

Brandi Van Roo, Ph.D.

Professor, Biology Department
(508) 626-4799
bvanroo@framingham.edu
Hemenway
Photo of Stephen Dinkelacker

Stephen Dinkelacker, Ph.D.

Professor, Biology Department
(508) 626-4723
sdinkelacker@framingham.edu
Hemenway 416C
Jeffrey White

Jeffrey D. White, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biology Department
508-215-5721
jwhite10@framingham.edu
Hemenway Annex
View All

Learn More

If the Wildlife and Environmental Biology major sounds like a good fit but you would like to learn more, contact Admissions at admissions [at] framingham.edu (admissions[at]framingham[dot]edu) or 508-626-4500. 

 Apply 

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