Major in Wildlife Conservation and Management at Missouri State University
Career Preparation
A degree in Wildlife Conservation will help prepare students for
careers in this competitive but rewarding field. Wildlife Conservation
graduates are employed by conservation and natural resource
departments, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land
Management, the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park
Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service and zoos.
Many students choose to pursue graduate degrees to enhance their
opportunities in this field.
Academic Program
All students at Missouri State must complete 44 to 49 hours of
general education courses. In addition, Wildlife Conservation
majors take 25 to 27 hours of agriculture, 25 hours of biology, 14
to 17 hours of other sciences (chemistry, geology and geography)
and math. This leads to a Bachelor of Science degree offered
cooperatively by the Department of Agriculture and the Department
of Biology. Because this is a comprehensive major, no minor is
required.
High school students interested in majoring in Wildlife Conservation
should start their preparation early. Studies in biology, chemistry and
math are especially recommended, as well as courses in communication
(English and speech).
Courses
Wildlife Conservation majors take most of the following agriculture
and biology courses. Please consult the Missouri State Catalog online
at www.missouristate.edu/catalog for specific course information.
Soils and Crop Science
Forestry
Agricultural Economics
Soils
Residential Landscape Design
Game Bird Production
Grain Crops
Forage Crops
Entomology
Diseases of Economic Plants
Weed Control
Biology
Ornithology
Plant Taxonomy
Identifications of Woody Plants
General Ecology
Principles of Wildlife Management
Limnology
Fisheries Management
Ichthyology
Mammalogy
Faculty
The agriculture courses offered to Wildlife Conservation majors are
taught by seven full-time faculty members. Many of the courses are
rather small, allowing for considerable interaction between faculty
and students. Up to eight faculty members teach the required
biology courses.
Special Opportunities & Services
As a part of the required agriculture and biology courses, Wildlife
Conservation majors are exposed to a variety of laboratory and field
trip experiences. The Wildlife Conservation Club allows majors to
interact professionally and socially.
Many Wildlife Conservation majors complete work internships
between their sophomore and junior years and/or between their junior
and senior years. Internships provide opportunities for students with
wildlife conservation organizations all over the United States.
Numerous scholarships are available to wildlife conservation
students. These include Ag Alumni, Garden Club and other
departmental scholarships.
Tags: agriculture courses, bachelor of science degree, biology chemistry, biology courses, bureau of land management, department of biology, economic plants, fish and wildlife service, forage crops, grain crops, principles of wildlife management, residential landscape design, resource conservation service, speech courses, time faculty members, woody plants