Conservation Biology
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology: Conservation Biology preserve biodiversity on our planet.
Global declines in biodiversity and ecosystem health have created a demand for biologists who can solve complex ecological problems and apply integrated approaches to wildlife and habitat management. As a student in the conservation biology program at UMassD, you will gain the expertise needed to meet these societal challenges through a combination of broad-based coursework and innovative hands-on field and laboratory research experiences.
Our Conservation Biology faculty mentors are at the forefront of applying quantitative methods from fields such as applied ecology, animal behavior, microbiology, and evolutionary biology to solve complex real-world problems in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. In addition, many of our faculty engage in a wide variety of conservation-focused community outreach activities across New England aimed at educating the public about what they can to do to protect and restore threatened plants, animals and ecosystems. At the end of our program, you will have the training needed to be successful in graduate school and to gain employment with sectors of society seeking to manage, conserve and restore natural environments.
Course Requirements
- 2-year Biology Core
- BIO411 Conservation Biology
- BIO314 General Ecology OR BIO437 Evolutionary Biology
- BIO411 Conservation Genetics
- One course from the Organismal Biology Group
- One course from the Taxon-specific Group
- BIO 499 Capstone Seminar
- One additional 300+ Biology Elective
Career Opportunities
- Conservation Biologist
- Restoration Biologist
- Wildlife Biologist
- Range Managers
- Soil and Water Conservationist
- Technician
Sample Employers
- National and Private Parks (e.g., The National Parks Service)
- Government Agencies (Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, USGS, EPA)
- Bureau of Land Management
- Environmental Consulting Firms
- Universities
- Non-Profit Conservation Organizations