Wildlife Biology
Learn in the classroom, the lab, and the field. A Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology prepares you to protect, manage, preserve, and improve the environments animals, plants, and aquatic species call home.
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As a wildlife biology major, you’ll study subjects like forest ecology, animal-plant interactions, herpetology, mammalogy, biology of fishes, conservation biology, animal behavior, and wildlife ecology and management.
- More than 100 hours in the field as part of your coursework
- Expert training in electrofishing, orienteering, tagging and tracking animals, and other techniques employers require
- Great preparation for graduate school or a career as a veterinarian
Field Partnerships
Benefit from collaborations with partners across Michigan, including the University of Michigan Biological Station, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Flint River Watershed Coalition.
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Why earn this degree here?
100+ Hours in the Field
Get hands-on training in electrofishing, orienteering, tagging and tracking animals, and other techniques employers require, right in the field.
Clubs & Community
Meet and work with students who share your interests in the Wildlife Biology and Pre-Veterinary clubs.
Undergraduate Research
Conduct state-of-the-art research alongside expert faculty through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program.
Free Tuition with the Go Blue Guarantee!
UM-Flint students are automatically considered, upon admission, for the Go Blue Guarantee, a historic program offering free tuition for high-achieving, in-state undergraduates from lower-income households. Learn more about the Go Blue Guarantee to see if you qualify and how affordable a Michigan degree can be.
Curriculum Overview
All students in the Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology curriculum fulfill general education requirements and take eight core wildlife biology courses, four non-biological natural sciences courses, and single courses in physics and math. Then they follow one of three concentrations based on career interest:
General Wildlife Biology
Prepares students for entry-level jobs or graduate training.
Associate Wildlife Biologist
Meets the educational requirements for certification as an Associate Wildlife Biologist by The Wildlife Society.
Pre-Veterinary
For students who plan to attend veterinary school.
Students who wish to continue their studies can pursue UM-Flint’s Master of Science in Biology.
Career Outlook
Many career paths are available to wildlife biology graduates. Consider these examples from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
2%Â
Job growth through 2030 slightly below average
1,700
Job openings annually through 2030
$64,650
Median annual salary
Environmental Scientists and Specialists
8%
Job growth through 2030
$80,060
Median annual salary
Veterinarians
17%
Job growth through 2030
4,400
Job openings annually through 2030
$100,370
Median annual salary
Scholarships for Wildlife Biology Majors
In addition to being eligible for financial assistance through the Office of Financial Aid, you can apply for UM-Flint scholarships specifically for biology students, including:
- Fleming A. and Marian E. Barbour Scholarship Fund
- Emmalyn Ellis Freeman Master of Science in Biology Scholarship
- Zelpha E. McKinnon Science Scholarship
- Gary Pace Biology/Ecology Field Study Scholarship
- John Terrill and Lora Dorland Biological Sciences Scholarship Fund
Admission Requirements
Wildlife biology majors follow UM-Flint’s standard first-year or transfer admission requirements — there are no additional program-specific requirements to declare this major.
To help ensure your success at UM-Flint, it’s important to develop a strong relationship with your academic advisor, who can explain program requirements, help you select courses, and discuss post-graduation options. If you’re considering majoring in wildlife biology, consult the program’s academic advisor before registering for your first-semester classes.
Academic Advisor
