Learn in the Classroom, Lab and the Field
Animals, plants, and aquatic species need people who will protect, manage, preserve, and improve their environments, and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology degree from the University of Michigan-Flint will prepare you to do all that and more.
As a wildlife biology major, you’ll be able to study subjects like forest ecology, animal-plant interactions, herpetology, mammalogy, biology of fishes, conservation biology, animal behavior, and wildlife ecology and management, among others.
You’ll spend more than 100 hours in the field as part of your coursework. You’ll get expert training in skills such as electrofishing, orienteering, tagging and tracking animals, assessing animals directly and indirectly, and other techniques that employers require.
You can participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. It allows students at any level of education to conduct state-of-the-art research alongside our expert faculty.
Throughout the program, you’ll benefit from our collaborations with numerous partners across Michigan, including the University of Michigan Biological Station, the Department of Natural Resources, the Flint River Watershed Coalition, and more.
In our Wildlife Biology and Pre-Veterinary clubs, you’ll also have the chance to meet and work with UM-Flint students with similar interests and aspirations.
When you graduate, you’ll be prepared to continue your education in graduate school or pursue careers in fields such as natural resource management and protection, wildlife conservation, sustainability, environmental education, and more. A wildlife biology degree is also great preparation for becoming a veterinarian.
How the Wildlife Biology Program Works
All students in the Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology program fulfill general education requirements and take eight core wildlife biology courses, four non-biological natural sciences courses, and single courses in physics and math. They also follow one of three concentrations based on their career interest:
- General Wildlife Biology: Prepares students for entry-level jobs or graduate training.
- Associate Wildlife Biologist: This concentration is similar to the previous one, but students meet the educational requirements for certification as an Associate Wildlife Biologist by The Wildlife Society.
- Pre-Veterinary: For students who plan to go on to veterinary school.
Wildlife Biology Programs Curriculum at UM-Flint
Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology program curriculum is a continuously expanding field, in which individuals will have the opportunity to study the dynamics of animal and plant communities of terrestrial and aquatic environments. The program provides students with a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare them for a career in this exciting area of biology. Students in this program will be exposed to wildlife management methods, field techniques and theoretical studies of wildlife species, populations and communities.
Students who wish to continue their studies can pursue UM-Flint’s Master of Science in Biology.
Scholarships for Wildlife Biology Majors
In addition to being eligible for financial assistance through our Office of Financial Aid, you can apply for UM-Flint scholarships specifically for biology students. They include:
- 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
Academic Advising for Wildlife Biology Majors
To help ensure your success at UM-Flint, it’s important for you to develop a strong relationship with our academic advisors. They can explain program requirements, help you select courses, discuss post-graduation options, and more. The dedicated academic advisor for the Wildlife Biology program is Laura Wilson. You can contact them at lalouise@umich.edu or schedule an appointment.
If you’re considering majoring in wildlife biology, consult the program’s academic advisor before registering for your first-semester classes.
Career Paths with a Wildlife Biology Degree
Many career paths are available to wildlife biology graduates. Consider these examples:
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists: Job growth for these professions through 2030 is expected to lag slightly behind the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nonetheless, the BLS projects about 1,700 job openings annually through the end of the decade. The latest median salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists is $64,650 annually.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists: Professionals in this field use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. Jobs for environmental scientists and specialists are expected to grow eight percent through 2030, which is about the average for all occupations, the BLS says. The most recent median salary is $76,530.
Veterinarians: Demand for veterinarians is expected to stay strong through 2030, with jobs growing by 17 percent, according to the BLS. That’s twice the average for all occupations. The agency expects about 4,400 job openings for vets each year through the end of the decade. The latest median salary is $100,370 per year.
More information about careers for wildlife biologists is available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Start Your Wildlife Biology Journey at UM-Flint
If you want a career where you protect, manage, preserve, and improve the environments that animals, plants, and aquatic species call home, apply to the University of Michigan-Flint’s Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology program today. If you have questions, contact the program’s dedicated academic advisor, Laura Wilson. You can contact them at lalouise@umich.edu or schedule an appointment.