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Background: 
       Students with four-year degrees in Wildlife and Conservation Science from accredited universities qualify for a broad variety of careers related to wildlife and resource conservation.  Potential employers include the state governments, the federal government, and the private sector. 

     The program at Texas A&M University - Commerce follows the guidelines of the Wildlife Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, both of whose sets of standards are internationally recognized.  As a result, graduates of the proposed programs should meet minimum qualifications for positions at an international level (provided they also meet any immigration and citizenship requirements that might be mandated).  Graduates should qualify for state or federal positions anywhere in the U.S. or its protectorates. In the U.S., Federal agencies include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency. In the state of Texas, graduates can be employed with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Commision on Environmental Quality, and the Texas General Land Office. 

     Another growing job market is within the private sector.  Here, graduates with degrees in Wildlife and Conservation Science might find careers among international, national, and regional wildlife, conservation, and ecotourism organizations; examples would include The World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, the American Land Conservancy, the National Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, The National Wildlife Federation, and a plethora of others. 

      Furthermore, students with degrees in Wildlife and Conservation Science would be qualified to work as managers at private game farms and ranches or to work as guides and managers in the bourgeoning ecotourism industry. 

    With current trends toward greater environmental and ecological consciousness in the public sector and greater commitment toward conservation within the political sector, it is not surprising that individuals with degrees in Wildlife and Conservation Science enter a large and growing job market.  According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management  (www.opm.gov), the Federal Government employs 58,779 individuals in the Biological and Agricultural Sciences (based on May 1999 figures).  Of these, graduates with degrees in Wildlife and Conservation Science would qualify to fill about 21,000 (36%) of these positions. 

     In the State of Texas, about 1250 people were employed as Foresters and Conservation Scientists in 1996 (data from the Texas Workforce Commission – www.twc.state.tx.us).  In Texas, these employment figures are expected to increase by 12% annually. 

 

Broadfield Major in Wildlife and Conservation Science
(Associate Wildlife Biologist Pre-Certification)
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Required courses in the major (58 semester hours) 
Ag 100, 300, 400, AEc 360, Ag/BSc 335, 336, 417 ANS 310, 319, PLS 309, 460, BSc 101(4), 102(4), 307(4), 337, 402, 404, 412, 436, ENVS 403 

Required support courses (15 semester hours) 
 Chem 111(4), 108(4), Eng 341, Psy 405(4)

SUGGESTED CURRICULUM OUTLINE (B.S.) 

Freshman                     Sophomore                         Junior                                     Senior

BSc 101(4), 102(4)         Ag/BSc 335, 336                ANS 319, 310                         ENVS 403
Math 141, 142              PLS 309                               AEC 360                                 BSc 436, 404, 417
Ag 100 (1sh)                BSc 307(4)                            BSc 337(4) , 402, 412             PLS 460
Eng 101, 102                US Soc/Behav Sci, 3 sh     Spc 111 or 245                      Ag 300, 400
Chem 111(4), 108(4)      US Vis/Perf Arts, 3 sh       US Humanities, 3 sh            US PE Activity, 2 sh
                                      PSci 220, 221                       Hist 121, 122                          Ag 405 or BSc 489
                                      Psy 302(4)                                                                                 internships, 6sh 
                                      Eng 341                                                                                3 sh advanced elective

29 sh                             32 sh                                     31 sh                                       28 sh

Total Semester Hours:  120

Note:  Program will also accept Chem 112 as substitute for Chem 108, BSc 204 as substitute for ANS310, BSc 305 as substitute for ANS 319. 

 The program offers a solid background in organismal biology and in ecology.  In addition, the program provides an excellent foundation for those students who wish to eventually become Game Wardens or enroll in graduate programs in Wildlife and Conservation Science. 

 
 

  Broadfield Major in Wildlife and Conservation Science
Texas A&M University - Commerce

Curriculum Features (Based onWildlife Society Requirements for Certification as Associate Wildlife Biologist): 

Biological Sciences (38h)
   a) Wildlife Management (6h) 
         i) Ag/BSc 335 Wildlife Management I 
         ii) Ag/BSc 336 Wildlife Management II 
   b) Wildlife Biology:  (6h) 
         i) BSc 402  Ornithology 
         ii) BSc 404  Vertebrate Biology 
   c) Ecology: (4h) 
         i) BSc 307  Ecology 
   d) Zoology: (10h) 
         i) BSc 102  General Zoology 
         ii) ANS 310  Genetics of Livestock Improvement 
         iii) ANS 319  Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals 
   e) Botany: (10h) 
         i) BSc 101  General Botany 
         ii) BSc 436  Plant Diversity and Conservation 
         iii) PLS 460 Plant Taxonomy 

Physical Sciences (11sh)
         i) Chem 111  General and Quantitative Chemistry 
         ii) Chem 108  Survey of Organic and Biochemistry 
         iii) PLS 309  Soil Science 

Quantitative Sciences (16h)
   a) Basic Statistics (4h) 
         i) Psy 302  Psychological Statistics 
   b) Quantitative Sciences and Methodolgy (15h) 
         i) Math 141  College Algebra 
         ii) Math 142 Pre-Calculus
         iii) BSc 412  Quantitative Biology
         iv) BSc 337  Field Methods in Wildlife and Conservation Science

Humanities and Social Sciences (12h)
         i) Hist 121  American Heritage 
         ii) Hist 122  American Heritage 
         iii) PSci 220  U.S. Government 
         iv) PSci 221  Texas, the Federal System, and the Nation 

Communications (12h)
         i) Eng 101  College Reading and Writing 
         ii) Eng 102  Written Argument and Research 
         iii) Spch 111  Fundamentals of Speech 
         iv) Eng 341  Technical Writing 

Policy, Administration, and Law (6 h)
         i) AEc 360  Agricultural Law 
         ii) ENVS 403 Environmental Ethics, Law, and Environmental Impact Statements 

Additional Wildlife and Conservation Courses: (not required for Associate Wildlife Biologist Certification) (3 h)
         i) Ag/BSc 417  Geospatial mapping (GIS/GPS)

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