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.

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).

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

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.

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.