Wildlife Ecology

The Wildlife Ecology Department offers an education with an emphasis on basic sciences and principles of wildlife ecology and resource management, with the goal for students to develop responsible citizenship and a sound training as a professional wildlife biologist. Students are exposed to wildlife issues in a diversity of ecological systems on lands in national parks, wildlife refuges, state management areas, and privately owned land. Maine offers diverse opportunities to study wildlife in a variety of natural environments ranging from the coast with its sea birds, marine mammals and eagles, to the more mountainous northern boreal forest occupied by moose, loons, red-backed salamanders and marten.

A very active Wildlife Ecology graduate program, offering both M. S. and Ph.D. degrees, enables undergraduates to interact with graduate students researching questions in Wildlife Ecology. Students have the opportunity to work with the Biological Resources Division, USGS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through the Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

The curriculum in Wildlife Ecology is designed to train the student to adapt to the changing requirements of the Wildlife profession. In addition to meeting the certification requirements of The Wildlife Society, the curriculum offers a solid base of arts, humanities, and social sciences. In addition, students can also meet the education requirements for federal and state positions in wildlife.

Requirements for Admission to Wildlife Ecology Program:
In addition to the general requirements of the University and those of the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, admission to the BS in Wildlife Ecology from high school requires 4 units of English, 3 units of math (including math in the senior year), and at least 2 units of lab science. In addition, the student must be in the top 25% of their high school class or have SAT verbal + math scores = 1100+. For transfer students, a 2.5 GPA and completion of English Composition, Biology of Organisms, and Pre-calculus are required for admission.

Requirements for BS in Wildlife Ecology
125 credits including:

1. Satisfy general education requirements.
2. Complete all courses listed in the suggested curriculum.
3. One additional field course.
4. One additional communication course (not CMJ 102).
5. Fifteen credits in a concentration or minor with courses to be selected in consultation with your advisor. Available concentrations are:
   Animal Science
   Communication
   Conservation Biology
   Education
   Fisheries
   Forestry
   International Conservation
   Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science
   Pre-Veterinary
   Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis
   Resource Management
   Science
6. Field experience in the profession, either through a paid or volunteer position.
7. Complete 125 credits.