What Courses Are in the Program?

Research Core: 15 creditsRSCH 510 Research FundamentalsMATH 510 Tools and Technologies for Data AnalysisMATH 525 Quantitative Research Design and StatisticsGISC 505 GIS & Remote Sensing for Environmental SolutionsRSCH 610 Research CommunicationMajor Program Core: 15 creditsSNRM 505 Human Dimensions of Wildlife ManagementSNRM 507 Wildlife Ecology and ManagementSNRM 510 Landscape EcologySNRM 515 Conservation EcologySNRM 650 Wildlife Research TechniquesFor course requirements and a better look into your program, view our full course catalog. Then apply online for free to get started.

What is the Difference Between an MPS and an MS?

The Master of Professional Science (MPS) is a graduate degree designed to combine scientific knowledge with practical skills relevant to the workforce. Unlike traditional science degrees, the MPS emphasizes hands-on experience and professional development, preparing students for careers that require both expertise in science and the ability to apply that knowledge in real-world contexts. MPS programs focus on a range of skills that are directly applicable to the workplace:Project Management: Students learn to plan, execute, and manage projects, often in scientific or environmental settings.Communication: Emphasis is placed on effectively communicating complex scientific ideas to diverse audiences, including policymakers, stakeholders, and the general public.Policy Analysis: Students gain the ability to understand and analyze policies related to their field, making them valuable assets in governmental and organizational decision-making processes.Technical Proficiency: Students develop a range of specialized skills and techniques relevant to their discipline, such as animal training, conservation advocacy, environmental monitoring, or other tools essential to their field.The MS degree is a traditional graduate program focused on deepening scientific understanding through research and academic study.

MS in Wildlife Ecology and Managmenet

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Protect Wildlife & Ecosystems

The Wildlife Ecology and Management degree offers skills-based learning in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem health, and research methodology, preparing students for careers as wildlife biologists, conservation scientists, and environmental consultants across government agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions.

Career Outlook: Wildlife Biologists in the U.S.

19.5 K

Number of jobs in 2025*

4 %

Est. job growth through 2035*

$ 77 K

Median annual salary in 2025*

*Source: ONet Online/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unity cannot guarantee employment. Salary data represents averaged earnings for occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience.

Career Outcomes

What Can I Do With a Master’s Degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management?

Senior Wildlife Biologist

Lead field research and data analysis for complex wildlife programs.

Wildlife Refuge / Reserve Manager

Direct conservation operations across protected natural areas.

Endangered Species Recovery Coordinator

Develop and implement recovery plans for at-risk species.

State or Federal Wildlife Agency Biologist

Conduct science-based work within government wildlife programs.

Conservation Land Manager

Steward private or public lands for long-term ecological health.

Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist

Resolve tensions between human communities and wildlife.

“Field research leaves me feeling inspired, excited about the future, and more connected to the beautiful planet we live on.”

Victoria M.
Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Management

Read Full Testimonial

Victoria M.
Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Management

A gap year gave Victoria space to pause. It also made one thing clear: she wasn’t done learning.

Based in Palm Coast, Victoria has always been grounded in a deep appreciation for the natural world. Her interest in conservation, education, and environmental science shaped her undergraduate journey, culminating in a Bachelor of Science in Coastal Environmental Science in December 2024. But finishing her degree didn’t feel like an endpoint. It felt like momentum.

After graduating, she stepped directly into the field, working full time in conservation education. Her days were spent connecting people to the environment, translating science into something tangible, meaningful, and relevant. It was rewarding work, and it reinforced that she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

Still, something was missing.

About halfway through her gap year, that feeling came into focus.

“I realized how much I missed learning,” Victoria says. “So I decided it was time to go back.”

Returning to school wasn’t a reaction. Victoria had always known that a graduate degree would be part of her path. The challenge was finding a program that aligned with her goals and her life.

She found that balance at Unity Environmental University.

As a full-time professional, flexibility wasn’t optional. Unity’s fully online MS in Wildlife Ecology and Management made it possible for her to continue working while advancing her education. But what stood out just as much was the level of support she experienced from the start.

“The application process was smooth, and everyone at Unity has been so helpful along the way,” she shares. “Even though you’re taking your classes online, you still feel connected to your classmates and instructors.”

That sense of connection, combined with a curriculum built around real-world application, made the transition back into academics feel natural.

When Victoria first reviewed the course list, she didn’t hesitate.

“I knew every class would help me get closer to where I want to be,” she says.

Her long-term goal is clear: a career in field research. Not just as a job, but as a way of engaging with the world.

For Victoria, research is driven by curiosity, persistence, and the understanding that discovery is never finished.

“Research is all about goals. And the best part is that when you finally reach one, there’s a hundred new ones waiting for you.”

It’s that mindset that shapes how she approaches both her work and her education. Field research, in particular, is where everything comes together- the questions, the challenges, and the moments of clarity that make the process worthwhile.

“There’s always new things to discover, new goals to reach, new roadblocks that you have to find your way around,” she explains. “Field research leaves me feeling inspired, excited about the future, and more connected to the beautiful planet we live on.”

Unity’s MS in Wildlife Ecology and Management is helping her build that future in real time. The program bridges the gap between theory and practice, supporting students who want to stay engaged in the field while developing advanced skills and knowledge.

For Victoria, it’s not about waiting for what comes next.

She’s already there. Working, learning, and moving forward at the same time.

The next step doesn’t have to mean starting over. Sometimes, it’s about continuing what you’ve already begun. Explore Unity’s flexible online graduate programs and see how far you can go.

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FAQ

Learn More About the Master’s in Wildlife Ecology and Management

Wildlife Ecology and Management is the science of understanding, managing, and preserving wildlife populations and their natural habitats. This field combines ecological principles with conservation strategies to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem health. As a wildlife conservationist, you study the complex interactions within ecosystems, focusing on how wildlife species interact with each other and their environment. You assess the impacts of human activities on these natural systems and develop plans to mitigate negative effects, ensuring sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife.

The MS in Wildlife Ecology and Management provides students with an advanced understanding of ecological concepts and essential research skills necessary for wildlife management. Students study the latest scientific advances in wildlife ecology, conservation biology, landscape ecology, and research methodologies. Through interactive coursework, students develop skills in spatial and quantitative analysis, experimental design, data interpretation, conflict-resolution and decision-making, communication, and how to effectively engage with diverse audiences interested in wildlife, ecology conservation, and management.

Your online education should be affordable and manageable. Thanks to our promise to keep tuition flat through 2030, you won’t be burdened with unexpected increases or fees.

Our team of distance education concierges will work with you through the admissions process to help you plan and pay for your degree. Learn more about the costs here.

The timeframe for completion is up to you! Enroll in 6 credits per term and complete the program within just one year. Alternatively, opt for part-time study by taking one course at a time. Whichever path you choose, we’re here to support your educational journey every step of the way. Contact your concierge or advisor to create your personalized plan.

Research Core: 15 credits

RSCH 510 Research Fundamentals
MATH 510 Tools and Technologies for Data Analysis
MATH 525 Quantitative Research Design and Statistics
GISC 505 GIS & Remote Sensing for Environmental Solutions
RSCH 610 Research Communication

Major Program Core: 15 credits

SNRM 505 Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management
SNRM 507 Wildlife Ecology and Management
SNRM 510 Landscape Ecology
SNRM 515 Conservation Ecology
SNRM 650 Wildlife Research Techniques

For course requirements and a better look into your program, view our full course catalog. Then apply online for free to get started.

The Master of Professional Science (MPS) is a graduate degree designed to combine scientific knowledge with practical skills relevant to the workforce. Unlike traditional science degrees, the MPS emphasizes hands-on experience and professional development, preparing students for careers that require both expertise in science and the ability to apply that knowledge in real-world contexts. MPS programs focus on a range of skills that are directly applicable to the workplace:

Project Management: Students learn to plan, execute, and manage projects, often in scientific or environmental settings.
Communication: Emphasis is placed on effectively communicating complex scientific ideas to diverse audiences, including policymakers, stakeholders, and the general public.
Policy Analysis: Students gain the ability to understand and analyze policies related to their field, making them valuable assets in governmental and organizational decision-making processes.
Technical Proficiency: Students develop a range of specialized skills and techniques relevant to their discipline, such as animal training, conservation advocacy, environmental monitoring, or other tools essential to their field.

The MS degree is a traditional graduate program focused on deepening scientific understanding through research and academic study.

WHAT YOU WILL STUDY

Wildlife Ecology and Management
Course Examples

Wildlife Ecology and Management

This course covers key ecological concepts and management principles for free-ranging animal populations—community and population ecology, habitat management, and human dimensions—focusing on current issues faced by wildlife managers.

Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management

This course examines the human dimensions of wildlife management—stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution, and decision-making—to develop science-based, socially acceptable solutions to wildlife management problems.

Wildlife Research Techniques

This course teaches essential wildlife research techniques—field and lab methods, data collection, analysis, and interpretation—preparing you for research-based careers and further study in wildlife ecology and management.

Learn from Leaders

Learn from Leaders

PhD and MS in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and BS in Fisheries and Wildlife

Dr. Brent Bibles
Global Expert in Ornithology, Land Management, and Wildlife

Learn More About Dr. Bibles

Dr. Brent Bibles
Global Expert in Ornithology, Land Management, and Wildlife

Dr. Brent Bibles is Professor of Wildlife Biology at Unity Environmental University. He received a Ph.D. and M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the University of Arizona and BS in Fisheries and Wildlife from Utah State. Brent has been involved in wildlife management since the 1980’s and is a well-respected expert in the field. Besides working in academia, he has worked for state wildlife and federal land management agencies. He is primarily an ornithologist but works with all taxa. He has worked with several threatened or endangered species, most recently the Mexican Spotted Owls and black-footed ferrets.

Dr. Bibles is an excellent teacher and works at delivering courses using question-driven instruction. His contribution to the Sustainable Natural Resource Management track of the MS in Professional Science is to add his management experience, quantitative abilities, and student-focused teaching style to the curriculum.

Learn from Leaders

Ph.D. in Natural Resource Sciences

Erim Gomez
Global Expert in Amphibian and Freshwater Ecology

More Info

Erim Gomez
Global Expert in Amphibian and Freshwater Ecology

Dr. Erim Gómez is a Distance Education faculty member at Unity Environmental University and comes to us with 21 years of conservation, environmental, and Wildlife biology experience. In addition to teaching at Unity, Gómez is a faculty member in one of the nation’s top Wildlife Biology programs. He holds a teaching appointment in the Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Science, in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana. He is a past award winner of the Bullitt Environmental Leadership Fellowship ($100,000) and now serves on the Board of the Bullitt Foundation. Gómez used the fellowship to conduct conservation research on Palouse Prairie amphibians in Eastern Washington. He has formerly served as Co-Director of Southern Oregon University’s Ecology Center of the Siskiyous (now the Environmental Resource Center). While at SOU, he co-led an effort to pass a green-tags initiative to offset the university’s carbon footprint. He served on the board of Oregon Stewardship and board of the Society of Northwestern Vertebrate Biology. Gómez holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from Southern Oregon University (2007) and Masters (2011) and Ph.D. in Natural Resource Sciences from Washington State University (2020). Gómez is a naturalist at heart and thus has eclectic research interests, including the conservation of endangered species, the ecology and sustainability of freshwater ecosystems, and amphibians and freshwater fish. He is willing to serve on graduate student committees with Unity students or others.

Gómez is a first-generation college graduate and proud of his parent’s farm working and immigrant roots. Gómez is devoted to encouraging students from under-represented groups to pursue higher education, particularly the sciences. In service of this goal, Gómez frequently gives presentations to students and their parents. He often enjoys giving these presentations in Spanish to connect with LatinX communities. He also offers educational workshops and mentors undergraduate LatinX student groups and students from the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. Gómez hopes to create applied ecological research while helping diversify the conservation and environmental field.

In his spare time he loves to hike beautiful western Montana, take photos of wildlife, float rivers and Latin dance.

Learn from Leaders

M.S. Degree in Forestry

Rebecca Means
Global Expert in Amphibians and Temporary Wetlands

More Info

Rebecca Means
Global Expert in Amphibians and Temporary Wetlands

Rebecca Means is an ecologist and science educator with a passion for backpacking, travel, and food. She has a B.S. degree in both Wildlife Ecology and Biology from Virginia Tech and an M.S. degree in Forestry from Texas A&M. As Director of the Coastal Plains Institute, Rebecca has worked with wildlife ranging from fire ants to the Florida panther but her expertise is with the amphibians that inhabit temporary wetlands. Her current focus is on involving the public in conservation and research efforts through citizen science training and research site field trips.

Why Unity Distance Education?

Learning Flexibility

Balance life, work, and education by studying when and where you want.

High Educational Value

Nationally recognized educational quality at an affordable price.

Multiple Start Dates

Up to 5 terms each year let you take breaks without affecting financial aid.

Real Career Outcomes

Ranked in the top 1% of universities nationwide by the Social Mobility Index.

Accelerated Path

Fast-track your Master’s degree and finish your program in as little as one year.

Personalized Guidance

Dedicated to turning career and academic aspirations into tangible achievements.

Inspiring Faculty

Connect with experts who’ve built real careers in the field.

Sustainability Core

Focused on sustainable practices for an environmentally aware future.

Wildlife Ecology and Management
Master of Science