MS in Wildlife Ecology and Managmenet

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Discover a Career Focused on Wildlife With Your Online Degree

Our online Wildlife Ecology and Management program is your stepping stone to a rewarding career that balances your love for nature with practical skills.

You will gain a comprehensive understanding of essential topics such as biodiversity conservation, ecosystem health, and human-wildlife coexistence. Unity is a leader in sustainable degrees and graduates of this program are well-equipped for diverse career paths, including roles as wildlife biologists, conservation scientists, and environmental consultants.

Our wildlife ecology and management curriculum emphasizes cutting-edge research methodologies and analytical skills, preparing you for impactful positions in government agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions.

CAREER OUTLOOK

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

19 K

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists jobs in the U.S., 2022.

$ 71 K

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists average pay, 2022.

+ 3 %

Estimated U.S. job growth for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists through 2032.

*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.

In the MS in Wildlife Ecology and Management Program You’ll Learn To:

Evaluate the foundational ideas and key assumptions in effective wildlife management practices
Understand the complex factors that influence wildlife communities and their ecosystems
Apply transdisciplinary approaches to tackle wildlife management challenges and assess potential solutions
Employ analytical tools to address various topics in wildlife ecology and management
Enhance decision-making abilities to address complex socio-ecological issues within wildlife management contexts

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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, including community and population ecology, habitat management, and human dimensions. Topics include game and non-game management, species recovery, and nuisance wildlife, focusing on current issues faced by wildlife managers.

Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management

This course considers the human dimensions aspects of wildlife management. Topics include approaches to involvement of interested parties in management, conflict resolution, and decision-making approaches through case studies and human-dimensions research. You will learn principles that are needed to find science-based and socially acceptable solutions to wildlife management problems.

Wildlife Research Techniques

This course teaches essential wildlife research techniques, including field and lab methods. You will focus on data collection, analysis, and interpretation, preparing for research-based careers and further academic pursuits in wildlife ecology and management.

FAQ

Learn More About Degrees and Careers 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.

Earning an MPS in Wildlife Ecology and Management is vital for maintaining the balance of our natural world. By studying and protecting wildlife, you contribute to ecosystem stability, climate change mitigation, and food security. This field also emphasizes the ethical responsibility to preserve wildlife for future generations and the intrinsic value of all living beings.

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.

The program emphasizes mastering research fundamentals, methodologies, and design to prepare graduates for research-based jobs and further graduate education. Graduates are prepared to take on research and leadership roles in state and federal government agencies, conservation organizations, and academic institutes to sustainably manage wildlife and their habitats, both locally and globally.

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 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.

Master’s in Wildlife Ecology and Management Academic Information

Degree Requirements and Courses Needed

The wildlife ecology and management degree requires 30 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA. View our full course catalog for a better look into your program. Then apply online for free to get started.

Realizing Your Potential. Protecting Your Planet.

Why Unity Distance Education?

High Educational Value

Nationally recognized educational quality at an affordable price.

Sustainability Core

Committed to sustainable practices to prepare for a future of environmental awareness.

Personalized Guidance

Dedicated to turning career and academic aspirations into tangible achievements.

Accelerated Path

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

Inspiring Faculty

Connect with experts who share your passion for working in the industry.

Future Success

Ranked #1 independent university in the U.S. by the Social Mobility Index.

Multiple Start Dates

With up to 5 terms a year, you can take a break without jeopardizing financial aid.

Learning Flexibility

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

Real Students, Real Impact

Real Students, Real Impact

“There are a lot of special things about Unity…”

Cody T.
Master of Professional Science in Wildlife Ecology & Management

Read Cody’s Story

Cody T.
Master of Professional Science in Wildlife Ecology & Management

“There are a lot of special things about Unity. One of my favorite aspects that has made my experience through Unity great is that even though I am in online classes with peers from all over the nation, I still feel a strong sense of unity (no pun intended) as we are all furthering our education to protect and preserve the natural resources we all enjoy.”

Protecting Wildlife and Chasing Dreams

The breathtaking skies above Alaska are amazing for birdwatching enthusiasts, however, those birds flying around the state’s largest city are often threatened by a man-made technology that shares the skies.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, collisions between wildlife and aircraft result in over $900 million of damage to civil and military aircraft annually. That’s where Cody Thompson comes in. Cody is a Unity – Distance Education master’s student studying Wildlife Conservation and Ecology. Currently a member of the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) program at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, his role is key in keeping traveling passengers and local wildlife free from harm.

Before his time in Alaska, Cody received his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife, Fisheries & Range Management. That degree not only led him to relocate with his family from their home in Idaho to “The Last Frontier”, but also sparked his interest in continuing his education. “I absolutely love to learn about different species, as well as fish and hunt and this area of study allows me to be close to the wildlife that I love all while helping them and people,” says Cody.

His family, along with a desire to reach a long-term career goal keeps Cody motivated. “When life gets difficult, one of the things that inspires me to further my education is the goal I set of becoming a wildlife biologist.” Those dreams brought him to Unity Environmental University’s – Distance Education. The flexible and affordable programs at Unity were vital for Cody’s needs. His classes were able to continue even while he worked full-time and explored the wilds of Alaska with his wife and son.

Though Cody’s journey to becoming a wildlife biologist continues, his time spent at Unity has left him with a greater understanding of not only himself but his classmates and the world at large. “…one of my favorite aspects that has made my experience through Unity great is that even though I am in online classes with peers from all over the nation, I still feel a strong sense of unity (no pun intended) as we are all furthering our education to protect and preserve the natural resources we all enjoy.”

Does Cody’s story inspire you to pursue your dreams? Apply Now

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.