Wildlife conservation major

This program will equip you to protect and properly conserve wildlife in an increasingly human-dominated world.

Program highlights

• Develop expertise in using wildlife management tools including population viability analysis and habitat assessment and analysis.

• Gain experience using state-of-the-art wildlife sampling and monitoring technologies, GIS/GPS technologies, statistical analysis and others.

• Become an environmental professional in wildlife conservation and in one of the fastest growing sectors in Canada.

Protecting and conserving wildlife

Wildlife conservation involves understanding the science of animals, plants and ecosystems, as well as developing and implementing management strategies to protect both endangered and common species in an increasingly human-dominated world. The ultimate goal is to ensure viable populations of all species over the long term.

To meet this wildlife conservation goal, we require fundamental knowledge of wildlife and human systems, and an in-depth understanding of the sensitivity and dependency of one on the other. In addition, we require an ability to analyze the risks and impacts of human activities on wildlife, as well as develop and implement strategies that meet our often competing and often-conflicting objectives.

Our Wildlife Conservation major will help you understand wildlife and human systems (along with their interactions) through courses in conservation biology, wildlife management, evolutionary genetics, zoology, social ecology and social ethics. You will take specialized wildlife courses in mammalogy, ornithology, fish ecology, animal behaviour and others.

This major will also prepare you to understand risks to wildlife and their habitat by equipping you with wildlife management tools including population viability analysis and habitat assessment and analysis. These tools are supported with wildlife sampling and monitoring technologies, GIS/GPS technologies, statistical analysis and others to ensure you have the expertise to excel in your career as an environmental professional in wildlife conservation.

As with all majors of the BScEM degree program, you will integrate your knowledge with critical thinking and structured problem solving to help you design management plans that meet social, environmental and economic objectives. You will learn both indoors and outdoors in our classrooms and laboratories.

A career in the making

You will also undertake projects involving research, planning, and implementation for real-world clients such as municipalities, federal agencies like Parks Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, provincial government agencies like the Department of Environment and Local Government and Natural Resources and Energy Development, environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs), and Indigenous communities.

You will then become eligible to officially acquire an Environmental Professional in Training (EPt) designation through ECO Canada. This will allow you to be recognized and employed by organizations in the environment and natural resource sector across Canada.

Wildlife Conservation students follow a course map, which defines the course requirements taken in each year.

You can also transfer into the BScEM program from another college or university.