University of Wyoming Zoology Department

Information for students interested in a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management (WFBM) at the University of Wyoming:

WFBM is a professional degree designed to provide interested students with the knowledge-base and skills required in the field. Wildlife and Fisheries positions are varied and include reviewing proposals for resource extraction (oil, gas, timber, etc.), writing of environmental impact statements, monitoring the status of wildlife and fisheries populations, protection of endangered species, producing animals for stocking or re-introductions (e.g. in hatcheries, or captive breeding programs). Employers can be federal agencies (such as the Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, U. S. Forest Service), state agencies (such as the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Colorado Division of Wildlife Conservation), academic institutions, or non-governmental organizations (such as the Audubon Society, Sierra Club, New York Zoological Society, World Wildlife Fund).

Examples of positions can be found at:

http://tamusystem.tamu.edu/jobs/

http://www.wildlife.org/jobs/

http://www.fisheries.org/jobs/

What is a professional degree?

Professional degrees differ from regular academic degrees in that they provide the students with the skills required to accomplish professional activities in addition to the theoretical background of the profession. For example, a student pursuing an academic degree may learn the ecological principles operating behind the fluctuations of wildlife populations, whereas a student pursuing a professional degree will learn how to capture animals, how to estimate the number of animals, how to determine the causes of animal mortality, and how to calculate population projections into the future. Therefore, a professional degree is usually characterized by more course requirements than a regular academic degree, and also will include an internship requirement.

How are the professional requirements established?

Because the Wildlife and Fisheries professions are broad and varied, it is important to provide students interested in a professional degree with a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills. The professional societies “The American Fisheries Society” (http://www.fisheries.org) and “The Wildlife Society” (http://joomla.wildlife.org) have established the minimum educational requirements for Wildlife and Fisheries biologists, known as the “certification criteria”.

What is certification and where do I find out what I need to do to get certified?

To determine the minimum requirements for Wildlife and Fisheries biologists the professional societies conducted a survey, where multiple employers provided lists of skills they require in different positions. The societies used this information to compile a list of courses that provide students with this knowledge-base and skills. This list is the bases for obtaining “Professional Certification” and can be found on the society web pages (see above). It is important to note that to obtain certification, a student (and later professional) is expected to accumulate a minimum number of years of experience, in addition to the list of courses (see web pages for details).

Do all Fisheries and Wildlife positions require certification?

No, not all positions require certification (see webpages with job lists above). Nonetheless, in some cases qualifications of applicants are evaluated in relation to certification criteria, and in some cases the pay scale will be dependent on the ability of the candidate to obtain certification.

How has the University of Wyoming (UW) constructed the WFBM degree?

WFBM degree requirements were constructed based on the “University Study Program” (USP), college and departmental requirements, but not “Professional Certification” requirements. This degree differs from regular academic degrees in the Department of Zoology and Physiology in that it requires the completion of 128 credit hours rather than 120 credit hours. The following documents provide a list of course requirements, as well as a recommended program of study, which details the most efficient sequence of coursework. These documents also highlight which courses should be added to the program of study in order to obtain “Professional Certification”. Following the recommended program of study will allow students to obtain the WFBM degree in 4 years.

Do I need to follow the recommended program of study to receive the WFBM degree from UW?

No, students may exercise academic freedom and choose other courses in pursuing their degree. As long as students meet the USP, and college and departmental requirements they will be entitled to a WFBM degree. Nonetheless, those individuals should be aware that by choosing such a route they may not be able to obtain certification by the professional societies and that UW will not be held responsible for such outcome.

How would I decide what program of study to follow?

UW provides each student with an academic advisor. By consulting your academic advisor about your career goals you will be able to decide which program to follow. If you evaluate your career goals as you become more knowledgeable about the field and if you seek professional advice from your mentor along the way you will be better equipped to make your academic decisions.

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