Online Schools with Wildlife Conservation Degrees

<p>A number of colleges and universities offer online classes and degree programs in wildlife conservation. Online degrees may require participation in an internship. Certificate programs are also available online. Courses include ecology, wildlife management, wildlife law, geographic information systems (GIS) and ethics. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Online Degree Options</b> </td><td> Bachelor's degree, master's degree</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Online Certificates </b> </td><td> Wildlife and forestry conservation certificate</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Online Courses</b> </td><td> Ecology, wildlife management, fisheries management, habitats, wildlife law and ethics</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---WhatDegreesAreOfferedInWildlifeConservationFromOnlineSchools">What Degrees Are Offered in Wildlife Conservation From Online Schools?</h3> <p>Some universities offer online wildlife management courses through continuing education and distance degree programs. However, if you want to pursue an online bachelor's degree in a wildlife conservation area, you may have to participate in an internship to complete the program. The internship can be tailored to your career interests and chosen specialization, whether it is in a specific type of wildlife (birds, sea turtles, deer, rhinos, fish, etc.) or more broad-based (botany, restoration ecology, marine conservation, wildlife rehabilitation, forestry). </p> <p>Many online degree programs in wildlife conservation are graduate-level offerings. You can expect to complete a graduate conservation program in about three years. Graduate-level programs usually require academic prerequisites for admission. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatCertificatesAreOfferedInWildlifeConservationFromOnlineSchools">What Certificates Are Offered in Wildlife Conservation From Online Schools?</h3> <p>Online certificates in wildlife conservation are available for those new to field, as well as a career enhancement for professionals already working in conservation. Certificate courses typically emphasize wildlife and resource management rather than hard science. Some certificates for professionals offer credits that can be transferred to a master's degree program. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatTrainingWillIReceiveOnline">What Training Will I Receive Online?</h3> <p>As an undergraduate in fisheries and wildlife, you'll learn the basics of conservation, and you'll be introduced to issues specific to different habitats. Some popular web courses cover: </p> <ul><li>Wildlife ecology and conservation </li><li>Fisheries management </li><li>Waterfowl management </li><li>Large and small mammal management </li><li>Ecological modeling and analysis with GIS </li><li>Conservation policy </li><li>Wildlife population dynamics </li><li>Human impacts of recreation on forestry resources </li><li>Habitats and ecosystems </li><li>Multicultural perspectives on <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Online_Natural_Resource_Management_Courses_and_Degrees.html">natural resource management</a> </li><li>Wildlife law and ethics </li></ul><p>If you're a graduate degree student in wildlife management, you'll learn how to make ecologically sound management decisions and write policies that protect both the animals and the ecosystems in which they live. You'll also be trained to use geographic information systems (GIS) as tools for assessing ecological problems, such as potential wildfires, and for planning strategies that you'll implement to reduce threats to plants and animals. </p> <p>A graduate certificate program in wildlife and forestry conservation will teach you about wildlife law enforcement, management duties and wildlife protection. </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolsOfferingOnlineWildlifeConservationPrograms">Schools Offering Online Wildlife Conservation Programs</h3> <p>Here is a list of schools offering online programs in Wildlife Conservation and related fields, as well as examples of the curriculum requirements. </p> <ul><li>Oregon State University, Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences: biology, fisheries and wildlife, math and physical science </li><li>Colorado State University, Natural Resources Certificate in Conservation, and Master of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology: land and animal management, biodiversity evaluations, policy analysis, fish and wildlife study design, conservation biology theory and practice </li><li>University of Florida, Online Graduate Certificate in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation: conservation medicine, wildlife conservation laws and legislation, wildlife crime scene processing </li><li>Southern New Hampshire University, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science: general biology, environmental science, geology, environmental ethics </li><li>Penn Foster, Career Diploma in Wildlife and Forestry Conservation: wildlife management, range management, parklands management </li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatCareersWillIBePreparedFor">What Careers Will I Be Prepared For?</h3> <p>A number of career paths in the public and private sector are available to you when you graduate. Government agencies, such the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), employ those with wildlife conservation degrees. A bachelor's degree is the minimum education requirement to become a federal wildlife manager or wildlife inspector, reports the FWS (<i>www.fws.gov</i>). You might also be interested in working at a conservation agency or a non-profit organization for wildlife protection.</p>