Wildlife and Conservation Biology B.S.

Learning Outcomes

Depth and Application Knowledge – acquire knowledge and skills necessary to obtain or pursue a professional position or graduate/professional training in your discipline. By the time you complete your education you will

  • know the principles of evolution, and wildlife and conservation biology and how they are used to manage wildlife and solve environmental problems;
  • know the taxonomy, ecology, and natural history of native flora and fauna in New England
  • use contemporary tools and techniques for studying wildlife, habitat, and ecosystem processes;
  • be familiar with a variety of laws and regulations that influence how natural resources are used and protected
  • understand the impacts of land use and environmental management decisions on ecosystems and society; an
  • meet or exceed the standards applied by professional societies (e.g., The Wildlife Society)

Quantitative Competence– identify and use appropriate quantitative methods to analyze physical, biological, or social phenomena. By the time you complete your education you will:

  • understand essential mathematical (e.g., geometry, algebra, calculus) and statistical approaches used to analyze wildlife and conservation biology data;
  • accurately comprehend and draw appropriate inferences from numeric data, statistical analysis, and predictive models; and
  • use state-of-the-art software, hardware, and analytical techniques to solve problems in wildlife and conservation biology.

Methods of Inquiry – understand and use methods of inquiry appropriate to your discipline. By the time you complete your education you will:

  • map landscape features and interpret spatial patterns;
  • formulate testable scientific hypotheses, design experiments to test such hypotheses, and interpret the results of such experiments;
  • identify and critique the basic assumptions underlying a model or hypothesis;
  • know appropriate sampling techniques to draw inferences about the dynamics of plant and animal populations and communities; and
  • recognize the limitations of methods used in wildlife and conservation biology.

Problem Solving – use acquired knowledge, skills, and ingenuity to solve complex problems. By the time you complete your education you will be able to:

  • identify problems in wildlife and conservation biology, evaluate problem-solving strategies, and develop science-based solutions; and
  • understand the need to integrate relevant social sciences (e.g., environmental planning, policy, law, economics) in environmental problem-solving.