Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Minor - COLSA, UNH

Undergraduate

Wildlife and Conservation Biology

Investigate advanced ecological concepts through field research and practical experiences, learning innovative approaches to habitat conservation and sustainable practices.
Degree
Minor
Location
Durham, NH
Courses
5
Credit
20 hrs.
Full-time
- -
Part-time
- -
Student in a wetsuit standing in the ocean while wearing a mask and snorkel

Natural Resources and the Environment

The Wildlife and Conservation minor at UNH prepares you to address environmental challenges and preserve biodiversity. You’ll study advanced ecological concepts through field research and applied experiences, learning innovative approaches to habitat conservation and sustainable practices. 

Designed to complement your major, this minor develops practical skills for careers in environmental stewardship across public and private sectors.

Department of Natural Resources and the Environment

Contact Cards

Associate Professor
James Hall, Room 226, Durham, NH 03824
(603) 862-3054

What is wildlife and conservation biology?

The wildlife and conservation biology minor will provide you with a multidisciplinary introduction to managing and conserving wildlife and their habitats against the backdrop of human population growth, development, and climate change. In consultation with the minor coordinator, you will select your minor coursework from a diversity of field-based courses with an emphasis on hands-on experiences and upper-level courses that represent the multidisciplinary nature of wildlife and conservation biology. Students from a wide variety of majors can complete the wildlife and conservation biology minor to complement their primary focus of study, to explore their passion for wildlife and conservation, and to prepare for a wide variety of careers or future graduate studies.

Why study wildlife and conservation biology at UNH?

Located in the wildlife-rich state of New Hampshire, just minutes from the Atlantic Coast and an hour from the White Mountains, UNH is the perfect place for studying wildlife and conservation biology. Our program emphasizes hands-on experience through intensive lab and fieldwork, and students are encouraged to participate in faculty research projects involving a variety of wildlife species in areas including big game management, conservation biology, conservation genetics, endangered species management, landscape ecology and population ecology.

Potential career areas

  • Conservation biology
  • Environmental/ecology education
  • Game/non-game management
  • Land Management
  • Research
  • Science communication, outreach and engagement
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Wildlife rehabilitation

Curriculum & Requirements

01
Program Description
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The minor in Wildlife and Conservation Biology serves as a concentrated study, beyond a student's primary major, that allows students to explore their interest in wildlife ecology and conservation and their passion for nature and the outdoors.

02
Requirements for the Program
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Academic policies related to Minors.

 

  • The minor consists of completing a minimum of five courses (20 credits).
  • Up to 8 credits can be used to satisfy both major and minor requirements.
  • A maximum of two EcoQuest courses may be used to satisfy minor requirements.
  • Additional courses from other study-abroad programs may be used toward the minor with permission.  

Required Courses
Category 1
Select one course from the following:4
NR 433
Wildlife Ecology
NR 650
Principles of Conservation Biology 1,2,6
Category 2
Select at least one (up to 2) of the following courses:4
NR 425
Field Dendrology
NR 506
Forest Entomology
or ZOOL 555
Introduction to Entomology
NR 712
Mammalogy
MEFB 628
Marine Invertebrate Evolution and Ecology
ZOOL 542
Ornithology
ZOOL 566
Herpetology
ZOOL 710
Sharks and Bony Fishes
Category 3
Select at least two (up to 3) of the following courses (and note that many have pre-requisites):12
NR 615
Wildlife Habitats 2,3
NR 640
Wildlife Population Ecology 2
NR 641
Wildlife Disease Ecology
NR 642
Introduction to Biogeography 3
NR 650
Principles of Conservation Biology 1,2,6
NR 664
Conservation Genetics and Applied Evolution
NR 713
Quantitative Ecology
NR 734
Tropical Ecology
NR 740
Inventory and Monitoring of Ecological Communities 2,4
NR 765
Community Ecology 3
NR 795
Investigations 5
ZOOL 613W
Animal Behavior
or ZOOL 733W
Behavioral Ecology
Total Credits20
1

NR 661 is considered an appropriate equivalent for NR 650.

2

Enrollments are capped and admission is not guaranteed to those pursuing a minor.

3

NR 660 (at UNH-EcoQuest) can be used as a replacement for one, NR 615, NR 642, or NR 765

4

NR 663 (at UNH-EcoQuest) is considered an appropriate equivalent for NR 740.

5

NR 795 requires working with an individual WCB faculty member on a special problem/issue.

6

NR 650 can only count towards either Category 1 or Category 3 (but not both).