Conservation ScienceBachelor of Science

Conserving and sustaining life.

Are you passionate about caring for the world around you? Through our Conservation Science program, you’ll discover how to nurture and protect our biological and natural resource ecosystems, preserving them for future generations.

Conservation Science

• Program Highlights
• Concentrations
• Course Requirements
• Career Options
• Alumni Testimonials
• Research, Internships, and Conferences
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• Apply Now

1-on-1 Attention

You’re more than just a name in a 200 person lecture hall. Faculty get to know who you are and build lasting connections.

Research, Internships, and Conferences

Curious and want to answer questions about the natural world? So are we! Through classes, independent research, internships, and Conservation Senior Project, students get to learn how research is done and get hands on experience in designing, collecting, analyzing and presenting conservation related data.

Alumni

Alumni of the Conservation Science program have worked in a variety of areas within the conservation field and have gone on to graduate school. Organizations include government and state agencies, aquariums, zoos, and non profits.

Connect with Professionals

Conservation Science students have the ability to engage with a variety of conservation organizations.

Hands-On Experience

Students work with local and national agencies throughout the program to gain real-world experience including the Great Plains Nature Center, Kansas Wildlife Exhibit, San Diego Zoo Global, Sedgwick County Zoo, and many more.

Career Services

Helpful career guidance

Concentrations

Focus Areas

Students pursuing a degree in conservation science participate in a unique cross-disciplinary program designed to prepare them to work in and around the fields of biological and natural resource conservation. Choose one of eight sub-disciplines to help aid the path towards a career in conservation.

• BusinessThis sub-discipline is for students interested in potentially running a conservation-based nonprofit organization, park, or zoo.
• Graphic ArtsLearn how to design and create branding strategies specifically for conservation organizations.
• Wildlife Law EnforcementAre you interested in becoming a natural resource officer or game warden? This sub-discipline is for you.
• Environmental EducationThis sub-discipline is for students who want to teach at nature centers, zoos, parks, and other conservation organizations.
• GovernmentCombine your interest in policy and lobbying with your passion for the environment with our government sub-discipline.
• WritingThis sub-discipline is for students who wish to purse a career in writing with an environmental focus.
• Science Graduate SchoolStudents who want to pursue post-graduate studies take graduate school prerequisites with our graduate school sub-discipline.
• Spanish Translation & InterpretationGain the skills in Spanish that allow you to interpret and translate as you travel the world in your conservation career.

Class Research

KDWP Sampling

Students in classes, such as Freshwater Ecosystems, have had the opportunity to learn and collect data with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

Class Research

BIOL102 Projects

Right at the beginning of their academic careers, students learn how to carry out the scientific method. In their introductory biology courses, students are taught how to design an experiment, collect data, analyze data, write a scientific manuscript, and design a scientific poster. Experiments investigate questions related to the impacts humans have on our natural world.

Class Research

Monarch Watch and Botanica

Students have been able to participate in citizen science studies like monarch tagging through Monarch Watch. Classes have helped Botanica tag monarchs that have stopped at the gardens on the way through during their fall migration.

Class Research

Invasive Species Samplings

Students in the General Ecology course have been doing invasive species sampling at the Former Emery Landfill which is now a conservation restoration area. Data from these surveys have helped to evaluate the effectiveness of different management strategies on the property.