Moose walking through a field on a foggy winter day
  • Program Type
    Concentration
  • School
    School of Arts & Sciences

Advocate for the health and preservation of the environment. Be a steward of our finite, God-given natural resources.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll explore the fundamental concepts of conservation in your class and laboratory work, including ornithology, parasitology, zoology, and mammalogy. You’ll also learn the principles of wildlife ecology and range management. Although this concentration can be taken with any Mary undergraduate program, the majority of our students major in biology.

Location, location, location.

Besides the abundant access to natural resources in the area, Bismarck is home to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, and several other agencies, NGOs, and environmental consultants. All that gives you a head start on your career.

Learn from professionals in the field.

You’ll have opportunities in laboratory courses to work with local wildlife professionals and gain experience in field and laboratory techniques practiced by wildlife managers.

Prepare for conservation positions and graduate school.

Combining the wildlife management & conservation biology concentration with a criminal justice minor will prepare you for a position as a game warden or conservation officer. You’ll also be well prepared for graduate programs in wildlife biology, conservation, ecology, and related fields.

Strengthen your skills of servant leadership.

Develop the Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine values of servant leadership that distinguish a Mary education and are much-needed in successful conservation advocacy.

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Careers & Outcomes

Employment Trends

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of conservation scientists and foresters to grow by 5% through 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. The increased political and social focus on climate change and increasing frequency and severity of wildfires will help drive demand for conservation professionals.

Career Paths

  • Conservation scientist
  • Biological scientist
  • Game warden
  • Conservation officer
  • Forestry manager
  • Environmental advocate
  • Policy consultant
  • Educator

Featured Faculty

Jim Maskey, PhD

Director of Biology Program, Associate Professor

I am an associate professor in the biology program and serve as the biology program chair. I am also the academic advisor for biology majors in the wildlife and conservation and pre-optometry concentrations. I enjoy teaching on topics such as wildlife management, conservation, mammals, parasites, and plant biology.

Take Your Next Step in Wildlife Management & Conservation Biology