Majors

Animal Ecology

The Animal Ecology curriculum provides its majors with an understanding of the basic principles of animal biology, ecology and management, and relevant aspects of basic mathematics and natural sciences, computing applications, communications skills and personal and professional development.

Students choose a course of study from among four areas, or “options.” Coursework is concerned with the interactions of animals with one another and with a wide variety of plant communities and aquatic ecosystems. Graduates find work as environmental specialists, fisheries or wildlife technicians, environmental educators, conservation officers, fish farmers, zoo biologists, and many continue their education in graduate or professional schools.

Students in the animal ecology major can also choose to become active in student chapters of professional societies, including The Wildlife Society, the American Fisheries Society, and the Iowa Association of Naturalists. Within the wildlife option, careful course selection can lead to certification by The Wildlife Society as an Associate Wildlife Biologist upon graduation.

Forestry

The Forestry curriculum primary goal is to educate foresters to be capable of scientifically managing the nation’s forest lands – private and public.

The program offers courses that are concerned with the management of forest ecosystems for multiple benefits including wood and fiber products, biodiversity, recreation, interpretation, water, wilderness, and wildlife. Conservation and preservation of natural resources are emphasized.

The Forestry major has been accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF) since 1935. The SAF is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post Secondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting body for forestry education in the United States.