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Conservation Science and Management

Work with, and within, nature

The Bachelor of Science in Conservation Science and Management is a robust, science-based interdisciplinary program that prepares students to critically evaluate natural resource problems and solutions, as well preserve and manage biodiversity. Successful majors will gain the broad knowledge, analytical skills, hands-on field and laboratory experiences necessary to be informed citizens and effective professionals in their fields.

Anna Marie BellisI chose Shenandoah because I wanted to go to a university where I could form actual relationships and connections with professors. The small class sizes were very appealing to me, and I enjoyed the idea of being able to interact with both my classmates and professors during class. Plus, the campus is stunning!

Anna Marie Bellis ’23 | Conservation Science & Management major

Students majoring in the Conservation Science and Management program will learn a broad range of skills including environmental and ecological problem solving, natural resource management and professional networking. Students will learn to develop and implement conservation plans, conduct natural resource surveys and inventories, manage habitats and work with our local community (campus included) to generate solutions to environmental and natural resource problems. This skillset will help graduates of this program be effective conservation professionals in a wide range of fields including conservation organizations, government agencies, academic or educational professions and private consulting firms.

  1. Students will explain fundamental principles (scientific, philosophical, sociopolitical, economic, historic and technological) that underlie environmental issues in our society.
  2. Students will identify and analyze environmental problems in society and community.
  3. Students will analyze, document, and report research both in writing and orally.

Sun setting over Shenandoah RiverStudents and faculty roll up their sleeves and collaborate at Shenandoah’s 195-acre River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield. This historic property, located along the Shenandoah River in Virginia, was integral to the July 18, 1864, Battle of Cool Spring, and it serves as not only a living laboratory for history and the environmental studies programs, but also a recreational space for students and the general public. 

Explore the Cool Spring River Campus

Students interested in this program should also look into these other majors, graduate degrees, minors, and certificates.

Complementary Majors:

Some students in this program choose to continue their education by earning a graduate degree: 

  • Ecology
  • Entomology
  • Forest Science 
  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Geography, GIS, and Remote Sensing

Curriculum

For a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Science and Management, students need to compete 44 credits of Core Courses and 6 credits of Elective Courses with a C- or above.

BIO 121

 General Biology I

BIO 122

 General Biology II

BIO 321

 Ecology

BIO 325

 Animal Behavior

BIO 330

 Parasitology

BIO 344

 Plant Morphology

BIO 351

 Vertebrate Zoology

CHEM 121

 General Chemistry I

CHEM 122

 General Chemistry II

CHEM 301

 Organic Chemistry I

CHEM 302

 Organic Chemistry II

CHEM 331

 Biochemistry I

CHEM 332

 Biochemistry II

ES 101

 Introduction to Environmental Studies

ES 105

 Field Natural History

ES 290

 Environmental Issues Seminar

ES 295

 Wildlife Ecology and Habitat Management

ES 300

 Geographic Information Systems and Mapping

ES 319

 Environmental Policy and Programs

ES 340

 Environmental Education

ES 390

 Environmental Research Seminar

ES 395

 Topics in Environmental Studies

ES 399

 Directed Study

ES 401

 Environmental Studies Internship

ES 419

 Community and Regional Studies

ES 421

 Environmental Sampling and Analysis

ES 452

 Applied Conservation Ecology

ES 492

 Environmental Research Project

GEO 454

 Our Eastern Forests: History, Ecology and Change

GEOL 201

 Physical Geology

GEOL 450

 Stream Assessment and Restoration

MATH 207

 Introduction to Statistics

MATH  208

 Applied Statistics Concepts and Methods

MCOM   318

 Environmental Communication

 

 

This program requires a minor/these minors complement this program well: 

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Public Health
  • Computer Science
  • Data Science
  • Virtual Reality Design