Wildlife Biology
With a Wildlife Biology degree from Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, students find careers as wetland scientists, conservation directors, animal care specialists at zoos, endangered species biologists or park rangers. This major covers a broad range of study — while still being able to hone in on your specific area of interest.
Do challenging, valuable work
Through a sequence of courses, you’ll build upon the basic biology major by examining diverse organisms and biological phenomena. This will equip you for a career in wildlife management at a state or national park, in research at a laboratory or in resource management on a farm. You’ll have knowledge of the details and of the broader picture of wildlife in society.
Create your future
See for yourself how we tailor your education to your talents and your goals.ÌýSchedule a visitÌýand we’ll demonstrate how Hastings will inspire you to reach your potential, or if you’re a high school senior,Ìý.
Go further with a Hastings education
Thanks to our small class sizes (most have fewer than 20 students!), and a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, you’ll work closely with faculty and your advisor to complete your degree in four years. In fact, most students who graduate from Hastings do so in four years!
°¿³Ü°ùÌýblock-style semester structure means you’ll take just one or two classes at a time — which really lets you focus more intently on each class. It also lets faculty devote more time to every student because they’re only teaching one or two classes in a block!
Graduate with experience
At Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Wildlife Biology majors get internship opportunities at local and regional wildlife centers that open doors and help you build a supportive network likely to produce your first job or result in the perfect recommendation for graduate school. Many take advantage of additional experiences and insight that help advance career options. Every biology major completes a research presentation to demonstrate what you have discovered. What does all this mean? You’ll graduate from Hastings ready to succeed.
Along your path, you’ll appreciate the stepping stones of teaching, counseling, inspiring, supporting and guiding from our engaged faculty. It’s an experience that’s true to Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, and you won’t find it anywhere else.
Your experience matters
Maximize scholarships — Yes, you’ll get an academic scholarship. But you’ll also get a “plus one” scholarship from the group, team or area you’re part of. It’s a great way to help pay for school — but also to find your people.
We’ve thought a lot about the ways students learn and built a four-year plan to help you navigate it all. From finding your place and in Year 1, to showing the world you’re ready for what’s next four years later.
Your transition from college to a career begins your first semester. Every class, internship, research study and activity adds up. We love to celebrate all the ways you shine — your experience matters!
Get involved beyond the Biology classroom
- Beta Beta Beta (Biology honor society)
- Alpha Chi (Academic honor society)
In addition to these biology-related groups, there’s always something to do at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. Student clubs, service learning, Greek life, recreation and more make Hastings a great campus for student life.
Find scholarships for Wildlife Biology majors
Your high school achievements can both fuel and fund your success at Hastings. We offer a range of generous and renewable academic scholarships based on your GPA. Then there’sÌý“plus one” scholarships — an additional scholarship for participating in anything from athletics to the arts to media (it’s a long list!).
It all adds up to making Hastings an great choice for you and your family.
First employers for recent graduates
- Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center – Key Largo
- Calamus State Recreation Area
- Rydell National Wildlife Refuge
- Thunder Bay Bird Observatory
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Faculty
Dr. Jason Carbaugh
Assistant Professor of Biology
Dr. Anna Hiatt
Assistant Professor of Biology
Dr. Rhesa Ledbetter
Associate Professor of Biology
Dr. Brie Myre
Assistant Professor of Biology
Dr. Amanda Solem
Associate Professor of Biology and Chair of the Department
Success in Biology & Wildlife Biology
Claire Fuqua began their journey to becoming an animal care technician by rescuing a stray kitten — taking the cat to Heartland Pet Connection in Hastings and picking up a job application in the process. Fuqua, a wildlife biology and philosophy & religion double major from Woodland Park, Colorado, received an acceptance call the day […]
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A lack of consistent regulation and data surrounding bat species may be complicating conservation efforts, according to research by Ï㽶ÊÓƵ wildlife biology major Venn Wood presented during the poster session at the College’s annual Academic Showcase earlier this year. Wood, who is from Lincoln, Nebraska, and graduated in May, began the project by examining […]
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When senior wildlife biology major Marissa Ruiz arrived at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, she knew she wanted to get involved. She quickly filled her schedule as an RA, a tutor and a member of both the bowling team and the Student Association. “I find a lot of value and purpose in being part of my community,” said […]
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A collaborative research effort involving Ï㽶ÊÓƵ students, faculty and a local medical professional has been published in the Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences (URJHS), a prestigious peer-reviewed publication. The study, titled “Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Parkinson’s Disease Patients,” investigates how the global pandemic affected the quality of life and functional […]
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Ï㽶ÊÓƵ sophomore Sam Acosta Castellanos stepped into his position as a quality and lab intern at Nova-Tech Inc. to help ensure the quality and safety of animal medicine the company makes. This real-world experience over the summer pushed him to grow as both a scientist and a person. “I go into the lab and […]
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Surrounded by playful black bears and a roaming grizzly, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ wildlife biology major Chyenne Tidyman spent her summer learning the ropes of zookeeping as an intern at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas. Tidyman, who is from Holdrege, Nebraska, had many duties at the zoo, including feeding, watering and cleaning up after the […]
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Alyssa Baker, a recent graduate of the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ biology program, is on her way to physical therapy school at Creighton University, her first pick. She credits the resources available at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ on her acceptance. “They told me from the jump, you’re going to get in, doesn’t matter. And I think that was very […]
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Ï㽶ÊÓƵ student Sophia Lee never expected a chance email to lead her to Japan, but now she’s immersed in high-tech medical research — and Japanese culture — thanks to a life-changing internship that’s broadening her horizons far beyond the classroom. The internship, which is based in Toyohashi, Japan, is funded by the National Science […]
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Medical providers in small towns and communities are not always available everyday — with some providers and specialists traveling from and working in several areas. For patients, this means week-long waits for appointments or hour-long drives to bigger cities. It’s an issue that earlier this year caught the attention of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ students Catie Reed, […]
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