Undergraduate Courses

WFC 155: Wildlife Space Use and Habitat Conservation

The relationship between wildlife and their habitats begins with behavioral decisions made by animals and scales up to environmental policy and conservation. Wildlife habitat ecology is intrinsically interdisciplinary, linking humans, wildlife, and the environment that they share. This course is organized into two modules: 1) Wildlife Habitat Ecology; and 2) Wildlife Habitat Conservation. In the first module, we discuss foraging theory, habitat selection, home ranges, migration, ecosystem engineers, and trophic cascades. In the second module, we discuss conservation prioritization, land use planning, anthropogenic habitats, and wildlife restoration. Labs analyze relationships between wildlife and the habitat they occupy, facilitated by programming in R.

WFC 100: Field Methods in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology

Learning field methods provides the foundation on which emerging wildlife, fish, and conservation biologists can explore and test their own ideas about the natural world. In this course, we introduce a wide range of field methods for research on the ecology and conservation of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants in relation to the scientific method, experimental design, and data preparation. Labs and field trips provide opportunities to practice field skills.

Undergraduate Research and Internship Resources

Building a career in wildlife or conservation biology often requires some experience collecting data in the field or conducting independent research. There are many ways to get field and research experience, from on-campus internships and field courses to off-campus field technician positions and training programs. Below I have compiled a number of local and national resources to help you get started in building your fieldwork and research record.

Career Information

Undergraduate Research and Networking Opportunities at UC Davis

Ecological and Evolutionary Response to Rapid Environmental Change
UC California Ecology and Conservation Field Course
Undergrad Research Opportunities in Ecology and Evolution at UC Davis
WFCB Chapter of The Wildlife Society Resources
WFCB Internship Resources
- This link includes information on the Lloyd W. Swift Fund to support experiential learning. WFCB undergrads can use this resource to fund externships or summer research projects. Contact Pernille Sporon Bøving (boving@ucdavis.edu) for more information.
WFCB Museum Research and Internship Opportunities

Job and Internship Boards

Want more information about how to become a wildlife biologist? Check out this great resource by Gael Sanchez.