Wildlife biology programs prepare people to study vertebrate wildlife and their habitats. Students learn about ecosystems in rural and urban areas. They also study conservation and ecology.

When writing the book "Suburban Safari: A Year on the Lawn", the author, Hannah Holmes, studied the wildlife living in her own back yard. She got to know everything living there, from the chipmunk who visits her to eat pumpkin seeds to the field mice who tunnel through the snow. She learned of the different birds who make their home in her trees and shrubs. She discovered which species are native to her area and the ones that were brought over by European settlers centuries ago. In short, she discovers a vast world in the back of her house.

While someone's lawn isn't usually described as wild, in reality, it is. The wildlife there, usually squirrels, chipmunks, possums, and the like, simply live in an urban area. However, as the borders of cities spread, people are moving into habitats where bears, cougars, and deer usually live. In states like Florida, this may mean sharing space with alligators.

What does this mean, then? How is human migration affecting wildlife populations? This is a question wildlife biologists study in great detail. In a general sense, they study a variety of wildlife and where they live, be it the birds in a city park or the big horn sheep in Idaho.

In general, wildlife biology is concerned with conservation. As a student in this program, then, you'll take several courses in ecology, preservation, and of course, biology. You also study chemistry, statistics, and genetics. Depending on your interests, you can also study different kinds of wildlife, including birds, fish, and mammals. Some programs also include courses in land use and range management.

About 25 four-year colleges and universities offer programs in wildlife biology. You can earn a bachelor's degree, which usually takes four years to complete. Many schools also offer graduate degrees in this field. A master's degree typically takes two years, while a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree takes an additional two to three years to complete. Graduate programs in wildlife biology are usually located in ecology, biology, or forestry departments. For detailed information about graduate study, be sure to read those programs of study in CIS.