Conservation Management
Bachelor’s Degree
The UIU Advantage
Do you enjoy being outdoors? Do you love nature? A degree in Conservation Management allows you to work outside while you protect nature and its wildlife! A degree in Conservation Management allows you to combine a satisfying work experience with your love of nature. This major prepares you for rewarding jobs in natural resource management, fisheries management, park management and enforcement, ecological fieldwork, and natural areas improvement.
Why Conservation Management at UIU?
- Our Conservation Management program is widely respected with strong graduate placement. Lab courses teach applied skills used in field work, analysis, and interpretation.
- UIU’s Fayette Campus is ideally situated in rural NE Iowa among forested hills, traquil rivers, scenic parks and prime fishing and wildlife areas. Many lab courses are conducted outdoors.
- Faculty have real-world experience working with and managing wildlife, fisheries, forestry, plant habitats, and environmental quality, and who have a passion for helping students and creating engaging experiences to foster success in their careers.
Explore Your Program
Conservation Management Courses
See course descriptions for the classes you need for your Conservation Management degree, as well as any general education requirements.
Academic Calendar
Keep up with your academic program’s registration deadlines, session dates, holiday breaks and exam schedules.
Careers in Conservation Management
A degree prepares you for many careers with state, federal, and non-profit conservation organizations. These include but are not limited to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Iowa County Conservation, and many more.
UIU Locations for Bachelor's Degree in Conservation Management
Iowa

Convenient, Focused Scheduling
UIU Conservation Management students have the advantage of focusing on fewer classes at once with the Two-at-a-Time schedule.
The Conservation Management bachelor’s degree program is offered through UIU’s School of Arts and Sciences.
8%
Projected growth in environmental scientist and specialist jobs from 2018 to 2028
12:1
Student to faculty ratio means small class sizes and one-on-one time with instructors
5%
Projected growth in zoologist and wildlife biologist jobs from 2018 to 2028
Admissions
When you’re ready to apply for your bachelor’s degree in Conservation Management, we’re ready to help you every step of the way.
Or Try This
If Conservation Management is not quite what you are looking for, check out our Earth Systems Science minor or Biology major.

Hunter Slifka, '18
Conservation Management
Fayette Campus
The field day experiences definitely expanded my soil health vocabulary and helped me become more familiar with farm management best practices.
Meet Upper Iowa’s Conservation Management Faculty

Dr. Scott Figdore
Robert L. Fox Endowed Chair of Science – Professor of Science (1992)
“It has been very rewarding over the years to interact with dedicated faculty and staff in instructing and motivating students as they pursue careers that balance their love of nature with their desire to maintain outdoor areas in their natural state.”

Dr. Paul Skrade
Associate Professor of Biology
“Upper Iowa’s rural location in the Driftless Area of Northeast Iowa is surrounded by bluffs, streams, forests and rivers — perfect for getting students outside and learning hands-on field techniques.”

Dr. Jennifer Stoffel
Professor of Biology
“While at UIU, students are prepared for careers at the city, county, state and federal levels (as well as with non-profit organizations) by becoming interdisciplinary problem solvers — ready to provide solutions for the real-life challenge of conserving our resources.”

Dr. Rich Walker
Assistant Professor of Biology (2021)
“We’re lucky at Upper Iowa to be located right next to Volga River State Recreation Area, a 5,700-acre area classroom where I take UIU stream ecology students to collect data on the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of streams. Lots of cool bugs and fishes, too!”
Sources
- ^ Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Conservation Scientists and Foresters.https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/conservation-scientists.htm
- ^ Headwaters Land Conservancy https://headwatersconservancy.org/benefits-of-land-conservation/
- ^ Natural Resources Conservation Service https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/nh/technical/cp/?cid=nrcs144p2_015697
- ^ Natural Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/conservation/