As careers in wildlife conservation, fisheries and natural resource management draw increasing interest nationwide, the University of Maine is seeing strong enrollment in a program built around field-based learning and real-world experience.
The UMaine Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology, one of the oldest programs of its kind in the country with origins dating to the 1930s, prepares students to manage fish and wildlife resources while supporting Maine’s outdoor economy and natural heritage.
“Our mission is to advance fish and wildlife management and promote the conservation of biodiversity,” said Erik J. Blomberg, professor and chair of the department. “We’re preparing students to think critically and apply science to real-world problems.”
At UMaine, that preparation is built around experiential learning. More than half of courses in the wildlife ecology major include outdoor labs and fieldwork, and a required immersive field course in Downeast Maine is commonly cited by students as their most important college experience.
Students gain hands-on experience working with fish and wildlife, conducting field surveys and applying scientific methods in real environments. That field-based approach is also a major driver of enrollment, with more than 80% of undergraduates identifying field courses as the top reason they chose UMaine.
The program also plays a key role in supporting Maine’s fish and wildlife resources, which contribute more than $1 billion annually to the state’s economy through activities such as hunting, fishing and wildlife-centered tourism.
Students further build experience through research and internships. Surveys show that about 70% of undergraduates complete internships or field experiences, and more than half participate in faculty-lead research during their time at UMaine.
That combination of academic training and applied experience is translating directly into strong career outcomes. Among graduates from the past 10 years, 95% were either employed full time or enrolled in graduate school, with 91% using their science degree and 82% working in natural resource fields. Career pathways of recent graduates are diverse, spanning governmental, private and non-profit conservation sectors.
Faculty and students are also actively engaged in research that informs conservation and resource management. During the past five years, faculty authored or coauthored more than 140 peer-reviewed publications and secured nearly $16 million in research funding across dozens of projects.
Students play a central role in that work, consistent with UMaine’s mission as a learner-centered R1 research university. Graduate students contributed to 44% of department publications as lead authors, and undergraduates have also coauthored peer-reviewed research.
Enrollment in the program has remained strong, averaging about 180 undergraduate students annually and more than doubling over the past two decades.
Students report high levels of satisfaction with the program, including a strong sense of community and belonging, as well as meaningful engagement with faculty and peers. This is helped by strong student engagement in a number of professional societies and organizations, including The UMaine Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society and Student Subunit of the American Fisheries Society.
Faculty, staff and students participated in 180 outreach events during the past five years, including programs for K-12 students and broader public audiences.
“The department’s work extends beyond the classroom and laboratory through public outreach and partnerships,” Blomberg said.
Faculty say the program’s emphasis on experiential learning, research and career preparation remains central to its mission.
“There’s a clear connection between what students study here and the careers they pursue after graduation,” Blomberg said. “This is a field where the need is growing, and our students are well prepared to meet it.”
Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu
