{"id":2557,"date":"2025-11-21T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T17:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=2557"},"modified":"2026-02-25T14:04:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T22:04:16","slug":"explore-3-online-degrees-focused-on-animal-science-and-conservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/explore-3-online-degrees-focused-on-animal-science-and-conservation\/","title":{"rendered":"Which online animal science or conservation degree should I choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explore Oregon State\u2019s four online bachelor\u2019s degrees and find the best fit for you<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you interested in land management, animal husbandry or habitat conservation? Want to pursue a career that preserves biodiversity and promotes sustainable practices? Hoping to work with domesticated animals, wildlife or exotic creatures?<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If yes, earning a degree focused on animal science, wildlife management or conservation online from Oregon State University is a great match for you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This story will help you better understand the benefits of earning your wildlife degree online in these bachelor\u2019s programs:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fisheries, wildlife, and conservation sciences<\/li>\n<li>Rangeland sciences<\/li>\n<li>Zoology<\/li>\n<li>Animal sciences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While these programs may share certain aspects, each offers unique features and areas of focus that will make a big impact as you plot your career. Use the links below to explore each program\u2019s curriculum and find the best fit for you.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span lang=\"EN\">Prepare for conservation jobs involving fish and wildlife<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oregon State\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/fw\/\"><strong>fisheries, wildlife, and conservation bachelors\u2019 program<\/strong><\/a> is ideal if you want to pursue a hands-on career working directly with wild terrestrial and aquatic populations around the world \u2014 including managing and conserving their habitats.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gain practical skills in applied sciences that focus on conserving biodiversity, restoring ecological systems and maintaining sustainable animal populations. Best of all, you\u2019ll work with an advisor to refine your career goals and create a 24-credit specialization tailored to your interests.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOur students seek to change the world through sustainable management and conservation of fish and wildlife species and the habitats they depend upon. Whether on campus or online, as a student in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences you will gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> knowledge and technical skills for evidence-based conservation, with an emphasis on real-world problem solving, gaining professional experience before graduation.\u201d \u2013 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bruce Dugger<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">professor and associate department head, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/fw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more about the fisheries, wildlife, and conservation sciences degree online \u00bb<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span lang=\"EN\">Prepare for rangeland management jobs<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nearly half the world is classified as rangeland. Sustainable management of public and private lands is crucial, as these areas provide goods and services humans rely on.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oregon State\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/rangeland-sciences\/\"><strong>rangeland sciences degree program<\/strong><\/a> can help you become an ecologist who understands how human and natural ecosystems are linked. The program will equip you with the knowledge and skills to help manage and conserve vast rangelands through experiential learning experiences focused on landscape analysis, restoration, ecohydrology, wildlife habitat conservation, and land and resource management planning.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf someone wants to make a difference in regards to natural resources, the ecological health of our planet or environmental issues, it likely involves rangelands. Rangelands provide us a wealth of ecosystem services in really cool ways.\u201d \u2014 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/yvette-gibson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yvette Gibson<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, rangeland sciences instructor, Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/rangeland-science\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more about the rangeland sciences degree online \u00bb<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Prepare for zoology jobs<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoology is the scientific study of all animals, from invertebrates like worms to land-based mammals like elephants. If you\u2019re passionate about animals and interested in careers in conservation, research, education, consulting or field work, OSU\u2019s rigorous <a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/zoology\/\"><strong>online zoology program<\/strong><\/a> could be just what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From abomasa to zygodactyly, the topics you study will provide scientific training across major areas of life sciences, including genetics, cell biology, ecology, evolution, physiology and conservation biology.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe zoology bachelor\u2019s online program will teach you all about the ecology, evolution and diversity of animals as well as how to apply important scientific principles to social and policy issues. Most importantly, the major will help you develop skills applicable to real-life situations in the workforce.\u201d \u2014 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brock McLeod, coordinator of undergraduate success and engagement, Department of Integrative Biology<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/zoology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more about the zoology degree online \u00bb<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Prepare for animal sciences jobs<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Domesticated animals are a crucial part of everyday life. And everywhere you find domesticated animals, you\u2019ll find jobs. Oregon State\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/animal-sciences\/\">animal sciences program<\/a> will prepare you for work in diverse settings such as livestock farms, ranches, animal shelters, stables and more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Science-focused courses in animal nutrition, behavior, reproduction and genetics are enhanced with virtual visits to Oregon State\u2019s Dairy Center, Sheep Center, Clark Meat Science Center and Horse Center.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf students want to learn about all aspects of domestic animals, the animal sciences degree is the right fit. Students will explore everything from behavior and welfare, nutrition to reproduction, genetics and animal breeding, management, product quality and ethics.\u201d \u2014 <em>Janell Johnson, senior instructor and head academic advisor with the <\/em><\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">College of Agricultural Sciences<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/animal-sciences\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more about the animal sciences degree online \u00bb<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Explore your options<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you see yourself working hands-on with animal populations, in a laboratory studying genetics and species evolution, or out in the field managing wildlands to promote conservation, you can gain the skills you need online with Oregon State.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research and compare all of Oregon State\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/?topic=conservation-natural-sciences#browse\">online undergraduate degrees<\/a> in conservation and natural sciences.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have a question about the application process? Our enrollment services team is here to help you gather information about Oregon State\u2019s wildlife conservation degrees online. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"rfi-button\" class=\"button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/contact\">Contact us today<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minute read<\/span><\/span>Oregon State offers several bachelor&#8217;s programs in conservation and animal sciences that you can earn online. Learn what makes each unique and the different skills you&#8217;ll gain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":2567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6,678],"tags":[704,703,638,206,358,516],"class_list":["post-2557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-ecampus","category-faculty-and-programs","tag-animal-science","tag-animal-sciences","tag-conservation-and-natural-sciences","tag-fisheries-wildlife-and-conservation-sciences","tag-rangeland-sciences","tag-zoology"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-CNS-MC-Wildlife-800x450-240529.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-Ff","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1032,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/jordan-levi-fisheries-wildlife-online\/","url_meta":{"origin":2557,"position":0},"title":"Experiential learning led to flourishing career prospects for fisheries, wildlife and conservation sciences alumna","author":"Julie Cooper","date":"October 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"New textbooks, classmates from all over the world, the cover of the forest, calls from birds unseen, the fresh smell of soil (and sometimes fish). These are all the well-known staples of a college classroom. At least, that\u2019s what Jordan Levi came to expect of her learning environments while enrolled\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Archives&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fisheries and wildlife sciences alumna Jordan walks outdoors and carries a tablet in the bend of her left arm.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/jordan-levi-main.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/jordan-levi-main.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/jordan-levi-main.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/jordan-levi-main.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1273,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/online-learning-advice\/","url_meta":{"origin":2557,"position":1},"title":"Oregon State Ecampus graduate &#8216;shocked&#8217; by her scientific success","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"November 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"As a kid, Andrea Fuchs dreamed of someday working with animals. Those dreams were squelched \u2013 at least in her mind \u2013 because she struggled in high school math and science classes. But when a web search for reputable online degree programs led her to discover Oregon State\u2019s award-winning fisheries\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;All Stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Andrea Fuchs, an Oregon State University Ecampus graduate in fisheries and wildlife sciences, stands on the OSU campus in Corvallis in June 2019.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/andrea-fuchs-fisheries-wildlife.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/andrea-fuchs-fisheries-wildlife.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/andrea-fuchs-fisheries-wildlife.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/andrea-fuchs-fisheries-wildlife.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2180,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/jane-vinesky-fisheries-wildlife-conservation-sciences\/","url_meta":{"origin":2557,"position":2},"title":"Oregon State Everywhere: Finding community and support from all points on the map","author":"Jane Vinesky","date":"December 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Faculty made time to tutor me, teach me, counsel me, write recommendations and discuss professional opportunities. Although I was an Ecampus student, the Oregon State community is so strong that I felt its support from wherever I was in the world.\" \u2014 Jane Vinesky, fisheries, wildlife, and conservation sciences graduate","rel":"","context":"In &quot;All Stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jane Vinesky","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jane-Vinesky-800x450-221201.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jane-Vinesky-800x450-221201.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jane-Vinesky-800x450-221201.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jane-Vinesky-800x450-221201.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1292,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/fisheries-and-wildlife-program-earns-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":2557,"position":3},"title":"Oregon State\u2019s fisheries and wildlife online program earns prestigious national award","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"November 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A track record of student success and faculty satisfaction have helped an Oregon State University online bachelor\u2019s degree program be honored as one of the nation\u2019s best. OSU\u2019s fisheries and wildlife sciences bachelor\u2019s program on Tuesday won the Online Learning Consortium\u2019s John R. Bourne Outstanding Online Program Award at a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;All Stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A graphic with a trophy icon above the words fisheries and wildlife sciences, John R. Bourne Outstanding Online Program Award, set above the Online Learning Consortium's logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/olc-fisheries-award-graphic.jpg?fit=744%2C558&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/olc-fisheries-award-graphic.jpg?fit=744%2C558&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/olc-fisheries-award-graphic.jpg?fit=744%2C558&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/olc-fisheries-award-graphic.jpg?fit=744%2C558&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":829,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/erin-mathias\/","url_meta":{"origin":2557,"position":4},"title":"The first in a legacy of many","author":"Julie Cooper","date":"March 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The past does not dictate the possibilities for one\u2019s future. Erin Mathias knows this firsthand. She enrolled online in the Ecampus fisheries and wildlife sciences program to pursue her dream career, becoming the role model she needed when she was younger and serving as inspiration to her siblings and African\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Archives&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fisheries and wildlife sciences alumna Erin Mathias is pictured standing to the left of a rhinoceros at the Oregon Zoo. Erin is smiling and resting one hand on the rhino's snout. She wears a gray and orange Oregon State zip-up jacket.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Erin-Rhino-8.jpg?fit=743%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Erin-Rhino-8.jpg?fit=743%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Erin-Rhino-8.jpg?fit=743%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Erin-Rhino-8.jpg?fit=743%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1519,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/fisheries-wildlife-scholarship\/","url_meta":{"origin":2557,"position":5},"title":"Ecampus student 1 of 7 at OSU to earn study abroad scholarship","author":"Steve Lundeberg","date":"August 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Esmeralda Sanchez, an OSU Ecampus student in fisheries and wildlife sciences, will participate in a forest conservation program in Malaysian Borneo after being awarded a\u00a0Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship\u00a0to study internationally during the 2020-21 academic year. It's part of a congressionally funded program designed to broaden U.S. participation in education\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;All Stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"An aerial photo of a rainforest in Borneo. Online fisheries and wildlife","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/borneo-forest-online-fisheries-wildlife.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/borneo-forest-online-fisheries-wildlife.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/borneo-forest-online-fisheries-wildlife.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/borneo-forest-online-fisheries-wildlife.jpg?fit=744%2C419&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2557"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2557\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}