Conservation Biology Major

An Undergraduate Major in the Department of Botany and College of Letters & Science
Two people sitting in a canoe on a lake covered by lily pads. One dressed in an orange hat a life jacket, the other in a blue bandana and black vest -both are taking measurements

Conservation Biology students Eliana Cook & Marin Danz collect data as part of a wild rice study near Trout Lake Research Station. Photo by Bryce Richter

Sunlight shines through the glass roof and warms a variety of plant life housed in the Botany Greenhouse inside of Birge Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Feb. 6, 2020.

The Botany Greenhouse used in classes features tropical, desert, bog, and woodland plants. Photo by Bryce Richter

Five students in rain jackets, all with their hoods up, collect seeds in the a prairie with native plans up their shoulders on a rainy autumn day

Student collect seeds from native plants located in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve as part of a restoration project. Photo by Bryce Richter

Baby rhino, standing next to mom, stares into the camera
List of items to bring for a travelling lecture during study abroad in Kenya include: Hat, Sunscreen, Long Pants & Sleeved Shirt/Top, Close-toe Shoes, Drinking Water, Good Vibes, Emergency Medication as Relevant. Recommended: Camera (Careful not to take Pictures of People), Pen & Notebook, Snacks

Baby rhino and items listed to prepare for a travelling lecture while studying abroad with the School for Field Studies in Kenya. Photo by Michael Renner

Conservation Biology Major

Protect our planet. Shape our future.Graduation Mortar Board decorated with leaves, flowers and the words "Conservation Biology"

The Conservation Biology major is designed for passionate students who want to understand the natural world—and actively protect it. If you are independent, driven, and want the flexibility to build a personalized degree around your specific interests, you will find your community here.

Why Choose Conservation Biology?

Where Will Your Degree Take You?

The world needs conservation experts more than ever. Our graduates don’t just study the natural world—they actively manage and protect it.

Diverse Career Pathways

Our alumni pursue rewarding careers across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, including:

  • Wildlife & Land Management: Park rangers, game wardens, and natural resource managers.

  • Research & Recovery: Endangered species recovery, plant or wildlife biology, and ecological research.

  • Education & Advocacy: Environmental educators, artists, science communicators, and leaders at conservation organizations.

Prepped for Graduate Success

This major provides a foundation for advanced degrees. Many of our students go on to specialized graduate programs in high-demand fields like Environmental Conservation, Freshwater & Marine Sciences, or Professional GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

Empowering Citizens of the Natural World: Whether you see yourself as a hands-on field scientist or a policy changemaker, this major equips you with the rigorous scientific training and broad perspective needed to make a real difference.

See a sample 4-year course plan for the Conservation Biology major

Student Profiles

As a Conservation Biology student, your education extends far beyond the lecture hall. Fieldwork, study abroad, hands-on research, and internships don’t just complement your degree—they define it. Discover how these students built competitive resumes, gained real-world skills, and turned their passion into action.

Chloe Hansen

Credentials: Conservation Biology & Life Sciences Communication

Position title: Reasearch -UW Hua Lab, Research Presentation -World Congress of Herpetology, Malaysia

Nathan Ernst

Credentials: Conservation Biology and Life Science Communications

Position title: Summer Internship -sea turtle nesting and hatchling research

Nicole Adrian

Credentials: Conservation Biology and History

Position title: Study Abroad -DIS Copenhagen, Environmental Science of the Arctic

See more student profiles >>>

Land Acknowledgment

The University of Wisconsin–Madison occupies ancestral Ho-Chunk land, a place their nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE) since time immemorial. In an 1832 treaty, the Ho-Chunk were forced to cede this territory. Decades of ethnic cleansing followed when both the federal and state government repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, sought to forcibly remove the Ho-Chunk from Wisconsin. This history of colonization informs our shared future of collaboration and innovation.

Learn more through resources such as UW-Madison’s Our Shared Future  which represents UW–Madison’s commitment to respect the inherent sovereignty of the Ho-Chunk Nation and the other First Nations of Wisconsin. It is a first step that calls on each of us—faculty, staff, and students—to deeply consider our shared past and present with Indigenous peoples in this place, Teejop, and to make our own personal and institutional commitments to achieve a shared future.

Explore, Learn, and Reflect

Mapping Teejop is a digital mapping project that guides users on Indigenous walking tours of the UW-Madison campus, created through partnership between our American Indian & Indigenous Studies Program and the Department of Geography’s Cartography Lab. Mapping Teejop provides content and context for visitors to learn about Ho-Chunk and Native history and presence at the University of Wisconsin, a region long known as Teejop, and also opportunities for critical and self-reflection.