Fisheries and wildlife professionals are responsible for the conservation, protection, regulation, and management of our nation's fish and wildlife resources. Their management strategies provide for both consumptive (hunting, fishing) and non-consumptive uses (bird watching, non-game species enhancement, threatened and endangered species protection, and others). Students in the Fisheries and Wildlife major receive hands-on training with active demonstrations, problem-based exercises, community-based service learning opportunities, and experiential learning.

Students who successfully fulfill the requirements in the Fisheries and Wildlife major are prepared to enter postgraduate programs as well as competitively enter the work force. The curriculum reflects minimal civil service requirements of the federal government for wildlife and fisheries biologists and incorporates course requirements for certification in professional societies. By selecting one of the major's career-related options, graduates can also meet requirements for a variety of positions. The breadth of the curriculum prepares graduates to address complex environmental issues and to interact professionally with a multitude of natural resources disciplines to develop solutions to problems. Typical careers for graduates of this major include fisheries or wildlife biologists with private consulting firms and zoos, as well as with governmental resource management agencies at the local, state, federal, or international level.

With a professional degree in Fisheries and Wildlife, careers are possible in fisheries research and management, wildlife research and management, wildlife damage management, city planning and policy, refuge management, geospatial information services, marine biology, endangered species management, private lands habitat management or as a conservation officer, water quality specialist, park ranger, environmental educator or zoo keeper.