Program

Associate of Applied Science in Wildlife Resources Management

The Wildlife program at Hocking College is a hands-on, experience-based curriculum.  Students actively learn and practice field skills here that they will only hear about in other more traditional wildlife management programs.  In addition, students leave our program with a strong conceptual understanding of wildlife management, ecology, and conservation, as well as botany and plant ecology and identification, and natural resources as a whole.  Skills learned include wildlife, fish and plant field and lab identification; wildlife field data collection techniques such as survey, capture, radio telemetry, habitat and population sampling; and other general field skills such as map reading, watercraft operation and natural resources equipment operation.

The Wildlife Resources Management degree is designed for students interested primarily in seeking employment in fish and wildlife careers after acquiring their two-year associate degree. Most positions with Ohio county and state parks, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife, require a two-year wildlife degree.

Program Outcomes

The following outcomes are skills, behaviors, and attitudes cultivated in students seeking the Associate of Applied Science Wildlife Resources Management:

• Demonstrates technical skills and techniques in wildlife management to work effectively in diverse settings;
• Applies biological knowledge and skills to manage wildlife habitat and populations;
• Collects, analyzes, interprets, and applies wildlife/fish population and habitat data;
• Communicates effectively in writing and speech with public and other natural resources professionals;
• Models ethical, leadership, and supervisory skills;
• Interprets, applies, and communicates natural resources law and policy; and,
• Demonstrates math skills for utilization in practical fields, and other wildlife  applications.

Curriculum

Career Opportunities

The Wildlife Resources Management degree will qualify you for entry-level jobs such as county wildlife officer, fish or wildlife technician, park naturalist, and county soil and water conservation district wildlife specialist positions in Ohio, plus some technician and assistant jobs with other state and federal agencies.

Occupation Profile