Careers in Ecology
Current relevant job and internship opportunities are compiled and emailed once a week to the Ecology Department job email listserv, and are collected on the department Job Board. All current Ecology students are included in this listserv and will receive all announcements. Students in other departments or community members who wish to receive announcements may email ecology@montana.edu to request to be added to the listserv.
There are many career options after graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences.
With Conservation Biology and Ecology, Fish and Wildlife Management and Ecology, and Organismal Biology Options
A variety of positions are available in the federal Departments of Interior or Agriculture with a major in these options. These agencies include the Forest Service, Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, or US Fish and Wildlife Service.
- With these major options you could enter positions at the GS-5 level and then be eligible for a GS-7 position with experience, probably after one year in the position. At present, this job market is fairly competitive, so candidates with a Master's degree may be given preference.
- These major options make you eligible for federal positions in the GS-400 series: Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series, including GS-486 Wildlife Biology, GS-408 Ecology, or GS-482 Fish Biology. Specific qualification standards, including course work, and the positions available can be found on the web at the following URL: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications. Additional graduate work or equivalent experience is required for federal research positions in this series.
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks requires a Master's degree for most career positions, though you would qualify for some technical or support positions with a Bachelor's degree.
A Biological Sciences major will find opportunities in Non-Government Organizations such as the Wilderness Society or Nature Conservancy.
You may also apply for a position in any number local, regional, and national offices for non-profit or for-profit groups that offer employment in a more specific area of interest, such as raptors or wetlands.
In addition, the strength of the Biological Sciences degree in these options will provide the background for entry into graduate programs for professional positions.
With the Biology Teaching Option
The Biology Teaching option certifies graduates to be qualified to teach secondary education biology. For more information on admission to the Teacher Education Program, Student Teaching, Licensure, Professional Expectations and more, please visit: The Teacher Education Page.
Career Links
Career Information
- Careers in Ecology - detailed information provided by The Ecological Society
- what kinds of jobs are available
- how to gain experience during college
- job outlook
- searching for jobs
- applying to graduate school - preparing well and getting accepted
- Environmental Consulting Career Advice - PM Environmental, Inc.
- National Park Service Employment: Volunteers, Temporary Jobs, & Careers
- State employment - directory of personnel offices by state
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Jobs
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks - Becoming a Warden
Government Agencies
- Bureau of Land Management
- National Park Service
- National Wildlife Refuge System
- Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
- Office of Migratory Bird Research
- U.S.D.A. Forest Service
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page
Graduate Programs
Job Postings
- American Fisheries Society Jobs Bulletin - temporary technicians to professional positions listed
- Conservancy of Southwest Florida - includes 6-9 month internships
- Conservation Job Board - jobs in fields related to conservation
- Earthworks - world wide opportunities
- Ecological Society's Job Listings - graduate positions and field positions listed
- Environmental Career Opportunities - a bimonthly subscription to environmental job listings
- Environmental Careers World - environmental and natural resources job information and career news
- EElinked - North American Association for Environmental Education
- Farm Link Montana - a free, searchable database of current listings forjobs, internships,and land opportunities in Montana.
- Federal Jobs
- Geography Jobs - jobs in the environment, GIS, academia and more
- Global Vision International - United Kingdom source of internationl careers
- Montana State University Career Services
- Ornithological Jobs - temporary work, graduate positions, and full-time positions working with bird
- Park Service
- Society for Conservation Biology jobs board
- Student Conservation Association - service and internship opportunities for young people to make a positive impact on the world around them
- Texas A&M - university job board
- Trout Unlimited - possible research positions
- U.S. Forest Service - Working With Us, jobs information page
- U.S. Forest Service - Job Opportunities Search site
- University of Montana - university job board
- Wildlife Conservation Society - job postings
- Wildlife Job Search - a Facebook page dedicated to posting current job opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
- AmeriCorps - Corporation for National & Community Service
- Earth Corps
- National Park Service
- NATUCATE - Internships abroad and volunteering in nature and wildlife conservation
- Peace Corps
- Student Conservation Association
- WWOOF - World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms: Linking volunteers with organic farms and growers