The Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife (FFW) major prepares students for addressing conservation concerns related to the restoration of ecosystems, habitats, and plant and animal species. This major attracts students who have a desire to work outdoors and conduct research. Students learn the complex interactions between humans and the environment and engage in hands-on learning through courses to gain tactile skills for managing forests, wildlife, or aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems to meet competing needs for resources.
Forestry, wildlife, and aquatic specialists address the biological principles and socio-economic aspects of managing forest lands, freshwater and coastal ecosystems, and fish and wildlife, and look for ways to incorporate landscape restoration and habitat conservation into their practices.
Specializations
All FFW students take a core set of courses related to understanding both natural and human dimensions of the environment. Students build on this foundation by delving into one of three areas:
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences: Study the ecology of aquatic organisms and the freshwater environments they live in. Students in this specialization gain a strong foundation in physical sciences and actively engage in classroom, laboratory, and field activities in streams, rivers, wetlands, and lakes.
Forest Ecosystem Science and Management: Learn how to manage forests for competing needs, including timber production, wildlife habitat, recreation, and more to promote holistic ecosystem health. The forestry specializations at Ohio State are accredited by the Society of American Foresters.
Wildlife Science: Learn techniques for managing and studying wildlife and the complexities behind establishing wildlife management goals. Courses in this specialization offer field-based learning and train students in best management practices for wildlife populations through coursework in wildlife biology, zoology, botany, forestry, policy and law, and communications.
Wildlife and Pre-Veterinary Sciences: Study wildlife population dynamics, best management practices for animal habitats, and species physiology, while taking all the chemistry and biology courses necessary for veterinary school.
In addition to specializations noted above, students have the option to pick an interdisciplinary specialization that combines Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences or Forestry and Wildlife.
Career Outcomes
On average, 93% of FFW students are employed or enrolled in graduate or professional school within six months of graduation with a reported average starting salary around $40k. Typically, 12% of FFW graduates go directly into graduate or professional school.
The specializations in this major are accredited by professional organizations in their respective job sector. The two forestry curriculums include the coursework that is required for professional certification by the Society of American Foresters. Students completing the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences specialization are eligible for certification through the American Fisheries Society. The Wildlife Science Specialization provides the necessary credentials to become an Associate Wildlife Biologist through The Wildlife Society.
Here are some examples of positions acquired by FFW graduates immediately following graduation between 2018 and 2023:
Forestry specializations—positions acquired by recent grads:
Forestry Technician, American Conservation Experience, California
Wildland Firefighter, Bureau of Land Management, Montana
Forestry Specialist, City of Upper Arlington, Ohio
Utility Vegetation Management Technician, Davey Tree Expert Company, Ohio
District Conservationist, Logan County Soil & Water Conservation District, Ohio
State Land Management Forester, ODNR – Division of Forestry, Ohio
Forestry Technician, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon
Fisheries specializations—positions acquired by recent grads:
Aquatic Biologist, AQUA DOC Lake & Pond Management, Ohio
Wetland Consulting Intern, MAD Scientist Associates, Ohio
Hatchery & Facilities Manager, Rockwell Springs Trout Club, Ohio
Biological Technician, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, North Dakota
Fish & Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Georgia
Fisheries Technician, U.S. Geological Survey, Michigan
Wildlife specializations—positions acquired by recent grads:
Environmental Educator & Beekeeper, Appalachian Headwaters, West Virginia
Wildlife Manager, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida
Veterinary Assistant, Healthy Pets of Rome-Hilliard, Ohio
Seasonal Avian Point Count Technician, Klamath Bird Observatory, Oregon
Natural Resources Technician, ODNR – Division of Wildlife, Ohio
Wildlife Officer, ODNR – Division of Wildlife, Ohio
Zoo Show Naturalist, World Bird Sanctuary, New York
Selected graduate programs pursued by FFW students upon graduation between 2018-2023:
Auburn University, Fisheries Science
Duke University, Environmental Management
The Ohio State University, Veterinary Medicine
The Ohio State University, Environment, Ecology, and Organismal Biology
Pennsylvania State University, Ecology
