Conservation Biology Major

You’ll find a strong emphasis on the biology of organisms and ecosystems along with the application of modern scientific approaches to environmental problems and their connections to human activities when you study conservation biology at SUNY Cortland. It also was one of the first programs of the kind offered at the undergraduate level.

Career Potential

Biologist with state and federal agencies
Conservation biologist with non-profit organization
Ecologist
Environmental analyst
Naturalist at national and state parks
Wildlife ecologist

Internships and Research

You’ll enjoy many internship opportunities across the country and overseas. Recent internships included:

Prairie restoration ecology in Illinois
Sea turtle research in Florida and Costa Rica
Conservation education at the Belize Zoo
Invasive plant management at Lime Hollow Center for the Environment and Culture
Endangered species steward in NY State Parks
Naturalist at NY State Park
Water quality research in Onondaga County
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Special Features

Hoxie Gorge

Field facilities as part of the W.H. Parks Family Center for Environmental and Outdoor Education include:
- Hoxie Gorge Nature Preserve located seven miles from the College
- Antlers and Camp Huntington in the Adirondacks
- Brauer Field Station near Albany
Faculty dedicated to providing quality education and research opportunities include:
- Tim Baroni, biodiversity of fleshy fungi
- Steven Broyles, plant pollination ecology
- Patricia Conklin, molecular genetics
- Peter Ducey, herpetology and soil animal ecology
- Terrence Fitzgerald, entomology
- Angela Pagano, aquatic ecology
- MaryBeth Voltura, small mammal ecology
If you participate in a research project, you may find yourself presenting your scientific findings at local and regional professional meetings.
Study and work in our state-of-the-art classroom and research facility.