Two students working in the field

Conservation Biology

About Our Program

Nature is your classroom in our conservation biology program. As protecting the world’s natural resources and wildlife becomes increasingly important, you’ll learn how to conduct research and effectively communicate with a wide range of audiences to influence positive environmental change. 

While other aspects of conservation may focus on cleaning up superfund sites, policy directives on climate change, and other environmental factors that impact humans, conservation biology focuses on conserving nature by protecting species, their habitats, and their ecosystems.

Whether you’re examining moss in the Adirondack Park, collecting samples on local bodies of water, or studying mammals on the shorelines of Cape Cod, you’ll work side-by-side with faculty who are just as passionate about conservation biology as you are.

Program Offerings

  • Major

Department

Learning Experiences to Prepare for Your Career

With an emphasis on learn-by-doing field experiences, you’ll develop the skills needed to preserve and protect the world’s biological diversity.

Center for the Environment 

We've combined our environmentally focused programs and bold new initiatives to create a brand new Center for the Environment–your hub for all things climate change, energy, conservation, sustainability, environmental justice, outdoor leadership, and more.

Explore the Center for the Environment 

Research

Dig deeper into conservation topics or pressing issues through research, either during the semester or as part of a paid summer fellowship. You may even get to conduct research using wild game cameras like Kate Andy ‘20 and Donovan Spaulding ‘19. With the help of local residents, they identified animals captured on film as they traveled through the North Country. 

Senior Year Research Capstone 

Showcase your research with a senior-year capstone presentation. Kayla Edmunds ’21 and Cole Weigartz ’21 examined the conflict between green energy infrastructure and wildlife conservation by surveying members of the North Country community. They used the data they collected to propose potential solutions to environmental impact.

Explore Research at St. Lawrence

Nature Up North

This community-based organization housed at St. Lawrence connects people to the North Country environment through citizen scientist projects and outdoor adventures -- and it offers internship and volunteer opportunities for conservation biology majors like you. 

Sustainability Program 

Environmentally conscious students of any major can apply for this unique year-long program where you’ll live and work on our organic farm.

Internships

Learn by doing in a real-world environment. Our majors intern with a wide range of organizations, including: 

  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Laikipia Wildlife Forum
  • Genesee County Park and Forest
  • Westerly Land Trust
  • Wildlife Conservation Society
  • Local Ocean Conservation
  • DEW Haven Zoo and Animal Rescue

Explore Internships

Volunteering

You can also gain experience while making a difference through service work. Conservation biology majors have volunteered at wildlife sanctuaries, local farms, and in our Nature Up North program.

Explore Volunteer Opportunities

Global Perspectives

Choose from more than 30 semester-long programs offered in more than 20 international locations, including Kenya, New Zealand, Australia, and Denmark.

The Adirondack Semester

Live off-the-grid in a remote yurt village: forage food, cook meals, enjoy the wilderness and take classes like nature writing and environmental ethics.  

Short-Term Trips & Field Experiences

In addition to semester- and year-long programs, you’ll also have the chance to participate in short-term travel study trips with faculty members.

Explore Study Abroad Programs

Connecting with Community

Among the 150+ clubs and organizations at St. Lawrence, you’ll find many that involve the outdoors, wildlife and environmental advocacy, including: 

  • Outing Club
  • Environmental Action Organization 
  • Northern Mushroom Club
  • SLU Ducks Unlimited
  • CLAW - Connecting Laurentians Around Wilderness
  • The Finer Things Cheese and Turophile Society
  • Seed to Table
  • St. Lawrence River Alliance
  • Hunting and Fishing Club
  • The Greenhouse
  • Club Alpine Ski Team
  • Model U.N. 
  • Campus Kitchen
  • Divestment Club
  • Geology Club
  • Euphrates Institute
  • SLU Legal

Explore Student Life at St. Lawrence

Alumni Network 

St. Lawrence graduates are big thinkers, problem solvers, and fearless leaders at companies and organizations across the country and world. Our alumni network is the second-most influential source for recent graduate employment (only behind internships).

Explore the Power of our Alumni Network

Outcomes

Equally entrepreneurial, there are those Laurentians whose idea of the “office” is hosting a wedding on a classic sailing sloop, sustainably harvesting salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska, or digging up delicious potato varietals while restoring North Country soils. The outdoors in every Laurentian is not an accident; these examples show how the business of the outdoors comes with great responsibility.

Graduates from the conservation biology program have pursued careers in:

  • Land Conservation

  • Parks and Recreation
  • Education
  • Americorps
  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Government
  • Energy Efficiency

Explore Outcomes

Why St. Lawrence for Conservation Biology

96%

of St. Lawrence graduates majoring in a science field are employed or continuing their education within a year

Three people walking on a mountain

Adirondacks

Nearly 9,400 square miles of lakes, rivers, trees, and mountains in our natural research lab-- the Adirondack Park.

93%

of recent grads completed an experiential work or learning experience

including campus jobs, research, and Community-Based Learning

#2

oldest collegiate outdoor club in the nation

A professor and student stand in a tall green grass field and examine a specimen they have just captured using a large butterfly net.

Center for the Environment

Our brand-new Center for the Environment is a hub of environmental leadership, scholarship, and action. 

Learn More About CFE

Graduates from the conservation biology program have pursued careers in:

  • Land Conservation
  • Parks and Recreation
  • Education
  • Americorps
  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Government
  • Energy Efficiency

A student, sitting on a yellow and blue striped hammock set between two large trees, works on a laptop during a sunny day on campus. Several students sit in the grass on the quad in the background.

Official Tree Campus

A student-faculty research project found that St. Lawrence's campus tree population is growing—with special emphasis on planting trees that are native to the North Country. The Arbor Foundation recognized our commitment to maintaining and growing green spaces by naming us a Tree Campus. 

20 miles

miles from the Adirondack Park and St. Lawrence River

Class outside
1:1

Tree-To-Student Ratio

At St. Lawrence, there’s a tree with your name on it (at least for four years). 

Jessica Normandeau, wearing bright red rubber waders, holds two large silver salmon while standing on a boat deck.

Alumni at Work: The Great Outdoors

Laurentians' passion for the outdoors is no accident. These examples show how the business of the outdoors comes with great responsibility that creates impactful careers.

Read About Adventurous Alums

94/99

Our Green College Rating

The Princeton Review, 2021

More Program Information

Program Requirements & Courses

Explore conservation biology major requirements, as well as electives.

Complementary and Related Programs

If you’re interested in conservation biology, you might also like these programs.

A student and professor stand in a lush green field. The student is holding a large net while the professor examines the specimen they discovered.

Center for the Environment

We've combined our environmentally focused programs and bold new initiatives to create a brand new Center for the Environment–your hub for all things climate change, energy, conservation, sustainability, environmental justice, outdoor leadership, and more.

Explore the Center for the Environment 

Faculty member teaching class on a dock

Into the Environment

Local family farms. The North Country’s wilderness. Urban centers. Majoring in environmental studies at St. Lawrence means you’ll venture out of the classroom often.

Laurentians by a body of water

Nature Up North

This community-based organization housed at St. Lawrence connects people to the North Country environment through citizen scientist projects and outdoor adventures -- and it offers internship and volunteer opportunities for conservation biology majors like you.

Students walking in front of the Wachtmeister Field Station

Wachtmeister Field Station

Take the wetlands to the workbench in our research station built with sustainability in mind.

Get More Information

We’re excited to learn more about you, tell you more about our interdisciplinary academic programs, show you around our beautiful campus, and help you navigate your college search.

Apply to St. Lawrence

We’re looking for curious students who are eager to make a difference. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications and consider all aspects of your application and what we learn about you.