Conservation Law Enforcement

About the Program

As a Conservation Law Enforcement student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from faculty who have worked in the field and from a program that emphasizes hands-on learning! You will learn the necessary skills to be career-ready.

Officer Jess Combs speaks with dispatch over her cruiser's CB radio

Conservation Law Enforcement, BS

Dive deeper into UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in conservation law program.

Learn About Conservation Law

Conservation Law Enforcement, AA

Earn an Associate of Arts degree in Conservation Law Enforcement.

Learn about the Associate in Conservation Law

Employers who have hired our graduates include:

  • Maine Warden Service
  • Maine Forest Rangers
  • National Park Service
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Maine Depart. of Conservation
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Depart. of Homeland Security
  • Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
  • Bureau of Parks and Lands
  • Maine State Police
  • Local Police Departments
UMFK alumni Kale O'Leary, Game Warden

Potential employers include:

  • Maine Warden Service
  • Maine Forest Rangers
  • National Park Service
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Maine Department of Conservation
  • Fish & Game
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Bureau of Parks and Lands
  • Maine State Police
  • Local Police Departments (various)

Graduates have careers as:

  • Game Warden
  • Forest Ranger
  • Conservation Law Officer
  • Marine Patrol
  • State Trooper
  • Sheriff Deputy
  • Police Officer
  • Border Patrol Agent
  • Customs and Border Officer
  • Forester and Forestry Technician

Career Outlook and Earning Potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations and Employment Outlook

Job CodeJob Title
33-1012.00First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
33-1011.00First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
33-3021.01Police Detectives
33-3021.03Criminal Investigators and Special Agents
33-3051.01Police Patrol Officers
33-3051.03Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
33-3031.00Fish and Game Wardens
19-1031.02Range Managers
19-1023.00Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
43-5031.00Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers
33-9032.00Security Guards
33-3021.03Criminal Investigators and Special Agents

Program Requirements

  • BIO 204: Zoology
  • BIO 356: Vertebrate Biology
  • BIO 412: Mamalogy
  • CLE 100: Introduction to Conservation Law Enforcement
  • CLE 398: Conservation Law Enforcement Internship OR
    CLE 420: Conservation Law Enforcement Capstone
  • CRJ 101: Introduction to Criminal Law
  • CRJ 200: Introduction to Firearms
  • CRJ 210: Introduction to Defensive Tactics
  • CRJ 230: Wilderness First Aid
  • CRJ 260: Police Procedures
  • CRJ 313: Wildlife Forensics
  • CRJ 314: Principles of Investigations
  • CRJ 317: Forensics of Death Investigations
  • CRJ 318: Constitutional Law
  • CRJ 319: Interviewing Concepts in Modern Policing
  • CRJ 326: Introduction to Forensic Science
  • CRJ 346 Environmental Law
  • CRJ 419: Case Preparation & Resolution
  • ENV 302: Wildlife Conservation & Management
  • ENV 333: Fisheries Science
  • ENV 334: Wildlife Science
  • ENV 354: Wildlife Habitat Interactions
  • GEO 103: Global Positioning Systems
  • PHE 110: Fitness, Sport, and Health

Violette Wilderness Camp

Among the facilities students have access to

3.5 million acres

North Maine Woods

U.S. Fish and Wildlife

An example of where our graduates work today

Conservation Law Enforcement Spotlight

Meet the faculty and alumni who make this program so successful.

Faculty

Matthew G. Curran

Lecturer – Criminal Justice

Matthew Curran currently teaches criminal justice courses within the Associate of Arts and Bachelor of …

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Alumni

“I have had more hands-on learning experiences at UMFK than I have at any other educational institution. The professors are passionate about what they teach, and they want to see their students succeed.”

Connor McLain
Alumni

Jake Paris

I chose UMFK because of my major. UMFK is 1 out of 8 Conservation Law …

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Faculty

Stephen E. Hansen

Professor of Biology & Environmental Studies

Dr. Hansen earned his bachelor’s in forestry from the University of Toronto, his master’s in …

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Faculty

Neil P. Thompson

Irving Woodlands Forestry Associate Professor

Dr. Thompson is the Applied Forest Management program lead and advisor to incoming Forestry students. …

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Adjunct Faculty

Christopher Northrop

Christopher Northrop is a leading authority in the area of juvenile law. In 2006, he …

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Adjunct Faculty

Kale L. O’Leary

Kale O’Leary has served as a Maine Game Warden since 2016. He lives in Ashland …

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Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Environmental Studies

About the Program

As an Environmental Studies student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from hands-on learning, supportive and knowledgeable faculty as you prepare for careers to address local, regional, and global environmental issues. Opportunities to participate in research with faculty or on your own abound in our Living Labs!

Program Details

Dive deeper into UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in environmental science program.

Environmental Studies Degree

Environmental Studies Minor

Examine current environmental issues and prepare to craft sustainable solutions.

About the Minor

Employers who have hired our graduates include:

  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Mt. Desert Island Bio Labs
  • Natural Heritage program
  • Department of Environmental Protection
  • Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • National Park Service
iWillConservation Law

Potential employers include:

  • State agencies
  • Federal agencies
  • Public research labs
  • Universities or non-profit labs

Graduates have careers as:

  • Lab technicians
  • Forest rangers
  • GIS technicians
  • Fisheries technicians
  • Environmental Consultants

Career Outlook and Earning Potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations and Employment Outlook

Job CodeJob Title
19-2041.00Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
19-2041.01Climate Change Analysts
19-2041.02Environmental Restoration Planners
19-2041.03Industrial Ecologists
11-9121.00Natural Sciences Managers
11-9121.01Clinical Research Coordinators
11-9121.02Water Resource Specialists
19-1029.02Molecular and Cellular Biologists
19-1099.00Life Scientists, All Other

Program Requirements

  • BIO 100: General Biology
  • BIO 202: Botany
  • BIO 204: Zoology
  • BIO 339: Research Methods & Techniques
  • BIO 352: Ecology
  • BIO 380: Limnology
  • CHY 100: Chemistry I
  • CHY 101: Chemistry II
  • CRJ 346: Environmental Law
  • ENV 200: Principles of Environmental Science
  • ENV 300: Environmental Practicum   OR
    BIO 498: Senior Project
  • ENV 302: Wildlife Conservation & Management
  • ENV 310: Soil Science
  • ENV 404: The Dynamics of Water and Air
  • FOR 109: Dendrology
  • GIS 300: GIS Applications I with Lab
  • MAT 251: Statistics I

Restrictive Electives

Students will select 7 courses from a variety of subject areas: biology, criminal justice, English, environmental science, forestry, mathematics and physics.

Violette Wilderness Camp

Among the facilities students have access to

99%

Students who complete a research project before graduating

Department of Environmental Quality/Protection

An example of where our graduates work today

Environmental Studies Spotlight

Meet the faculty and students who make this program so successful.

Faculty

Stephen E. Hansen

Professor of Biology & Environmental Studies

Dr. Hansen earned his bachelor’s in forestry from the University of Toronto, his master’s in …

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Faculty

Kennedy F. Rubert-Nason

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Dr. Kennedy “Ned” Rubert-Nason is chemical ecologist with a Ph.D. in Molecular and Environmental Toxicology …

Read More
Faculty

Neil P. Thompson

Irving Woodlands Forestry Associate Professor

Dr. Thompson is the Applied Forest Management program lead and advisor to incoming Forestry students. …

Read More

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Biology

About the Program

As a biology student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from small classes, supportive faculty, and hands-on learning as you prepare for a rewarding career in the biological sciences. Opportunities include internships, research projects, and experiential field trips to places such as the Violette Camp in the Allagash Wilderness.

Biology Program

In the Biology program  you will choose elective courses that reflect your individual interests and career paths.  You will participate in a Field Experience Program as part of  your coursework.

Learn About the Biology Program

Biology Minor

The Biology minor provides an exploration within the biological field. Courses are offered for basic concepts as well as for application of the principles to a laboratory setting.

Learn About the Biology Minor

Employers who have hired our graduates in recent years include:

  • Jackson Lab
  • IDEXX
  • Mt Desert Isl. Bio Labs
  • Abbott Diagnostics
  • Natural Heritage program
  • Department of Environmental Quality/Protection
  • Forest Service
  • National Park Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
A group of Biology and Environmental Science students accompany their professor in the local woods as they learn about identifying various plants

Potential employers include:

  • Biotech industry
  • State agencies
  • Federal agencies
  • Public research labs
  • Universities or non-profit laboratories

Graduates have careers as:

  • Lab technicians
  • Forest rangers
  • GIS technicians
  • Fisheries technicians
  • Biological technicians

Career outlook and earning potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations

26.101 Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Job CodeJob Title
11-9121.00Natural Sciences Managers
11-9121.01Clinical Research Coordinators
11-9121.02Water Resource Specialists
19-1029.02Molecular and Cellular Biologists
19-1099.00Life Scientists, All Other

Program Requirements

  • BIO 100: General Biology I
  • BIO 202: Botany
  • BIO 204: Zoology
  • BIO 320: Genetics
  • BIO 339: Research Methods & Techniques
  • BIO 352: Ecology
  • BIO 353: General Microbiology
  • BIO 353L: General Microbiology Lab
  • BIO 498: Senior Project
  • CHY 100: Chemistry I
  • CHY 101: Chemistry II
  • CHY 310: Organic Chemistry I
  • GIS 300: GIS Applications I with Lab
  • MAT 251: Statistics I

Restrictive Electives

Students will select 10 courses from a variety of subject areas: biology, environmental science, forestry, mathematics and physics.

Bio Park/Arboretum

Among the facilities students have access to

99%

Students who complete a research project before graduating

Jackson Lab

An example of where our graduates work today

Biology Spotlight

Meet the faculty and students who make this program so successful.

Faculty

Kennedy F. Rubert-Nason

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Dr. Kennedy “Ned” Rubert-Nason is chemical ecologist with a Ph.D. in Molecular and Environmental Toxicology …

Read More
Faculty

Stephen E. Hansen

Professor of Biology & Environmental Studies

Dr. Hansen earned his bachelor’s in forestry from the University of Toronto, his master’s in …

Read More

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Forestry

About the Program

UMFK’s Forestry programs will provide you with the knowledge and hands-on learning experience you will need for a successful career in forestry.

  • You will work with forest owners to help them sustainably manage their land for wildlife, timber, and recreation.
  • You will conduct timber cruises, mark timber for harvest, plan roads and implement forestry best management practices
  • You will use science to develop forest management plans and manage timber harvesting operations.
  • You will help protect forests, preserve forest ecosystems, and wildlife habitats.
  • You will understand everything from forest ecology to soil science to wildlife management to forest operations and business.

Bryce Coffin, UMFK class of 2021, talks with an employee while standing in the woods near a feller buncher

SAF Accredited

There’s no better place to study forestry than the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Here’s why….

Location. We are located at the confluence of the Fish and St. John Rivers in the heart of Maine’s north woods and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. This provides opportunities for hands-on field work in a variety of forest ecosystems, forest ownerships, wildlife habitats, and rural land uses that are unmatched in the state, the northeast US, and the nation.

Affordability. We are the least expensive forestry school in the northeastern US and one of the most affordable in the country. In many cases, UMFK’s out-off-state tuition rate is lower than in-state tuition at forestry degree programs at other universities in the region.

Accreditation. UMFK’s A.A.S. in Applied Forest Management has long been accredited by the Society of American Foresters. As a new program, the B.S. in Forest Management builds on that successes and will be SAF-accredited once it has successfully passed through a period of candidacy.

Video: Forest Access Systems for Better Water Quality

Dr. Andy Egan, Professor of Forestry and Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professional Studies, examines the relationship between forest access systems and water quality. This video explores the principles of forest road construction and offers methods for constructing and maintaining these roads to minimize their impact on water quality.

Forest Access Systems video title screen

Forest Management – Bachelor of Science

The B.S. in Forest Management builds on the courses comprising UMFK’s A.S. in Applied Forest Management, adding courses like advanced silviculture and mensuration, forest finance and timber procurement and forest policy that broaden the curriculum’s overall focus on forest management.

BS in Forest Management
Professor Libin Louis works with a student in the forest

Applied Forest Management – Associate of Science

Prepare for a career in forestry with UMFK’s Applied Forest Management degree.

Applied Forest Management Details

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate

Earn a GIS Certificate, available on-campus or online. GIS provides a wealth of career opportunities. GIS can be applied to any field of study.

GIS Certificate Details

Minors

Customize your degree to match your career goals with one of these minors.

Forestry Minor

You will gain general knowledge of Maine’s most important natural resource and an understanding of forest biology and management.

Forestry Minor info

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Minor

With a GIS background you will have a competitive advantage easily find starting positions with government agencies or private firms.

GIS Minor Info

Career Opportunities in Forestry

This is a great time to seek a career in forestry! The ratio of jobs to graduates is at an all-time high, and that ratio is only expected to increase.

The Associate of Science (A.S.) in Applied Forest Management and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Forest Management respond to the increasing statewide and national demand for professional foresters. Data suggest that “forester jobs are in demand,” with a growth rate of five percent for the period 2018-28.

Graduates find work as:

  • Foresters
  • Forest technicians
  • Managers of forest operations
  • Rangers for federal and state agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and the Maine Forest Service
  • GIS specialists
A forester oversees the harvesting of trees

Meet UMFK’s Graduates

Alumni

Adam Bagley

Adam Bagley Maine Forest Ranger Applied Forest Management and Conservation Law Enforcement Graduate I chose …

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Alumni

Zachary Cox

Raised in a small mill town in downeast Maine, I knew I always wanted to …

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Alumni

Jon Haley

Having grown up in the St. John Valley, I knew from high school that I …

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Alumni

Jake Pliskaner

When I first graduated from high school in 2017 I decided to enroll in UMFK’s …

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Potential employers include:

  • Consulting foresters
  • Land management companies
  • Forest industry
  • Forestry, conservation, and agriculture departments of the state and federal governments.
  • Logging contractors
  • Timber and Fiber Procurement

Employers who have hired our graduates in recent years include:

  • U.S. Forest Service
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • American Forest Management
  • Irving Woodlands LLC
  • James W. Sewall Company
  • Landvest
  • Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
  • Maine Forest Service
  • Maine Land Use Regulation Commission
  • Seven Islands Land Company
  • Wagner Forest Management, Ltd.

Foresters

Foresters are responsible for the conservation of working forests. This means monitoring the health and directing the growth of forest stands where timber is harvested while following laws, best management practices, and scientific research to build and conserve habitats for fish and wildlife. Daily tasks vary according to the size and goals of the landowner or agency. A forester may provide comprehensive services to many small landowners or specialize in a particular aspect of forestry within a larger company or agency.

a forester uses spraypaint to mark the end of a log

Forest Technicians

Technicians carry out the day-to-day tasks of forestry. They provide skills in areas such as forest inventory, boundary surveying, timber marking, timber harvesting and road layout, and the supervision of harvesting, thinning, and planting crews. Students pursuing the Associate of Science in Applied Forest Management often stay on to complete a bachelors degree in Forest Management, Business Management or Environmental Studies.

Forestry student working in the woods

Forest Rangers

Forest rangers are in the business of forest protection.  Their job involves the detection, prevention, and suppression of forest fires and the monitoring of potentially damaging native and invasive insect populations.  Additionally, the job involves a great deal of public education. In some states, forest rangers are involved in prescribed burning. This is a forest management tool used in forest regeneration, to reduce fuels and fire potential, and to enhance wildlife habitat.

UMFK Adam Bagley Forestry Alumni

Forest Operations

Forest operators include equipment operators and crew supervisors. A recent trend has emerged where the forest industry is seeking forestry-educated individuals to run wood processors and other equipment. Several recent graduates are working in such positions. Others have become contractors and are running their own harvesting and operations companies. The UMFK business management major, coupled with a forestry degree, is a useful combination for individuals seeking careers in the business side of forestry. Both degrees can be completed in four years.

two forestry professionals on foresting equipment looking at a tablet computer

GIS/GPS Technicians

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) field continues to provide many career opportunities for our students and graduates. There has been an increased number of paid internships in GIS and global positioning (GPS) for our students. Graduates in forestry have enough background in GPS and GIS to qualify as technicians for the growing GIS Industry. GIS technicians perform digitizing (mapping), GPS data collection, and basic GIS tasks. State government and private corporations currently have openings for mapping or cartographic technicians.

UMFK GIS student working on their laptop in the science lab.

Program Requirements

  • BUS 211: Introduction to Business
  • CRJ 346: Environmental Law
  • ECO 100: Introduction to Macroeconomics
  • ENV 302: Wildlife Conservation and Management OR
    ENV 334: Wildlife Science
  • ENV 310: Soil Science
  • FOR 100: Introduction to Forestry
  • FOR 109: Dendrology
  • FOR 131: Spreadsheets for Natural Resource Professionals
  • FOR 132: Forest Protection I
  • FOR 203: Boundary Line Identification and Deed Research
  • FOR 208: Forest Products, Harvesting, and Transportation
  • FOR 226: Forest Operations
  • FOR 242: Map and LiDAR Interpretation
  • FOR 260: Forest Ecology
  • FOR 290: Forest Mensuration
  • FOR 330: Forest Protection II
  • FOR 332: Forest Inventory and Analysis
  • FOR 350: Forest Management Practicum
  • FOR 360: Silviculture
  • FOR 361: Silvics/Silviculture Lab
  • GEO 103: Introduction To Global Positioning Systems
  • GIS 300: GIS Applications I
  • MAT 128: College Algebra
  • MAT 251: Statistics I
  • SSC 327: Interpersonal Skills for Supervisors

Affordability

Least expensive forestry school in the northeastern U.S.

3.5 million acres

North Maine Woods

US Forest Service

One of our many internship opportunities

Forestry Spotlight

Meet the faculty who make this program so successful.

Faculty

Stephanie Landry, Ph.D.

Instructor of Forestry

Dr. Landry graduated with a PhD in biology from Universite du Quebec a Rimouski, Quebec. …

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Faculty

Libin Thaikkattil Louis, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Forestry

Dr. Louis received his Ph.D. in Forest Resources from the University of Maine in 2021. …

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Faculty

Neil P. Thompson

Irving Woodlands Forestry Associate Professor

Dr. Thompson is the Applied Forest Management program lead and advisor to incoming Forestry students. …

Read More
Staff

Samantha Beaulieu

Natural Sciences Laboratory Manager Forestry & Environmental Studies Program Assistant

I chose UMFK because it is a small, tight-knit campus, being a non-trad student I …

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Dean

Andrew Egan

Dr. Andrew Egan serves the University of Maine at Fort Kent as Dean of Arts …

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Faculty

Kennedy F. Rubert-Nason

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Dr. Kennedy “Ned” Rubert-Nason is chemical ecologist with a Ph.D. in Molecular and Environmental Toxicology …

Read More
Faculty

Stephen E. Hansen

Professor of Biology & Environmental Studies

Dr. Hansen earned his bachelor’s in forestry from the University of Toronto, his master’s in …

Read More

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.