Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Career Guide
Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths
Explore our Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.
Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.
Unlock career potential in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.
Menu of Experiences
Sample Internship Sites
Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.
- Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
- Annis Water Resources Institute
- Michigan Nature Association
- The Nature Conservancy
- Hamlin Lake Preservation Society
- Resource Solutions Environmental
- National Park Service
- Blandford Nature Center
- West Michigan Environmental Action Council
- Ottawa Country Parks and Recreation
Join A Student Organization
Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Club
Biology Club
Student Environmental Coalition
Wildlife Society
Soil and Water Conservation Club
Beekeeper Club
Student Organizations
Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills
Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.
Environmental Remote Sensing Certificate
Grant Writing
Research
Public speaking
GIS Certificate
Sustainable City and Regional Planning Certificate
Sustainable Food Systems Certificate
NRM 230, NRM 415, NRM 430 - Fire Certification
Community Service Opportunities
Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.
The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.
Civic Engagement Center
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Study Abroad Options
Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.
Imagine learning about the delicate marine ecosystems of coral reefs while living on the coast of Australia, taking classes about the ecology of the rainforest and its exotic inhabitants in Costa Rica, or conducting field work in the Amazon. Study abroad opens up opportunities around the world for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences students to get a firsthand look at ecosystems drastically different than our own as well as access to global natural resource management styles.
Undergraduate Scholar Engagement
Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.
The Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement (CUSE) provides opportunities for undergraduate research and scholarship.
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Career Spotlights
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Spotlight
There are not any Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Spotlight at this time.
- Fisheries Biologist - U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service
- Fish Biologist (Environmental Compliance, Hydropower) - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Freshwater Turtle Biologist - Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game
- Conservation Field Technician - John Ball Zoo
- Fish Biologist - U.S. Forest Service
- Fisheries Biologist - GEI Consultants, Inc.
- Invasive Species Strike Team – Ottawa Conservation District
- Conservation Worker – Ann Arbor Nature Area Preservation
- Fisheries Technician - Annis Water Resources Institute
- Biological Technician – Clearwater Fish Hatchery
- Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator – Manistee County
- Wetland, Stream, Agricultural, NEPA Specialist – Michigan Department of Transportation
Attend Events
Career Community- STEM
Alumni Perspectives in STEM
March 11, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
An opportunity for students to learn from alumni about navigating the post-college career landscape in the STEM field. Panelists include: Thomas Gidus - Class of 2023 - Data analyst...
JCPenney Suit Up - Winter 2025
March 23, 2025 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
All Grand Valley students and alumni are invited to attend a GVSU/JCPenney Suit-Up Event! This event will include options to participate virtually or in-person. In-person: Come to JCPenney at RiverTown...
Consider joining the STEM Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
Beyond Undergraduate: Graduate or Professional Programs
Students with a Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences degree may continue on to a graduate program. Here are some examples of programs students have pursued:
- Natural Resources Management
- Forestry
- Wildlife Biology
- Environmental Science
- Public Policy
- Sustainability
- Genetics
- Marine Biology
- Medical Science
Discover More
Join a Career Community
Watch Videos of Professionals In the Field
Check out our podcast!
Career Center Resources
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.