College Field Programs

You do not have to be enrolled in a university to take these courses, and in fact, the University of Montana credit and associated fees are optional.

We frequently have recently graduated students and nontraditional students in our college field programs.

In Wildlife in the West generally, about 70%-100% of our students are enrolled in a university and 50%-100% are traditional students (19-22 years old).

In our weeklong Wildlife Tracks and Sign course, about 50% of the students are enrolled in college and the other 50% are professionals and retirees.

In Master Naturalist we tend to see a smaller percentage of traditional college age students and the majority of the participants are professionals and retirees.

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Yes! Learn about our scholarships here.

We accept Americorps Segal Education Award vouchers and Montgomery/Post9/11 GI Bill®* education awards. If you are eligible for either of these options and intend to use them for tuition, please let us know as soon as possible because processing of these awards can take some time. While Swan Valley Connections is not itself a Title IV school, our courses are offered for credit through the University of Montana, with credits being processed through UM's School of Extended and Lifelong Learning.

*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

For Wildlife in the West prospective students can fill out a short, free application here.

You will then be contacted by a Swan Valley Connections(SVC) staff to schedule a brief phone interview. This interview is an opportunity for the prospective student to ask questions about the program, and for SVC staff to get to know the student. We are looking for students that benefit from the personal and professional growth that Wildlife in the West offers.

For Master Naturalsit and the weeklong Wildlife Tracks and Sign course you can simply register on the course pages. There will be a fee due at the time of registration.

No! All you need is a curious mind. All of our classes will cover foundational material related to the subject matter and build in complexity.

Our courses are designed to enrich both those who work in and study conservation and those who are completely new to the subject.