The Natural Resources major encompasses interdisciplinary sciences that prepare students to manage and conserve the environment.  Practical hands-on training, frequent field trips, exciting outdoor summer employment, and internships are hallmarks of the program.  Students complete a core of common integrative natural resource and science courses, and then develop strengths by choosing one or more of the concentrations.

Beyond the core courses, students can enroll in a range of courses that provide technical and management skill. More advanced students are encouraged to enroll in independent study during which they work individually with faculty members on specialized research or management projects. Students also have the opportunity to gain academic credit through internships with governmental agencies and other natural resource organizations.

Competency Requirements: Students successfully completing the courses listed below will have met their General Education information literacy exit requirements for this major.  Students gain additional computer technology competency in the fields of geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) data collection and processing.  Students will gain these competencies by passing Introduction to Geomatics. Students passing Natural Resources Planning & Management will satisfy the writing competency requirement within the major.

All Natural Resources majors must pass the following core requirements:

• Environmental Science, Introduction to Geomatics, Natural Resources Measurements, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Planning & Management, Seminar
• Principles of Biology (BIOL 1107 also offered as BIOL 1108) or Introduction to Botany
• Chemical Principles and Applications or Fundamentals of General Chemistry I or General Chemistry
• Precalculus or Calculus I
• Environmental Soil Science and Soils Lab or Earth’s Dynamic Environment
• General Physics or General Physics with Calculus
• Elementary Concepts of Statistics

A minor in Wildlife Conservation is described in the Minors section.

A plan of study lists graduation requirements and helps students track their progress toward earning a degree.