Natural Resources Technology, Associate
Program Description
The natural resources technology program stresses the acquisition of field skills necessary for success in a natural resources agency or organization, as well as the theoretical foundations for these skills. This practical knowledge is enriched by course materials which emphasize communication skills along with the links between society, economics, policy and the natural resource base. This program can be taken as a stand alone two-year program, can constitute the first half of the bachelor of science in parks and recreation management, or it can be used in conjunction with a three-year criminal justice program to prepare a student for a career in conservation law.
All natural resource technology students are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one summer of work or volunteer experience in the natural resource field to gain the professional experience and contacts they will need to begin their careers.
Continuing education to bachelor’s degree program — The high degree of competition in the natural resource field makes the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree highly desirable. Programs which join well with the NRT degree are the parks and recreation management degree, the fisheries & wildlife degree and the 2+3 criminal justice degree programs or the conservation biology major. These programs lead to careers such as conservation officer, park naturalist, expedition leader, guide or recreation specialist.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Knowledge – NRT Graduates have working knowledge of basic tenets of natural resource management.
- Skills – NRT Graduates are able to demonstrate competency in skills necessary to collect natural resource information.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| BIOL 132 | General Biology: Organisms | 4 |
| NRES 203 | 3 | |
| EVRN 131 | Introduction to GIS and GPS | 3 |
| MATH 111 | College Algebra | 3 |
| NSCI 103 | Environmental Science | 3 |
| NSCI 104 | Environmental Science Lab | 1 |
| RECS 101 | Int Recreation/Leisure Service | 3 |
| GEOL 121 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| or NSCI 102 | Gr Lakes Region: Geology & Res | |
| CHEM 108 & CHEM 109 | Applied Chemistry and Applied Chemistry Lab | 4-5 |
| or CHEM 115 | General Chemistry I | |
| Resource Management | ||
| Select nine credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Soil Science | ||
| Principles Forest Conservation | ||
| Principles of Watersheds | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Limnology | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Human Impacts on Environment | ||
| Historical Geology | ||
| Earth Materials | ||
| Geochemical Systems | ||
| Hydrologic Sys: Sur/Grd Water | ||
| Land Mgmt Recreation Purposes | ||
| Skills/Certification | ||
| Select nine credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Fld Bio Fish Wldlife Ecol/Iden | ||
| Plant Science: Ident/Diversity | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Intermediate GIS | ||
| Environmental Health Apps | ||
| Environmental Research Methods | ||
| Wildland/Rural Fire Control | ||
| Structural Geology Systems | ||
| Geoenvironmental Systems | ||
| Introduction to Field Geology | ||
| Geophysical Systems | ||
| EMED 188 | Wilderness First Responder | 2-3 |
| or EMED 189 | Medical First Responder | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Total Hours | 48-50 | |
General Education: All LSSU Associate’s degree candidates must complete the LSSU General Education Requirements.
A minimum of 62 credits (at the 100 level or higher) must be earned for graduation with a cumulative gpa of 2.00 or higher. A gpa of 2.00 or higher is also required in your Major, as well as in your General Education Requirements.