Natural Resources Management, AS

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The Associate of Science in Natural Resources Management equips students with skills in applied management and ecological fundamentals and features a hands-on, outdoor-focused, research-based curriculum. This degree is designed to allow students the option to transfer to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Forestry or Rangeland Ecology, Ecosystem Science and Management, or Environmental Restoration at a university. A Natural Resources Management degree allows students to pursue a career in both the public and private sectors.

Contact Information

Contact information is available on the Agriculture program website.

Map your individual academic plan of courses with your College Advisor.

If students choose to transition to another program within the Ag & Equine pathway, they should be particularly aware of the choice points that indicate when a decision to branch off into another program must be made to ensure credits and time are not lost.

Coursework common to all degrees within this pathway is indicated by CAC, Common Academic Coursework, in the program map.

Competencies

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Apply critical thinking with the appropriate academic and technical skills to problems faced in natural resources management.
Use effective and clear communications addressing key topics of natural resource management to persuade and inform others.
Work collaboratively with natural resource management communities of interest to in order to build consensus and accomplish natural resource management goals.
Conduct natural resource management activities that apply logical, reasoned, and scientifically based solutions to natural resources and goals.
Analyze the interrelationships between natural resources and humans.

First Semester

Choice Points

Students choosing to pursue degrees other than Natural Resource Management should make the appropriate course selections.

Course Requirements

ANSC 1010 - Intro to Animal Science Credits: 4 | CAC
STRT 1000 - Strategies for Success Credits: 3 | CAC
AECL 1000 - Agroecology Credits: 4 | CAC
ENGL 1010 - English Composition I Credits: 3 | CAC
MATH 1400 - College Algebra Credits: 3 | CAC

Milestones

Completion of AS and AAS Math and English requirements.
Completion of ENGL 1010 as a prerequisite for other courses.

Semester Total: 17 Credits

Second Semester

Course Requirements

COMM 2010 - Public Speaking Credits: 3 | CAC
Choose from an approved Creative Expression course Credits: 3
BIOL 1010 - General Biology Credits: 4
STAT 2050 - Fundamentals of Statistics Credits: 4
Choose from an approved U.S./Wyoming Constitution course Credits: 3

Milestones

Upon completion of this semester, the student will have completed the first year of the Natural Resources Management program.

Semester Total: 17 Credits

Third Semester

Course Requirements

AECL 2010 - The Ecological Web: Soils Credits: 4
REWM 2000 - Principles of Range Management Credits: 3
BIOL 2023 - Plant and Fungal Biology Credits: 4
OR
GEOL 1100 - Physical Geology Credits: 4
AGEC 1020 - Agricultural Economics II Credits: 3 | CAC

Semester Total: 14 Credits

Fourth Semester

Choice Points

Consult with faculty or advisor to make the best choice of Chemistry based on prior academic preparation and plans for future transfer.
Consult with faculty or advisor to make the best choice of based on plans for future transfer.

Course Requirements

Choose an approved Human Cultures course Credits: 3
CHEM 1020 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
OR
CHEM 1000 - Intro to Chemistry Credits: 4
BIOL 2022 - Animal Biology Credits: 4
OR
GEOL 1100 - Physical Geology Credits: 4
REWM 2400 - Range Ecosystems and Plants Credits: 4
OR
AECL 2395 - Agricultural Science Research Methods Capstone Credits: 3

Milestones

Completion of AS in Natural Resources Management degree.

Semester Total: 14-15 Credits

Program Credit Hour Total: 62-63 Credits

Program Information

The information below is intended to be a guide, and does not guarantee regional job placement, job availability, or a specific wage after completion of the program.

The AS in Natural Resources Management is intended for students who are wishing to transfer to a university and obtain a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Most of the potential jobs listed below require a student to transfer and continue their education at the next level.

Over one- half of the jobs in natural resources are with the federal, state, or local governments - many with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Private sector jobs can be within consulting firms or scientific research groups. Potential job opportunities for individuals with degrees in Natural Resource Management may include conservation officer or specialist, environmental or science educator, extension educator, field researcher, forest/rangeland/wildlife ecologist, GIS systems specialist, industrial ecologist, land-use planner, natural resource specialist, range manager, range conservationist, riparian/watershed specialist, or wetlands restoration specialist.

Additional information on careers in Natural Resource Management is available through Career Coach.

Transfer Information

The Natural Resource Management Associate of Science is well suited for transfer to a Bachelor degree program. Possible options at the Bachelor’s level include degrees in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management, Agroecology, Environmental Systems Science, Environment and Natural Resources, and Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management.