Conservation and Resource Management Certificate of Achievement

The Conservation and Resource Management Certificate of Achievement offers students a practical approach to ecological management practices. Students learn basic concepts of environmental science, are prepared for more specialized coursework, and establish minimum qualifications for entry-level employment. Students in the Conservation and Resource Management program will:

  • Build a solid foundation in the principles of ecology, and then learn to apply them to solve environmental problems.
  • Focus on habitat restoration, natural resource conservation and management, water quality and watershed analysis, outdoor education, urban planning, and vegetation surveys.
  • Participate in field trips and field-based courses to sites around the Bay Area.
  • Prepare for the following careers: Environmental educator, environmental consultant, habitat restoration technician, watershed analyst, parks maintenance technician, ranger, naturalist, ecologist.

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Program Learning Outcomes

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

1. Articulate the history of the conservation movement in the U.S. (with particular emphasis on California) and put the current state of natural resource management in its proper historical context.

2. Explain basic principles of ecology and how these principles are used in management and stewardship of natural spaces.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of how parks and other public natural spaces operate and function.

4. Demonstrate practical field skills used in the management and stewardship of natural resources.


Certificate Courses

Required Courses (25 units; number of units in parentheses)

  • BIOL 015 Environmental Biology (3)
  • ENVMT 476F Occupational Work Experience in Environmental Management and Technology (3)
  • ENVMT 001 Environmental Careers (1)
  • ENVMT 002 Introduction to Sustainable Environmental Systems (4)
  • ENVMT 055 Principles of Conservation and Land Management (3)
  • ENVMT 056 Management of Public Parks and Natural Resources (3)
  • ENVMT 057 Park Operations Practices and Skills (4)
  • GEOL 021 Bay Area Field Studies (1)
  • ENVMT 012 or AFRAM 038 Environmental Racism and Justice (3)

Major Elective Courses (Choose 2 units)

  • ENVMT 008 Introduction to Outdoor Education (3)
  • ENVMT 014 Environmental Impact Reports (2)
  • ENVMT 39C Geographical Information Systems Applications (4)
  • ENVMT 044 Introduction to Creek and Watershed Restoration: General Aspects (3)
  • LANHT 081 Arborist Equipment Fundamentals (2)

Interdisciplinary Elective Courses (Choose 2 units)

  • ART 166 Beginning Botanical Drawing (2)
  • BIOL 005 Botany (4)
  • BIOL 009 Marine Biology (4)
  • BIOL 029 Introduction to Biodiversity (4)
  • BIOL 060A Natural History of the Bay Area: The Local Parks (0.5)
  • BIOL 060B Natural History of the Bay Area: Mt. Diablo State Park (1)
  • BIOL 060C Natural History of the Bay Area: Herpetology (2)
  • BIOL 60E Natural History of the Bay Area: Biogeography (2)
  • BIOL 061E Natural History of the Tide Pools of the Greater Bay Area (0.5)
  • BIOL 061H Natural History of the Bay Area: Butterflies and Moths (2)
  • BIOL 061I Natural History of the Bay Area: Bryophytes (2)
  • BIOL 061K Natural History of the Bay Area: Lichens (2)
  • BIOL 062S Natural History of the Islands of California (2)
  • BIOL 080A Raptors of Central California and the Bay Area (0.5-2)
  • BIOL 080B Bird Songing: The Ecology of Bird Songs and Identification by Ear (0.5-2)
  • BIOL 080C Fundamentals of Ornithology and Birding in Central California/Bay Area (0.5-2)
  • GEOG 001 Physical Geography (3)
  • GEOL 001 Introduction to Physical Geology (4)
  • GEOL 012 Environmental Geology (3)
  • LANHT 002 Plant Materials: Tree ID and Culture with Lab (Day) (3)
  • LANHT 002E Plant Materials: Tree ID and Culture (Evening) (3)
  • LANHT 005A Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) (3)
  • LANHT 005B Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) (3)
  • LANHT 005EA Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) (3)
  • LANHT 005EB Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) (3)
  • LANHT 010 Insect Pests (3)
  • LANHT 016 Soil Management (3)
  • LANHT 023 Plant Terminology (2.5)
  • LANHT 053 Alpines Lab (1)
  • NATAM 076E California Indian Ecology on the Central Coast (1.5)

Total Units for Certificate: 29


Model Curriculum

The following table provides a suggested sequence of courses through which a student could earn the Certificate within 2 years: Year 1

1st Semester Fall Courses Units 2nd Semester Spring Courses Units
ENVMT 12 3 ENVMT 2 4
BIOL 15 3 ENVMT 55 3
    Major Elective 2
Total Semester Units 6 Total Semester Units 9
Total Units Completed To Date 6 Total Units Completed To Date 15

Year 2

3rd Semester Fall Courses Units 4th Semester Spring Courses Units
ENVMT 1 1 GEOL 21 1
ENVMT 56 3 ENVMT 57 4
Interdisciplinary Elective 2 ENVMT 476F 3
Total Semester Units 6 Total Semester Units 8
Total Units Completed To Date 21 Total Units Completed To Date 29

Get in touch!

For questions, contact NHS Program Director Ben Nelson at bnelson@peralta.edu