Natural Resources

¹At least 10 of the 16 units must come from NATR courses.

The Environmental Conservation Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus general education requirements, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See ARC graduation requirements.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• apply scientific methodologies and critical analysis to environmental investigations.
• evaluate natural resource systems, including their past and present use and management, and future sustainability.
• analyze social, ethical, and biological implications of environmental management alternatives.
• identify ecological phenomena in one's everyday experiences and apply ecological principles to understand local, national, and global environmental issues.
• assess the relationships of plants and animals to their environment and to each other.
• measure, analyze, and monitor biological and physical components of the environment.
• evaluate basic land survey, water quality, soils, vegetation, and wildlife data.
• examine the significance of biodiversity conservation.

An increasing number of sectors of the labor market in California, the U.S., and beyond, require knowledge and skills emphasizing conservation and management of plant and animal populations and their habitats, sustainable resource use, and an enhanced understanding of the environment. This program prepares students for entry-level work in a variety of industries and settings, including private firms, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Students receive not only rigorous instruction in the theory and application of environmental sciences, but also unique hands-on training.

¹must be transfer-level and must include one laboratory course in a physical science and one laboratory course in a biological science

The General Science Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus general education requirements, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See ARC graduation requirements.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• evaluate new and accepted ideas about the natural universe using scientific methods.
• analyze a wide variety of natural phenomena using basic definitions and fundamental theories of biological or physical sciences.
• apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods to interpret and analyze pertinent data.
• outline the basic concepts and fundamental theories of a natural science.
• articulate orally and/or in writing the importance of continuous examination and modification of accepted ideas as a fundamental element in the progress of science.
• discuss ethical components of scientific decision making and apply personal and social values within the process of decision making in scientific endeavors.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• apply the scientific method and critical analysis to environmental investigations
• evaluate natural resource systems, including their past and present use and management and future sustainability
• analyze social, ethical, and biological implications of environmental management alternatives
• identify ecological phenomena in one's everyday experiences and apply ecological principles to understand local, national and global environmental issues
• assess the relationships of plants and animals to their environment and to each other
• measure and analyze the physical environment of plant and animal populations
• evaluate basic land survey, water quality, vegetation, and wildlife data
• examine the significance of biodiversity conservation
• analyze aspects of fish evolution and ecology important to their management and synthesize basic parameters of fish population dynamics in terms of rate functions and limiting factors
• analyze function and dynamics of freshwater and marine communities, emphasizing those in temperate North America, and their associated fisheries management issues
• interpret fisheries management data, define management problems and stakeholders involved, and suggest appropriate strategies to reach management objectives

This program prepares students for entry-level fisheries ecologist aide/technician positions in a variety of industries and settings, including private firms, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Students receive not only rigorous instruction in the theory and application of environmental sciences but also unique hands-on training in fisheries ecology, conservation, and management. Students prepare for positions in areas such as fisheries conservation and management, basic fish biology research, and aquatic habitat restoration.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• apply the scientific method and critical analysis to environmental investigations
• evaluate natural resource systems, including their past and present use and management and future sustainability
• analyze social, ethical, and biological implications of environmental management alternatives
• identify ecological phenomena in one's everyday experiences and apply ecological principles to understand local, national, and global environmental issues
• assess the relationships of plants and animals to their environment and to each other
• measure and analyze the physical environment of plant and animal populations
• evaluate basic land survey, water quality, vegetation, and wildlife data
• examine the significance of biodiversity conservation
• examine technological, geographic, socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental considerations of alternative forms of energy production
• investigate theoretical and practical aspects of sustainability in the context of energy consumption, transportation systems, food production, water resources, industry, the built environment, and socio-cultural institutions and practices

This program prepares students for entry-level sustainability consultant/technician positions in a variety of industries and settings, including private firms, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Work opportunities for program graduates include positions in environmental economics, sustainable business practices, green building, as well as sustainable communities, food systems, energy, and transportation.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• apply the scientific method and critical analysis to environmental investigations
• evaluate natural resource systems, including their past and present use and management and future sustainability
• analyze social, ethical, and biological implications of environmental management alternatives
• identify ecological phenomena in one's everyday experiences and apply ecological principles to understand local, national and global environmental issues
• assess the relationships of plants and animals to their environment and to each other
• measure and analyze the physical environment of plant and animal populations
• evaluate basic land survey, water quality, vegetation, and wildlife data
• examine the significance of biodiversity conservation
• assess the structure and function of vegetative communities of California
• interpret plant keys and develop skills in their use in plant identification
• collect and prepare a plant collection of representative native California plants
• analyze plant adaptations and environmental gradients in a variety of ecosystems
• investigate the implications of plant conservation, restoration, and community management alternatives

This program prepares students for entry-level plant ecologist aide/technician positions in a variety of industries and settings, including private firms, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Students receive not only rigorous instruction in the theory and application of environmental sciences but also unique hands-on training in plant identification, ecology, conservation, and management. Skills developed support student preparation for positions related to plant taxonomy, dendrology, research and management (e.g., of California endemics, unique environments such as vernal pools, invasive species, etc.) and environmental restoration.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• apply the scientific method and critical analysis to environmental investigations.
• evaluate natural resource systems, including their past and present use and management and future sustainability.
• analyze social, ethical, and biological implications of environmental management alternatives.
• identify ecological phenomena in one's everyday experiences and apply ecological principles to understand local, national and global environmental issues.
• assess the relationships of plants and animals to their environment and to each other.
• measure and analyze the physical environment of plant and animal populations.
• evaluate basic land survey, water quality, vegetation, and wildlife data.
• examine the significance of biodiversity conservation.
• apply and compare various wildlife habitat and population assessment techniques across a variety of environmental settings.
• interpret wildlife population data and construct a population model, evaluating alternative wildlife management decisions based on computer-simulation results.
• evaluate alternative wildlife management decisions in the context of ecosystem dynamics as well as and social/cultural and economic considerations.

This program prepares students for entry-level wildlife biologist aide/technician positions in a variety of industries and settings, including private firms, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Students receive not only rigorous instruction in the theory and application of environmental sciences but also unique hands-on training in wildlife ecology, conservation, and management. Participants develop skills appropriate for positions dealing with aspects of wildlife such as population sampling and monitoring, data analysis, and management/conservation of threatened, endangered, and invasive species of wildlife.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• apply scientific methodologies and critical analysis to environmental investigations.
• evaluate natural resource systems, including their past and present use and management, and future sustainability.
• analyze social, ethical, and biological implications of environmental management alternatives.
• identify ecological phenomena in one's everyday experiences and apply ecological principles to understand local, national and global environmental issues.
• assess the relationships of plants and animals to their environment and to each other.
• measure, analyze, and monitor biological and physical components of the environment.
• evaluate basic land survey, water quality, soils, vegetation, and wildlife data.
• examine the significance of biodiversity conservation.

An increasing number of sectors of the labor market in California, the U.S., and beyond, require knowledge and skills emphasizing conservation and management of plant and animal populations and their habitats, sustainable resource use, and an enhanced understanding of the environment. This program prepares students for entry-level work in a variety of industries and settings, including private firms, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Students receive not only rigorous instruction in the theory and application of environmental sciences, but also unique hands-on training.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• apply the scientific method and critical analysis to environmental investigations
• evaluate natural resource systems, including their past and present use and management and future sustainability
• analyze social, ethical, and biological implications of environmental management alternatives
• identify ecological phenomena in one's everyday experiences and apply ecological principles to understand local, national and global environmental issues
• assess the relationships of plants and animals to their environment and to each other
• measure and analyze the physical environment of plant and animal populations
• evaluate basic land survey, water quality, vegetation, and vertebrate wildlife data
• investigate restoration ecology theory and assess and apply restoration practices to real-world environmental restoration problems
• identify global and emerging environmental issues and evaluate potential impacts and possible solutions
• examine biodiversity in terms of biological structure, composition, and function at the genetic, species, ecosystem and landscape levels
• apply fundamental biological and ecological concepts to the examination of critical biological conservation issues

This program prepares students for entry-level conservation/restoration aide/technician positions in a variety of industries and settings, including private firms, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Students receive not only rigorous instruction in the theory and application of environmental sciences but also unique hands-on training in conservation and restoration. Potential job opportunities include work in the areas of survey/monitoring of threatened and endangered species and habitats, planning and execution of restoration projects, climate change adaptation for human communities, conservation advocacy, and other fields.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• apply the scientific method and critical analysis to environmental investigations
• evaluate natural resource systems, including their past and present use and management and future sustainability
• analyze social, ethical, and biological implications of environmental management alternatives
• identify ecological phenomena in one's everyday experiences and apply ecological principles to understand local, national and global environmental issues
• assess the relationships of plants and animals to their environment and to each other
• measure and analyze the physical environment of plant and animal populations
• evaluate basic land survey, water quality, vegetation, and wildlife data
• examine the significance of biodiversity conservation
• analyze important characteristics, processes, and stressors of population, community, and ecosystem dynamics of forest/rangeland environments
• evaluate social, ethical, and biological implications of forest/rangeland conservation and management alternatives, including impacts of grazing and forestry

This program prepares students for entry-level forest/rangeland ecologist aide/technician positions in a variety of industries and settings, including private firms, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Students receive not only rigorous instruction in the theory and application of environmental sciences but also unique hands-on training in forest/rangeland ecology, conservation, and management. This program prepares students for work in forestry, conservation, land management, grassland and forest ecological research, and other fields.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• apply the scientific method and critical analysis to environmental investigations
• evaluate natural resource systems, including their past and present use and management and future sustainability
• analyze social, ethical, and biological implications of environmental management alternatives
• identify ecological phenomena in one's everyday experiences and apply ecological principles to understand local, national and global environmental issues
• assess the relationships of plants and animals to their environment and to each other
• measure and analyze the physical environment of plant and animal populations
• evaluate basic land survey, water quality, vegetation, and wildlife data
• examine the significance of biodiversity conservation
• describe the hydrologic cycle in both natural and urban environments, including key characteristics of surface water and groundwater resources and the interactions between these
• investigate the components of integrated water resources planning and management, including evaluation of water policy initiatives and determination of water rights
• analyze future water sustainability scenarios under uncertain conditions, including impacts of drought and climate change

This program prepares students for entry-level water resources aide/technician positions in a variety of industries and settings, including private firms, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Students receive not only rigorous instruction in the theory and application of environmental sciences but also unique hands-on training in water resources conservation and management, preparing them for positions in environmental consulting and planning, water conservation, hydrological research, and other fields.