Southwestern's Natural Resources program provides students with an introduction to the technical and scientific knowledge related to natural resource policy and management. Students can prepare for careers in natural resource planning, management, conservation and education roles with government agencies, non-governmental organizations and in educational settings.
The program guide lists the required courses for the AS degree. The program guide also lists recommended electives appropriate for the field. For more info, check out the Southwestern's Forestry/Natural Resources webpage.
Southwestern has a formal articulation agreement with Oregon State University (OSU) aligning this AS Natural Resources Emphasis degree with OSU's Natural Resources Bachelor of Science degree, Watershed Management option. Students that complete the AS degree with Natural Resources emphasis at Southwestern will satisfy most lower division courses required for the bachelor's in Natural Resources, Watershed Management option.
Following completion of the AS Natural Resources Emphasis degree, students may transfer to OSU with 90 or more credit hours (up to 124 can be transferred). Southwestern courses in the AS Natural Resources emphasis are listed in the articulation agreement. AS Natural Resources graduates transferring to OSU have junior standing with only (a) upper division Synthesis and WIC requirements of the Baccalaureate Core to be completed, and (b) upper division courses associated with the Natural Resources degree program. For specific details on the articulation of these degrees see the University Center staff.
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 103 credit hours with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses in this program must be completed with a 'C' or better. Twenty-four (24) credits must be completed at Southwestern before the AS degree is awarded.
Courses that are developmental in nature, designed to prepare students for college transfer courses, are not applicable to this degree.
Complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).
Pre-Program Courses
Students are required to take the following courses prior to the program courses, depending on students' college placement information. See advisor for details:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIS120 | Concepts of Computing | 4 |
| MTH111 | College Algebra | 4 |
| or MTH111H | College Algebra w/Honors | |
| WR90 | Paragraph Fundamentals (or placement in higher writing course) | 3-4 |
| or WR90R | Academic Literacy | |
Program Guide
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BI101 | General Biology | 4 |
| CHEM221 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| MTH112 or MTH112H |
Trigonometry or Trigonometry w/Honors |
4 |
| NR201 | Managing Natural Res for the Future | 3 |
| WR121 or WR121H |
English Composition or English Composition w/Honors |
3 |
| Credits | 19 | |
| Winter | ||
| BI102 | General Biology | 4 |
| G202 | Physical Geology II 1 | 4 |
| PHL102 | Ethics | 3 |
| WR227 | Report Writing | 3 |
| English Literature Course 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| BI103 | General Biology | 4 |
| MTH243 | Intro to Probability and Statistics | 4 |
| NR180 | Internship: Natural Resources | 1-3 |
| NR260 | Watershed Processes | 4 |
| PE231 | Wellness for Life | 3 |
| Credits | 16-18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENV235 | Introduction to Soil Science | 4 |
| G201 | Physical Geology I 1 | 4 |
| GEOG265 | Intro to Geographical Info Systems | 3 |
| PH211 | Gen Physics w/Calculus I | 5 |
| MTH251 or MTH251H |
Calculus I Differential Calculus or Calculus I w/Honors |
4 |
| Credits | 20 | |
| Winter | ||
| ECON201 | Microeconomics | 4 |
| F222A | Elementary Forest Surveying | 4 |
| F250 | Forest Biology | 4 |
| MTH252 or MTH252H |
Calculus II Integral Calculus or Calculus II w/Honors |
4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| F241 | Dendrology | 5 |
| GEOG209 | Physical Geography Weather/Climate | 4 |
| HST203 | History of the United States | 3 |
| SP111 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 103-105 | |
| 1 | Requires concurrent course of G145 Regional Field Geology or G0250 Field Geo: |
| 2 | Choose from: ENG104 Introduction to Literature Fiction, ENG105 Introduction to Literature Drama, or ENG106 Introduction to Literature Poetry. |
The following courses are recommended, but are not part of the degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH230 | Native North Americans: Oregon | 3 |
| ANTH231 | Native North Americans: PNW | 3 |
| ANTH232 | Native North Americans | 3 |
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program the student will be able to:
- Integrate technical “field” skills with analytical skills to identify important natural resources problems and begin to identify effective solutions for these problems.
- Acquire knowledge regarding a range of natural resources current issues, social and political components of resource management.
- Work with experts in a variety of natural resource fields.
- Apply watershed management principles and practices to actual natural resources issues and problems to develop plans and solutions.