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2014-2015 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management

Requirements for a Major in Natural Resources Management

B.S. Degree Cognate Requirements:

B.S. cognate requirements:

NRM Major: Completion of 33 additional NRM course credits, including:

NRM Cognate Requirements: Completion of 26 to 27 additional credits, including:

Cognate Electives: Completion of at least 10 to 11 additional credits to reach a minimum total of 40 cognate credits:

Elective cognate courses selected from the list below must be taken with the consultation and approval of the student's academic advisor.

Limits:

Emphases (optional):

1. Ecosystem Science and Management:

This emphasis is designed for students interested in a career in the traditional biological and ecological areas of natural resources management. These courses will prepare students for entry-level professional positions, graduate study, and community involvement in a variety of natural resources fields. The emphasis ensures that students build complementary strengths in the ecology and management of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and that they develop skills in supporting quantitative and spatial analysis methods. In order to meet the requirements for this optional emphasis, students must complete:

B.S. Degree Cognate Requirements:

Same as general degree requirements.

NRM Major: Completion of 33 additional NRM course credits, including:

NRM Cognate Requirements:

Same as general degree requirements.

Cognate Electives: Completion of 10 or 11 additional credits to reach a minimum total of 40 cognate credits:

Select at least ONE course from EACH of the following cognate groups:

Plant Taxonomy and Identification:

Aquatic Sciences:

Wildlife Biology:

Any additional cognate credits should be taken from the list of cognate electives for the general degree with the consultation and approval of the student's academic advisor.

2. Environmental Science:

This emphasis is designed for students interested in a career in the areas in which traditional natural resources management and environmental science overlap, while providing an integrated and broad education not limited to these areas. Making environmental decisions requires scientific knowledge about the natural world, as well as an understanding about the ways in which humans interact with the natural world. Students selecting this emphasis will examine effects of human actions on the environment and the means by which policies, regulations, and decisions inuence human actions. Graduates are likely to pursue careers in field or laboratory science with research institutions, regulatory agencies, nonprofit organizations, or private consulting firms that highlight environmental quality. In order to meet the requirements for this optional emphasis, students must complete:

B.S. Degree Cognate Requirements:

Same as general degree requirements.

NRM Major: Completion of 33 additional NRM course credits, including:

NRM Cognate Requirements:

Same as general degree requirements, with the following constraints and additions:

Cognate Electives: Completion of at least five (5) additional credits:

The elective courses from the list below must be taken with the consultation and approval of the student's academic advisor.

3. Resource Analysis Methods:

This emphasis is designed for students interested in careers that apply quantitative and spatial analysis methods to sustainable environmental and natural resources management. An understanding of geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, computerized data management, and statistical analysis have increasingly widespread applications in environmental and natural resources management. This emphasis will enable students to specialize in the use of these quantitative and spatial analysis techniques to support problem solving, decision making, and policy development. The emphasis retains flexibility so that students can build complementary strengths in areas of natural resources such as soils, forests, wildlife, watersheds, or policy. In order to meet the requirements for this optional emphasis, students must complete:

B.S. Degree Cognate Requirements:

Same as general degree requirements.

NRM Major: Completion of 33 additional NRM course credits, including:

NRM Cognate Requirements:

Same as general degree requirements.

Cognate Electives: Completion of at least 10 to 11 additional credits to reach a minimum total of 40 cognate credits:

Complete ONE of the following GROUPS of cognate courses:

Computer Science:

Statistics:

Spatial Methods:

Three courses from the following:

Any additional cognate credits should be taken from the list of cognate electives for the general degree with the consultation and approval of the student's academic advisor.

Associate Wildlife Biologist Certification

This professional track is designed for students who intend to pursue a career in wildlife biology and management. Completion of this track will provide students with the necessary coursework for certification by The Wildlife Society (www.wildlife.org) as an associate wildlife biologist. This course work will also prepare students for entry-level positions in wildlife biology/management or entry into graduate school.

The curriculum is designed to provide a skill-set based on a broad scientific knowledge, understanding of natural resource management principles, and communication skills. This base along with the hands-on skills learned in classes prepares students for a successful career as wildlife professionals. A sampling of wildlife career options can be found at www.wildlife.org/.

Wildlife Society certification is a professional track rather than an academic emphasis. For the most up-to-date requirements and a recommended schedule of courses to complete the certification, please refer to the NRM program website (www.gvsu.edu/biology/nrm).

Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Natural Resources Management

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Natural Resources Management Program Description

Click here for the program description.


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