Environmental Science (BS) - Natural Resources
The Natural Resources concentration is for students who are interested in conservation and how Earth's biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, geologic materials, and surface processes are interconnected with policy.
This program of study has more biology, conservation, and policy electives than the other majors in GES, so if you are interested in a career within the interdisciplinary fields of conservation, environmental policy, energy systems, public health, GIS (land surface mapping and remote sensing), natural resource management, urban planning, sustainability, etc., this program of study is best for you.
If you want a more technical career in climate research, climate change mitigation (technical solutions rather than policy solutions), risk management, natural hazards, water quality/quantity, etc., this program of study does not have sufficient math or physics classes for career advancement and we recommend that you major in either geology (regular BA/BS, or geology with a concentration in quantitative geoscience), or environmental science with a concentration in either earth systems science or quantiative environmental science.
The Natural Resources concentration prepares students well for graduate programs where calculus and physics classes are typically not required, such as law school or graduate programs in public health, geography, policy, social science, etc. If you want to continue your post-graduate education in the physical or biological sciences, this program of study does not have sufficient calculus or physics classes to set you up for success and we recommend some of our other programs of study in GES.
Since it is so interdisciplinary, it is important to refer to the What Should I Major In? page to make sure that this program of study actually prepares you for the career you want.
Natural Resource Electives - Lab Classes at the 2000 level and higher:
The Natural Resources program of study requires 15 credit hours of elective lab classes at the 2000+ level.
These lab classes include:
BIO 2000 - Introduction to Botany (4)
BIO 2001 - Introduction to Zoology (4)
BIO 3302 - Ecology (4)
BIO 3313 - Global Change Ecology (4) [WID]
BIO 3340 - Dendrology (4)
BIO 4240 - Aquatic Biology (4)
BIO 4513 - Plant Biotechnology (4)
BIO 4551 - Ornithology (4)
BIO 4552 - Entomology (4) [WID]
BIO 4555 - Plant Physiology (4)
BIO 4556 - Mycology (4)
BIO 4557 - Ichthyology (4)
BIO 4559 - Mammalogy (4)
BIO 4560 - Herpetology (4)
BIO 4567 - Lichenology (3)
BIO 4569 - Invertebrate Zoology (4)
BIO 4571 - Plant-Insect Interactions in Terrestrial Ecosystems (4)
BIO 4575 - Ecotoxicology (4) [CAP]
BIO 4620 - Landscape Ecology (4)
CHE 2210 - Quantitative Analysis (3) with CHE 2211 - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory (1)
CHE 4620 - Environmental Chemistry (4) [CAP]
GES 3025 - Principles of Paleontology (3)
GES 3810 - The Reef Environment and Geology of Modern Carbonate Systems (3)
GES 3140 - Quantifying Environmental Change (3)
GES 3160 - Introduction to Geophysics (3)
GES 3170 - Critical Zone Science (3)
GES 3810 - The Reef Environment and Geology of Modern Carbonate Systems (3)
GES 3857 - Field Course in Geology and Environmental Science (1-3)
GES 4630 - Hydrogeology (3)
GES 4705 - Engineering Geology (3)