Customize Your Degree to Your Interests
Majors & Degrees
Emphasis Areas Give You the Opportunity to Focus on Your Passion
Whether your interest is wildlife, climate change, conserving oceans or another aspect of sustainability, a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources can help you get there.
Collaborate with faculty experts, staff, and fellow students who share your passion for exploring the wonders of the natural world and making a positive impact. You will acquire a solid foundation in conservation and natural resources management and then apply this knowledge to one of six core areas of focus: Conservation Biology; Ecology, Management and Restoration of Rangelands; Fisheries Conservation and Management; Global Change Ecology and Management; Watershed Management and Ecohydrology; or Wildlife Conservation and Management.
Conservation Biology Emphasis
Get ready to make a difference in the world of conservation with our Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Conservation Biology! This program allows you to delve into the fascinating world of conservation across different species and scientific disciplines. You'll have the opportunity to take courses in policy, planning, and economics to support your studies.
Working closely with your advisor, you'll create a customized course plan that includes both required core and elective courses. Choose from a variety of exciting conservation biology course options such as Conservation Biology, Marine Ecology and Conservation, Ecosystem Health and Justice, and more.
Our program also offers unique courses like Conservation Genetics and Climate Change Adaptation, giving you a well-rounded education in the field of conservation biology.
Ecology, Management & Restoration of Rangelands Emphasis
The Ecology, Management and Restoration of Rangelands emphasis equips students for a wide range of exciting career options, including working alongside government agencies, non-profit organizations, conservation groups, and private landowners.
This emphasis provides a unique opportunity to delve deep into the study of diverse rangeland environments, including deserts, grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, and meadows. You will gain the skills necessary to inventory soils, plants, and animals to develop resource management plans with agencies or private firms. You will be prepared to contribute to the restoration of degraded lands or take on the challenge of managing a ranch or preserve.
Creating a personalized course plan that aligns with your ambitions is a collaborative effort between you and your dedicated adviser. Together, you will select from an array of required core and elective classes such as Rangeland Plant Communities, Conservation of Natural Environments, and Field Botany among others.
Fisheries Conservation & Management Emphasis
In the Fisheries Conservation and Management emphasis, your studies will be focused on the captivating world of fish and other aquatic organisms. This degree program equips you with the knowledge and skills needed for a rewarding career centered around the biology of fish and aquatic species, as well as their intricate relationships with one another, humans, and the environment that comprises their habitats.
Your future profession might entail operating and overseeing a fish hatchery, conducting innovative research, enhancing and conserving habitats, utilizing computer modeling, monitoring and testing for pollution, enforcing environmental regulations, or engaging in various other activities aimed at preserving ecological well-being. Visit the Careers page to learn more.
Working closely with your advisor, you will have the chance to create a customized course plan that encompasses both required core classes and elective options. You will have the opportunity to select from an array of classes such as Aquatic Plants and the Environment, Wildland Water Quality, Fishery Management, Herpetology, and more.
Global Change Ecology & Management Emphasis
Are you passionate about climate change? With a focus on Global Change Ecology and Management, you can embark on a sustainability career dedicated to addressing the ongoing transformations in the natural world.
This degree emphasis equips you for the role of a natural resources scientist or manager, encompassing subjects in the biological, physical, and socio-economic sciences. As a leader in the field of natural resources, you will tackle ever-evolving ecological changes from a global standpoint.
Collaborating with your advisor, you will develop a customized course plan comprising essential core and elective classes such as Climate Change Adaptation, Global Sustainability and Natural Resources, Environmental Law and Economics, and more!
Watershed Management & Ecohydrology Emphasis
The Watershed Management and Ecohydrology emphasis offers an exciting opportunity to delve into the study of wildland water resources. You will gain the skills and knowledge needed to excel in roles related to land and water management, as well as environmental conservation.
In this emphasis area, you will explore the intricate relationship between dryland ecohydrology and vegetation dynamics and gain insights into watershed hydrology. You’ll also study the preservation of wildland water quality and begin to understand the complicated dynamics of fire and wildlands.
Prepare yourself for an exciting journey where you'll not only deepen your understanding of the intricacies of wildland water resources but also contribute to the sustainable management and protection of these invaluable natural treasures.
Wildlife Conservation & Management Emphasis
Take your passion for wildlife to new heights with a degree that empowers you to make a tangible difference in the protection and conservation of our natural world. With an emphasis in Wildlife Conservation and Management, you’ll have a unique opportunity to specialize in the study of wild animals.
With this degree emphasis, you can embark on a fulfilling career where you'll make a real difference. Imagine improving the conditions for declining or endangered species, managing populations of animals that are hunted or fished, or enforcing crucial wildlife conservation laws. You could also pursue a career conducting surveys of plants and animals, overseeing and enhancing wildlife refuges, or leading groundbreaking research initiatives.
Natural Resources Sample Courses
Below are just a few of the courses you can choose from as a Natural Resources major.
- RNR 150C1 Sustainable Earth: Natural Resources and the Environment
- RNR 195A Careers in Conservation: Wildlife, Plants and Water
- RNR 230 Field Botany
- RNR 355 Introduction to Wildland Fire
- RNR 440 Climate Change Adaptation
- WFSC 385 Zoo and Aquarium Conservation
- WFSC 444 Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and Management