ESF Academic Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management
The Natural Resources Management (NRM) program is structured to introduce students to a wide range of renewable natural resources (soils, water, vegetation, wildlife, recreation), while maintaining substantial flexibility for student-centered learning in understanding and managing natural systems. It is based on a vision that combines professional competency in management skills with a strong foundation in the social and biophysical sciences.
The program develops professional skills that employers tell us are the most important traits they look for in new employees. These traits are developed through a broad base of classes in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, communication, and quantitative and qualitative problem-solving skills. The majority of work scheduled during the first two years (lower division) is in these areas. This major prepares students to be well-rounded natural resources managers.
Natural resources management offers a wide variety of employment opportunities. Our graduates are working throughout the United States as professional natural resource managers in private industry, public agencies, and for nonprofit organizations. Their duties can range tree care to recreation planning to environmental education to water and soil resource conservation, to name a few.
The educational program, leading to the professional degree in Natural Resources Management, is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF) under Natural Resources and Ecosystem Management.
Lower Division Required Courses
| Course Number | Course | Codes * | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| APM 103 OR APM 104 |
Applied Algebra & Trigonometry College Algebra & PreCalculus |
G | 3 3 |
| APM 210 | Intro/Probability&Stats | G | 3 |
| EFB 100 | Survey of Biology | G | 4 |
| ESF 200 | Information Literacy | 1 | |
| EWP 190 | Writing And The Envrnment | G | 3 |
| EWP 220 | Public Presentation Skills | 3 | |
| EWP 290 | Research Writing & Humanities | G | 3 |
| FCH 110 AND FCH 111 OR FCH 150 AND FCH 151 |
Survey of Chemical Principles Survey/Chemical Principles Lab General Chemistry I General Chemistry I Lab |
G | 3 1 3 1 |
| FOR 132 | Orientation Seminar: SRM | 1 | |
| FOR 110 | Environmental Physics | G | 3 |
| FOR 207 | Introduction to Economics | G | 3 |
| FOR 232 | Natural Resources Ecology | G | 3 |
| FOR 360 | Principles of Mgmt/Envrn Prof | 3 | |
| FOR 372 | Fund/Outdoor Recreation | 3 | |
| LSA 233 | Plants in the Landscape | 3 |
Lower Division General Education Courses
| Course | Codes* | Credits |
| General Education Course in one of the following categories: US History & Civic Engagement, The Arts, World History and Global Awareness, World Languages |
G | 3 |
| General Education Course in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice | G | 3 |
| Sociology or Psychology Course One course from EST 203, SOC 101 or PSY 205. |
3 |
Upper Division Required Courses
| Course Number | Course | Codes * | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESF 300 | Intro/Geospatial Info Tech | 3 | |
| FOR 205 | Principles of Accounting | 3 | |
| FOR 304 | Adirondack Field Studies | 4 | |
| FOR 322 | Nat Res Measuremnts & Sampling | 3 | |
| FOR 333 | Natural Resrc Managerial Econ | 3 | |
| FOR 345 | Introduction to Soils | 3 | |
| FOR 465 | Natural Resources Policy | 3 | |
| FOR 475 | Recreation Behavior &Managemnt | 3 | |
| FOR 485 | Business and Managerial Law | 3 | |
| FOR 490 | Integrated Resources Mgt | 3 |
Upper Division Directed Elective Courses
| Course | Codes* | Credits |
| Vegetation Management Directed Elective (see list below) | 3 | |
| Technical Writing Directed Elective Directed Elective (see list below) | 3 | |
| Water Resources Directed Elective Directed Elective (see list below) | 3 | |
| Wildlife or Fisheries Course Directed Elective (see list below) | 3 - 4 | |
| Specialized NRM DIrected Elective: Two upper division courses with a Natural Resources focus (see list below) |
6 | |
| Free electives | 21 |
Specialized NRM Directed Electives
Vegetation Management
- FOR 334 Silviculture
- FOR 433 Advanced Silviculture
- FOR 480 Urban Forestry
- FOR 481 Introduction to Arboriculture
Policy and Law
- FOR 487 Environmental Law and Policy
- FOR 489 Natural Resources Law
Human Dimensions
- EST 353 Behavior Change and the Environment
- EST 366 Environmental Ethics
- EST 370 Introduction to Personal Environmental Interpretation Methods
- EST 390 Social Processes and the Environment
- EST 474 Advanced Interpretation and Environmental Education
- FOR 421 Practical Ethics for Resource Managers F
Water Resources
- EFB 424 Limnology: Study of Inland Waters
- EFB 542 Freshwater Wetland Ecosystems
- FOR 340 Watershed Hydrology
- FOR 442 Watershed Ecology and Management
- GEO 422 Water: Environment, Society and Politics
Wildlife or Fisheries
- EFB 390 Wildlife Ecology and Management
- EFB 413 Introduction to Conservation Biology
- EFB 484 Mammalian Winter Ecology
- EFB 487 Fisheries Science and Management
- EFB 502 Ecology & Management of Invasive Species
Geospatial Information Technology (GIT)
- EAR 410 Applications of GIS in the Earth Sciences
- ERE 365 Principles of Remote Sensing
- GEO 381 Cartographic Design
- GEO 482 Environmental Remote Sensing
- FOR 458 Advanced Topics in GIS
Sustainable Energy
- SRE 325 Energy Systems
- SRE 416 Sustainable Energy Policy
- SRE 422 Energy Markets and Regulations
- SRE 441 Biomass Energy
- SRE 454 Renewable Energy Finance and Analysis
- SRE 479 Life Cycle Assessment
Total Minimum Credits for Degree: 122