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Natural Resources Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)

  • Describe ecological processes, including human impacts that influence ecosystem change, natural succession and the future sustainability of natural resources. 
  • Characterize natural resources and be able to quantify at least one of these resources.
  • Envision desired future conditions in an area to achieve a set of natural resource-related objectives, prescribe management actions needed to achieve those objectives, and evaluate success of these actions.
  • Describe how the use, management, and allocation of natural resources are affected by laws, policies, economic factors (both market and non-market), and characteristics (including demographic, cultural, ethnic, and “values” differences) of private and public resource owners and users.
  • Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with audiences of diverse backgrounds.
  • Work effectively with, and within, interdisciplinary and diverse groups to resolve management problems and achieve management objectives.

Only two courses used to complete the Natural Resources major requirements may be taken S/U.
A Specialty Option is required for the Natural Resources major.

Course List
Code Title Credits
Major Requirements  
Interdisciplinary Foundations  
FES 485 *CONSENSUS AND NATURAL RESOURCES 3
NR 201 MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE FUTURE 3
NR 202 NATURAL RESOURCE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS 3
NR 455 NATURAL RESOURCE DECISION MAKING 4
Advanced Communication  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

COMM 321

INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION THEORY  

COMM 322

SMALL-GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING  

COMM 324

COMMUNICATION IN ORGANIZATIONS  

COMM 326

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION  

COMM 328

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION  

COMM 385

COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE IN CYBERSPACE  

COMM 440

THEORIES OF CONFLICT AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT  

COMM 442

BARGAINING AND NEGOTIATION PROCESSES  

FES 430

FOREST AS CLASSROOM  

FW 489

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS IN FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE SCIENCE  

GEOG 453

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE SCIENCE  

NR 312

CRITICAL THINKING FOR NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGES  

TRAL 493

ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETATION  

WR 327

*TECHNICAL WRITING  

WR 362

*SCIENCE WRITING  

WR 462

^ENVIRONMENTAL WRITING  

WR 466

^ADVANCED TECHNICAL WRITING  
Biological Sciences  
Biology  
Select one group of courses from the following: 1 12

BI 101
BI 102
BI 103

*ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY: ECOLOGY, CONSERVATION, GLOBAL CHANGE
and *ANIMAL BIOLOGY: GENES, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION OF LIFE
and *HUMAN BIOLOGY: ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY AND DISEASE
 

BI 204
BI 205
BI 206

*INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I
and *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II
and *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III
 

BI 221
BI 222
BI 223

*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS
and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS
and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS
 
Chemistry  
CH 121 GENERAL CHEMISTRY 5
or CH 231
CH 261
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231
Climate Science  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

ATS 201

*CLIMATE SCIENCE  

ATS 341

*SNOW, SMOKE, AND STORMS: CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN THE PNW  

FW 345

*GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY  

GEOG 323

^CLIMATOLOGY  

SUS 103

*INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE  
Earth or Soil Science  
Select one course from the following: 4

CSS 205

*SOIL SCIENCE  

CSS 305

PRINCIPLES OF SOIL SCIENCE  

GEO 101

*PLANET EARTH  

GEO 201

*PHYSICAL GEOLOGY  

GEO 202

*EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE  

GEO 221

*ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY  

GEOG 102

*PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY  

SOIL 205
FOR 206

SOIL SCIENCE
and *FOREST SOILS LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 (or SOIL 206)
 
Ecology  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

BI 351

MARINE ECOLOGY  

BI 370

ECOLOGY  

BOT 341

PLANT ECOLOGY  

FES 341

FOREST ECOLOGY  
Mathematics and Statistics  
Mathematics  
Select one course from the following: 4

MTH 112

*ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS  

MTH 241

*CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE  

MTH 245

*MATHEMATICS FOR MANAGEMENT, LIFE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES  

MTH 251

*DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS  
Statistics  
ST 201 PRINCIPLES OF STATISTICS 4
or ST 351 INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS
Resource Management  
Animal ID  
Select one course from the following: 2-4

FES 412

FOREST ENTOMOLOGY  

FOR 210

TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATE IDENTIFICATION AND NATURAL HISTORY  

FW 312

SYSTEMATICS OF BIRDS  

FW 316

SYSTEMATICS OF FISHES  

FW 318

SYSTEMATICS OF MAMMALS  

Z 365

BIOLOGY OF INSECTS  

Z 473

HERPETOLOGY  

Z 477

AQUATIC ENTOMOLOGY  
Environmental Assessment and Planning  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

FES 445/FW 445

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION  

FW 462

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES  

GEOG 250

*LAND USE PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES  

GEOG 450

LAND USE IN THE AMERICAN WEST  

GEOG 451

PLANNING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES  

GEOG 452

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT  

RNG 421

RANGELAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT  

RNG 457

HABITAT ANALYSIS 1: HABITAT USE AND MOVEMENT  

RNG 490

RANGELAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING  

SUS 304

*SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT  

SUS 350

*SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES  

TRAL 456

PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE RECREATION  

TRAL 457

PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM  

NR 325

SCIENTIFIC METHODS FOR ANALYZING NATURAL RESOURCE PROBLEMS  

WSE 385

*EVALUATING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS  
Fisheries and Marine Sciences  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

BI 150

INTRODUCTION TO MARINE BIOLOGY  

BI 347

*OCEANS IN PERIL  

BI 351

MARINE ECOLOGY  

FW 302

BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF MARINE MAMMALS  

FW 320

INTRODUCTORY POPULATION DYNAMICS  

FW 323

MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES OF PACIFIC SALMON IN THE NORTHWEST  

FW 426

COASTAL ECOLOGY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT  

FW 454

^FISHERY BIOLOGY  

FW 465

MARINE FISHERIES  

FW 473

FISH ECOLOGY  

FW 481

WILDLIFE ECOLOGY  

OC 201

*OCEANOGRAPHY  

OC 202

*INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY  

OC 332

COASTAL OCEANOGRAPHY  
Forestry  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

FE 456/FOR 456

*INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY  

FES 240

*FOREST BIOLOGY  

FES 341

FOREST ECOLOGY  

FES 342

FOREST TYPES OF THE NORTHWEST  

FES 350/HORT 350

URBAN FORESTRY  

FES 440

WILDLAND FIRE ECOLOGY  

FES 445/FW 445

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION  

FES 452/FW 452

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN MANAGED FORESTS  

FES 477/NR 477

*AGROFORESTRY  

FOR 346

TOPICS IN WILDLAND FIRE  

FOR 441

SILVICULTURE PRINCIPLES  
Land and Water  
Select one course from the following: 3-5

FE 430

WATERSHED PROCESSES  

FE 434

FOREST WATERSHED MANAGEMENT  

FW 326

INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT  

FW 456

FRESHWATER ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION  

FW 479

WETLANDS AND RIPARIAN ECOLOGY  

GEO 306

*MINERALS, ENERGY, WATER, AND THE ENVIRONMENT  

GEO 307

*NATIONAL PARK GEOLOGY AND PRESERVATION  

GEO 308

*GLOBAL CHANGE AND EARTH SCIENCES  

GEOG 340

*INTRODUCTION TO WATER SCIENCE AND POLICY  

GEOG 440

CONFLICT, COOPERATION, AND CONTROL OF WATER IN THE US  

GEOG 441

THE WORLD'S WATER  

RNG 355

DESERT WATERSHED MANAGEMENT  

RNG 455

RIPARIAN ECOHYDROLOGY AND MANAGEMENT  

SOIL 366

ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS  

SOIL 388

SOIL SYSTEMS AND PLANT GROWTH  

SOIL 395

^WORLD SOIL RESOURCES  

SOIL 466

SOIL MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION  
Range  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

FES 440

WILDLAND FIRE ECOLOGY  

FES 445/FW 445

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION  

FOR 346

TOPICS IN WILDLAND FIRE  

RNG 341

PRINCIPLES OF RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT  

RNG 351

ECOLOGY OF GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS  

RNG 352

ECOLOGY OF SHRUBLAND ECOSYSTEMS  

RNG 421

RANGELAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT  

RNG 441

VEGETATION MONITORING AND ANALYSIS  

RNG 442

RANGELAND-ANIMAL RELATIONS  

RNG 490

RANGELAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING  
Vegetation ID  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

BOT 321

PLANT SYSTEMATICS  

BOT 425

FLORA OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST  

FES 241

DENDROLOGY  

HORT 226

LANDSCAPE PLANT MATERIALS I: DECIDUOUS HARDWOODS AND CONIFERS  

HORT 228

LANDSCAPE PLANT MATERIALS II: SPRING FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS  

RNG 353

WILDLAND PLANT IDENTIFICATION  
Wildlife Management  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

FW 251

PRINCIPLES OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION  

FW 320

INTRODUCTORY POPULATION DYNAMICS  

FW 321

APPLIED COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY  

FW 435

^WILDLIFE IN AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS  

FW 451

AVIAN CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT  

FW 452/FES 452

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN MANAGED FORESTS  

FW 458

MAMMAL CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT  

FW 481

WILDLIFE ECOLOGY  

Z 350

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR  
Social and Political Dimensions  
Ethics and Philosophy  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

AG 301

*ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE OF PACIFIC NW INDIANS  

ANTH 352

*ANTHROPOLOGY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT  

ANTH 477

ECOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY  

ANTH 481

*NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY VALUES  

ANTH 482

*ANTHROPOLOGY OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT  

FW 340

*MULTICULTURAL PERSPECTIVES IN NATURAL RESOURCES  

GEOG 333

*ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE  

HST 481

*ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES  

NR 312

CRITICAL THINKING FOR NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGES  

NR 380

NATURE IN STORYTELLING OVER THE CENTURIES  

PHL 440

*ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS  

PHL 443/REL 443

*WORLD VIEWS AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES  

SUS 331

*SUSTAINABILITY, JUSTICE, AND ENGAGEMENT  
Natural Resource Policy  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

AEC 432

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW  

AEC 454

RURAL DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS AND POLICY  

FES 486

^PUBLIC LANDS POLICY AND MANAGEMENT  

FOR 460

^FOREST POLICY  

FOR 462

NATURAL RESOURCE POLICY AND LAW  

FW 415

FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE LAW AND POLICY  

FW 422

INTRODUCTION TO OCEAN LAW  

PS 473

US ENERGY POLICY  

PS 475

ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY  

PS 477

INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY  
Political Issues  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

ENT 300/HORT 330

*PESTS, PLAGUES AND POLITICS  

FOR 462

NATURAL RESOURCE POLICY AND LAW  

FW 350

*ENDANGERED SPECIES, SOCIETY AND SUSTAINABILITY  

NR 351

*WHEN SCIENCE ESCAPES THE LAB: SCIENCE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT  

PS 455

*THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE  

PS 475

ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY  

PS 476

SCIENCE AND POLITICS  

PS 477

INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY  

TRAL 352

WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT  
Economics  
AEC 250 *INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY 3-4
or ECON 201 *INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS
Social Issues  
Select one course from the following:  

BI 301

*HUMAN IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEMS  

BI 348

*HUMAN ECOLOGY  

FES 365

*ISSUES IN NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION  

FW 325

*GLOBAL CRISES IN RESOURCE ECOLOGY  

GEOG 240

*HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE  

GEOG 241

*TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICTS  

GEOG 300

*SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE COMMON GOOD  

GEOG 430

RESILIENCE-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT  

GEOG 431

GLOBAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT  

NR 351

*WHEN SCIENCE ESCAPES THE LAB: SCIENCE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT  

OC 333

*OCEANS, COASTS, AND PEOPLE  

SOC 381

SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY  

SOC 475

RURAL SOCIOLOGY  

SOC 480

*ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY  

SOC 481

*SOCIETY AND NATURAL RESOURCES  

SUS 420

SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY  

TRAL 251

RECREATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT  

TRAL 351

OUTDOOR RECREATION MANAGEMENT ON PUBLIC LANDS  

TRAL 352

WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT  

TRAL 353

NATURE, ECO, AND ADVENTURE TOURISM  

TRAL 354

COMMUNITIES, NATURAL AREAS, AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM  

TRAL 357

*PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS MANAGEMENT  

WGSS 440

*WOMEN AND NATURAL RESOURCES  
Spatial Analysis  
Select one course from the following: 3-4

CROP 414/HORT 414

PRECISION AGRICULTURE  

FE 257

GIS AND FOREST ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS  

FW 303

SURVEY OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN NATURAL RESOURCE  

GEOG 201

*FOUNDATIONS OF GEOSPATIAL SCIENCE AND GIS  

GEOG 360

GISCIENCE I: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THEORY  
Specialty Option 2 37
Remaining Bacc Core and Electives 36-54
Total Credits 180

*

Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)

^

Writing Intensive Course (WIC)

1

The 200-level BI 2XX series is required for some specialty options

2

A Specialty Option is required for the Natural Resources major. The Specialty Option for the Natural Resources major is an additional 37 credits (minimum) with at least 20 upper division credits. The Specialty Option has a required minimum GPA of 2.25. Up to 6 credits of internships, projects or study abroad can be used to fulfill requirements in the Specialty Option

Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FALL CREDITS
Chemistry 5
Mathematics 4
WR 121 *ENGLISH COMPOSITION 4
HHS 231 *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH 2
  Credits 15
WINTER
NR 201 MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE FUTURE 3
Climate Science 4
Political Issues 4
Bacc Core: Physical Activity Course (PAC) 1
Bacc Core: Speech 3
  Credits 15
SPRING
NR 202 NATURAL RESOURCE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS 3
Earth or Soil Science 4
Bacc Core: Writing II 3
Bacc Core: Western Culture 3
Elective 3
  Credits 16
Second Year
FALL
Biology I with Lab 4
Statistics 4
Ethics & Philosophy 4
Bacc Core: Cultural Diversity 3
  Credits 15
WINTER
Biology II with Lab 4
Spatial Analysis 4
Economics 4
Bacc Core: Literature & The Arts 3
  Credits 15
SPRING
Biology III with Lab 4
Vegetation ID 3
Forestry 4
Elective 4
  Credits 15
Third Year
FALL
Ecology 4
Animal Identification 3
Fisheries & Marine Sciences 4
Specialty Option Course 4
  Credits 15
WINTER
Range 4
Advanced Communication 4
Wildlife Management 4
Specialty Option Course 3
  Credits 15
SPRING
Environmental Assessment & Planning 4
Social Issues 4
Spatial Analysis 4
Specialty Option Course 3
  Credits 15
Fourth Year
FALL
Land & Water 4
Natural Resources Policy 4
Specialty Option Course 3
Specialty Option Course 3
  Credits 14
WINTER
FES 485 *CONSENSUS AND NATURAL RESOURCES 3
Specialty Option Course 4
Specialty Option Course 4
Elective 4
  Credits 15
SPRING
NR 455 NATURAL RESOURCE DECISION MAKING 4
Specialty Option Course 4
Specialty Option Course 4
Elective 3
  Credits 15
  Total Credits 180