The Major

Conservation of the Earth’s natural resources requires broad knowledge and experiences as well as a strong personal commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Students must select one of six NRC concentrations: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fisheries Ecology and Conservation, Forest Ecology and Conservation, Urban Forestry and Arboriculture, Water Conservation or Environmental Conservation. All NRC majors take a series of foundation courses in the conservation, natural and social sciences, and mathematics. Students take specialized courses designed to provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level employment, graduate training, and professional certification. Many students in the department seek professional employment with conservation organizations, environmental consulting firms, and the green industry, while others choose the NRC major because of their personal commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Requirements
In addition to university General Education requirements, the NRC major requires completion of the following:

Basic science and math requirements
BIOLOGY 100, 101 Introductory Biology 1, II or BIOLOGY 102 Introductory Animal Biology and 103 Plant Biology
BIOLOGY 287 Introduction to Ecology
CHEM 110 General Chemistry
PHYSICS 100 Conceptual Physics or PHYSICS 139 Introduction to Physics or CHEM 250 Organic Chemistry
MATH 104 Algebra, Analytic Geometry, and Trigonometry
RES-ECON 211 Introductory Statistics for the Life Sciences
RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics or ECON 103 Introduction to Microeconomics (for Urban Forestry and Arboriculture concentration) or RES-ECON 262 Environmental Economics or RES-ECON 263 Natural Resource Economics

One course from among the following:
GEO-SCI 100 Global Environmental Change
GEO-SCI 101 The Earth
GEO-SCI 102 The Human Landscape
GEO-SCI 103 Introductory Oceanography
GEO-SCI 105 Dynamic Earth
GEO-SCI 201 History of the Earth
PLSOILIN 105 Soils

Required NRC Courses
100 Environment and Society
191A The Built Environment
212 Forest Tree and Shrub Identification or ENVDES 335 Plants in the Landscape (for Urban Forestry and Arboriculture concentration)
225 Forests and People
260 Fisheries Conservation
261 Wildlife Conservation
297S Introduction to Spatial Information
382 Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management
409 Natural Resources Policy and Administration or RES-ECON 140 Managing You Own Business or 141 Consumer Marketing for Horticulture (for Urban Forestry and Arboriculture concentration)
NATRES&E 397A Junior Year Writing Course

All NRC majors are also required to declare a concentration, which provides them with professional training in one of six specialized areas listed below. Each of these concentrations requires additional courses beyond the basic science, mathematics, and core requirements listed above.

Environmental Conservation—for students seeking to develop a focused program of study in one of the many areas of the environment and conservation not directly covered by other concentrations in the NRC major. Students select from a wide range of courses from a variety of different disciplines and departments, including the social and physical sciences, and may be able to complement them with courses in the arts, humanities, business and education. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the Domestic Exchange and Education Abroad programs, as well as seasonal internship programs, to enhance their degree.

Additional required courses
ANTHRO 208 Human Ecology
POLISCI 101 American Politics
NRC 391A Curriculum Planning

Completion of 18 additional credits in conservation or environmentally related courses designed to meet specific goals for career or advanced education. Nine credits must be at the 300 level.

Fisheries Ecology and Conservation—provides students with the essential conservation science education in the biology and ecology of fish and other aquatic animals as well as the freshwater and marine ecosystems in which they reside. This involves learning about the structure and function of aquatic systems and their inhabitants; how to manage, conserve and restore fish and aquatic animal populations and their habitats; how to develop sustainable fisheries programs; effects of land use, water flow and contaminants on aquatic ecosystem health and fish community structure; and how to conserve and enhance biological diversity. Becoming a fisheries professional requires talent, personal commitment, enthusiasm, sound technical training, and special skills. An essential component of the concentration involves integrating hands-on field skills as part of the coursework, and field experiences from summer jobs, internships, and cooperative education positions with state, federal, and international conservation organizations. The curriculum develops the knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level employment in fisheries conservation professions, or preparation for graduate training in fisheries ecology and conservation biology. This concentration also provides the training and coursework required to qualify for professional certification by the American Fisheries Society.

Additional required courses
BIOLOGY 280 Evolution and Diversity of Life
BIOLOGY 542 Ichthyology
NRC 210 Aquatic Sampling and Identification
NRC 211 Animal Sampling and Identification
NRC 470 Fish Ecology
NRC 571 Fisheries Science and Management
NRC 597I Aquatic Ecology
One course from among the following:
NRC 534 Forest Measurements
NRC 577 Ecosystem Modeling and Simulation
NRC 592G Geographic Information Systems and 597G GIS Lab
STATISTC 501 Methods of Applied Statistics
EDUC 555 Introduction to Statistics and Computer Analysis I or MATH 127 Calculus I

Forest Ecology and Conservation—focuses on all aspects of the conservation and management of the forest vegetation covering 40 percent of the earth’s land surface. Forest ecosystems are vital in providing wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation areas, protecting watersheds, preserving wilderness areas, maintaining biodiversity of plants and animals, sustainably producing wood, paper, and fiber products to meet societal needs, and controlling global climate. The study of forestry is based on an understanding of the ecological interactions of trees and other plants, animals, soils, water, and climate. The concentration emphasis is on conservation challenges unique to the urbanized northeast, where dense human populations depend on ecosystem services from forests owned by a complex matrix of private families, individuals, non-profit conservation organizations, and state and local governments. The goal of forestry, especially in this complex social environment, is to sustain the provision of the full suite of benefits into the future. This concentration is nationally accredited by the Society of American Foresters.

Additional required courses
MATH 121 Linear Methods and Probability for Business
PHYSICS 139 Introduction to Physics
NRC 211 Animal Sampling and Identification
NRC 492 Verbal Communication Skills
NRC 521 Harvesting
NRC 526 Silviculture
NRC 534 Forest Measurements
NRC 540 Forest Resources Management
PLSOILIN 105 Soils
RES-ECON 263 Natural Resource Economics
ENTOMOL 572 Forest Shade Tree Insects
One course in land, management, or resources from among the following:
NRC 515 Forest Fire Management
NRC 528 Forest and Wetland Hydrology
NRC 564 Wildlife Habitat Management
NRC 592G Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
NRC 597C Case Studies in Conservation
NRC 597U Urban Forestry
ENVIRDES 574 City Planning

Urban Forestry and Arboriculture—involves the management of trees in cities and suburbs, where more than 80 percent of people in the United States live. More than half of the world’s population lives in cities and suburbs, which are the fastest growing communities in the country. As this trend continues, arborists and urban foresters strive to preserve trees during construction and replace trees that have to be removed. Trees take on special importance in urban areas, where their greatest value is for aesthetics, climate modification, and habitat for urban wildlife. Urban, residential, and park environments are especially challenging for trees because of compacted soils, pavement, utility lines, and buildings. Urban foresters and arborists work to ensure healthy tree populations to provide sustained benefits to billions of people. Students in the Urban Forestry and Arboriculture concentration are qualified for professional credentials through examination by both the Massachusetts Arborist Association and the International Society of Arboriculture.

Additional required courses
LANDCONT 105 Landscape Drafting or LANDCONT 112 Introduction to Landscape Design
NRC 102 Arboriculture Field Techniques I
NRC 191 Seminar in Arboriculture and Community Forestry
NRC 210 Arboriculture Field Techniques II
NRC 232 Principles of Arboriculture
NRC 305 Commercial Arboriculture
NRC 310 Community Forestry
PLSOILIN 105 Soils
PLSOILIN 109 Insects of Ornamentals or ENTOMOL 572 Forest Insects
PLSOILIN 111, 113 Horticultural Plant Pathology and Lab or PLNTSOIL 505 General Plant Pathology
PLSOILIN 230 Introduction to Turf Management
One course in management from among the following:
ENVIRDES 574 City Planning
NRC 597U Urban Forestry
PLNTSOIL 555 Urban Environmental Plant Growth

Water Resources—engages students in coursework on developing ecologically sound and economically efficient water management policies and programs. Essential to life, water is a critical resource that needs careful management to sustain human populations and ecosystems. Students develop skills in understanding and applying concepts to manage water resources with applications related to ecosystem impacts, water quality, climate change, storm water, and water supply. A problem-solving approach is used to develop a systems-based and multidisciplinary perspective. Students gain in-depth understanding and skills related to water quantity and quality, hydrology, economics, and management. Water issues and approaches related to local, regional, and global scales are explored.

Additional required courses
GEO-SCI 131 Experiencing Geology
GEO-SCI 285 Environmental Geology
NRC 528 Forest and Wetland Hydrology
NRC 597P Water Resources Management and Policy
NRC 597R Watershed Science and Management
NRC 597W Wetlands Assessment and Field Techniques
One course from among the following:
EDUC 555 Introduction to Statistics and Computer Analysis I
NRC 534 Forest Measurements
NRC 577 Ecosystem Modeling and Simulation
NRC 529G Geographic Information Systems and 597G Lab
STATISTC 501 Methods of Applied Statistics
MATH 127 Calculus I

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation—provides students with the essential conservation science education to assess, conserve, and protect wildlife populations, and land and water environments. This involves learning about the biology and ecology of wildlife; how to manage, conserve, and restore wildlife populations and their habitats; how to resolve human-wildlife conflict and wildlife disease problems; and how to conserve and enhance biological diversity. Becoming a wildlife professional requires talent, personal commitment, enthusiasm, sound technical training, and special skills. An essential component of the concentration involves obtaining hands-on field skills and field experiences from summer jobs, internships, and cooperative education positions with state, federal, and international conservation organizations. The curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level employment in wildlife conservation professions or preparation for graduate training in wildlife ecology and conservation biology. This concentration also provides the training and coursework required to qualify graduates for professional certification by The Wildlife Society.

Additional required courses
BIOLOGY 280 Evolution and Diversity of Life
BIOLOGY 544 Ornithology and/or BIOLOGY 548 Mammalogy
If only 544 or 548 is taken, choose one additional Biology course from among: 521 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, 540 Herpetology, 550 Animal Behavior, 567 Comparative Animal Physiology
NRC 210 Aquatic Sampling and Identification
NRC 211 Animal Sampling and Identification
NRC 564 Wildlife Habitat Management
NRC 565 Wildlife Population Dynamics
One course from among the following:
EDUC 555 Introduction to Statistics and Computer Analysis I
NRC 534 Forest Measurements
NRC 577 Ecosystem Modeling and Simulation
NRC 529G Geographic Information Systems and 597G Lab
STATISTC 501 Methods of Applied Statistics
MATH 127 Calculus I

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