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:

Introductory Biology - 2 semesters - BIOLOGY 151 and 152 (153 lab optional), or STOCKSCH 108 and BIOL 110
Ecology elective - NRC 252 Applied Ecology or BIOL 287 Introduction to Ecology or NRC 270 or NRC 547
CHEM 110 General Chemistry or CHEM 111
PHYSICS 100 Conceptual Physics or PHYSICS 118 Energy and Society or CHEM 112 or ASTRON 100, 101, 105
MATH 104 Algebra, Analytic Geometry, and Trigonometry
NRC 290B Quantitative Ecology recommended, or RES-ECON 212, or STAT 111, STAT 240, STAT 501
Urban Forestry and Arboriculture concentration: RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics or ECON 103 Introduction to Microeconomics

One earth science course from among the following:

GEOGRAPHY 100 Global Environmental Change
GEOLOGY 101 The Earth
GEOGRAPHY 102 The Human Landscape
GEOLOGY 103 Introductory Oceanography
GEOLOGY 105 Dynamic Earth
GEOLOGY 201 History of the Earth
STOCKSCH 105 Soils
ENVIRSCI 390A

One Communication course from among the following:

NRC 492A Oral Communication;
COMM 118, 121, 122, 125, 140, 250, or 297
COMPLIT 290T, ENG 379, JOURNAL 201 or 292N

Required NRC Courses

100 Environment and Society or NRC 185 Sustainable Living or ENVIRSCI 101
225 Forests and People
260 Fisheries Conservation
261 Wildlife Conservation
585 Geographic Information Systems
382 or NRC 490S or NRC 494EI, or ENVIRSCI 445
309 Natural Resources Policy and Administration
NATSCI 387 Junior Year Writing Course
Built Environment elective - BCT 150, NRC 290C, NRC 297R, GEOGRAPH 370, or SUSTCOMM 125 or 574

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, GEOGRAPHY 102, ANTHRO 102, 104, GEOGRAPH 102, or RESECON 121
Political Science elective
NRC 391A Curriculum Planning

One course from among the following:

NRC 211 Animal Sampling and Identification
NRC 212 Forest Tree and Shrub Identification
NRC 214 Fish Sampling and Identification

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:

NRC 390E Evolution and Conservation or BIOLOGY 280 Evolution and Diversity of Life
NRC 211 Animal Sampling and Identification
NRC 214 Fish Sampling and Identification
NRC 570 Fish Ecology
NRC 571 Fisheries Science and Management
NRC 580 Conservation Genetics
NRC 590AE Aquatic Ecology

One quantitative course from among the following:

NRC 534 Forest Measurements
NRC 577 Ecosystem Modeling and Simulation
NRC 585 Geographic Information Systems
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 (instead of statistics)
NRC 211 Animal Sampling and Identification
NRC 212 Forest Tree and Shrub Identification
NRC 270 Forest Ecology and Conservation (as the ecology elective)
NRC 526 Silviculture
NRC 534 Forest Measurements
NRC 540 Forest Resources Management
NRC 585 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
STOCKSCH 105 Soils
RES-ECON 263 Natural Resource Economics
STOCKSCH 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 541 Urban Forestry
NRC 564 Wildlife Habitat Management
NRC 575 Case Studies in Conservation

Urban Forestry and Arboriculture

Involves the management of trees in cities and towns, where more than 80% of people in the United States live. People around the world are also moving to more urbanized areas, and this trend is expected to continue. Arborists and urban foresters manage trees and shrubs growing in towns and cities, maintaining them as assets to the community. Management includes working with planners, landscape architects, and engineers to to preserve trees during construction and planting new trees to replace trees removed for health or safety reasons. As issues of climate change continue, maintaining healthy trees in urban areas is integral to a sustainable way of living. 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 or NRC 333
NRC 102 Arboriculture Field Techniques I
NRC 191A 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
NRC 585 Geographic Information Systems or NRC 297RL
STOCKSCH 105 Soils
STOCKSCH 109 Insects of Ornamentals or STOCKSCH 572 Forest Insects
STOCKSCH 111, 113 Horticultural Plant Pathology and Lab or STOCKSCH 505 General Plant Pathology
STOCKSCH 230 Introduction to Turf Management

One course in management from among the following:

REGIONPL 580 Sustainable Cities or BCT 150
NRC 541 Urban Forestry
STOCKSCH 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 214 Fish Sampling and Identification
NRC 528 Forest and Wetland Hydrology
NRC 576 Water Resources Management
NRC 578 Watershed Science and Management
NRC 597W Wetlands Assessment and Field Techniques

One course from among the following:

NRC 211 Animal Sampling and Identification
NRC 212 Forest Tree and Shrub Identification

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 585 Geographic Information Systems
STATISTC 501 Methods of Applied Statistics
MATH 127 Calculus

One course from among the following:

ENVIRSCI 315 Princ Env. Tox. & Chem
ENVIRSCI 597 Aquatic Toxicology
GEO-SCI 587 Hydrogeology
GEO-SCI 594V Rivers as Regions
NRC 590AE Aquatic Ecology
STOCKSCH 375 Soil and Water Conservation

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:

NRC 211 Animal Sampling and Identification
NRC 214 Fish Sampling and Identification
NRC 390E Evolution and Conservation or BIOLOGY 280 Evolution and Diversity of Life
NRC 564 Wildlife Habitat Management
NRC 565 Wildlife Population Dynamics
BIOLOGY 544 Ornithology and/or BIOLOGY 548 Mammalogy

If only 544 or 548 is taken, choose one additional Biology course from among:

NRC 580 Conservation Genetics
BIOL 521 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BIOL 540 Herpetology
BIOL 550 Animal Behavior
BIOL 567 Comparative Animal Physiology

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 585 Geographic Information Systems
STATISTC 501 Methods of Applied Statistics
MATH 127 Calculus I