Natural Resources Management Colorado State University

Overview

Students in the Natural Resources Management major at Colorado State University will learn about natural resource stewardship in both theory and practice, with an eye toward designing systems that are adaptable and resilient in light of the social and ecological complexity and change that characterize today’s challenges.

This knowledge will enable students to design sustainable solutions to address natural resource conservation and management problems. Using an integrative approach, students will learn how to develop local solutions that are sustainable and ethical at larger, global scales. 

Environmental issues such as land-use change and planning, conservation biology, energy use, climate change, renewable resource management, and citizen engagement in place-based conservation will be addressed. Field measurements and field skills are important components of this major, and students are required to attend a four-week summer field course in ecological investigations and resource management.

Students will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of natural resource topics spanning ecological, social and physical aspects of wildland ecosystems

• Demonstrate proficiency in an area of specialization through completion of a minor in an area complementary to natural resource management. Some minors that students find well-suited to develop a proficiency are Global Environmental Sustainability, Forestry, Rangeland Ecology, Ecological Restoration, Watershed Science, Conservation Biology, or Environmental Affairs, though there are many additional options

• Be able to apply their broad natural resources knowledge to create sustainable solutions at local, national, and global scales

• Accurately communicate their knowledge of natural resources, both verbally and in written form

Potential Occupations

• Opportunities are available with a wide array of local, national, and international organizations and institutions involved in natural resource management. Graduates apply their education in science, technology, social science, and policy to solving today’s critical natural resource and environmental problems. 
• Positions are found with federal, state, and local government agencies, industry, and education and advocacy organizations. Some natural resource professionals are employed in environmental consulting firms and corporate environmental departments. The nonprofit sector provides a variety of environmentally-related jobs, ranging from science application to policy development, education, and collaborative conservation.
• Examples of available career choices include, but are not limited to: natural resource manager; professional forester; land use planner; geographic information system (GIS) or remote sensing specialist; fishery/wildlife manager; environmental policy analyst; environmental advocate; environmental consultant; resources/environmental lawyer (with continued education); youth agency administrator; natural resource communications specialist; law enforcement officer; natural resources/environmental educator; restoration specialist; multiple resource use planner; regulatory compliance enforcement officer.