Natural Resources

About the Program

The Natural Resources/Parks & Recreation curriculum is designed to meet the demand for trained personnel in a broad range of Natural Resource/Parks & Recreation agencies and private organizations. This program is designed for a student to complete all college requirements for a certificate and/or AS Degree. The student may also enter this program with a combination of course work to fit their individual needs upon approval of advisor. The student may enroll in a wide selection of course offerings, from on-campus, Internet, and cable television/DVD's and/or video courses. Individual programs may be arranged in any of the following methods. Note: Transcripts will be previewed by the college counseling department. Feel free to contact advisor with questions.

Associate Degree: Advanced career skills are developed along with General Education classes (60 units required). Refer to college catalog.

Certificate of Completion: Course work closely related to entry-level employment opportunities (15-17 units required). Refer to college catalog.

Transfer Option: Transfer-level GE courses aid in advancing to the next level, state college or university. Refresher Courses: Upgrade skills. Refer to college catalog.

Career Opportunities

Heavy pressures are being placed on the Nation's Parks & Recreation resources the population increases. This creates an ever-growing demand for trained people to work in forestry, recreation, water, soil, wildlife and other environmental management areas. Career opportunities exist with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Recalmation, California Department of Fish and Game, National Park Service, and U.S. Soil Service as well as numerous private management firms, environmental companies and land developers, to list a few job possibilities. Employment in any of these areas will provide an opportunity for working in one of the nation's most interesting, diversified and rapidly expanding fields. The work is varied. However, certain basic skills are fundamental. For example, computer skills along with skills developed from course work are required.

Recommended Sequence of Study

This sequence may require adjustment if students need to fulfill basic skills prerequisites. General Education and competency requirements must be integrated into this sequence of study. This degree maybe completed almost in it entirety online.

Freshman Year:
First Semester: NR 20*, PLS 20* (on-campus lab required) or PLS 25 with permission of advisor: contact advisor for electives
Second Semester: NR 26*=, AGS 22*, electives

Summer Session: AGR 99 Work Experience (2 units) or AGR 97 Special Problems

Sophomore Year:
Third Semester; NR 55/56*, electives
Fourth Semester NR 65/66*, NR 28/29*, electives

AS Degree, Career/Technical Program Certificate of Completion

Required Courses for the Major

The following courses for the major may be taken out of sequence with the permission of the department advisor. Visit the instructor website for course details at the department's website: http://www.butte.edu/instruction/agr/ag or email advisor/instructor: slavichri@butte.edu. General Educational Requirements for Associate Degree for Butte College can be located within the college catalog.

AGS 22* Applied Physical Science 3 units
NR 20* Introduction to Forestry and Natural Resources 3 units
NR 26*= Environmental World (GE: Area B) 3 units
NR 28/29* Environmental Management (GE: Area A) 3 units
NR 55/56* Wildlife Production 3 units
NR 65/66* Recreational Land Management 3 units
PLS 20* Basic Plant Science 3 units
or PLS 25, 3 units with permission of program advisor
AGR 99 Agricultural Work Experience 2 units (Suggested AGR 99 enrollment during Summer Session) or AGR 97 Special Problems 2 units

Plus General Education Requirements and instructor approved electives.

* These courses are also available via DVD's, cable TV, and/or the Internet.
Refer to the Semester Class Schedule for times, dates, and orientation meetings.
Internet course information available at http://www.butte.edu/~rslavich/.
= Meets Multicultural Breadth requirement for AA/AS degree.

Certificate of Completion

A Certificate of Completion in Natural Resources will be awarded upon completion of (5 or 6) courses listed. To receive a certificate, an official request must be filed with the Office of the Dean for Career and Technical Education, and Department approval must be obtained.

NR 20*, NR 26*= NR 55/56*, NR 65/66*, NR 28/29*, PLS 20* AGS 22*, AGR 97/99

Degree Requirements for GE and Competencies

See Certificate and Degree Requirements for information on specific requirements and course options to fulfill degree requirements. See a counselor for program planning assistance.

Natural Resources - Richard Slavich (530) 895-2395
Agriculture and Environmental Science Department - AHPS 251 (530) 895-2551
Counseling and Advising (530) 895-2378