Environmental & Natural Resources Management, B.TECH., Major #3001

The focus of the bachelor of technology (B.Tech.) degree in Environmental & Natural Resources Management is to provide students with advanced technical education in natural resources highlighting the communication and business skills needed for graduates in the 21st century.

A full-semester internship is a unique course requirement that places students in a supervised work environment with a cooperating agency. This provides students with opportunities to gain valuable experience, make professional contacts, and build their resumes in preparation for future employment and career decisions.

Most internships are paid. Opportunities exist nationwide in both the public and private sectors. Many placement sites are available in New York State, but students who wish to travel can find opportunities in other parts of the country. Successful internships have included experiences in forestry, arboriculture, outdoor recreation management, GIS (geographic information system) mapping, wetlands delineation and management, wildlife management studies, and environmental education.

An A.S., A.A.S. or equivalent degree with a minimum 2.20 grade point average is a prerequisite for admittance. A student who does not meet this requirement may be admitted on conditional basis. A major in Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Environmental Technology, Aquaculture and Aquatic Science or a closely related field is strongly recommended. An individual seeking to enroll in the Environmental & Natural Resources Management B.Tech. program with an unrelated associate degree may be granted admittance.

 The B.Tech. of Environmental & Natural Resources Management is designed to prepare students for entry into public and industrial jobs at the field, supervisory, and management levels where technical, business, and communication skills are necessary. Students completing the B.Tech.  of Environmental & Natural Resources Management can pursue jobs in the forest products industry; the aquatic resources industry, including sport and commercial fisheries, wetland management, and aquaculture; the recreation and tourism industry and environmental technology including water treatment and brownfield reclamation.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Students will utilize their developed expertise in concepts, theories, and emerging methodologies to succeed in tackling real-world issues in natural resource management.

• Students will become independent, self-motivated professionals with the ability to recognize problems in their renewable resources technical field of expertise and formulate solutions to such problems.

• Students will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with an embodied sense of conservation stewardship.

• Students will assess, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information objectively and deal professionally and ethically with clients, the public, and agency personnel.

• Students will communicate clearly and effectively using appropriate verbal, visual, electronic, and written techniques necessary to interact in the profession.

• Students will recognize and interpret natural resource laws and policies.

• Students will demonstrate hands-on experience in natural resource sampling, inventory, and measurement techniques.

• Students will recognize and interpret natural resource problems and opportunities across spatial scales from local to global through the implementation and management of geospatial technologies (Global Positioning System -- GPS, Geographic Information System -- GIS, and remote sensing).

• Students will apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in formulating and evaluating alternative solutions to complex   problems in natural resource management and recommending and defending best alternatives.

• Students will anticipate, analyze, and evaluate natural resource issues and opportunities and utilize an integrated approach to ecosystem impact assessment and adaptive management.

• Students will exercise life-long learning and management skills developed before graduation and utilize existing technology, products, and services to maximize work efficiency and success.

• Students will seek the input and perspectives of diverse stakeholders regarding natural resource issues and practice a collaborative spirit in team efforts and project coordination

Curriculum Requirements - 120 Credits

Suggested Course Sequencing