Natural Resource Conservation & Management Bachelor's (B.S.) Degree Program

Program Overview

The Natural Resource Conservation & Management Bachelor's program equips students with the knowledge and skills to manage natural resources sustainably, integrating ecological, social, and economic dimensions. Through hands-on learning and experiential opportunities, students develop leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration abilities, preparing them for careers in conservation, environmental protection, and resource management.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The Natural Resource Conservation & Management Bachelor's (B.S.) Degree Program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to work in the multifaceted management environment of natural resources, integrating ecological, social, cultural, political, and economic dimensions.

Objectives:

• Provide leadership in adapting communities to changing economic conditions while maintaining ecological integrity
• Implement best practices in strategic planning, organizational mission development, and design and implementation of evaluation/monitoring programs
• Apply principles of sustainability to solve problems across political boundaries
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and public participation around resource-based issues
• Create and maintain effective working partnerships under various socio-economic conditions

Program Description:

The program emphasizes hands-on learning and experiential opportunities. As freshmen, students engage in courses related to the management of the Adirondack Park, meet with natural resource professionals, explore the ecology of the region, learn to identify plants and animals, navigate in the forest, and understand the unique ecosystems of the Adirondacks. Senior students complete a Capstone Course, which focuses on research projects such as:

• White-tailed Deer Browse Preference: A Comparative Study of the Catskill and Adirondack Mountain Regions, New York State
• Alpine Ecosystems on Ski Area Summits in the Northeast: A Best Management Practices Manual
• Designing a Multiple-Use Winter Recreation Trail System at the Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center

Careers:

Graduates of the program are prepared for diverse career opportunities, including:

• Conservation Officer
• Environmental Technician
• Naturalist
• Environmental Law
• Community Planning
• Resource Policy Analyst
• Natural Resource Manager