Natural Resources - Ecosystem Assessment Concentration

Two natural resources curricula are offered by the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. The curricula are also accredited by the Society of American Foresters and produce natural resources professionals with a broad interdisciplinary background coupled with specifically focused skills needed to manage natural resources. The Natural Resources curricula include a series of common courses to highlight the integrated nature of work by interdisciplinary teams.

The curriculum in Natural Resources Ecosystem Assessment produces graduates who have knowledge and skills to inventory and describe ecosystems characteristics and to evaluate the impacts of management decisions. Ecosystem assessment or environmental impact assessment is an important part of development planning that calls for individuals who understand ecosystem structure and processes; who can identify, measure, inventory, and describe ecosystems; and who can apply standard evaluation and classification systems such as wildlife habitat evaluation procedures and the federal wetland delineation criteria. The curriculum entails a strong science base, as well as advanced courses in sampling and measurements, vegetation, soils, hydrology, and wildlife and fisheries are added. The 400-level courses also address techniques and issues of natural resource management.

The curriculum in Natural Resources Policy and Administration produces graduates who have knowledge and skills to manage natural resources programs in a variety of settings and organizations with an emphasis on public agencies. The advanced courses of the curriculum provide background in economics, policy, government, public administration, and natural resources management. An economics track begins with introductory microeconomics and culminates with environmental economics and public finance. Courses in government and public administration provide knowledge of how public institutions work. Courses in forestry, wildlife and fisheries, and outdoor recreation provide techniques of managing natural ecosystems for various uses. A common thread of how public policy on natural resources is influenced and developed runs through many of the courses already noted and culminates in two senior courses that focus on policy. For information on entrance requirements, contact the program coordinator:

Dr. Rajan Parajuli
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, NCSU
Box 8008
Raleigh, NC 27695-8002
Phone: (919) 513-2579
Fax: (919) 515-8149
E-mail: [email protected]. 

Applicants attending school outside the U.S. must submit the following materials to complete their application:

• Official secondary school transcripts and English translations
• Proof of English Proficiency
• Proof of Financial Ability
• Optional SAT or ACT scores

Applicants attending school in the U.S. must submit the following materials to complete their application:

• Official high school transcripts
• Proof of English Proficiency
• Proof of Financial Ability (for F-1 or J-1 students)
• Optional SAT or ACT scores

Graduates of the Natural Resources Ecosystem Assessment curriculum work in environmental service firms, public agencies, non-governmental organizations, and industries. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the N.C. Division of Water Quality, and county and city governments employ graduates to help manage compliance with county, state, and federal environmental regulations, particularly wetlands and protected species. Non-governmental organizations and private engineering and environmental consulting firms employ graduates to prepare environmental impact statements and assessments, delineate wetlands, and conduct searches for threatened or endangered plant and animal species. The broad background in natural resources provided by this curriculum also provides a strong base for students interested in graduate school or environmental law.

The curriculum in Natural Resources Policy and Administration produces managers and administrators for public agencies and private organizations involved with management, administration, policy-making, planning, preservation, or regulation of natural resources. Examples are the USDI National Park Service, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Geological Survey, state and local government agencies, and not-for-profit environmental organizations. Background in government, economics, policy, and natural resource management also provides a strong base for students who wish to pursue a graduate program in natural resources economics and policy or environmental law.

Choose to apply through one of our two applications – we do not have a preference which application you choose. A non-refundable application fee of $100 is required, and application fee waivers are not accepted.

• Common App
• Coalition on Scoir