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]