Natural Resource Conservation

The natural resource conservation (NRC) major enables students to tailor a curriculum that suits their interests and career goals. Working with a faculty adviser, students can elect to focus their curriculum on any number of natural resource fields. Students preparing for advanced degrees in natural resources often elect to complete a broad, interdisciplinary program.

Overview

All NRC majors are required to complete eight core courses (24 credits) that span and integrate across forest, wildlife, fisheries and aquatic resources, including bio-physical and socio-economic domains. These courses embrace conservation and production objectives and span local to global scales. They stress the complexities in achieving social, environmental and economic sustainability, develop critical thinking skills, create significant and valuable field experience, and provide the tools needed for graduates to manage, conserve and educate people about natural resources.

Students work closely with a faculty adviser to select the remaining 36 upper-division credits to create a curriculum plan designed to meet the specific goals of each student. Each curriculum plan must be approved by the program's undergraduate coordinator before the student reaches 70 credits.

This major is also offered at the West Florida Research and Education Center in Milton, FL. Ideal for place-bound students, this version of the NRC major provides a broad ecology/environmental management curriculum.

Critical Tracking

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students

Semester 1

• Complete at least 1 of 7 critical-tracking courses (excluding labs): AEB 2014 or ECO 2013 or ECO 2023, AEC 3030C or SPC 2608, AEC 3033C, BSC 2010/2010L, CHM 1030 or CHM 2045, MAC 1105, STA 2023
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• Complete at least 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete at least 2 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

• Complete at least 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Recommended Semester Plan

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.

* The following courses may be used as substitutions:
BOT 2010C for BSC 2010 and 2010L; ENC 2210 or ENC 3254 for AEC 3033C
Placement tests and/or prerequisites may be necessary for access to certain courses.

Course availability may necessitate departure from this course sequence. Successful completion is more important than the sequence in which the course is taken.

The summer term between the junior and senior year is normally reserved for professional work experience. For questions regarding opportunities, contact the SFRC Student Services office at khaselier@ufl.edu.