Natural Resource Conservation

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

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

Overview

All NRC majors are required to complete eight core courses (minimum 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 advisor 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

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

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

Model Semester Plan

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

The summer term between the junior and senior year is normally reserved for professional work experience.

Related Natural Resource Conservation Programs

• Combined Degree
• Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
• Wildlife Ecology and Conservation minor