Natural Resources Ecosystem AssessmentCurriculum: Compact | Detailed
FER Home : Undergraduates : Natural Resources Ecosystem Assessment
What you like to work on the frontline of helping to solve the world’s environmental problems? Are you fascinated by the interplay of different environmental factors and human behavior? Is your goal to make sure people balance resource use with preservation? Are you interested in a hands-on field career or seeking a strong base for a graduate or environmental law degree? If so, Ecosystem Assessment may be right for you.
Ecosystem Assessment is an environmental specialty field that requires an understanding of ecosystem structures and processes, especially the science of measuring and monitoring natural resources. FER Ecosystem Assessment undergraduates begin their education by taking part in our interdisciplinary Natural Resources program, which provides a strong grounding in basic earth and biological sciences. They then enter a comprehensive, science-based program that teaches them how to inventory and describe the many different characteristics of natural ecosystems and to evaluate the impact of management practices. They learn to do this by applying standard classification systems such as wildlife habitat evaluation procedures and the federal wetland delineation criteria.
Because our faculty are involved in a wide variety of research efforts aimed at improving how natural resources are used, managed, conserved and restored, undergraduates are often given opportunities to observe or participate in real-life research projects. After your junior year, you take part in an internship program to get hands-on experience under the guidance of working professionals.
By the time students graduate, they will have practical experience and a strong working knowledge of all the principles needed to measure and monitor the status of natural resources and the environment.
The Natural Resources - Ecosystem Assessment major is part of an exciting network of academic programs coordinated by the Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Academic Programs (ESNR) at NC State University. Find out more about ESNR >>
Curriculum
The Ecosystem Assessment curriculum features a strong core of basic science courses, environmental sciences and natural resource management plus courses in sampling and measurement as well as vegetation, soils, hydrology, wildlife and fisheries. For more information on the curriculum for Ecosystem Assessment please review one of our curriculum description options: Compact Curriculum | Detailed Curriculum
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Ecosystem Assessment program are typically needed in a variety of public and private organizations involved in environmental regulation and management, education and recreation. For example, you might obtain a job working with the wetlands protection programs of the US Environmental Protection Agency or the US Army Corps of Engineers, or with various environmental regulatory programs of state and local governments. Non-profit organizations and private environmental consulting firms also need entry-level professionals with broad skills in the field of environmental assessment.
The natural resources background provided by the Ecosystem Assessment program also a strong base for students who want to go on to graduate school, develop a further specialty or practice environmental law one day.
