Degree: B.S.

Coordinator: Edwin J. Green (green@crssa.rutgers.edu)

Students are encouraged to organize curricular and elective courses to fulfill simultaneously the requirements of a minor or certificate program. Particularly appropriate are the minor in Teacher Education and the certificates in Environmental Geomatics and Urban/ Community Forestry.

The curriculum offers the following options:

Conservation and Applied Ecology. This option provides a broad general understanding of the functioning, significance, and conservation of living systems. The flexibility of this option is intended to meet a variety of student interests and needs.

Ecology and Evolution. This option emphasizes scientific aspects of ecology and is intended for students who plan to attend graduate school for advanced study or who intend to apply for certification as an ecologist or associate ecologist through the Ecological Society of America.

Professional Resource Management. Students selecting this option will pursue course work that has been recommended by professional resource management organizations. Traditional majors in forestry, wildlife, or fisheries can be developed by the selection of specific concentrations within this option. Faculty advisers provide students with a list of courses recommended for specific career directions. However, a broad background in resource management is an appropriate preparation for all resource manage- ment professionals.

I. College Mission: Interdisciplinary Critical Analysis (5-6 credits)

  11:015:101  Perspectives on Agriculture and the Environment (2)

  11:015:400  Junior/Senior Colloquium (3)

II. Introductory Life and Physical Sciences

A. Life Sciences (8 credits)

  01:119:101-102  General Biology (4,4)

B. Physical Sciences (17 credits)

  01:160:161-162  General Chemistry (4,4)

  01:160:171  Introduction to Experimentation (1)

  01:750:193-194  Physics for the Sciences (4,4) or 01: 750:203-204 General Physics (3,3) and 01:750:205-206 General Physics Laboratory (1,1)

III. Humanities and the Arts (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

IV. Multicultural and International Studies (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

V. Human Behavior, Economic Systems, and Political Processes (9 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VI. Oral and Written Communication (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VII. Experience-Based Education (0-3 credits)

All students are required to obtain practical experience in an area of ecology and natural resources. Students can complete this requirement without formal credit through summer employment or volunteer service with an appropriate public agency, private industry, or nonprofit organization. Proposed employment or service must be discussed with the adviser or curriculum coordinator.

If the student elects to meet this requirement without applying for credit, then it is the student's responsibility to provide the curriculum coordinator with written documentation of the work experience prior to graduation. Students also may fulfill the practical experience requirement by completing one of the following courses:

  11:015:497,498  George H. Cook Scholars Program (BA,BA)

  11:199:___  Cooperative Education (BA)

  11:300:487  Student Teaching (9)

  11:372:493,494  Special Problems in Environmental Resources (BA,BA)

  11:704:375  Practicum in Wildlife Management (BA)

  11:704:376  Practicum in Fishery Management (BA)

  11:704:377  Practicum in Forest Management (BA)

  11:704:483,484  Research Problems in Applied Ecology (BA,BA)

VIII. Proficiency in Ecology and Natural Resources (58-62 credits)

A. REQUIRED COURSES (11)

Quantitative Skills (7)

  01:640:115  Precalculus College Mathematics (4) or 01: 640:1__ CALC1 or equivalent

  01:960:401  Basic Statistics for Research (3)

Computer and Information Technology Competence

Students are expected to have or develop basic competence in the use of computers and their application in the field of natural resources. If basic computing skills need to be developed at Cook College, students should take 01:198:110 Introduction to Computers and Their Application (3) or equivalent. Students who enter Cook College with basic proficiency in the use of computers will meet the curriculum computing requirement by completing 11:372:369 or 11:704:453. Consult the faculty adviser for the appropriate course selection.

Professional Ethics

Ethical aspects of natural resources are incorporated into many of the advanced courses through case studies.

Additional Requirements (4)

  11:704:351  Principles of Ecology (4)

B. OPTIONS (47-51)

 1. Conservation and Applied Ecology (47-49)

Required courses (7-8)

  11:375:102  Soils and Society (3) or 11:375:360 Soils and Water (4)

  01:460:101  Introductory Geology (3)

  01:460:103  Introductory Geology Laboratory (1)

Electives (40-41)

Courses chosen in consultation with the student`s adviser from among those listed under the other options of this curriculum or logical extensions of the subject matter of these courses. Students must have the approval of their adviser or curriculum coordinator to substitute courses other than those indicated above. At least 20 of the 40 credits must be fulfilled by courses in natural resources (11:704). In general, courses that can be applied to learning about living systems and how they are managed are approved.

2. Ecology and Evolution (49-51)

Required courses (28-30)

  01:160:307-308  Organic Chemistry (4,4) and 01:160:311 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2) or 01:160:209 Elementary Organic Chemistry (3) and 01:160:211 Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1) and 11:115: 301 Introductory Biochemistry (3) and 11:115:313 Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory (1)

  01:447:380  Genetics (4)

  01:640:135  Calculus (4) or equivalent

  11:704:486  Principles of Evolution (3)

At least one of the following courses in biomathematics (3-4):

  01:146:302  Computers in Biology (3)

  01:640:136  Calculus or 01:640:138 Calculus for the Biological Sciences (4) or equivalent

  01:640:250  Introduction to Linear Algebra (3)

  11:704:453  Natural Resource Biometrics (3)

At least one of the following courses in systematics (3-4):

  11:370:381  Insect Biology (4)

  11:370:402  Aquatic Entomology (4)

  11:370:409  Insect Classification (4)

  11:628:321  Ichthyology (4)

  11:704:272  Dendrology (4)

  11:704:323  Ornithology (4)

  11:704:324  Invertebrate Zoology (4)

  11:704:325  Vertebrate Zoology (4)

  11:704:411  Taxonomy of the Vascular Plants (4)

At least one of the following courses in environmental pollution and conservation (3):

  11:374:431  Topics: New and Reemerging Diseases (3)

  11:375:407  Environmental Toxicology (3)

  11:375:411  Environmental Microbiology (3)

  11:375:421  Air Pollution (3)

  11:375:444  Water Chemistry (3)

  11:375:445  Problems in Aquatic Environments (3)

  11:704:317  Conservation Ecology (3)

  11:704:451  Ecosystems Ecology and Global Change (3)

Electives (21)

Select appropriate courses from the following categories.

Life Sciences (15)

At least 15 credits of courses selected in consultation with an adviser from those offered by Cook College or the Faculty of Arts and Sciences that have 01:119:101-102 General Biology as a prerequisite. At least three of these courses must have a laboratory or field component.

Physical and Quantitative Sciences (6)

At least 6 additional credits of courses selected in consultation with an adviser in Biochemistry (115), Chemistry (160), Environmental Sciences (375), Geography (450), Geological Sciences (460), Marine Sciences (628), Mathematics (640), Physics (750), or Statistics (960).

3. Professional Resource Management (Fisheries/ Forestry/Wildlife) (48)

Required courses (23)

  11:375:360  Soils and Water (4)

  01:460:101  Introductory Geology (3)

  01:460:103  Introductory Geology Laboratory (1)

  11:704:211  The Natural Resources Professions (1)

  11:704:272  Dendrology (4)

  11:704:453  Natural Resource Biometrics (4)

  11:776:210  Principles of Botany (4)

Additional course in oral and written communication (3) [01:355:302 Scientific and Technical Writing (3) is recommended.]

Electives (25)

Select appropriate courses from the following categories. Students placing an emphasis on wildlife, fisheries, or forestry should obtain a list of recommended courses from their adviser or curriculum coordinator. The minimum number of credits is indicated. Courses not listed here may be substituted with the approval of the adviser.

Living Systems (16):

  11:370:381  Insect Biology (4)

  01:447:380  Genetics (4)

  11:628:120  Introduction to Oceanography (3)

  11:628:320  Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems (4)

  11:628:321  Ichthyology (4)

  11:704:240  Behavioral Biology (4)

  11:704:323  Ornithology (4)

  11:704:324  Invertebrate Zoology (4)

  11:704:325  Vertebrate Zoology (4)

  11:704:332  Plant Ecology (4)

  11:704:335  Limnology (4)

  11:704:411  Taxonomy of the Vascular Plants (4)

  11:704:421  Wetland Ecology (3)

  11:704:422  Ecology of Soil Organisms (3)

  11:704:441  Animal Behavior (3)

  11:704:443  Animal Social Behavior (3)

  11:770:301  General Plant Pathology (3)

  11:776:382  Plant Physiology (4)

Principles and Applications of Resource Management (6):

  11:704:317  Conservation Ecology (3)

  11:704:464  Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (3)

  11:704:471  Silviculture (3)

Policy/Administration/Law (3):

  11:372:231  Fundamentals of Environmental Planning (3)

  11:372:381  Introduction to Systems Thinking and the Systems Approach (3)

  11:373:362  Natural Resource Economics (3)

  11:373:363  Environmental Economics (3)

  11:374:313  Environmental Policy and Institutions (3)

  11:374:314  Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management (3)

  11:375:333  Environmental Law I (3)

Complementary courses

The following courses provide knowledge and skills that are complementary to the study of natural resources. No credits are required, but these courses may be used as unspecified electives or as option electives for the conservation and applied ecology option.

  11:015:2__  Topics in Agriculture and Environmental Science (1)

  11:015:230  Fundamentals of Agroecology (3)

  11:115:301  Introductory Biochemistry (3)

  01:160:209  Elementary Organic Chemistry (3)

  11:370:202  The World of Insects (3)

  11:372:322  Land Measurement and Mapping (3)

  11:372:362  Intermediate Environmental Geomatics (3)

  11:372:371  Air-Photo Interpretation (3)

  11:372:474  Advanced Remote Sensing (3)

  11:375:405  Fundamentals of Water and Wastewater Analysis (4)

  11:670:201  Elements of Meteorology (3)

  11:670:202  Elements of Climatology (3)

  11:704:274  Field Techniques in Ecology and Natural Resources (4)

  11:704:312  Forest Fire Protection (1.5)

  11:704:403  Urban Forestry (3)

  11:704:451  Ecosystems Ecology and Global Change (3)

  11:704:452  Research Methods in Ecology (3)

  11:704:461  Field Ecology (2)

  11:704:475  Winter Field Ecology (1)

  11:704:486  Principles of Evolution (3)

  11:704:488  Restoration Ecology (4)

  01:960:4__   A course in statistics (3)

  01:960:476  Introduction to Sampling (3)

  01:960:490  Introduction to Experimental Design (3)

IX. Unspecified Electives (5-12 credits)