Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
Student Services Address: N-509 Turner Hall, 1102 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, (217) 333-5824, nres-ssc@illinois.edu
Major in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
Minor in Natural Resource Conservation
Minor in Spatial and Quantitative Methods in Natural Resources and Environmental
Sciences
Major in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science with a Major in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
Designed for students interested in careers leading the conservation, protection, and management of natural and environmental resources or in pursuing advanced education in one of its many disciplinary areas, the NRES baccalaureate provides a science-based, application-oriented education. The NRES major is unique in its integration of a comprehensive physical, life, and social sciences background with coursework providing the management, decision-making, and analytical knowledge and skills required to solve the world’s most pressing problems.
Students in the NRES major begin their studies by taking a set of core courses that provides the background for more focused substantive study at the upper level. The NRES core introduces students to the range of physical, life, and social science content most relevant to their future professions and equips them with tools essential for the discovery, analysis, and application of knowledge important for successful environmental management. NRES students then build upon the core by completing one of four upper-level Concentrations. Courses in the Concentrations involve focused attention to the theories, data, and analytical tools of a particular set of natural resource and environmental science areas, helping students develop the necessary understanding of the complexities underlying resources management. All students in the major are required to complete a combination of field courses and at least one project-oriented capstone course.
All the Concentrations prepare students for graduate study as well as for multiple career paths throughout the public and private sectors. Because of its unique orientation toward integrative application of disciplinary knowledge, the NRES major prepares students for a wide range of careers involving the conservation, protection, and management of natural resources. Many occur within business or government agencies that provide services related to environmental and natural resource management. Other careers are found within social, professional, and advocacy institutions that focus on human impacts and environmental sustainability. The major also prepares students for teaching, research, or other professional activities.
Graduates from the NRES major go on to pursue careers in the direction of environmental education centers; ecological management and restoration; enforcement of laws and regulations; environmental advocacy; environmental consulting; forest and environmental economics; land use analysis and management; law; local, state, and federal government; management of parks, forests and rangelands; plant physiology; policy development and implementation; resource planning and policy analysis; social and environmental impact analysis; soil conservation, science, and testing; technical sales; watershed management; and wildlife conservation and management.
General Education Requirements
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Concentration
Global Change and Landscape Dynamics Concentration
Human Dimensions of the Environment Concentration
Resource Conservation and Restoration Ecology Concentration
Prescribed Courses including General Education
| Hours | Composition I and Speech |
|---|---|
| Choose either | |
| 4 3 |
RHET 105 - Principles of Composition or equivalent (see College Composition I requirement) AND |
| OR | |
| 6 | CMN 111 - Oral and Written Communication I AND |
| Hours | Advanced Composition |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | Select from campus approved list |
| Hours | Cultural Studies |
|---|---|
| 6 | Select one course from Western culture and one from non-Western/U.S. minority culture from campus approved list. |
| Hours | Foreign Language: Coursework at or above the third level is required for graduation. |
|---|
| Hours | Quantitative Reasoning I |
|---|---|
| 4-5 | Select one course from: MATH 220 - Calculus |
| Hours | Quantitative Reasoning II |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | Select one course from: ACE 261 - Applied Statistical Methods |
| Hours | Natural Sciences and Technology |
|---|---|
| 4 | CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I and CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I |
| 4 | CHEM 104 - General Chemistry II and CHEM 105 - General Chemistry Lab II |
| 4 | IB 103 - Introduction to Plant Biology |
| 3-5 | Select one course from: |
| Hours | Humanities and the Arts |
|---|---|
| 6 | Select from campus approved list. |
| Hours | Social and Behavioral Sciences |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | ACE 100 - Agr Cons and Resource Econ OR ECON 102 - Microeconomic Principles |
| 3-4 | Select from campus approved list. |
| Hours | Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Required |
|---|---|
| 3 | NRES 102 - Introduction to NRES |
| 4 | NRES 201 - Introductory Soils |
| 3 | NRES 219 - Principles of Ecosystem Mgmt |
| 3 | NRES 287 - Environment and Society |
| 3 | NRES 348 - Fish and Wildlife Ecology |
| 3 | NRES 454 - GIS in Natural Resource Mgmt |
| 3 | NRES 456 - Integrative Ecosystem Mgmt |
| Hours | Two Repeatable Field Methods Courses selected from: |
|---|---|
| 2 - 4 | NRES 276 - Introduction to Field Pedology or NRES 285 - Natural Resource Field Experience |
| Hours | ACES Required |
|---|---|
| 2 | ACES 101 - Contemporary Issues in ACES |
| 23-32 | Concentration prescribed courses. See specific requirements for each concentration listed below. |
| 126 | Total |
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Concentration
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation concentration is designed for the student interested in the fundamental properties of natural resource systems with emphasis on the ecology, biology, conservation, and management of fish and wildlife resources.
| Hours | Fish and Wildlife Conservation Concentration Required |
|---|---|
| 4 | NRES 407 - Wildlife Population Ecology |
| 4 | NRES 409 - Fishery Ecol and Conservation |
| 3-4 | NRES 421 - Quantitative Methods in NRES or NRES 440 - Applied Statistical Methods I |
| Hours | One Organismal Biology course selected from: |
|---|---|
| 4 | NRES 368 - Vertebrate Natural History |
| Hours | One Specializaton course selected from: |
|---|---|
| 3-4 |
|
| Hours | One Plant Classification/Identification course selected from: |
|---|---|
| 3-5 | NRES 415 - Native Plant ID and Floristics |
Global Change & Landscape Dynamics
The Global Change and Landscape Dynamics Concentration explores the patterns and processes interlinking biological species with landscape components in order to promote the sustainability and ecological integrity of terrestrial ecosystems at local, regional, and sub-continental geographic scales. This concentration is especially relevant for students interested in invasion biology; biological rarity; wildlife disease epidemiology; energy, nutrient, and organism exchanges; the distribution of land cover and land use; and other elements affecting the earth’s ecology.
| Hours | Global Change & Landscape Dynamics Concentration Required |
|---|---|
| 3 | NRES 419 - Env and Plant Ecosystems |
| 3 | NRES 465 - Landscape Ecology |
| 3-4 | NRES 421 - Quantitative Methods in NRES or NRES 440 - Applied Statistical Methods I |
| Hours | One Ecology course selected from: |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | NRES 420 - Restoration Ecology NRES 431 - Plants and Global Change NRES 462 - Ecosystem Ecology IB 361 - Ecology and Human Health UP 405 - Watershed Ecology and Planning UP 406 - Urban Ecology |
| Hours | One Geospatial Techniques course selected from: |
|---|---|
| 2-4 | NRES 455 - Adv GIS for Nat Res Planning NRES 460 - Anal & Interp Aerial Photo NRES 477 - Introduction to Remote Sensing GEOG 412 - Geospatial Tech & Society UP 316 - Planning Analysis |
| Hours | One Planning & Policy course selected from: | |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 |
|
| Hours | One Environmental Quality course selected from: | |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 |
|
Human Dimensions of the Environment Concentration
The Human Dimensions of the Environment Concentration emphasizes the social scientific interpretations of human-environment interactions at multiple levels as well as on applied policy and management implications. It is intended for students interested in the study of environmental sociology and psychology, land use planning, environmental management and policy, natural resource allocation, social impacts, resource economics, and environmental law. The Human Dimensions of the Environment Concentration requires advanced coursework in natural resource economics, environmental psychology, communications, social impact assessment, environmental policy, and environmental law.
| Hours | Human Dimension Concentration Required |
|---|---|
| 3 | NRES 310 - Natural Resource Economics or ACE 210 - Environmental Economics |
| 3 | NRES 325 - Natural Resource Policy Mgmt or NRES 425 - Natural Resource Law & Policy |
| 3 | NRES 340 - Environ Social Sci Res Meth |
| Hours | One Analytical Methods course selected from |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | NRES 421 - Quant Methods in NRES |
| Hours | Two Social Science Planning and Policy courses selected from |
|---|---|
| 6-8 | NRES 310 – Natural Resource Economics (if not taken as one of the HDC required classes) |
| Hours | One Conservation/Environmental Science/Ecology course selected from |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | NRES 401 - Watershed Hydrology |
Resource Conservation and Restoration Ecology
The Resource Conservation and Restoration Ecology Concentration emphasizes the ecology, biology, and management of aquatic, soil, forest, and wildlife resources. It is designed for students interested in the fundamental properties and practices underlying the restoration and management of soil, watershed, wetland, forest, and grassland ecosystems. Through lectures, labs and field exercise, students study biosphere relationships in natural resource systems. The Resource Conservation and Restoration Ecology concentration includes coursework in the areas of restoration ecology, soil science, environmental biology, aquatic ecosystem management, tree and plant physiology, and advanced ecology.
| Hours | Resource Conservation & Restoration Ecology Concentration Required |
|---|---|
| 3 | NRES 419 - Env and Plant Ecosystems |
| 3 | NRES 420 - Restoration Ecology |
| 3-4 | NRES 421 - Quantitative Methods in NRES or NRES 440 - Applied Statistical Methods I |
| Hours | One Watershed Science course selected from |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | NRES 401 - Watershed Hydrology |
| Hours | One Plant Classification/Identification course selected from |
|---|---|
| 3-5 | NRES 415 - Native Plant ID and Floristics |
| Hours | One Soil and Environmental Science course selected from |
|---|---|
| 3 | NRES 351 - Environmental Chemistry |
| Hours | One Ecology course selected from |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | NRES 438 - Soil Nurtrient Cycling |
Minor in Natural Resource Conservation
The Natural Resource Conservation minor offers an integrated approach to managing natural resources from a sustainability perspective. This minor addresses the diverse biological, physical, social, economic, and political aspects of natural resources and stewardship. Ultimately, this curriculum offers students interested in the conservation of natural resources a challenging and rewarding experience while simultaneously preparing them for future careers requiring a fundamental and strong background in the management and conservation of natural resources.
A minimum of 18 hours are required for this minor, of which at least 6 credit hours must be 400-level. Courses taken to fulfill the minor may not be counted toward the major in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences.
| Hours | Required Courses for a Minor in Natural Resource Conservation |
|---|---|
| 3 | NRES 102 - Introduction to NRES or NRES 100 - Fundamentals of Env Sci |
| 3 | NRES 287 - Environment and Society |
| Hours | General Electives |
|---|---|
| 12 | Minimum of 12 credit hours, at least 6 of which much be 400-level, selected from: |
NRES 108 - Env Sci & Nat Resource Careers |
Minor in Spatial and Quantitative Methods in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
The Spatial and Quantitative Methods in Natural Resources and Environmental
Sciences minor is ideal for students in NRES and allied fields seeking preparation for careers requiring sills in geographic information systems, statistics, research design, and/or mathematical modeling. This minor is open to students in all majors and is especially relevant for those pursuing a major related to natural resource and environmental issues who want to distinguish themselves with more advanced analytical skills.
In order to be eligible to declare this minor, a student must have successfully completed the Quantitative Reasoning I and Quantitative Reasoning II requirements. The minor requires the completion of an additional 18 hours of coursework selected from the following list. Students must earn credit for at least three hours in each of the three categories. Courses taken to fulfill the minor may not be counted towards the NRES major, but may count towards majors in other fields.
| Hours | Required Courses for a Minor in Spatial and Quantitative Methods in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | Statistics & Research Design NRES 421 - Quantitative Methods in NRES |
| 3-4 | Mathematical Modeling |
| 3-5 | Spatial Analysis |
| 18 | Minimum hours required for the minor |