Discover sustainable solutions to manage our water, wildlife, and natural landscapes.
Embark on a journey to protect and sustain our planet with a B.S. in Natural Resources. Our program offers you six specialized emphases, equipping you with the skills to address critical environmental challenges. Whether you aspire to be a wildlife biologist, natural resources manager, or fisheries technician, our comprehensive curriculum and hands-on training will prepare you for a rewarding career dedicated to ecological balance and sustainability.
Students in the Natural Resources major can choose one of 6 emphases:
Conservation Biology: Preserve biodiversity and ecosystems through interdisciplinary scientific approaches.
Ecology, Management & Restoration of Rangelands: Protect deserts, grasslands, shrublands, woodlands and meadows for wild and domestic animals.
Fisheries Conservation & Management: Explore the world of fish biology and aquatic ecosystems.
Global Change Ecology & Management: Focus on the relationship between world-wide environmental changes and society’s adaptations.
Watershed Management & Ecohydrology: Dive into diverse water management systems — from wild to societal water resources.
Wildlife Conservation & Management: Study wild animal biology and their habitats to protect and manage wildlife populations.
The College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences offers $1 million in scholarships to our students! Combine these options with university scholarships and support from privately funded scholarships and you're well on your way to achieving your educational goals at a price you can afford.
Students in the School of Natural Resources & the Environment have exclusive access to nearly $88,000 program-specific scholarships, awarded from 22 different scholarships -- in addition to $230,000 in scholarships that are available to all or most CALES students.
A degree in natural resources prepares you for careers in resource and wildlife management, conservation, and research. It also can serve as a springboard for graduate school. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for careers in conservation science was $68,300 per year (2023).
Although your career possibilities are limitless, here are some example career paths our students follow:
- Wildlife biologist: Study the biology, behaviors, and habitats of a variety of animals in the wild and contribute to their conservation or restoration.
- Natural resources manager: Supervise work related to research and development, and coordinate activities such as field and lab data acquisitions, testing, quality control, and development of environmental or ecological management plans.
- Rangeland restoration manager: Guide the sustainable management of rangeland for the benefits of current stakeholders and future generations.
- Watershed eco-hydrologist: Serve as the technical lead for water monitoring and data collection for public and private entities, focused on safe water and environmental sustainability.
- Fisheries technician: Assess and restore wild fish populations, guide the rearing and transport of hatchery fish populations, collect and record stream and lake data, and manage hatchery or aquaculture facilities.
Conservation Biology:
| Conservation Biology |
| Marine Ecology and Conservation |
| Zoo and Aquarium Conservation |
Ecology, Management & Restoration of Rangelands:
| Rangeland Plant Communities |
| Grazing Ecology and Management |
| Restoration and Management of Wildland Vegetation |
Fisheries Conservation & Management:
| Aquatic Entomology |
| Fishery Management |
| Aquatic Plants and the Environment |
Global Change Ecology & Management:
| Global Sustainability and Natural Resources |
| Climate Change Adaptation |
| Environmental Law and Economics |
Watershed Management & Ecohydrology:
| Wildland Water Quality |
| Stream Ecology |
| Economics of Water Management and Policy |
Wildlife Conservation & Management:
| Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and Management |
| Population Ecology |
| Mammalogy |
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