Careers such as Natural Resource Managers, Water Resource Specialists, and Environmental Compliance Officers are possibilities with this pathway. This is an Associates of Science Degree that is intended for transfer. Graduates who do not plan to transfer may pursue employment.

When you pursue a degree in natural resources, you will study the interdependence of resource concerns, conservation, and production agriculture management practices. You will also learn the characteristics and importance of our natural resources, sustainability, regulations, and best practices.

This program utilizes applied plant and animal sciences to manage the northwestern rangelands by balancing competing demands on the environment. Students will consider the soil, plants, and animals as a whole in their resource management plans.

One of the most important natural resources, water, needs to be monitored, tested, and recycled. Vermilion’s Water Quality Science and Water Operations program focuses on water use in wastewater, water treatment, facility water systems, and water usage.

The Forest Resources program provides graduates with broad-based knowledge for the management of forest-based resources.

The Associate of Science in Natural Resources degree is designed to transfer. Therefore, completion of the degree alone does not qualify students for any specific career; however, completing an associate degree will improve overall employability and make students eligible for employment opportunities requiring an associate-level degree.

Successful completion of this degree program provides students with a broad base of skills related to a career in Natural Resources. The Natural Resources Associate of Applied Science degree program offers training in the areas of Invasive Species (Noxious Weeds); Range Management, and Forestry, as well as an introduction to GPS/GIS and Recreation and Wildlife. Successful graduates of this program may secure entry-level positions as seasonal, temporary, or permanent employees for state and federal agencies, or private industry. This degree is designed for students wishing to directly enter the workforce. It is not designed for transfer to a four-year institution, although some coursework may be transferable. Students who wish to transfer coursework are strongly encouraged to work closely with their TVCC advisor to develop a transfer plan and to identify and contact an advisor at their chosen transfer institution. A minimum of 90 credits and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 are needed to graduate with a degree.

Have you considered spending your career outdoors or in a work environment that focuses on the natural environment around us? Your future career could include occupations such as a riparian/watershed specialist, recreation manager, forest/wildlife ecologist, or wildland law enforcement officer. The Associate of Science in Natural Resources prepares students to complete the preliminary education needed for these professions.