Natural Resource Conservation
The natural resource conservation major allows students to tailor a curriculum that suits their interests and career goals. Working with a faculty adviser, students can elect to focus their curriculum on any number of natural resource fields. Students preparing for advanced degrees in natural resources often elect to complete a very broad, interdisciplinary program.
About This Major
- College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
- School: Forest Resources and Conservation
- Degree: Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Conservation
- Hours for the Degree: 120
- Minor: No
- Combined-Degree Program: Yes
- Website: www.sfrc.ufl.edu/nrc.html
Overview
All NRC majors are required to complete five core courses in plant identification, communications, natural resource measurements, environmental policy, and integrated resource management, as well as five additional courses from the natural resource academic units on campus (School of Forest Resources and Conservation and the Department of Wildlife Ecology). Additional courses can be selected from any other unit on campus, with guidance from the faculty adviser. Students must complete a curriculum plan and have it approved by the SFRC undergraduate coordinator by the time they reach 70 credits.
This major is also offered at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Plant City, Fla. and at the West Florida Research and Education Center off campus in Milton, Fla. Ideal for place-bound students, this version of the NRC major provides a broad ecology/environmental management curriculum.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework for semesters 1-5
- Complete at least 3 of 10 critical-tracking courses: AEB 2014 or ECO 2023,
AEC 3030C or SPC 2608 (excluding labs), BSC 2010/2010L, BSC 2011/ 2011L, CGS 2531, CHM 2045/2045L, MAC 2233 or MAC 2311, PHY 2020, STA 2023 and three credits of sociology or psychology
Semester 2
- Complete at least 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 3
- Complete at least 2 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 4
- Complete at least 3 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 5
- Complete all 10 critical-tracking courses, including labs
Recommended semester plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (3) or ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (4) (GE-S) * | 3-4 |
| CGS 2531 Problem Solving Using Computer Software (GE-M) | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Psychology or sociology (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) or Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| MAC 2233 Survey of Calculus 1 (3) or MAC 2311 Analytical Geometry and Calculus 1 (4) | 3-4 |
| Electives | 9 |
| Total | 16-17 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication or SPC 2608 Introduction to Public Speaking * | 3 |
| BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) * | 4 |
| PHY 2020 Introduction to Principles of Physics * | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
* Use these courses as substitutes:
BOT 2010C (4) or BOT 2011C (4) for BSC 2011 and 2011L
PHY 2004 and 2004L or a 4-credit physics course with laboratory for PHY 2020 (3)
Placement tests and/or prerequisites may be necessary for access to certain courses.
Course availability may necessitate departure from this course sequence. Except for certain courses where sequence is critical (e.g., Biology 1 and 2), successful completion is more important than the sequence in which the course is taken.
| Summer | Credits |
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) or ENC 2210 Technical Writing | 3 |
| Total | 3 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| FNR 3131C Dendrology/Forest Plants | 3 |
| FNR 3410C Natural Resource Sampling | 3 |
| Adviser-approved coursework | 9 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| Adviser-approved coursework | 12 |
| Total | 12 |
The summer term between the junior and senior year is normally reserved for professional work experience. For questions regarding opportunities, contact SFRC Student Services or info@sfrc.ufl.edu
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| FNR 4660C Natural Resource Policy and Administration | 3 |
| Adviser-approved coursework | 12 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| FNR 4623C Integrated Natural Resource Management | 3 |
| Adviser-approved coursework | 12 |
| Total | 15 |