Agriculture: Natural Resources AS Degree
Associate in Science | SC Program: AS.1495
This curriculum is designed to provide technician-level training for students interested in working in such areas as wildlife, forestry, range, and outdoor recreation. Typical employers include local, county, and U.S. Government agencies, as well as private companies. Particular attention should be paid to course prerequisites and to whether a class is taught during the fall or spring semester, or both.
This degree is approved through the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Upon satisfactory completion of all degree requirements and filing an application for graduation with Admissions and Records, the student’s transcript will reflect completion of this degree.
Choose your path
Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.
A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.
Fall Semester, First Year
14 Units TotalNote: For students who would benefit from further instruction and individual support while taking their first college-transfer level English course, ENGL 1AX is a recommended alternative to ENGL 1A.
This course develops the reading, critical thinking, and writing skills necessary for academic success, emphasizing expository and argumentative writing as well as research and documentation skills. As a transferable course, it presupposes that students already have a substantial grasp of grammar, syntax, and organization, and that their writing is reasonably free from errors. A research paper is required for successful completion of the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
An introduction to the integrated management of forests, soil, watershed, fish, and wildlife in the context of protection and restoration of watersheds and ecosystems. An emphasis will be placed on natural resources careers, policy and law, tools, techniques and practices, and management philosophies of public and private lands. Basic biological and ecological processes will be introduced along with discussion of the scientific method and preparing reports.
This course will help students develop an understanding of the sampling methods and equipment used to inventory forest resources on Private, State, and Federal lands. Measurements of timber stand growth, quantity and quality, and other natural resources including water, range, and wildlife will also be covered. The lecture portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
Spring Semester, First Year
15 Units TotalAn introductory course in statistics designed to show the role of modern statistical methods in the process of decision making. Concepts are introduced by example rather than by rigorous mathematical theory. The following topics will be covered: measures of central tendency and dispersion, regression and correlation, probability, sampling distributions including the normal, t, and chi-square, statistical inference using confidence intervals and hypotheses testing. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This course is an introduction to the process of human communication with emphasis on public speaking. The subjects covered are speech topic selection, audience analysis, information competency (e.g. researching, evaluating and using supporting materials), presentation outlining, principles of effective speech delivery, critical evaluation of speeches, and presentation of informative and persuasive speeches. Most students will have the opportunity to be recorded and to use presentational technology. College level writing skills will be expected on all papers, outlines and short essays. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Summer Semester, Second Year
3 Units TotalThe Natural Resources Worksite Learning course allows the student to gain on-the-job experience through employment/volunteerism at an approved natural resources job site that is acquired by the student and related to the student's major. A faculty member supervises the course to ensure that the work experience is of educational value. The course stresses good work habits and meeting of competencies through actual on-the-job performance. A student may earn up to 16 units through repeating this course since course content varies and skills are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice. A maximum of 8 units may be earned in a single semester.
Fall Semester, Second Year
15 Units TotalThis course takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of race and ethnicity in the United States. It examines social justice movements in relation to ethnic and racial groups in the United States to provide a basis for a better understanding of the socioeconomic, cultural, and political conditions among key social groups including, but not limited to, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latina/o Americans. This course examines the systemic nature of racial/ethnic oppression through an examination of key concepts including racialization and ethnocentrism, with a specific focus on the persistence of white supremacy. Using an anti-racist framework, the course will examine historical and contemporary social movements dedicated to the decolonization of social institutions, resistance, and social justice. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This course is an introduction to the conservation or wise use of natural resources and incorporates discussions about the complex relationships of man to the environment. Students will learn about the diverse agencies that manage our resources along with their history and philosophies. The course will cover each of the major natural resources - such as water, air, energy, forests, wildlife, agriculture, and soils - as well as environmental policy and laws that govern the use of these resources. An emphasis is placed on the practical components of Environmental Science as it relates to social and economic aspects of conservation. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This course addresses a variety of topics concerned with the quality and quantity of water resources and watershed management, ecology, and restoration. Emphasis will be on the State of California. Coverage will include the hydrologic cycle, water quality, water use and conservation, and watershed health and function. Sources, measurements, quality (pollution and treatment), usage, and conservation of water will be addressed. Environmental impacts of dam construction and hydroplant operation will be discussed. Laboratory work will involve measurements and interpretations of data collected or distributed and watershed restoration project planning and implementation. Field trips to various facilities (federal, state, county, city, private agencies) and restoration/monitoring sites will occur as feasible. The lecture portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
Spring Semester, Second Year
13 Units TotalThis course covers the study of plant and animal ecology in relation to principles of wildlife management. An emphasis will be placed on identification of common western birds and mammals, sexing and aging criteria, wildlife population dynamics, wildlife habitat management, and a review of trapping and marking techniques. Ecological concepts such as biotic communities, succession, limiting factors, and predator-prey relationships will also be covered. The lecture portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
Note: This class includes two Saturday field trips on classification, judging, and conservation of soils. The class is required for all agriculture, natural resources, and horticulture majors.
This class is an introductory course on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil as it relates to agriculture and natural resources. Ecosystem relationship of soil use and management is emphasized. The effects of drainage, tillage, and irrigation on land use are discussed. A portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.
*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:
- California State Universities – General Education
- IGETC – Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
Need a print out? Feel free to download and/or print out a copy of the sample program map(s).
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