The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's natural resources management bachelor's degree provides a semester-by-semester guide to core courses, labs, and requirements.
The Interactive Degree Audit is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this
major. This is just one sample and adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.
Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan. A full list
of undergraduate course descriptions is available.
Print Outline
First Year
Fall Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 1050 Natural Resource Professional (Essential Education: Seminar) |
|
2 |
| FW 2010 Vegetation of North America |
|
4 |
| FW 2051 Field Techniques |
|
2 |
| BL 1400 Principles of Biology (Essential Education: Science) |
|
3 |
| BL 1410 Principles of Biology Lab |
|
1 |
| UN 1015 Composition (Essential Education) |
|
3 |
| Total |
|
15 |
Spring Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| CH 1150 University Chemistry I (Essential Education: Science) |
Math Placement |
3 |
| CH 1151 University Chemistry I Lab |
CH 1150 (Concurrent) |
1 |
| EC 2001 Principles of Economics (Essential Education: Foundations) |
|
3 |
| MA 1135 Calculus for Life Science (Essential Education: Math) |
|
3 |
| Essential Education: Shape |
|
3 |
| Essential Education: Activities |
|
1 |
| Total |
|
15 |
Second Year
Fall Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 2030 Natural Resource Conservation |
|
2 |
| FW 3020 Forest Ecology |
FW 2010 (Concurrent), FW 2051 (Concurrent) |
3 |
| FW 3330 Soil Science (Essential Education Stem) |
CH 1150 and CH 1151 |
4 |
| MA 2720 Statistical Methods |
MA 1030 or MA 1032 |
4 |
| Essential Education: Arts and Culture |
|
3 |
| Total |
|
16 |
Spring Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 3110 Natural Resource Policy |
|
3 |
| FW 3200 Biometrics and Data Analysis |
FW 2051 and MA 2720 |
4 |
| FW 3540 Intro to Gis |
MA 2720 (Concurrent) |
4 |
| Free Elective |
|
2 |
| Essential Education: Communication Intensive |
|
3 |
| Essential Education: Activities |
|
1 |
| Total |
|
17 |
Third Year
Fall Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 3012 Survey of Silviculture |
FW 2010 and FW 2051 |
2 |
| FW 3170 Land Measurements and Gps |
FW 3540 |
1 |
| FW 3180 Geomorphology, Landscapes, and Ecosystems |
|
2 |
| FW 3190 Multi-Resource Assessment |
FW 2051 and FW 3020 and FW 3200 |
3 |
| FW 3600 Wildlife Habitat |
|
3 |
| FW 3800 Insect Ecology |
|
2 |
| FW 3840 Forest Health |
|
3 |
| Total |
|
16 |
Spring Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 3510 Outdoor Recreation and Tourism |
|
3 |
| FW 4380 Landscape Ecology and Planning |
MA 2720 |
3 |
| FW 4710 Environmental Biogeochemistry |
CH 1150 |
3 |
| Essential Education: Intercultural Competency |
|
3 |
| Essential Education: Experience |
|
3 |
| Essential Education: Activities |
|
1 |
| Total |
|
16 |
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 4150 Forest Resource Mgmt |
FW 3012 |
3 |
| FW 4180 Ethics of Conservation and Sustainability |
|
3 |
| FW 4800 Communications for Nat Res |
|
2 |
| FW 4811 Integrated Resources Data Collection (Capstone) |
FW 3190 |
2 |
| Natural Resource Directed Elective |
|
3 |
| Business Directed Elective |
|
3 |
| Total |
|
16 |
Spring Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 4830 Integrated Nat Res Assessment (Capstone) |
FW 4811 |
2 |
| Social Dimensions Directed Elective |
|
3 |
| Natural Resource Directed Elective |
|
3 |
| Natural Resource Directed Elective |
|
3 |
| Business Directed Elective |
|
3 |
| Free Elective |
|
3 |
| Total |
|
17 |
Total credits = 128 credits
Natural Resource Electives
- Choose a minimum of 9 credits from the following courses:
| Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
Prereqs |
Semester Offered |
| BL 2160 |
Botany |
3 |
None |
Spring |
| BL 2170 |
Zoology |
3 |
None |
Spring |
| BL 4440 |
Fish Biology |
3 |
BL 1400 and BL 1410 |
Fall |
| BL 4447 |
Stream Ecology |
3 |
BL 1400 and BL 1410 |
Fall - even years |
| FW 1035 |
Wood Anatomy and Properties |
3 |
None |
Spring |
| FW 3320 |
Forest Genetics and Genomics |
3 |
None |
Spring |
| FW 3410 |
Conservation Science |
3 |
None |
Fall |
| FW 3610 |
Ornithology |
4 |
BL 1400 and BL 1410 |
Spring |
| FW 4114 or FW 5115 |
Restoration Ecology |
3 |
None |
Spring |
| FW 4120 |
Tree Physiology |
3 |
None |
Spring |
| FW 4140 |
Stand and Forest Modeling |
2 |
Fw 3012 |
Spring |
| FW 4220 |
Wetlands |
4 |
BL 1400 and BL 1410 |
Fall |
| FW 4240 |
Mammalogy |
4 |
BL 1400 and BL 1410 |
Fall |
| FW 4300 |
Wildland Fire |
3 |
FW 3020 and (FW 3010 or FW 3012) |
Spring |
| FW 4370 |
Forest and Landscape Hydrology |
3 |
None |
Spring |
| FW 4540 |
Remote Sensing of the Environment |
3 |
None |
Fall |
| FW 4545 |
Map Design w/ GIS |
2 |
None |
Fall, Spring |
| FW 4610 |
Wildlife Ecology |
3 |
FW 3540 |
Fall |
| FW 4620 |
Herpetology |
3 |
BL 1400 and BL 1410 |
Sping - odd years |
| GE 2100 |
Environmental Geology |
3 |
None |
Spring |
| GE 4150 |
Natural Hazards |
3 |
GE 2000 or GE 2100 |
Fall |
Social Dimension Electives
- Choose 3 credits from the list of courses below
| Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
Prereqs |
Semester Offered |
| FW 3760 |
Human Dimensions of Natural Resources |
3 |
None |
Fall |
| SS 3315 |
Population, Health, & Environment |
3 |
UN 1015 |
Fall - odd years |
| SS 3520 |
U.S. Environmental History |
3 |
UN 1015 |
Fall |
| SS 3630 |
Environmental Policy & Politics |
3 |
UN 1015 |
Spring |
| SS 3800 |
Energy Policy & Technology |
3 |
UN 1015 |
Spring |
| SS 4010 |
Applied Statistics for the Social Sciences |
3 |
MA 2720 |
Fall - odd year |
| SS 4200 |
Environmental Anthropology |
3 |
SS 2100 and UN 1015 |
Fall |
| SS 4313 |
Sustainability Science |
3 |
None |
Fall |
Business Electives
- Choose 6 credits from the list of courses below
| Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
Prereqs |
Semester Offered |
| ACC 2000 |
Accounting Principles I |
3 |
None |
Fall, Spring |
| BUS 2300 |
Quantitative Problem Solving |
3 |
BUS 2100 or MA 2720 |
Fall, Spring |
| EC 3400 |
Economic Decision Analysis |
3 |
None |
Fall, Spring |
| EC 4500 |
Public Sector Economics |
3 |
EC 2001 |
On Demand |
| EC 4640 |
Natural Resource Economics |
3 |
EC 2001 or FW 4080 |
Fall |
| EC 4650 |
AMarket Failure & the Environment |
3 |
EC 2001 |
Spring - odd years |
| MGT 3000 |
Organizational Behavior |
3 |
None |
Fall, Spring |
| MKT 3000 |
Principles of Marketing |
3 |
None |
Fall |
Essential Education Requirements (24 total credits)
Required courses are:
- Essential Ed Seminar (UN 1013 or UN 2013, 1 credit),
- Composition (UN 1015-3 credits),
- a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
- a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
- an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
- an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
- an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
- and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.
For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.
Additional Notes
- Prerequisite (pre-req) course must be successfully completed PRIOR to taking the subsequent
course.
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Required Corequisite (co-req) courses that MUST be taken together in the same semester.
- Class Standing: So (Sophomore Standing earned 30 credits) Jr (Junior Standing earned
60 credits), Sr (Senior Standing earned 90 credits)
- Semester Offered: Noted under electives with F (Fall), Sp (Spring), Su (Summer) or
On Demand (no anticipated offering but may show in the schedule, consult with your
advisor)
- Math: Students are placed into an initial math course based on ACT/SAT math score,
the online ALEKS assessment, or a math placement exam score for credit (AP, IB, CLEP).
- Transfer, Advanced Placement, or study abroad courses are not included in credit hours
used for GPA calculations. Transfer credit is awarded for Michigan Tech equivalent
coursework only if a grade of ‘C’ or better (2.00/4.00) or equivalent is earned at
a transfer institution. Study abroad credit will be awarded based on passing a course
according to equivalent international standards. Advanced Placement credit is awarded
according to published AP Exam score standards (also IB and CLEP).
This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be
required due to curriculum changes.