Term Effective:
Fall 2015
The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.
Description:
The Natural Resources program provides instructional training necessary for technician level positions in natural resource and watershed management, resource protection, fish and wildlife, public safety, visitor information services, and maintenance. The program consists of 18 units of core requirements. Students then select one of three emphases: Forest Management, Watershed Management, or Parks & Recreation, and complete 9 units in the chosen emphasis.
The Natural Resources: Watershed Management Certificate of Achievement is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills related to the protection, restoration, and functions of watersheds. The focus of study will be on the "ecosystem" approach to watershed management and cooperation with other wildland users.
The work of a watershed management technician supports and compliments that of the professional watershed manager. Students completing the Watershed Management Certificate can expect to find jobs that involve entry level data collection for state and federal agencies and non profit watershed restoration and fisheries projects, development of watershed plans, conducting watershed education, and work as a river and field tech, watershed technician, fish and game biology field tech.
This program has been designed with the help of experts in the field of Watershed Management to fulfill the needs of employers. Employment has been mainly in governmental positions. However, jobs in the private consulting industry have been increasing.
Students who have completed the Watershed Management Competency Certificate have fulfilled a portion of the Natural Resources: Watershed Management Certificate of Achievement.
Watershed technicians assist in data collection and flora and fauna inventory and watershed restoration projects. Typical duties relate to the compiling of technical data and entry into computer database systems. They may also develop watershed plans, conduct watershed education, or work as river and field technicians, watershed technicians, or fish and game biology field technicians.
This program of study is also available as an Associate degree
major option. Students wishing to move beyond the technician level are encouraged to pursue a four year degree in Forestry Hydrology, Fisheries Management, or other related sciences.
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- Identify and discuss the physical and biological processes of watersheds:
- Examine and identify fundamental concepts of the hydrologic cycle;
- Recommend principles for protection, management, and monitoring watersheds in California;
- Measure, monitor, and assess watershed health in North Coast and other regional streams;
- Identify and describe specific habitat factors limiting fish production;
- Identify, evaluate, and develop suitable restoration work plans; and
- Apply broad-based theories and applications in the watershed management field to solve problems and address issues in the profession.
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It is important that students who are completing an Associate Degree and desire to transfer to a four-year institution meet with a counselor to plan their lower division coursework. While many majors at SRJC are intended to align with lower division major preparation required by California public universities, specific lower-division major requirements vary among individual campuses. See a counselor, visit the Transfer Center, and check Guides For Transfer in Specific Majors, and ASSIST to review transfer preparation guides for specific schools and majors.
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Notes:
Students who elect to take more than three courses from the Watershed Management Emphasis Requirements course list can use the additional course(s) to partially satisfy the Watershed Management Elective Requirement.
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