Warner College of Natural Resources

Office in Michael Smith Natural Resources Building, Room 410
(970) 491-6675
warnercnr.colostate.edu

Professor A. Alonso Aguirre, Dean

Undergraduate Majors

Undergraduate Minors

Interdisciplinary Minor

For a complete list of departmental program offerings (including certificates), see individual department catalog pages.

College-Wide Graduate Programs

Graduate Certificate

Certificate in Sustainable Military Lands Management

  • The College offers studies and professional training in the management, administration, and scientific investigation of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources. Programs include the study of every component of natural systems with particular emphasis on fish, forests, minerals, range, watershed, wildlife, and outdoor recreation areas. Graduate areas of emphasis also include ecosystems and greenhouse gas management.

The Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, housed in the College, is devoted to research and training in ecosystem science and management.

The College also houses the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands, CEMML, which is a team of environmental professionals experienced in the conservation and sustainable management of natural and cultural resources on Department of Defense lands.

College Programs

Undergraduate Majors

The scope of the College’s programs is more broadly based than most natural resources schools. There are ten undergraduate degree programs, most with specialized concentrations or designated areas of further study. Undergraduate majors in all five departments lead to the Bachelor of Science degree, which requires a minimum of 120 credits. A minimum of 42 credits in upper division courses is required for all majors.

Field Training Programs

Most undergraduate majors require the completion of a four or five-week summer field training program (five or six credits) before their junior or senior year. Summer field instruction is given at the CSU Mountain Campus campus, 55 miles west of Fort Collins, and the geosciences department offers a summer field course in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. 

During interim or summer periods, some majors devote several weeks to advanced field training programs off campus. Students taking advanced ROTC should arrange their schedules with their advisors in their junior year to avoid conflicts during senior spring semester. It is recommended for all majors, and required for some, that students have a minimum of one summer of field experience before graduation.

International Education

International resources management is an increasingly important concern of the Warner College of Natural Resources. It is desirable that students in the College have opportunities to study abroad, just as students from abroad are encouraged to study here. CSU has agreements covering study abroad opportunities with institutions throughout the world. Students may complete one or two semesters of resources management education abroad. Students interested in studying abroad should plan far in advance by discussing opportunities with their academic advisor and by visiting the Office of International Programs in Laurel Hall.

Graduate Programs

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs are offered in each department. Four professional master's degrees are offered by departments in the college: the Master of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, the Master of Natural Resources Stewardship, the Master of Tourism Management, and the Professional Science Master's in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Descriptions of the various graduate programs may be found in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin or on the departmental websites.

Admissions Information

Contact: Carmyn Ginnetti, College Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator
Office: 970-491-3613
carmyn.ginnetti@colostate.edu

For High School Graduates

High school students are advised to take all the English, science, and mathematics courses possible to prepare for college-level work in natural resources.

Limitation on Transfer of Credits

Students planning to attend another college or community college prior to enrolling at CSU should follow the freshman program for their chosen major as closely as possible. To assure that they have the opportunity to complete all degree requirements in four years, they should plan to transfer to CSU no later than the beginning of their junior year. Credits which transfer but are not equivalent to specific curriculum requirements may be used as elective credits.

Transfer Students

Students are required to choose a major when enrolling. Transfer students, therefore, should follow the departmental curriculum closely. Check the individual major and concentration for specific courses.