The source of many challenges in natural resources involves human behavior, and solutions to those challenges requires innovative problem-solving, a deep understanding of complex issues, and collective action. This major is focused on understanding the social aspects of natural resources, and developing the skills to assess, plan and implement strategies that lead to successful conservation.  Curriculum for this major trains students in the areas of communication, leadership, systems thinking, collaboration, conflict management, decision-making, social science research in conservation, and conservation planning and management. 

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • Comprehend the institutions, policies and actors that influence conservation outcomes and historical perspectives
  • Understand the role of social science in achieving conservation outcomes
  • Recognize and articulate the interdependencies and linkages within social-ecological systems, and how these linkages assist in understanding the drivers, processes and outcomes of environmental issues
  • Gain appreciation for the value and benefit in addressing environmental issues through inclusive processes that invite a diversity of perspectives, world views and ways of knowing
  • Acquire skills to critically analyze social science research, and examine the role between human dimensions research and environmental decision-making
  • Gain skills to effectively engage stakeholders in conservation action, and recognize their personal strengths and limits in influencing others to achieve positive conservation outcomes
  • Acquire skills to effectively plan, design and deliver communication campaigns to achieve environmental outcomes
  • Comprehend and critically analyze the policies, institutions and actors that influence environmental decision-making at different scales
  • Gain the skills to effectively address conservation problems through application of theory, inquiry, planning and related techniques

Potential Occupations

Students are prepared for various positions with local, state and federal land management and natural resource agencies in the United States. Opportunities are also available both domestically and abroad with non-governmental, and nonprofit conservation and development organizations as well as private foundations. Examples of the types of positions include conservation planner/administrator, environmental communication specialist, conservation/environmental educator, nature center coordinator, visitor services manager, public outreach coordinator, public information officer, protected area manager, park/wilderness ranger, communication coordinator, policy liaison, environmental analyst, sustainability manager and others.

More Information

To learn more about the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources major, or to change to or declare this major, please click here to schedule an individualized face-to-face or virtual meeting with an advisor. 

Effective Fall 2022

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)1B1
NRRT 193New to the Major Seminar 1
SPCM 200Public Speaking 3
Select 4 credits from the following groups: 4
Group A:  
Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)3A 
Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1)3A 
Group B:  
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)3A 
Arts and Humanities3B6
Biological and Physical Sciences3A3
Social and Behavioral Sciences3C3
Elective 3
 Total Credits 29
Sophomore
 
LAND 220/LIFE 220Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)3A3
NRRT 231Principles-Parks/Protected Area Management 3
NRRT 262Principles of Environmental Communication 3
STAT 201General Statistics (GT-MA1)1B3
Select one course from the following: 3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)2 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Historical Perspectives3D3
Guided Electives (see list below) 3
Electives1 4
 Total Credits 28
Summer 
Select one course from the following: 5
Natural Resource Ecology and Measurements  
NR 382A or NR 382B

  
 Total Credits 5
Junior
 
NR 319Geospatial Applications in Natural Resources 4
NR 320Natural Resources History and Policy 3
NR 377Pre-Internship 1
NR 400Public Communication in Natural Resources 3
NRRT 330Social Aspects of Natural Resource Management 3
NRRT 340Principles in Conservation Planning and Mgmt 3
NRRT 362Environmental Conflict Management 3
NRRT 376Human Dimensions Research and Analysis 3
Guided Electives (see list below)2 6
 Total Credits 29
Senior
 
NR 300Biological Diversity 3
NR 310Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being 3
NRRT 400Environmental Governance 3
NRRT 402Cultural and Political Ecology4A3
NRRT 463Non-Profit Administration in Conservation 3
NRRT 475Leadership for Conservation Action4B,4C3
NRRT 487Internship 5
Guided Electives (see list below)2 6
 Total Credits 29
 Program Total Credits: 120

Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Guided Electives3

Code Title AUCC Credits
LOWER-DIVISION
AREC 240/ECON 240 Issues in Environmental Economics (GT-SS1) 3C 3
BZ 223 Plant Identification 3
ESS 211 Foundations in Ecosystem Science 3
FW 104 Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (GT-SC2) 3A 3
FW 204 Introduction to Fishery Biology 3
FW 260 Principles of Wildlife Management 3
HORT 100 Horticultural Science 3A 4
NR 120A Environmental Conservation (GT-SC2) 3A 3
NR 130 Global Environmental Systems (GT-SC2) 3A 3
SOC 220 Environment, Food, and Social Justice (GT-SS3) 1C 3
WR 204/GR 204 Sustainable Watersheds (GT-SC2) 3A 3
UPPER-DIVISION
ANTH 330 Human Ecology 3
ANTH 370 Primates 3
ANTH 453 Impacts on Ancient Environments 3
ANTH 478/HIST 478 Heritage Resource Management 3
ANTH 479/IE 479 International Development Theory and Practice 3
AREC 340/ECON 340 Introduction-Economics of Natural Resources 3
AREC 346/ECON 346 Economics of Outdoor Recreation 3
ATS 350 Introduction to Weather and Climate 2
ESS 311 Ecosystem Ecology 3
ESS 353 Global Change Impacts, Adaptation, Mitigation 3
F 310/RS 310 Forest and Rangeland Ecogeography 3
F 311 Forest Ecology 3
GR 311 GIS for Social Scientists 3
GR 420 Spatial Analysis with GIS 4
NR 322 Intro. to Geographic Information Systems 4
NRRT 320 International Issues-Recreation and Tourism 3
PHIL 345 Environmental Ethics 3
POLS 361 U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy 3
POLS 362 Global Environmental Politics 3
RS 300 Rangeland Conservation and Stewardship 3
SOC 320 Population-Natural Resources and Environment 3
SOC 322 Environmental Justice 3
SOC 364 Food, Agriculture and Global Society 3
1

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level). 

2

Select four upper-division (300- to 400-level) courses, two in the junior year and two in the senior year, for a minimum total of 12 credits from the Guided Electives department list. 

3

Students may petition to substitute courses not on the Guided Electives department list with approval of advisor. 

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2) X1A3
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)X 1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)X 1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) X1B1
NRRT 193New to the Major Seminar X 1
Select 4 credits from the following groups:X  4
Group A    
Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)  3A 
Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1)  3A 
Group B    
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)  3A 
Arts and Humanities  3B3
 Total Credits   14
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
SPCM 200Public Speaking   3
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Biological and Physical Sciences  3A3
Social and Behavioral Sciences  3C3
Elective   3
BZ 110/BZ 111 or BZ 120, CO 150, and MATH 124 must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   15
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
LAND 220/LIFE 220Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)X 3A3
NRRT 231Principles-Parks/Protected Area ManagementX  3
NRRT 262Principles of Environmental CommunicationX  3
Guided Natural Resources Elective (See list on Major Requirements Tab)   3
Elective   2
 Total Credits   14
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
STAT 201General Statistics (GT-MA1)X 1B3
Select one course from the following: X 3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)  2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)  2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)  2 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  1C3
Historical Perspectives  3D3
Elective   2
SPCM 200 must be completed by the end of Semester 4.X   
 Total Credits   14
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one course from the following:X  5
Natural Resource Ecology and Measurements    
NR 382A
    
NR 382B
    
 Total Credits   5
Junior
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
NR 320Natural Resources History and Policy X 3
NR 377Pre-InternshipX  1
NRRT 330Social Aspects of Natural Resource ManagementX  3
NRRT 376Human Dimensions Research and Analysis X 3
Guided Natural Resources Elective (See list on Major Requirements Tab)   3
 Total Credits   13
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
NR 319Geospatial Applications in Natural Resources X 4
NR 400Public Communication in Natural Resources X 3
NRRT 340Principles in Conservation Planning and MgmtX  3
NRRT 362Environmental Conflict Management X 3
Guided Natural Resources Elective (See list on Major Requirements Tab)   3
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
NR 300Biological Diversity X 3
NRRT 400Environmental GovernanceX  3
NRRT 463Non-Profit Administration in Conservation X 3
Guided Natural Resources Electives (See list on Major Requirements Tab)   6
 Total Credits   15
Semester 9CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
NR 310Ecosystem Services and Human Well-BeingX  3
NRRT 402Cultural and Political EcologyX 4A3
NRRT 475Leadership for Conservation ActionX 4B,4C3
NRRT 487InternshipX  5
The benchmark courses for the 9th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   14
 Program Total Credits:   120