Natural Resources

NATR 102    3 credits
Maps and Navigation
Students learn to navigate accurately and safely in an outdoor workplace and to perform map and field calculations required for effective and safe natural resource field work. Includes field use of maps and GPS (global positioning systems) and a brief introduction to GIS (Geographical Information Systems) in natural resource management.

NATR 103    3 credits
Field Safety and Preparedness
Preparation for safe and efficient natural resource field work through understanding of when, where and how to safely use field equipment and tools. Emphasizes awareness of situational safety issues in the human and non-human environment. Includes field application of tools and equipment commonly used in natural resource jobs.

NATR 108    3 credits
Exploring Natural Resources Management
A panoramic view of ecosystems, current topics, primary organizations and professions in modern natural resources management. Lectures, discussions and extensive field activities survey this diverse industry. Students will use career assessment and planning tools, such as educational portfolio development, to create a strategy for their professional future.

NATR 113    3 credits
North Central Washington Plant Identification
Provide students with the ability to recognize the dominant plant communities of North Central Washington, identify the common native and introduced plant species and understand their ecological roles in these communities. Includes field study.

NATR 114    3 credits
North Central Washington Animal Identification
Provide students with the ability to identify the common mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds and arthropods of North Central Washington; recognize their life histories; and understand their ecological roles in area ecosystems. Includes field study.

NATR 115    3 credits
Field Survey: North Central Washington Plants
Students will learn to work productively in diverse teams as they collect accurate, complete and objective measurements of plants in North Central Washington ecosystems. The focus is on application and discussion of survey methods used by natural resource agencies and organizations in the region. Prerequisite: NATR 113, or similar.

NATR 116    3 credits
Field Survey: North Central Washington Animals
Students will learn to work productively in diverse teams as they collect accurate, complete and objective measurements of animals in North Central Washington ecosystems. The focus is on application and discussion of survey methods used by natural resource agencies and organizations in the region. Prerequisite: NATR 114 or similar.

NATR 150    5 credits
Introduction to Geospatial Analysis
Introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) using ArcView GIS software. Includes database construction and techniques for spatial data manipulation, analysis and display. Students will also gain basic experience with reading maps and finding locations in the real world and using Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Prerequisites: MATH 97 or equivalent; BCT 105 or experience using spreadsheet, database and word processing software.

NATR 196    1-5 credits
Cooperative Work Experience
Cooperative work experience is intended to provide authentic experiences in the world of work by applying knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to a working environment. Variable credit class. Prerequisites: instructor’s permission.

NATR 210    5 credits
Natural Resource Portfolio and Final Project
Completion of student professional portfolio and final project. The portfolio contains course projects, work and educational experiences completed while pursuing an AST degree or certificate. Final project will be completed by a team of students and will contain culminating activities that demonstrate acquisition of natural resource program student learning outcomes. Prerequisite: completion of one year’s course work in the natural resource program.

NATR 235    5 credits
Society and Natural Resources
From personal to global levels, this course uses a systems approach to examine interaction of social, economic, and ecological factors in natural resources management. Students identify and explore the consequences of diverse natural resource philosophies and paradigms, and develop skills to direct, mitigate or change human impacts on natural systems. Prerequisite: ENGL& 101.

NATR 296    1-5 credits
Cooperative Work Experience
The second level of cooperative work experience is intended to continue providing authentic experiences in the world of work by applying knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to a working environment. Variable credit class. Prerequisites: instructor’s permission.