The Natural Resources pathway at WVC equips students with foundational knowledge of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, practical field skills, and an understanding of the social aspects of resource management. Course recommendations focus on preparing students for transfer to universities while also ensuring they are competitive for entry-level natural resource technician positions. Students in this pathway earn an Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS-DTA). The course selections are flexible and can be adapted to a variety of education and career goals.
Workforce Preparation | Students in this pathway are competitive for a variety of technician-level positions in Natural Resources and Environmental Science, especially within the local area.
Transfer Preparation | Students who generally follow the course recommendations will meet most, if not all, of the general education requirements at four-year institutions and will be major-ready for a wide variety of degrees in ecology, environmental science, environmental studies, natural resources management, and related fields.
The pathway is curated in consultation with local natural resource agencies and organizations.
Program Learning Outcomes
Program learning outcomes (PLOs) outline the knowledge and skills that students acquire through completion of the pathway. The outcomes are reviewed annually by an advisory group comprised of local professionals representing various natural resource areas and agencies.
Students who complete the AAS-DTA pathway in Natural Resources at WVC will be able to:
- Operate tools and equipment commonly used in the natural resources fieldwork.
- Utilize maps, aerial photographs, and land survey abilities in the management of natural resources, including geographic information systems.
- Understand and apply concepts of ecology, conservation, and management for timber, fish, wildlife, and their habitats.
- Identify important plant and animal species for the North Central Washington ecosystem.
- Select and apply appropriate field techniques to sample, measure, and monitor timber, fish, and wildlife species and their habitat(s).
- Identify and model interpersonal skills and professional behavior needed for successful job performance.
- Demonstrate the ability to locate opportunities and prepare application materials for state and federal jobs in natural resources.
- Describe biotic and abiotic processes, including human impacts that influence ecosystems and contribute to ecological change.
- Objectively predict, assess, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate perspectives of diverse stakeholders regarding natural resource problems and issues.
- Understand cultural diversity and describe the impact of the global distribution of people and wealth on natural resource use and valuation.
For additional information, contact Bobbi Johnson at bjohnson@wvc.edu
AAS-DTA Requirement: ENGL& 101 and ENGL 201, 202, 203, or ENGL& 235
Recommended Course Selections:
- ENGL& 101: Composition (required)
ENGL& 235: Technical Writing (strongly recommended)
The courses recommended here provide the best match to the knowledge, skills, and abilities a natural resource professional needs as well as those classes that will best prepare a student for transfer to a natural resource related major at a four-year institution. Students may select other courses that meet the Writing requirements for an AAS-DTA at WVC.
A grade of 2.0 or higher ("C" grade) in ENGL courses is required for graduation.
Students may select any courses that meet the quantitative/symbolic requirements for an AAS-DTA at WVC.
Recommended Course Selections:
MATH& 146: Intro to Statistics (recommended) -or- MATH& 107: Math in Society (recommended)
The courses recommended here provide the best match to the knowledge, skills, and abilities a natural resource professional needs as well as those classes that will best prepare a student for transfer to a natural resource related major at a four-year institution. Students may select other courses that meet the Quantitative/Symbolic requirements for an AAS-DTA at WVC.
AAS-DTA Requirement: 15 credits of Humanities from three different subject areas.
Recommended Course Selections:
- CMST& 210: Interpersonal Communication
- PHIL& 115: Critical Thinking
- AIIS 203: Introduction to AIIS Literature [Di]
The courses recommended here provide the best match to the knowledge, skills, and abilities a natural resource professional needs as well as those classes that will best prepare a student for transfer to a natural resource related major at a four-year institution. Students may select other courses that meet the Humanities requirements for an AAS-DTA at WVC.
AAS-DTA Requirement: 15 credits of Social Science from three different subject areas.
Recommended Course Selections:
- GEOG 215: Introduction to GIS
- ECON& 202: Macro Economics
- AIIS 103: The Indigenous Pacific Northwest [Di]
The courses recommended here provide the best match to the knowledge, skills, and abilities a natural resource professional needs as well as those classes that will best prepare a student for transfer to a natural resource related major at a four-year institution. Students may select other courses that meet the Social Science requirements for an AAS-DTA at WVC.
AAS-DTA Requirement: 15 credits of Natural Science. Must be from three different subject areas. One course must include a lab.
Recommended Course Selections:
- BIOL& 211: Major Cellular
- BIOL& 212: Major Plants
BIOL& 213: Major Animals
The courses recommended here provide the best match to the knowledge, skills, and abilities a natural resource professional needs as well as those classes that will best prepare a student for transfer to a natural resource related major at a four-year institution. Students may select other courses that meet the Natural Science requirements for an AAS-DTA at WVC.
AAS-DTA Requirement: 30 credits of Electives.
No more than 15 credits of Restricted Electives [RE].
No more than three PEH/PEHR activity credits.
Strongly Recommended Course Selections:
- BIOL 103: Salmon and Society [Di]
- ENVS 170: Intro Stream Ecology
- ENVS 230: Fisheries Science and Management
- NATR 160, 220, 240 (all [RE]), or other ENVS course(s)
-or- NATR 198/298: Field Skills in Natural Resources [RE]
-or- CWE 196/296 Cooperative Work Experience [RE]
-or- NATR 108 [RE] (3 Cr) + NATR 198/298 [RE] (2 Cr) - BIOL 125: Environmental Science
- NATR 235: Society and Natural Resources -or- GEOG& 200: Intro to Human Geog
- BIOL 217: Intro. to Ornithology
Other Recommended Options
- BIOL& 221: Majors Ecology/Evolution
- GEOG 150: Intro to Sustainability [Di]
- CHEM& 121: Intro to Chem -or- CHEM& 110: Chem Concepts
- BCT 284: Project Mgmt [RE] -or- BCT 130: Spreadsheets [RE]
The courses recommended here provide the best match to the knowledge, skills, and abilities a natural resource professional needs as well as those classes that will best prepare a student for transfer to a natural resource related major at a four-year institution. Students may select other courses that meet the Elective requirements for an AAS-DTA at WVC.
Note: Courses not listed here that were previously offered at WVC may still count toward a degree. Check with the registrar for a complete list of courses that count toward this degree.
The DTA requires at least five credits from diversity courses. These are designated [Di] on this guide. Other courses are available. See the WVC catalog and website for more information.