College of Natural Resources
www.cnr.vt.edu/
J. Michael Kelly, Dean
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs: Richard G. Oderwald
Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Programs: Robert J. Bush
Associate Dean, Outreach: James E. Johnson
Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance: Thomas E. Olson
Academic Counselor: Susan S. Leslie
Recruitment and Career Coordinator: Judith C. Araman
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Overview
The College of Natural Resources, through offerings in the Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Forestry, Geography, and Wood Science and Forest Products, provides an integrated education in renewable natural resource management, conservation, and utilization as well as a valuable perspective for understanding and solving critical contemporary environmental problems at local, regional, and global scales.
All undergraduate programs of the College of Natural Resources are designed to provide a professional education that starts with core courses emphasizing physical, biological, and social sciences, along with concepts of renewable natural resource management. More advanced courses teach the principles and practices of individual disciplines, along with advanced skills in communications and computer use. Students prepare for professional careers with public agencies responsible for managing forest, water, wildlife, fish, and recreation resources; with private firms concerned with producing, manufacturing, and marketing wood products; with planning agencies and private firms utilizing skills in environmental and land-use analysis and geospatial techniques; or for graduate studies.
Students develop a specialization. These majors with options are described below and are administered by departments:
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
- Fisheries Science
- Wildlife Science
Department of Forestry
- Forestry
- Environmental Resource Management option
- Forest Resource Management option
- Industrial Forestry Operations option
- Urban Forestry option
- Natural Resources Conservation
- Natural Resource Recreation option
- Natural Resources Education (K-6) option
- Natural Resources Science (6-12) option
Department of Geography
- Geography
- Culture, Regions and International Development option
- Geospatial and Environmental Analysis option
Department of Wood Science and Forest Products
- Wood Science and Forest Products
- Adhesion Science option
- Forest Products Marketing and Management option
- Manufacturing Systems option
- Non-timber Forest Products option
- Packaging Science option
- Wood Structures and Materials option
The college offers minors in Forestry, Natural Resource Recreation, Geography and Packaging Science. Contact the respective departments for more information on minors.
Accreditation
The educational programs in Forest Resource Management, Industrial Forestry Operations, Environmental Resource Management, and Natural Resource Recreation qualify graduates as professional foresters and are accredited by the Society of American Foresters, the recognized accrediting body. Graduates in fisheries and wildlife sciences meet certification requirements of the American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society, respectively. The Wood Products and the Forest Products Marketing and Management programs are accredited by the Society of Wood Science and Technology, the recognized accrediting body.
The Honors Program
The University Honors Program is available to students in the College of Natural Resources. The program provides enriched opportunities for highly qualified and motivated undergraduate students. Faculty advisors can provide additional information.
Cooperative Education
The college encourages students to become involved in the Cooperative Education Program, in which students alternate on-campus academic terms with off-campus employment in their areas of interest. Additional information is provided in "Academics."
Exchange Programs
The College of Natural Resources participates in reciprocal exchange programs with the University of Melbourne in Australia, the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the University of Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa. Where appropriate, students can also participate in the International Student Exchange Program.
Graduate Programs
The college offers educational programs leading to the M.S., M.F., and Ph.D. Complete information on these programs is in the Graduate Catalog.
Undergraduate Course Descriptions (NR)
1114: INTRODUCTION TO RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES
Introduction to careers in forestry, wildlife, fisheries, recreation, and forest products professional fields. Discussion of current global and regional problems affecting natural resource professionals. I. (1H,3L,2C)
2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
3954: STUDY ABROAD
Variable credit course.
3964: FIELD STUDY
Variable credit course.
4404 (ALS 4404) (GEOG 4404) (UAP 4404): APPROACHES TO INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
An introduction to issues relating to international development. The course will focus on areas to help students better understand the interdependencies between countries and how institutions and organizations can foster effective working relationships on global projects of mutual interest between countries. (1H,1C) I.
4614 (ALS 4614): WATERSHED ASSESSMENT, MANAGEMENT, AND POLICY
Multidisciplinary perspectives of assessment, management, and policy issues for protecting and improving watershed ecosystems. Topics include: monitoring and modeling approaches for assessment, risk-based watershed assessment, geographic information systems for watershed analysis, decision support systems and computerized decision tools for watershed management, policy alternatives for watershed protection, urban watersheds, and current issues in watershed management. Pre: Two 4000 level courses in environmental/natural resource science, management, engineering, and/or policy in BSE, CEE, FOR, GEOL, LAR, CSES, ENT, BIO, GEOG, AAEC, UAP or equivalent. (2H,2C)
4964: FIELD STUDY
Variable credit course.
4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.
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