Dec 04, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Natural Resources Conservation and Management, AAS


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The Natural Resources Conservation and Management program prepares students to work as technicians collecting and interpreting environmental information. Students develop practical skills in measuring forest and water resources, field navigation and surveying, insect and disease identification, soil health, recreation management, and using geospatial technology to document and understand the world. Successful graduates have obtained jobs for both government agencies and private companies, including timber cruisers, silviculture technicians, recreation specialists, wildland firefighters, field conservationists, and fire lookout staff. The US Forest Service is the number one employer of program graduates. 

Program Outcomes


Upon completion of this program, students will be able to

  • Analyze the complex biological, physical, and human interactions as they relate to natural resources and land management;
  • Demonstrate strong math and computer skills;
  • Use various measuring instruments and accurately record data;
  • Summarize, analyze, and present results from collected data to supervisors and interested parties;
  • Identify many trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses occurring in Montana;
  • Use compasses, GPS receivers and maps to navigate within the public land survey system and locate ownerships and establish sample points;
  • Use GPS and GIS techniques to analyze and present data within the context of land use and management;
  • Understand how soil and water health impact ecosystems;
  • Identify many insect, disease, and fire hazard situations and their relationships to ecology and sustainability.
  • Abide by various federal, state, and local laws that govern land use and management; and
  • Demonstrate competence with technical tools and fundamental procedures used in natural resource conservation and management.

Required Courses


First Year


Second Year


Total Credits: 64


RIndicates Related Instruction requirement.

*Indicates prerequisite and/or corequisite needed. Check course description.

Opportunities After Graduation


  • Many employment opportunities are with federal, state and county governmental agencies.  Employment opportunities also exist within private industry. Consulting firms, which contract with government and private entities, also hire technicians.  Many employers prefer applicants who have a good overall knowledge of collecting and interpreting data about natural resources and have an associate’s degree in Natural Resources Conservation and Management.

Advising Information:


For more information about this program, contact an advisor.

Academic Advisor Faculty Advisor             
Russ Lamson Tim Eichner, M.S.
LRC 129 RH 155
(406) 756-3885 (406) 756-3898
rlamson@fvcc.edu teichner@fvcc.edu

The Associate of Science (AS) degree requires 60 credits at FVCC, and the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree at Montana University System (MUS) colleges and universities requires 120 credits. FVCC students may earn as many as 75-85 credits in preparation for some transfer majors, thus reducing the number of credits required for the BS degree at MUS schools. Also, by earning the AS degree from FVCC, students will have satisfied the lower division General Education Core (see General Education Requirements for requirements) for all MUS institutions and will not be required to meet additional lower division general education core requirements upon transfer. The suggested course load in AS programs is rigorous and is recommended for only the most prepared students. A more moderate semester credit load can be achieved by taking general education core courses during summer terms or completing one or two additional semesters at FVCC before transfer.

The information on all transfer programs is subject to change. Students should see their advisor to explore other possibilities not specifically listed in the program.

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