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B.S. Natural Resources - Curriculum

The information below will help you get started in charting your course to a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources from OSU.

Program curriculum

Natural Resources students complete the Baccalaureate Core classes (OSU general education requirements), plus three other curricular areas: the Natural Resources Core, Natural Resources Breadth and a Specialty Option of their choice.

The Natural Resources Core (45 credits) provides a common educational foundation for NR majors, and includes: Mathematics; statistics; biology and ecology; water, earth and atmospheric sciences; and resource economics and policy.

The Natural Resources Breadth (21 credits) area consists of one course each from seven natural resource disciplines.

The Specialty Option (50 credits) is a required concentration. The option is arranged around a central theme. Options available to distance students are: Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, Natural Resource Policy, or Human Dimensions in Natural Resources.

The OSU bachelor’s degree requires that students earn at least 180 credits, with a minimum of 45 credits earned at OSU. At least 60 credits must be in upper division (300 and 400 level) coursework.

The Natural Resources Detailed Curriculum Guide PDF presents an overview of the coursework you will need to complete. Print and use it as a tool for building your degree plan. View the Natural Resources Minor Curriculum here.

Transfer coursework

If you are an undergraduate student working toward your first bachelor’s degree, the OSU Admissions Office prepares an Advanced Standing Report showing how any prior coursework has been accepted at OSU. You will be able to view this report (ASR) by logging in to Student Online Services. ASRs are not prepared for post-baccalaureate students, whose general education requirements (OSU’s “Bacc Core”) are waived. Your academic advisor will use your ASR and/or your transcripts to construct a detailed plan for the completion of your degree, and will provide additional resources for you to use in selecting your classes.

Planning your courses

The Natural Resources program allows for a great deal of flexibility in meeting the degree requirements. All coursework for the degree is available from OSU, with the exception of the year of lab biology, which you may take locally or via distance from Oregon’s Clackamas Community College.

Many courses have prerequisites that may be taken through OSU or from local or other online institutions. Students can petition to have prior or future courses count towards fulfilling specific requirements in the Natural Resources program. Your advisor will review your petition to determine if the course content meets program requirements. Access the Course Petition Form here.

Search for course descriptions by term and by subject in the Ecampus Schedule of Classes. Courses may not be offered every term and availability is subject to change. Please note that the OSU Online Catalog is the primary source of information for program requirements and course numbers; distance classes listed in the OSU Online Catalog are indicated by a section number of 400 or higher.

Need more help? Contact the Student Services Center at 800-667-1465.