Curriculum

As a natural resources major at Oregon State, your coursework will feature science and management of natural resources, as well as social, economic and political influences on resource use and environmental policy. At the same time, you will learn how to use your new knowledge to solve complex, challenging natural resource issues in an atmosphere of diverse options.

Degree requirements

A minimum of 180 quarter credits are required to graduate with your natural resources degree, including:

• OSU's Baccalaureate Core (general education)
• Major requirements: Natural resources
• Specialization requirement: One of 10 options

Honors degree online

As an undergraduate degree-seeking student, you can apply to earn an honors degree online in your academic major. Earning this prestigious degree gives you the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on research, complete a comprehensive thesis experience and engage in co-curricular activities.

Options

You can tailor your program studies to meet your interests by choosing from one of the following options. Or you can design your own course of study and submit it for approval with the department:

• Conservation law enforcement
• Ecological restoration
• Fish and wildlife conservation
• Human dimensions in natural resources
• Individualized specialty option
• Landscape analysis
• Natural resource education
• Policy and management
• Urban forest landscapes
• Wildland fire ecology

Sample course topics

• Forest biology and ecology
• Managing natural resources for the future
• Geographic information science
• Fish and wildlife conservation
• Wildland fire ecology and management
• Rangeland management
• Natural resources policy and law
• Wetlands and riparian ecology
• Environmental interpretation
• Environmental sociology
• Urban forestry
• Ecological restoration

Additional program features 

Accelerated Master's Platform

The undergraduate program is also a great foundation for going on to graduate work, such as the Master of Natural Resources. The Natural Resources Accelerated Master’s Platform allows students in the undergraduate Natural Resources degree to complete graduate level coursework that can be applied to both their bachelor’s degree and their Master’s degree once they are accepted into the MNR program.

Other potential graduate programs include Professional Science Master's in Fisheries and Wildlife Administration and the Sustainable Natural Resources graduate certificate – all delivered online through OSU Ecampus.

Compare natural resources to other OSU online programs

Want to know how the natural resources degree compares to the online degrees in fisheries and wildlife sciences or environmental sciences? Check out the OSU Ecampus degree comparison tool.

Transfer credits

Some degree requirements may be transferred from other institutions. Please note that a minimum of 45 credits of the last 75 credits in this degree program must be completed at Oregon State (online or on campus) to meet the academic residency requirement.

Previously earned credits will need to be reviewed upon admittance to OSU for appropriate articulation. Additional information about transferring credits is available through OSU’s Transfer Credit Central.

Add a minor

As an OSU Ecampus student, you can add a minor to your degree program. OSU offers a diverse selection of minors online. For example, combine your natural resources studies with a minor in business, botany, chemistry, education or sustainability to create an even more powerful résumé fit for today's job market. You may also add an Undergraduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science.