Natural Resources Conservation

The Degree

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

The Outlook

Careers in Natural Resources Conservation are as diverse as the environment itself. Positions such as environmental conservation officers, wildlife and fish technicians, land managers, rangers, nature center educators, environmental conservation technicians, and soil and water technicians bring graduates to locations from National Parks to urban areas. Finger Lakes Community College is one of the most successful colleges in New York State at placing graduates in these highly competitive positions. Graduates with this degree hold conservation jobs in more than 25 different states and are employed by federal, state, local and private agencies.

The Program

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Natural Resources Conservation at FLCC integrates diverse field experiences with classroom study, providing students with a broad awareness of environmental issues and an appreciation of our natural world. Courses in field botany, terrestrial and aquatic ecology, soils, waters and forests, fish and wildlife, and environmental chemistry: testing and analysis provide theoretical basis for what is learned outside the classroom.

In addition, students have the opportunity to use industry-standard research technology such as electro-fishing equipment, water quality probes, GIS computer software, and wildlife tracking radio-telemetry devices.

The Experience

Field Work: Field experience is a major component of the natural resources conservation degree at FLCC. Students have the opportunity to apply classroom learning to hands-on exercises at the FLCC Muller Conservation Field Station, (located at the southern end of Honeoye Lake), conservation field camp, and wilderness camping trips in the Adirondack Mountains.

Travel: Travel courses to the Florida Everglades, Alaskan Wilderness, and East Coast maritime communities enhance the course work in the program.

Clubs: In addition, students are able to participate in the FLCC Conservation Club, American Fisheries Society, and the FLCC student chapter of The Wildlife Society.

The Graduates

Graduates from the program have successfully transferred to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse, Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester, SUNY Colleges at Brockport and Cortland, Unity College in Maine, University of New Hampshire, Rutgers University, Colorado State University, Penn State University, Universities of Utah, Montana, and Idaho, and Northland College in Minnesota, among others.*

Careers: FLCC Conservation graduates hold positions as fish and wildlife technicians, conservation officers, land managers, and environmental educators with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, United States Fish and Wildlife Services, and the National Park Service. Others work in positions such as managers of water treatment plants, Environmental Risk Managers for the New York State Department of Health, and fisheries/wildlife biologists.

The Scholarships

Scholarships for natural resources conservation students meeting the specific criteria include the Herbert Collins Memorial Award, the Conservation/Horticulture Faculty Scholarship, Francis Finnick Scholarship, and NYS Conservation Law Enforcement Scholarships. Contact a member of the Conservation Department or the Financial Aid Office for more information.

*This is a sampling of some of the four-year colleges and universities to which our students have transferred. Please consult your advisor or the Center for Advisement and Personal Development for a complete listing of transfer agreements between Finger Lakes Community College and four-year institutions.

The Faculty

Full-time faculty within the Natural Resources Conservation degree program offer students a wide range of expertise, both through their educational and professional backgrounds. Graduate degrees were earned at such diverse institutions as Syracuse University, Utah State University, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, Texas A&M, SUNY Brockport and the University of New Hampshire. Complementing the decades of experience teaching at the college-level, our faculty have lived and worked literally from Maine to Hawaii within the conservation field before bringing their talents to FLCC. We also boast well-qualified adjuncts to teach specialty classes, with diverse backgrounds that include a biologist for Ducks Unlimited and resource professionals for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Natural Resources Conservation

Curriculum Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 71 credit hours with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0). The Conservation Field Camp course (CON 190) is designed to provide one week of intense field experiences in conservation and recreation. The camp is held in May immediately after the spring semester and runs for one week. This course is required and should be taken as early as possible.

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

  • ENG101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
    or
    ENG104 English I Honors and ENG105 English II Honors

Social Science

  • 6 credit hours of electives

Natural Science and Mathematics

  • BIO 121 General Biology I
  • BIO 122 General Biology II
  • BIO 221/CON 202 Principles of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
  • BIO 250/CON 205 Field Botany
  • 3 credit hours of mathematics electives

Natural Resources Conservation

  • CON 100 Introduction to Environmental Conservation
  • CON 101 Principles of Soils, Waters, Forests
  • CON 102 Introduction to Fish and Wildlife
  • CON 103 Environmental Chemistry: Testing and Analysis
  • CON 190 Conservation Field Camp
  • CON 200 Conservation Recreation/Practicum Internship
  • CON 201 Conservation Recreation/Practicum Internship
  • CON 203 Seminar in Environmental Conservation
  • 12 hours of conservation electives

Health/Physical Education Elective

  • Minimum of 4 credit hours

Electives

  • The remainder of required hours must be made up of approved electives

Natural Resources Conservation

Sample Schedule

The schedule below shows how the requirements for the A.A.S. Natural Resources Conservation degree may be met in four semesters. This schedule is an example of one of many possible schedules. It is included here only as an illustration of the type of schedule that might be followed by a full-time student. Many students attending Finger Lakes Community College who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the A.A.S. Natural Resources Conservation degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some additional course work to better prepare them for courses included in the A.A.S. Natural Resources Conservation degree program may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete the degree. All students should consult their advisor when they plan their schedule.

CON 190 Conservation Field Camp is held in May immediately after the spring semester and runs for one week. This course is required and should be taken as early as possible.

First Semester (17 Credit hours)

  • ENG 101 Freshman English (3)
  • BIO 121 General Biology I (4)
  • CON 101 Principles of Soils, Waters, Forests (3)
  • CON 100 Introduction to Environmental Conservation (3)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • PE 150 Beginning Camping (1)

Second Semester (17 Credit hours)

  • ENG 102 Introduction to Literature (3)
  • BIO 122 General Biology II (4)
  • CON 103 Environmental Chemistry: Testing and Analysis (3)
  • CON 102 Introduction to Fish and Wildlife (3)
  • Conservation Elective (3)
  • PE 250 Wilderness Camping (1)

Summer Session (3 Credit hours)

  • CON 190 Conservation Field Camp ( )

Third Semester (18 Credit hours)

  • BIO 221/CON 202 Principles of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology (3)
  • Mathematics Elective (Statistics recommended) (3)
  • General Elective (3)
  • BIO 250/CON 205 Field Botany (3)
  • Conservation Elective (3)
  • CON 200 Conservation RecreationPracticum/Internship (2)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Fourth Semester (16 Credit hours)

  • CON 203 Seminar in Environmental Conservation (3)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • Conservation Elective (3)
  • Conservation Elective (3)
  • CON 201 Conservation Recreation Practicum/Internship (3)
  • PE 252 Survival Camping (1)

In the A.A.S. Natural Resources Conservation Degree program, students may take one ENV elective in place of a CON elective.