Printed on 12/14/2024
Natural Resources Technician
10-057-1
Associate Degree (AAS)
Part Time, Full Time
66 Credits
Financial Aid Eligible
Location*:
Appleton
*If general education courses are required, they may be available at multiple locations.
Love the outdoors? Have a passion for improving and protecting the environment? If you want to work with natural resources, this program will prepare you for careers such as a fisheries technician, surveyor, soil and water conservationist, wastewater technician or naturalist. Your professional field training will include equipment operation and field data collection for water quality and wastewater analysis, fisheries, forest management, wildlife management and soil analysis. As a technician, you may assist in managing, improving and protecting forests, rangelands and wildlife habitats. Your training also prepares you to provide technical assistance in the conservation of soil, water and related natural resources in a variety of public or private settings.
COURSE LIST
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Course list for reference only. Current students please refer to your individualized program plan or see your advisor.
**Outside effort hours are an estimate based on state standards, and may vary from person to person.
Technical Studies
(43 Credits)
-
Surveying 1
10-057-106
3Credit
108
54
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 108
- Outside Effort Hours: 54
- Course Number: 10057106
- Credits: 3.00
Introduces the use of an auto level, laser level and theodolite. Emphasis is on the fundamental concepts and principles of basic topographic surveying and mapping. Several computer programs are used to generate maps.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
NATURE 10057109 - Ecology
NATURE 10057143 - Natural Resources Common Topic
NATURE 10057183 - Exploring Natural Resources
COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication
MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
-
Surveying 2
10-057-107
3Credit
108
54
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 108
- Outside Effort Hours: 54
- Course Number: 10057107
- Credits: 3.00
Acquaints the student to the open and closed traverse and the general methods utilized with the total station and data collector for field data collection. Computer software programs are used to help aid the student in map production.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
-
Ecology
10-057-109
2Credit
36
72
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 36
- Outside Effort Hours: 72
- Course Number: 10057109
- Credits: 2.00
Examines the relationships and interrelationships of living organisms in their environment. Students study natural selection and speciation, environmental conditions, populations and competition, succession, energy flow and biogeochemical cycles, and the diversity of ecosystems.
Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ANY of the following options:
-
Wildlife Mgmt - Nongame and Hunted Species
10-057-128
3Credit
72
90
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 72
- Outside Effort Hours: 90
- Course Number: 10057128
- Credits: 3.00
Introduces wildlife ecology and management. The course focuses on habitat restoration and maintenance, deer management, wildlife damage control, ecological concepts and population dynamics.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
NATURE 10057109 - Ecology
NATURE 10057143 - Natural Resources Common Topic
NATURE 10057183 - Exploring Natural Resources
COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication
MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
-
Fish Mgmt-Ichthyology,Limnology/Field Pract
10-057-129
3Credit
72
90
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 72
- Outside Effort Hours: 90
- Course Number: 10057129
- Credits: 3.00
Students will learn about fish identification and classification, and lakes and streams as a life environment. Field techniques and practices used in studying and managing fish will be presented. Several hands-on field experiences are conducted.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
NATURE 10057109 - Ecology
NATURE 10057143 - Natural Resources Common Topic
NATURE 10057183 - Exploring Natural Resources
COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication
MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
-
Recreation Facilities Maintenance
10-057-130
3Credit
81
81
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 81
- Outside Effort Hours: 81
- Course Number: 10057130
- Credits: 3.00
Introduces general maintenance activities applied at recreation facilities through a combination of lecture, lab and fieldtrips. Planning and maintenance of various recreation trail types and facilities along with the operation and maintenance of chainsaws, brush saws and lawn care equipment.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
NATURE 10057109 - Ecology
NATURE 10057143 - Natural Resources Common Topic
NATURE 10057183 - Exploring Natural Resources
COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication
MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
-
Forestry 1
10-057-132
3Credit
72
90
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 72
- Outside Effort Hours: 90
- Course Number: 10057132
- Credits: 3.00
Covers tree and shrub identification (dendrology), forest mapping, stand inventory, basic forest ecology, silvicultural practices and timber types. This course prepares students to perform more specific job-related tasks in Forestry 2.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
NATURE 10057109 - Ecology
NATURE 10057143 - Natural Resources Common Topic
NATURE 10057183 - Exploring Natural Resources
COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication
MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
-
Soil and Water Conservation
10-057-134
3Credit
72
90
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 72
- Outside Effort Hours: 90
- Course Number: 10057134
- Credits: 3.00
Examines the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil in relation to water and wind erosion. The identification, planning and use of soil and water conservation practices are examined, and students study the relationship of soil fertility to conservation and management.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
NATURE 10057109 - Ecology
NATURE 10057143 - Natural Resources Common Topic
NATURE 10057183 - Exploring Natural Resources
COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication
MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
OR ALL of the following:
-
Environmental Water Quality
10-057-136
3Credit
72
90
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 72
- Outside Effort Hours: 90
- Course Number: 10057136
- Credits: 3.00
Examines the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of surface and groundwater. Water quality standards and regulations are discussed. Surveys of the various forms and sources of water pollutants are conducted, and water quality assessments, using biological indicators and chemical tests, are covered. The course includes a brief overview of the treatment process.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
NATURE 10057109 - Ecology
NATURE 10057143 - Natural Resources Common Topic
NATURE 10057183 - Exploring Natural Resources
COMMUNIC 10801195 - Written Communication
MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:
-
Plant Identification
10-057-140
1Credit
36
18
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 36
- Outside Effort Hours: 18
- Course Number: 10057140
- Credits: 1.00
Provides a basic study of the trees, grasses, herbs and aquatics of Wisconsin. The class focuses on the principal species of seven major plant communities: forest, bog, agriculture, prairie, marsh, shrub and beach.
-
Natural Resources Co-op Experience
10-057-142
2Credit
108
18
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 108
- Outside Effort Hours: 18
- Course Number: 10057142
- Credits: 2.00
Enables the student to volunteer 80 hours of service to one or more natural resource agencies for approved job training. The student's progress is monitored by the instructor through direct communication with the participating agency. This course is taken in the fall semester of a student's final academic year.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
-
Natural Resources Common Topics
10-057-143
2Credit
72
36
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 72
- Outside Effort Hours: 36
- Course Number: 10057143
- Credits: 2.00
Introduces U.S. public land surveys, topographic maps, orienteering principles and mapping. Other topics include the polar planimeter, dot grid, abney levels and clinometers, basic aerial photo uses, and chainsaw use and maintenance.
Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:
-
Exploring Natural Resources
10-057-183
3Credit
90
72
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 90
- Outside Effort Hours: 72
- Course Number: 10057183
- Credits: 3.00
Provides basic study of natural resources, focusing on their abundance, importance, and conservation. The physical biological variables of the environment will be studied in field and classroom settings. Career development will be incorporated to expose students to job-related activities for the following core areas: wildlife and fisheries, forestry, surveying, outdoor recreation, soils, and water quality and wastewater management.
-
College Mathematics
10-804-107
3Credit
54
108
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 54
- Outside Effort Hours: 108
- Course Number: 10804107
- Credits: 3.00
This course is designed to review and develop fundamental concepts of mathematics in the areas of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, measurement and data. Algebra topics emphasize simplifying algebraic expressions, solving linear equations and inequalities with one variable, solving proportions and percent applications. Geometry and trigonometry topics include; finding areas and volumes of geometric figures, applying similar and congruent triangles, applying Pythagorean Theorem, and solving right triangles using trigonometric ratios. Measurement topics emphasize the application of measurement concepts and conversion techniques within and between U.S. customary and metric system to solve problems. Data topics emphasize data organization and summarization skills, including: frequency distributions, central tendency, relative position and measures of dispersion. Special emphasis is placed on problem solving, critical thinking and logical reasoning, making connections, and using calculators.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:
Accuplacer Arithmetic 263+ OR HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACT Math 18+ OR Arithmetic Level 2 Coursework
Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
General Studies
(20 Credits)
-
Written Communication
10-801-195
3Credit
54
108
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 54
- Outside Effort Hours: 108
- Course Number: 10801195
- Credits: 3.00
Develops writing skills which include prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. A variety of writing assignments are designed to help the learner analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas, and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Also develops critical reading and thinking skills through the analysis of a variety of written documents.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
OR ALL of the following:
Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
-
Oral/Interpersonal Comm
10-801-196
3Credit
54
108
- Instructional Hours: 54
- Outside Effort Hours: 108
- Course Number: 10801196
- Credits: 3.00
Credit for Prior Learning Options Available
Focuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
-
General Biology
10-806-114
4Credit
90
126
- Instructional Hours: 90
- Outside Effort Hours: 126
- Course Number: 10806114
- Credits: 4.00
Credit for Prior Learning Options Available
Introduces general biological concepts and principles. Emphasis is on cell structure and function, genetics, evolution, and taxonomical relationships. Consideration is also given to diversity among the various kingdoms.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
-
General Chemistry
10-806-134
4Credit
90
126
- Instructional Hours: 90
- Outside Effort Hours: 126
- Course Number: 10806134
- Credits: 4.00
Credit for Prior Learning Options Available
Covers the fundamentals of chemistry. Topics include scientific method, problem-solving using quantitative, characteristics of matter, periodic relationships of elements, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, chemical equilibrium, analysis of chemical substances, characteristics of aqueous solutions, acids, bases, and gas laws.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:
Accuplacer Algebra 250+ OR HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACT Math 18+ OR Algebra Level 1 Coursework
MATH 10804107 - College Mathematics
MATH 10804113 - College Technical Math 1A
MATH 10804115 - College Technical Math 1
Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
-
Economics
10-809-195
3Credit
54
108
- Instructional Hours: 54
- Outside Effort Hours: 108
- Course Number: 10809195
- Credits: 3.00
Credit for Prior Learning Options Available
This course is designed to give an overview of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics. Concepts include scarcity, resources, alternative economic systems, growth, supply and demand, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, unemployment and global economic issues.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:
-
Intro to Psychology
10-809-198
3Credit
54
108
N/A
- Instructional Hours: 54
- Outside Effort Hours: 108
- Course Number: 10809198
- Credits: 3.00
This science of psychology course is a survey of multiple aspects of behavior and mental processes. It provides an overview of topics such as research methods, theoretical perspectives, learning, cognition, memory, motivation, emotions, personality, abnormal psychology, physiological factors, social influences, and development.
Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following: