Natural Resources Management
B.S.

The Natural Resources Management (NRM) program is structured to introduce students to a wide range of renewable natural resources (soils, water, vegetation, wildlife, recreation), while maintaining substantial flexibility for student-centered learning in understanding and managing natural systems.

Students interested in NRM typically are drawn to natural settings and environments, enjoy nature, and want to develop the professional knowledge and skills needed to conserve, steward and manage natural resources and the environment. ESF provides a wide variety of opportunities to meet student needs utilizing 25,000 acres of forestlands as teaching laboratories and college faculty in many natural resource management disciplines. Internships with natural resource-based organizations in the business, public and nonprofit sectors provide additional hands-on experiences. Experiential-field learning is combined with learning concepts and skills in the classroom and laboratory on ESF's Syracuse campus.

The Natural Resources Management program develops professional skills that employers tell us are the most important traits they look for in new employees. These traits are developed through a broad base of classes in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, communication, and quantitative and qualitative problem-solving skills. The majority of work scheduled during the first two years (lower division) is in these areas. This major prepares students to be well-rounded natural resources managers and prepares them with a foundation for future graduate degree work.

Natural Resources Management offers a wide variety of employment opportunities. Our graduates are working throughout the United States in public agencies, private industry, and for nonprofit organizations. Their duties range from recreation planning for state park agencies to recreation management in federal wilderness areas, and from watershed hydrologists to land managers maintaining surface water quality.

Students interested in more information are encouraged to review the FNRM Undergraduate Student Handbook (PDF).

Contact Us

Christopher A. Nowak
Professor and Undergraduate Education Coordinator
317 Bray Hall
One Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210-2788
(315) 470-6575
canowak@esf.edu