• The Ranger School ▼
  • Ranger School Home
  • Calendar
  • Directory
  • Directions/Lodging
  • Dubuar Memorial Forest Map (PDF)
  • Listserve
  • Request Information
  • Centennial
  • Webcam
• Admission ▼
  • Admission, Expenses & Financial Aid
  • Apply for Admission (ESF Undergraduate Admissions website)
  • Calendar
  • Ranger School brochure (PDF)
  • Request Information
  • Visit
• Academics ▼
  • Academic Calendar
  • Courses
  • Library Research Guide
  • Programs & Degrees
  • Combined Degrees & Dual Majors
  • Environmental & Natural Resources Conservation
  • Forest Technology
  • Land Surveying Technology
  • Summer Bridge Program
• Student Life ▼
  • Life in Wanakena
  • Events
  • Hockey Club
  • The Landing Dining Hall
  • Outing Club
• Careers, Services, & Alumni ▼
  • Alumni (RSAA)
  • Forest Tech Schools
  • Transcripts
  • GreenLink
  • Work-Study & Job Locator
  • Career & Grad School (PDF)

A.A.S. Environmental & Natural Resources Conservation

The environmental and natural resources conservation program provides students with the scientific theory and applied skills necessary for a technical career in the environmental and natural resources sector. This program will provide students with a solid grounding in applied ecological and sociopolitical concepts, accompanied by technical training in plant and tree identification, land surveying, natural resources measurements, geospatial applications, soil and water monitoring, wildlife techniques and forest recreation.

Students interested in a baccalaureate degree should investigate the Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management’s bachelor’s degree curriculum. Transfer is possible upon completion of the A.A.S. degree at Wanakena. Transfer into other baccalaureate programs at ESF may be possible, but students should consult with an advisor in the Undergraduate Admissions office as soon as possible. Students who may consider transferring to a baccalaureate program after graduation from the environmental and natural resources conservation program should pay close attention to the footnotes under “freshman year.”

The freshman year environmental and natural resources conservation curriculum consists of general studies courses which may be taken at any accredited four-year, community, or agricultural college, or college of technology.

Admission

High school students are encouraged to apply for admission by following the application proceedures listed on page 9. Accepted applicants will be guaranteed a place for their sophomore year at Wanakena upon successful completion of the first year requirements. Students not applying while in high school should apply in the fall semester of their freshman year of college. All applicants are encouraged to contact The Ranger School to arrange for a tour of the campus and its facilities.

Facilities and Equipment

All classes are taught at The Ranger School, which houses the classrooms, library and computer lab, in addition to student residence facilities. The Ranger School's 2,800-acre forest provides an excellent outdoor laboratory for fieldwork and hands-on learning.

Employment Opportunities

Combining an A.A.S. with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree

There are several advantages of combining a Ranger School forest technology or environmental and natural resources associate's degree with a four-year B.S. degree in professional forestry. Ranger School graduates who go on to pursue the bachelor's degree have a solid field education as well as a managerial orientation and the deeper ecological and social understanding provided by the professional curriculum.

Students wishing to transfer from the forest technology concentration to the forest resources management program at the Syracuse campus will be admitted as juniors. They will be given credit for the summer session in field forestry. They will still have to complete some physical sciences, social sciences and humanities requirements while in residence at Syracuse, depending on prior preparation. A maximum of 32 transfer credit hours from the sophomore year of the forest technology program will be counted toward the B.S. degree. All other requirements as set forth in the forest resources management program option must be met.

Students contemplating subsequent transfer should concentrate their freshman year electives in the social sciences and humanities. Students should also complete the first semester in chemistry, one semester in physics and a course in calculus prior to transferring. It is possible to be admitted without these courses, but subsequent progress in the program becomes more difficult.

The knowledge and skill set provided by this program will aptly meet the career objectives of applicants seeking employment as field or laboratory technicians in the environmental and natural resources sector, such as environmental conservation, recreation, wildlife, forestry, and soil and water conservation. This program will also be of value to those wishing to pursue a baccalaureate degree or other additional education and training.

Course of Study