Academic Catalog
The Ranger School

Academic Programs

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree

The Ranger School offers Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees in three areas. The A.A.S. is typically earned with two years of study.

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 Ranger School to the B.S. programs 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. All other requirements as set forth in the forest resources management program option must be met.

• NOTE: Students contemplating subsequent transfer should concentrate their freshman year electives in the social sciences and humanities.
• NOTE: 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.

Dual Majors

Students who are pursuing the associate degree may pursue a dual major, combining any two of the three areas below. Program requirements must be satisfied concurrently (i.e., a student cannot graduate from ESF and return later to complete coursework for a second major). Students may petition for admission to a dual major A.A.S. degree after completing 18 credits and before 45 credits with an unambiguous GPA of 2.000 or greater (no grades of incomplete or missing grades). The diploma will state the completion of a single A.A.S. degree. The transcript will state the completion of two majors.

Environmental and Natural Resources Conservation (A.A.S.)

Environmental and 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.

First Year Required Courses

Completed at a college of the student’s choice

 

Second Year Required Courses

 

Total Minimum Credits For Degree: 64

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Forest Technology (A.A.S.)

A degree in Forest Technology provides students with knowledge of the field practice of forest management, the ability to work and communicate effectively with professional and paraprofessional personnel, and an understanding of the physical, biological and quantitative aspects that form the basis of forestry. The educational program in forest technology, leading to the associate of applied science degree in forest technology, is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF).

First Year Required Courses

Completed at a college of the student’s choice

 

Second Year Required Courses

 

Total Minimum Credits For Degree: 64

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Land Surveying Technology (A.A.S.)

Land surveying technology students obtain a sound technical background in fundamental land surveying principles, techniques and skills. They become well-rounded technical specialists capable of teamwork, communication and problem solving, and they develop life-long learning skills and abilities.

The program provides students with a combination of surveying and land resource knowledge and related skills which are not available elsewhere. Students will be thoroughly exposed to the field of land surveying through a carefully planned combination of classroom lectures, demonstrations and hands-on experience. The educational program in land surveying technology, leading to the associate of applied science degree in land surveying technology, is accredited by the ETAC Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org/.

First Year Required Courses

Completed at a college of the student’s choice

 

Second Year Required Courses

 

Total Minimum Credits For Degree: 64