What is Natural Resources and Environmental Science?
What is Natural Resources and Environmental Science?
About
Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES) is an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree program designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and field experiences necessary for a career in environmental science, natural resource management, environmental consulting, or for graduate work and training. The curriculum includes instruction in key disciplines in both the natural and social sciences, providing a well-balanced understanding of environmental issues and potential solutions. Students tailor their program to their individual career interests by selecting courses within both an Analytical Skill Development Area (ASDA) and an Environmental Systems Emphasis Area (ESEA). The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning through extended field experiences, professional internships, and/or independent research.
Oversight for the program is provided by a Steering Committee comprised of faculty and staff from various departments within the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, College of Arts and Sciences, and Lewis Honors College.
Vision
The vision of the NRES program is to educate undergraduate students about the connections between natural resources and environmental science by tethering elements of natural and social science courses, coupled with the humanities, in an integrated fashion to equip graduates with creative problem-solving skills.
We train professionals to develop science-based solutions addressing natural resource and environmental problems in Kentucky and beyond. Graduates will work in public, private, and non-profit sectors in fields such as environmental law, environmental consulting, regulatory enforcement, environmental education, reforestation and restoration, natural lands management and stewardship, wildlife management, conservation biology, environmental sustainability, economics and policy, and geospatial applications.
History
The NRES program began in 1990 as an individualized interdisciplinary undergraduate B.S. degree which was then named Natural Resources Conservation and Management. The original architects of the program were Drs. M. Scott Smith (Chair of then-Agronomy Department) and Bob Muller (Chair of then-Forestry Department), and it was approved as a degree program by the Council on Higher Education in 1996. It has undergone three curriculum revisions (2004, 2009, 2013) and the name was changed to NRES after the 2009 revision. While the focus on natural resources remains, this name change reflects significant curriculum improvements and a renewed focus on communication with stakeholders, students, faculty, alumni, and employers.
NRES Students in Costa Rica for Experiential Learning
