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Studies & Degrees in Natural Resources

Natural resources, or natural resource management, is the study of how land, water, forests, soils, wildlife and fisheries are used and how they can be kept productive for the future. It is an applied field. It takes ecology and earth science and adds economics, law and policy, because decisions about resources always involve people as well as ecosystems.

Students start with biology, chemistry, mathematics and statistics. They go on to ecology, soil and water science, forest and wildlife management, conservation, environmental policy and resource economics. Fieldwork is a regular part of the degree, and so are mapping and data tools such as geographic information systems (GIS). The University of British Columbia (UBC), for example, describes its programme as learning to balance the social, economic, cultural and aesthetic considerations associated with the world's natural resources.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. In North America this is a four-year Bachelor of Science. UBC's Natural Resources Conservation programme, a major within the Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources, takes four years and has an optional co-op scheme in which students alternate academic terms with paid work terms. The Ohio State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Natural Resources with five majors. Texas Tech University offers a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management.
  • Master's degree. Master's programmes are either research degrees with a thesis or professional degrees without one. Texas Tech, for instance, has thesis and non-thesis versions of its Master of Science in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, and Ohio State offers both a Master of Science and a professional master's.
  • Doctorate. A PhD is the route into university research and senior scientific posts.
  • Shorter options. Some community and tribal colleges in the United States teach natural resources at associate level, usually two years. Ask the college whether the credits transfer to a bachelor's degree.

In Spain there is seldom a degree with this exact name. The content is found in bachelor's degrees (grados) of 240 ECTS credits such as environmental sciences or forestry engineering, and in official master's degrees of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 32 active schools for natural resources. Twenty are in the United States and three are in Spain. Zimbabwe has two, and Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Ethiopia, Zambia and Ukraine have one each.

Many universities group the subject in a college of its own, and the departments show how wide the field is. At Colorado State University, the Warner College of Natural Resources has departments of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology; Forest and Rangeland Stewardship; Geosciences; and Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. It offers programmes online and in person. In Zimbabwe, Midlands State University has a Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Management.

The language of instruction is that of the country: English at most of the listed schools, Spanish or a co-official language in Spain. When comparing programmes, look at the specialisations offered (forests, wildlife, water, rangelands, policy), the amount of fieldwork, access to field stations or research forests, and work placement options.

Careers

Graduates work for government agencies, land and forest owners, conservation organisations, environmental consultancies and research centres. Typical roles are conservation scientist, forester, park or wildlife manager, water resource specialist and environmental consultant.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources or a related field. It projects their employment to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035. The largest employers of conservation scientists in 2025 were the federal government (27 percent), local government (21 percent) and social advocacy organisations (20 percent). For environmental scientists and specialists, a neighbouring occupation, it projects growth of 6 percent over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between natural resources and environmental science?

The two overlap. Environmental science centres on studying and protecting the environment and human health. Natural resources programmes centre on managing land, forests, water and wildlife, and give more room to economics and policy.

How long does a natural resources degree take?

A bachelor's degree takes four years in the United States and Canada; UBC, for example, gives a programme length of four years. In Spain the related bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits, also four years.

Is there a lot of fieldwork?

Yes. Fieldwork, laboratory work and mapping with GIS are standard, and some universities add paid work terms, as UBC does with its optional co-op scheme.

Which degree do I need to work in conservation?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources or a related field. Research posts usually require a master's degree or a doctorate.