NATRS 286 - Natural Resources Business Principles

Credits: 5
A study of human relations and business activities unique to small independent businesses and organizations. Emphasizes contract supervision and consulting/contracting in natural resources management. Includes study of interactions of individuals, teams and crews, organizations, and business ethics. Teaches the types of ownership, organization, state and federal laws, contracts, taxation, insurance, payroll, finance, accounting, customer relations, personnel management, and negotiation.

Enrollment Requirement: NATRS 172 with a grade of 2.0 or higher; and instructor consent.

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Practice assertiveness, motivation, leadership, effective communication skills, listening skills, negotiation skills, and conflict resolution skills.
Examine participation as team members, crew members, and employees.
Analyze hiring, assessment of personnel, employee rights, and personnel improvement plans and diversity in the workplace.
Compare and contrast interactions between small business owners and large organizations.
Demonstrate effective customer relations techniques.
Discuss business philosophies, corporate culture, and ethical business principles.
Initiate and manage a small business and evaluate strategic planning and develop a business plan.
Identify the requirements of the landowners and natural resources businesses that enter into agreements.

Program Outcomes

Attain a job in the Natural Resources field.
Manage Forestland or Resources to attain positive outcomes.
Demonstrate good written and verbal communications between industry partners and cooperators.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning - Quantitative Reasoning encompasses abilities necessary for a student to become literate in today’s technological world. Quantitative reasoning begins with basic skills and extends to problem solving.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.