NATRS 494 - Capstone in Natural Resources Proposal

Credits: 1
Communicate within the natural resources community in a hands-on application where they synthesize knowledge and skills to create or construct a desired project outcome for a forestry-related project. Produce projects individually or in a team that will be carried out to completion in subsequent classes.

Enrollment Requirement: Instructor consent.

Course Fee: $10.00

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

Synthesize cumulative knowledge and skills to develop desired project outcome(s).
Work with a sponsoring entity to develop a complete project proposal.
Explain their proposal and process to all stakeholders.

Program Outcomes

Demonstrate knowledge and develop skills applying current laws, policies and regulations governing forest land operations and land management as well as the social and political effects of natural resource management including harvest, road construction and public use.
Demonstrate the ability to evaluate forest resource conditions, including forest health, invasive species and past management to form and carry out prescription to meet landowner objectives in a variety of forest conditions.
Demonstrate the knowledge of ecological processes and principles and the effects of management on forest land resources.
Demonstrate the expertise to collect, analyze and evaluate field data using current technology and equipment through scientific and land management processes.
Integrate geospatial workflows for problem-solving and analysis related to natural resources management through implementation of current GIS software and tools.

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.