Minors

Coastal lands and resources are under increasing pressure due to a variety of environmental and societal issues. Sea level rise, urbanization, energy production, tropical storms, and habitat loss are just some of the pressing issues facing coastal areas. There is an increasing need for professionals trained to manage natural resources in these areas. Through coursework in the Coastal Zone Management minor, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the coastal environment and how management and policy are applied to natural resources. To complete this minor, students will be required to attend Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory (DISL) for one summer.

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Some professional positions that graduates may pursue during their careers include:

• Regulatory specialist
• Environmental protection specialist
• Coastal management project manager
• Educational program manager
• Risk assessor
• Coastal zone manager
• Coastal planning project manager

Conservation social sciences are a subset of traditional social science disciplines that focus on conservation and environmental management. Each social science provides a different lens to understand our relationship with the environment. A minor in conservation social science equips a student with an understanding of how human behavior, values, and institutions influence conservation outcomes. This interdisciplinary background offers a variety of career paths that blend environmental science with social science, communication, and policy.

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Some professional positions that graduates may pursue during their careers include:

• Community Outreach Coordinator
• Environmental Educator
• Environmental Policy Analyst
• Sustainability Officer
• Conservation Planner

This minor will prepare students with knowledge of issues related to the current laws governing environmental protection, natural resource management, sustainable development, and land-use planning. Graduates who pursue an environment law degree may represent the public’s interest in environmental cases or work in private practice or as in-house counsel for corporations. Fifteen hours are required to complete the minor.

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Some professional positions graduates may pursue during their careers include:

• Regulatory specialist
• Environmental protection specialist
• Community planner
• Environmental lawyer (with a law degree)

Healthy forests are a critical part of our nation’s landscape. Our forests provide humans with several benefits, including shelter, water, and food, as well as wood for construction, furnishings, and other necessities. Through coursework in the Forest Health minor, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of insect and disease management to maintain a sustainable forest.

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Some professional positions that graduates may pursue include:

• Forest health specialist
• Forest manager
• Land manager

This minor is available only to students in the forest emphasis of the forest engineering option of the biosystems engineering degree in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. Completion of the minor is required for Registered Forester eligibility in the State of Alabama.

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This option prepares Forest Engineering majors with knowledge regarding forest biometrics, ecology, economics and management, among other curricula, in support of professional careers in the forest products industry and related natural resource and environmental systems sector

This minor prepares students with the knowledge to successfully operate a forest seedling nursery to provide favorable conditions for seedling growth. Successful nurseries depend on optimal site selection, adequate planning, strategic cultivation, and sufficient disease and pest control. Graduates will work in state, private, and federal forest seedling nurseries to produce conifer and hardwood bare-root and container seedlings used in reforestation programs throughout North America.

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Some professional positions that students with this minor may pursue include:

• Forest seedling nursery manager
• Nursery specialist

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries and has grown significantly over the last half-century. One of the fastest-growing segments of the industry, ecotourism, is anchored in nature-based experiences. Nature-based recreation activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, mountain biking, bird watching, sightseeing, and hunting benefit society in various ways. Benefits include much-needed escape from everyday life, healthy exercise, excitement and adventure, and even economic benefits to local towns and companies.  Students in this minor will learn the theory, principles and values, business and management, communication skills, and conservation foci of nature-based recreation and ecotourism. The minor is designed for students interested in careers in government, private business, and non-profit companies that offer outdoor recreation opportunities.

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Some professional positions that students may pursue include:

• Natural Resource Manager
• Park Ranger
• Tourism Consultant
• Interpretive Ranger
• Community Recreation Director
• Tour Coordinator/Ecotourism Operator
• Forest Protection Officer
• Education and Operations Director

Natural resources ecology is a broad and rapidly evolving field that includes landscape, plant, animal, and abiotic systems.   A minor in Natural Resources Ecology provides students with the opportunity to gain knowledge about a wide range of ecological concepts by taking core courses in landscape, wetland, and forest ecology.  Students then select additional courses that focus on the system that interests them most.  This minor is designed for students who would like to pursue careers in areas such as plant or restoration ecology, conservation biology, natural resource education, or fish or wildlife law enforcement.

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Some professional positions that students with this minor may pursue include:

• Natural resource technician
• Conservation biologist
• Extension professional
• Natural resource educator

This undergraduate minor is designed to advance the level of knowledge and skills for individuals interested in working in the areas of natural resource management, forest and wildlife management, environmental conservation, natural resource management consulting, or environmental education. This minor will help students better understand natural processes in terrestrial ecosystems; provide information on processes and practices that are relevant to the restoration of these ecosystems; and enhance critical thinking and communication skills. A minor in restoration ecology can open doors to a variety of career paths, especially when paired with a relevant major such as environmental science, biology, forestry, geography, or natural resource management.

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Some professional positions that students with this minor may pursue include:

• Restoration Ecologist
• Conservation Scientist
• Natural Resource Manager
• Field Ecologist
• Environmental Consultant

This seven-week study abroad in Costa Rica includes six classes and enables students to complete the 15-credit Minor in *Tropical Conservation and Sustainable Development in one summer. This minor is available to all students across the university, with no course prerequisites. Most courses are taught at the 3000 level, and a minimum Sophomore-level standing is required by the time of travel. There are two three-week sessions (with two classes each session) hosted on the CATIE campus, with a nine-day travel course in between, where students visit a variety of Costa Rica’s famous national parks and protected areas. Students must enroll in all six classes for the full seven weeks.

The minor is interdisciplinary and collaborative, taught by Auburn University faculty from four colleges: the Colleges of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment; Agriculture, Science, and Mathematics; and the University College of Sustainability Studies. Furthermore, faculty and researchers from our partner and host institution, CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), enrich our experience with local knowledge and expertise, while also providing support for field classes.

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Quick Facts:

• 7 weeks
• 6 courses
• 15-credit-hour minor
• No prerequisites
• Open to all students with sophomore-level standing at the time of travel

Costa Rica / Multi-city Study Abroad

Costa Rica is a small, vibrant country in Central America, renowned for its stunning biodiversity, ecotourism, and diverse array of adventure activities. It boasts major life zones including lush cloud forests, tropical dry forests, mangroves, pristine beaches along both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and active volcanoes. The country is renowned for its national parks and conservation efforts, which protect a diverse range of ecosystems, plant species, and wildlife, including sloths, howler monkeys, jaguars, poison dart frogs, and flamboyant birds such as the resplendent quetzal, scarlet and green macaws, and several species of toucan.

Costa Rica:

• One of the most biodiverse countries in the world.
• Gets 98% of its electricity from renewables.
• Has protected 25% of its land.
• It is renowned for its safety and high quality of life, with English widely spoken in tourist areas.
• The country’s motto, ‘Pura Vida,’ means “pure life” and reflects the laid-back and friendly people.
• And, of course, the country is world-renowned for its coffee.

Our host and partner, CATIE, is an academic center for innovation and sustainable development in topics related to agriculture, management, conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources. CATIE is a gated campus near the town of Turrialba, in the striking mountains of Costa Rica. The campus features numerous dormitories and apartments, classrooms, research and computer labs, a cafeteria, and a club that includes a restaurant and swimming pool. CATIE has extensive working lands dedicated to agriculture and conservation, providing a near-campus setting for field classes.

Visit internationalprograms.auburn.edu to learn more!

Urban forests create a more pleasant and livable environment within our cities. They beautify our landscapes, reduce energy consumption within our buildings, filter air and water, provide shade and wildlife habitat, and help to control stormwater.  This minor will prepare students to help cities meet the unique challenges of managing trees and forests within urban environments.  Urban forestry specialists will be involved in storm flow analysis, tree planting and care, grant proposals, and supervision of municipal employees.

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Some professional positions that graduates may pursue include:

• Urban forester
• City arborist
• Tree planting coordinator
• Urban natural resource or land use planner
• Urban forestry and beautification manager or supervisor
• Urban and community forestry program manager
• Forestry technician
• Forest protection officer

Freshwater is an essential resource but is becoming increasingly scarce in many parts of the world. Watershed science and management is an expanding field that involves managing the availability, quantity, and quality of water. Professionals in this field must have a firm understanding of the various natural processes and human activities that affect water.  The Watershed Sciences minor is intended to provide background courses in natural and physical sciences along with upper-level courses on watershed management, wetland ecology, soil conservation, and electives that match student interests. This minor is for students seeking a career in watershed science, soil conservation, water management, or wetland ecology.

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Some professional positions that students with this minor may pursue include:

• Watershed scientist
• Environmental consultant
• Water quality regulator
• Municipal water planner
• Wetland ecologist