Natural Resources Program

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Natural Resources

            

The AAS degree in Natural Resources provides students with a range of post-graduate options.  Within the AAS degree, students have the option to choose from a wide range of courses.  Courses teach a variety of applied skills and emphasize interdisciplinary/multicultural understanding, real-world application and active student participation. The AAS degree prepares students for direct employment in a variety of entry-level natural resource jobs (e.g., Scientific Technician, Hatchery Technician, Habitat Biologist or Fisheries Technician at local, regional, state, federal and tribal natural resource agencies).  The AAS degree also directly transfers into a variety of 4-year fisheries, natural resource and environmental science programs (e.g., the BS in Environmental Studies at The Evergreen State College).

 

Within each degree, students specialize in one of the following areas of interest:

 

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Students specialize in Aquaculture by completing the introductory and advanced aquaculture course sequence and a cooperative work-study internship.  Internships are generally conducted at the on-campus John M. Smith Aquaculture Center or at a local, state or federal hatchery.  Specialization in aquaculture provides students with the training necessary to work as a Hatchery Technician in the state and federal hatchery systems or for entry level jobs in private fish-culture businesses.  Students specializing in aquaculture spend extensive time working both at the on-campus fish hatchery and as cooperative work-study inters with local hatcheries.

 

Watershed Restoration and Assessment

Students specialize in Watershed Restoration and Assessment by completing courses in stream ecology and water quality analysis and a cooperative work-study internship.  Internships are generally conducted working on the on-campus model watershed restoration project or with a local, state, federal or tribal agency conducting stream assessment/restoration work.  Specialization in watershed Restoration and Assessment provides students with the training necessary to go onto work as Habitat Biologists with a variety of state, federal and tribal agencies as well as private consulting and non-profit organizations.

 

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Students specialize in Geographic Information Systems by completing a sequence of courses in geospatial analysis and a cooperative experience work-study internship.  Internships are generally conducted working on the Chehalis Basin GIS Clearinghouse project with the Washington Department of Ecology or the Alder Creek model watershed project at GHC.  Specialization in GIS provides students with the training necessary to enter into a number of jobs with local, state, federal and tribal natural resource agencies and planning commissions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grays Harbor College offers a variety of degree and technical certificate programs in natural resources related to watershed assessment and management, fisheries management and restoration, geographic information systems and aquaculture.  Details of the two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in natural resources are described below.  Grays Harbor College also offers an Associate of Science (AS) degree and a series of Certificate Programs in natural resources.