Environmental Resource Management

The Environmental, Forest, and Natural Resource Management program at Bakersfield College focuses on creating a passion for the stewardship of the environment and believes in sustainable use of our natural resources. Our program’s goal is to provide experiential learning through a combination of foundational knowledge based in ecology and acquisition of skills (in the classroom and in the field) to succeed in any field within the wide domain of environmental, forest, and natural resource management. To achieve the Associate of Science degree: Upon completion of graduation requirements and the required degree courses with at least a 'C' grade in each course, the student will be awarded an Environmental, Forest, or Natural Resource Management Associate of Science Degree.

5 per year

Upon successful completion, the student will:

1. Demonstrate critical-thinking problem-solving skills in conservation, sustainability, and management of the environment.
2. Effectively communicate scientific and technical knowledge in a professional manner.
3. Demonstrate competency in scientific and technical knowledge related to environmental resource management, forestry, and natural resource management.
4. Demonstrate proficiency in quantitative skills and information management specific to their chosen field.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of their professional and ethical responsibilities as leaders in their chosen field and stewards of the environment.

Bakersfield College is adjacent to one of the most scenic and special environments in the whole world, the Sierra Nevada Mountains. California is an iconic and beautiful state, composed of many ecosystems within a few hours of the campus.Approximately 80% of California is forest or rangeland, with Kern County being around 15% forest land and many of the county’s rangelands used for grazing.There is high demand for skilled and knowledgeable employees to meet the growing ecological concerns (climate change, wildfires, habitat loss,conversion, and fragmentation) and job demands of the county and state.Currently there are no other colleges or universities within Kern County that are offering an Environmental, Forest, pr Natural Resource Management Associate of Science degree. This program allows the people in the Kern County area a place to engage in job training for in demand jobs.  

Completion of the Environmental, Forest, or Natural Resource Management Associate of Science degree program will allow students to transfer to a 4-year university, entry into various conservation-based careers, or be given life-long learning skills. Student learning is the focal point of our program,and our students will be given multiple opportunities to acquire interdisciplinary skills in the ecology, stewardship, and management of ecosystems to better serve the people of Kern County and the State of California.