Land Steward

II. Catalog Description

The Land Steward Certificate includes a selection of classes from the Park Management Program and is intended for students either entering with

an existing degree or those seeking a short-term certificate to begin a career in parks, public lands, and land stewardship. This certificate allows for

flexibility in terms of course selection to tailor the certificate to an area of focus and equips students for seasonal, entry level careers or promotional

opportunities in parks and public lands. Students would qualify for jobs such as: Seasonal Park Aid, Seasonal Park Maintenance, Seasonal Open

Space Technician, Park Service Attendant, Seasonal Ranger Aid, Seasonal Park Interpreter/Naturalist, Forestry Aid, and Park Ranger.

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate practical skills in park operations, maintenance, and visitor services for employment in parks and public lands.

2. Apply ecological principles and land management practices to support habitat restoration, resource protection, and sustainable land

stewardship.

3. Interpret and communicate natural and cultural resource information to the public through education and outreach techniques used in

parks and open space settings.

4. Identify and comply with safety, risk management, and environmental regulations relevant to park and open space operations.

5. Exhibit professional work habits and effective communication skills while collaborating with diverse teams and community partners to fulfill

stewardship goals.

6. Analyze and utilize maps, geographic data, and inventory tools to support resource monitoring and planning decisions.

7. Integrate Indigenous perspectives and ecological knowledge in understanding land stewardship practices and the historical context of

public lands.

V. Enrollment and Completer Projections

Enrollment and completer projections for the Park Management (PMGT) program reflect steady growth in student demand, expanded course offerings, and strengthening alignment with workforce and environmental stewardship careers. Course-level data from Academic Years 2022–23 through 2024–25 indicate consistent section scheduling and increasing enrollment across core program courses.

High-demand foundational courses such as Introduction to Park Management, Basic Outdoor Skills, Conservation of Natural Resources, and Wildland Fire Suppression maintain stable annual section offerings (ranging from one to three sections) with enrollments generally ranging between 30 and 69 students per course annually. Specialized and technical courses—including Backcountry Technical Rescue and Advanced Outdoor Skills and Survival—are offered on alternating-year cycles, reflecting equipment, safety, and instructional capacity considerations while still maintaining strong fill rates when offered.

Emerging and workforce-responsive curriculum areas such as Regenerative Agriculture in Parks, Geospatial Technology, and Remote Sensing show notable enrollment growth, signaling increasing student interest in sustainability, land management technology, and climate-responsive careers. Internship and employment preparation courses also maintain consistent enrollment, supporting student transition into the workforce.

Program completer data further demonstrate positive momentum. Certificate completers increased from 7–8 annually in earlier years to a projected 18 completers by 2024–25. Associate degree completers show a similar upward trend, growing from earlier single-digit completions to 18 projected degree completers by 2024–25.

Overall program enrollment grew from 544 to 716 annual enrollments, while student headcount increased from 217 to 281, reflecting both program expansion and increased student persistence.

These projections, derived from Precision Campus data (12/2/2025), indicate strong program viability, sustained student demand, and capacity for continued growth aligned with regional workforce needs in parks, conservation, and environmental resource management.

Overview: 

V. Enrollment and Completer Projections (Beginning Fall 2023: NEW PROGRAM ONLY)

School Year 2022-23 2022-23 2023-24 2023-24 2024-25 2024-25

Course

Department

Number

Course Title Annual #

Sections

Annual #

Annual #

Enrollment

Sections

Annual #

Enrollment

Annual #

Sections

Annual #

Enrollment

PMGT 010 Intro to Park Management 3 60 3 69 3 63

PMGT 011 Park Communications 1 23 1 31 2 46

PMGT 012A Basic Outdoor Skills 2 27 2 32 2 36

PMGT 012B Backcountry Technical

Rescue

Class offered

every other year 0 1 18 0 0

PMGT 012C Advanced Outdoor Skills and

Survival

Class offered

every other year 0 1 22 1 22

PMGT 013 Wildland Fire Suppression 1 32 1 32 1 30

PMGT 014 Conservation of Our Natural

2 34 2 44 2 40

Resources

PMGT 015A Duties of a Park Professional 1 10 1 18 1 21

PMGT 015B Natural and Cultural

Resources Interpretation 1 14 1 23 1 31

PMGT 015C Park Maintenance 1 22 1 23 1 23

PMGT 017 Park Horticulture 1 30 1 22 1 22

PMGT 018 Park Planning and Design 1 20 1 27 1 27

PMGT 019 Wilderness First Responder 1 21 1 20 1 25

PMGT 019A Title 22 Public Safety First

Aid 1(New) 0 0 0 0 0

PMGT 020A Employment Prep 1 16 1 14 1 20

PMGT 020B Internship 1 16 1 14 1 20

PMGT 026 Rengenerative Agriculture in

Parks 1 13 1 21 1 16

GIST 016A Intro to Geospatial

Technology 1 27 1 24 1 33

GIST 016G Intro to Remote Sensing 1 19 1 18 1 35

Years 2019-20 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025

7 1 8 7 8 18

PMGT Cert

Completers

PMGT AS

Completers

8 2 5 7 8 18

Enrollment N/A PC N/A PC NA/PC 544 623 716

Head Count N/A PC N/A PC N/A PC 217 275 281

Data derived from Precision Campus 12/2/2025.

N/A PC= Not Available in Precision Campus

I. Program Goals and Objectives

The Land Steward Certificate includes a selection of classes from the Park Management Program and is intended for students either entering with

an existing degree or those seeking a short-term certificate to begin a career in parks, public lands, and land stewardship. This certificate allows for

flexibility in terms of course selection to tailor the certificate to an area of focus and equips students for seasonal, entry level careers or promotional

opportunities in parks and public lands. Students would qualify for jobs such as: Seasonal Park Aid, Seasonal Park Maintenance, Seasonal Open

Space Technician, Park Service Attendant, Seasonal Ranger Aid, Seasonal Park Interpreter/Naturalist, Forestry Aid, and Park Ranger.

Upon successful completion of the Land Steward Certificate, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate practical skills in park operations, maintenance, and visitor services for employment in parks and public lands.

2. Apply ecological principles and land management practices to support habitat restoration, resource protection, and sustainable land

stewardship.

3. Interpret and communicate natural and cultural resource information to the public through education and outreach techniques used in

parks and open space settings.

4. Identify and comply with safety, risk management, and environmental regulations relevant to park and open space operations.

5. Exhibit professional work habits and effective communication skills while collaborating with diverse teams and community partners to fulfill

stewardship goals.

6. Analyze and utilize maps, geographic data, and inventory tools to support resource monitoring and planning decisions.

7. Integrate Indigenous perspectives and ecological knowledge in understanding land stewardship practices and the historical context of

public lands.

III. Program Requirements Narrative

Park Management Program - Land Steward Certificate

The Park Management program provides students with comprehensive preparation for careers in park operations, conservation, environmental stewardship, and outdoor leadership. The curriculum integrates foundational park management principles, hands-on technical training, public safety certification, environmental sustainability, and workforce readiness skills. The program requires 21–24 units of required core coursework and 9–12 units of electives, allowing students to customize their training while developing broad competencies aligned with regional workforce needs.

Required Core Courses (21–24 units)

The required core establishes foundational knowledge and professional competencies essential to the field:

• PMGT 010 – Introduction to Park Management (3 units)
  Provides an overview of park systems, public land management, governance structures, and career pathways.

• PMGT 015A – Duties of a Park Professional (3 units)
  Introduces professional standards, ethics, safety protocols, and day-to-day operational responsibilities.

• PMGT 015B – Natural and Cultural Resources Interpretation (3 units)
  Develops communication skills necessary for public engagement, educational programming, and stewardship messaging.

• PMGT 015C – Introduction to Park Maintenance (3 units)
  Covers maintenance practices, equipment use, facility upkeep, and operational logistics.

These core courses ensure students develop both theoretical knowledge and applied operational understanding of park management systems.

Elective Coursework (9–12 units)

Students select from a diverse set of electives designed to support specialization in outdoor skills, environmental management, public safety, planning, horticulture, technology, and workforce preparation. Elective options include:

• Operational & Field Skills:
  PMGT 012A Basic Outdoor Skills
  PMGT 012B Backcountry Technical Rescue (offered alternating years)
  PMGT 012C Advanced Outdoor Skills and Survival (offered alternating years)
  PMGT 021 Park Operations Laboratory
  PMGT 023 Powersaws
  PMGT 024 Wilderness Navigation

• Environmental & Resource Management:
  PMGT 014 Conservation of Our Natural Resources
  PMGT 017 Basic Horticulture for Parks
  PMGT 026 Regenerative Agriculture for Parks

• Public Safety & Emergency Response:
  PMGT 013 Wildland Fire Suppression
  PMGT 019 Wilderness First Responder
  PMGT 019A Title 22 Public Safety First Aid

• Planning & Technology:
  PMGT 018 Park Planning and Design
  GIST 016A Introduction to Geospatial Technology
  GIST 016G Introduction to Remote Sensing

• Career Preparation:
  PMGT 020A Employment Preparation
  PMGT 020B Internship

The elective structure allows students to tailor their learning to careers in park operations, conservation agencies, fire services, environmental education, outdoor recreation leadership, or land management technology.

Recommended Program Sequence

Fall, Year 1:
Students complete foundational required courses (PMGT 010, PMGT 015A, PMGT 015B) and select one elective to begin specialization. Typical fall unit load ranges from 10–15 units depending on elective selection.

Winter, Year 1:
Students may complete PMGT 013 Wildland Fire Suppression (2 units) to gain seasonal workforce readiness.

Spring, Year 1:
Students complete PMGT 015C Introduction to Park Maintenance and select two additional electives (2–10 units), allowing flexibility based on career focus and course availability.

III. Program Requirements

Required Courses

Course Number Course Name Units Term

PMGT 010 Introduction to Park Management 3 Year 1, Fall

PMGT 015A Duties of a Park Professional 3 Year 1, Fall

PMGT 015B Natural and Cultural Resources

Interpretation

PMGT 15C Introduction to Park Maintenance 3 3 Year 1, Fall

Year 1, Spring

Elective Courses (9-12

units)

PMGT 011 Park Communications 3 Year 1, Fall

PMGT 012A Basic Outdoor Skills 3 Year 1, Fall/Spring

PMGT 012B Backcountry Technical Rescue 3 Year 1, Fall

PMGT 012C Advanced Outdoor Skills and Survival 3 Year 1, Spring

PMGT 013 Wildland Fire Suppression 2 Year 1, Winter

PMGT 014 Conservation of Our Natural Resources 3 Year 1, Fall/Spring

PMGT 017 Basic Horticulture for Parks 3 Year 1, Spring

PMGT 018 Park Planning and Design 2 Year 1, Spring

PMGT 019 Wilderness First Responder 5 Year 1, Fall

PMGT 019 A Title 22 Public Safety First Aid 3 Year 1 Spring

PMGT 020 A Employment Preparation 1 Year 1, Spring

PMGT 020 B Internship 2 Year 1, Spring

PMGT 021 Park Operations Laboratory 1 Year 1, Fall

PMGT 023 Powersaws Year 1, Winter/Spring

PMGT 024 Wilderness Navigation Year 1, Winter Spring

PMGT 026 Regenertive Agriculture for Parks Year 1, Fall

GIST 016A Introduction to Geospatial Technology 3 Year 1, Fall

GIST 016G Introduction to Remote Sensing 3 Year 1, Spring

Required Core Total: 21-24 units

Recommended Sequence

Fall, Year 1

Required

PMGT 010-3 units

PMGT 015A-3 units

PMGT 015B-3 units

Electives:

Choose an elective – 1-5 units

PMGT 011-3 Units

PMGT 012A-3 Units

PMGT 012B-3 Units (Fall Year 1) (Once every two years)

PMGT 014-3 Units

PMGT 019-5 Units

PMGT 021-1 Unit

PMGT 026-3 Units

GIST 016 A-3 Units

Total-10-15 units

Winter, Year 1

Elective:

PMGT 013 – 2 units

Spring, Year 1

Required:

PMGT 015C-3 units

Electives:

Choose 2 electives – 2-10 units

PMGT 012A-3 Units

PMGT 012C-3 Units (Spring Year 1)(Once every two years)

PMGT 014-3 Units

PMGT 017-3 Units

PMGT 018-2 Units

PMGT 019A-3 Units

PMGT 020A-1 Unit

PMGT 020B-2 Units

GIST 016G-3 Units

Students often get positions with public land agencies before and after they graduate. Those that chose to go on with their studies will attend the following institutions: institutions Humboldt State, Chico State, Cal-Poly-SLO, and San Jose State. We are in the process of updating our articulation agreements with these

This is a unique program in the State of California and in the San Francisco Bay Area. Merritt College has a Certificate in Natural History and Resources Certificate that has some

similarities in terms of courses but still does not deliver the same kind of education. Santa Rosa Junior College Ranger Academy is currently an inactive program according to their

website (11/12/25)