Natural Resources
19 courses · College of the Desert · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026
NR 001 Conservation of Natural Resources
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 54
- Advisory
- NR 001L .
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This environmental science course encompasses a study of general ecological principles including biological energy relationships, biogeochemical cycles, population dynamics, limiting factors, biotic communities, principles of ecosystem sustainability, ecosystem change, and biodiversity. Environmental issues are examined from an ecological perspective and include such topics as water availability and quality, fossil fuels and renewable energy resources, air pollution, global atmospheric issues, hazardous materials, and human population growth. Emphases are placed on the effects of environmental problems upon all living organisms, and the role of human beings in reducing their impact on this planet. Suggested for Biological Sciences General Education Requirements.
NR 001L Conservation of Natural Resources Lab
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- Lab Hours: 54
- Prerequisite
- NR 001 or concurrent enrollment.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
A laboratory designed to supplement the Conservation of Natural Resources course (NR 001) by providing laboratory and field experiences in environmental subject areas. Suggested for Biological Science General Education Requirements.
NR 003 Introduction to Wildlife Management
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 54
- Advisory
- NR 001.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course covers the principles of wildlife biology as related to wildlife management. Students will be introduced to basic skills involved in wildlife conservation, and develop an understanding of the relationships between wildlife, people and outdoor recreation. Subjects to be covered include basic ecological concepts, population dynamics, wildlife habitats and nutrition, wildlife identification and natural history, field methods, fish and game laws, and career opportunities.
NR 004 Introduction to Ecosystem Management
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 54
- Advisory
- NR 001.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course covers ecological, socioeconomic, and institutional factors involved in the management of ecosystems. The history of ecosystem management, terminology, examples of successful and unsuccessful techniques, applications towards forest, chaparral, desert, and grassland management, and the interfacing of science, people, and governments for successful programs, along with job opportunities in public and private natural resources management agencies are discussed.
NR 010 Wildland Fire Technology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 54
- Advisory
- ENG 061.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed to provide students with a fundamental knowledge of the factors affecting wildland fire behavior, fire prevention, and the wildland fire suppression techniques. Wildland fire behavior safety is presented throughout the course. (Equivalent to FIRE 010.)
NR 017 Natural Resources Law Enforcement
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 54
- Advisory
- ENG 061.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides information about enforcement of natural resources and wildlife laws in the United States and California. Topics include the relationships between Federal and State wildlife laws and regulations, laws as management tools, conservation of wildlife and other natural resources, review of State and Federal resource management agencies, law enforcement officer qualifications, duties and responsibilities, enforcement procedures, court systems, fines and forfeitures, hunter safety, public responsibilities, and preservation of the environment. (Equivalent to CJ 017.)
NR 020 GPS and Map Use
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 18
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an overview of Global Positioning System and map use technology. Students utilize hand-held GPS units and learn to apply the basic functions. Students are provided with opportunities to learn application techniques.
NR 021 Introduction to GIS
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 36, Lab Hours: 54
- Advisory
- AIS 005.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- GEOG 155
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are software systems that allow users to integrate spatially related information from spreadsheets with smart mapping capabilities. In this course, students work with ESRI ArcGIS software to learn fundamental concepts of performing GIS tasks: identification and acquisition of GIS data; assessment of vector and raster systems, scale, resolution, map projection, coordinate systems; georeferencing and Global Positioning Systems (GPS); spatial analysis and modeling with GIS. Students will also learn how GIS technology can be applied to many fields including environmental research, government, business, real estate, health care, urban planning, fire technology, agriculture, landscape design, anthropology, and more. (Equivalent to GIS 021.)(C-ID GEOG 155)
NR 041A Native Plants - Mountain
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 18
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed to introduce students to the identification of mountain native plants above 4,000 feet. Emphasis is placed on mountain trees and shrubs. Two Saturday field trips are required.
NR 041B Native Plants - Desert
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 18
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed to introduce students to the identification of desert native plants in the Coachella Valley and surrounding desert areas. Both annuals and perennials (shrubs and trees) are included, with an emphasis placed on desert annuals when they are available. Two Saturday field trips may be required.
NR 050 Winter Birds
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 18
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course introduces students to the principles and techniques of bird taxonomy. Emphasis is placed upon the identification of birds that winter locally at the Salton Sea. Saturday field trips to the Salton Sea are required.
NR 051A Migrant Birds - Fall
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 18
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course introduces students to the principles of bird taxonomy. Emphasis is placed upon the identification of birds that migrate south through our local mountains. Two Saturday field trips are required.
NR 051B Migrant Birds - Spring
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 18
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course introduces students to the principles of bird taxonomy. Emphasis is placed upon the identification of birds that use local desert oases as stopover points during spring migration. Two Saturday field trips to local migrant "traps" are required.
NR 051C Backyard Birds
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 18
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course introduces students to the principles of bird taxonomy. Emphasis is placed upon the identification of birds found in a typical Coachella Valley (desert) backyard. Two Saturday field trips to local sites are required. Students may choose the pass/no pass grading option.
NR 058 Reptiles of the Coachella Valley
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 18
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides students with a general overview of reptile life in the Coachella Valley region. Emphasis will be placed on the identification, family characteristics, and natural history of 26 local species. Two Saturday field trips are required.
NR 059 Careers in Natural Res & Agri Sciences
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 54
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides students with an overview of professions in Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences along with educational paths to become qualified for those occupations.
NR 095A Natural Resources Work Experience
- Units
- 1-5
- Hours
- Lab Hours: 270
- Transfers to
- CSU
This work experience course of supervised employment provides students the opportunity to connect academics to applied experiential learning in the workplace. It assists students in developing transferable employability skills, career awareness, learning industry culture, competencies and norms, and developing professional networks that support career mobility. To enroll, students must have a job or internship placement in a part-time or full-time capacity. Credit may be accrued at the rate of one to five (1-5) units per semester based on the student's ability to meet the hours required per unit enrolled. Students must work 54 hours per unit earned. This Work Experience course is available to students whose job or internship placement is directly related to Natural Resources.
NR 321A Map Layout & Presentation
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- Noncredit Hours: 45
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are software systems that allow users to integrate spatially related information from spreadsheets with smart mapping capabilities. In this course, students work with ESRI ArcGIS software to learn fundamental concepts of performing GIS tasks: identification and acquisition of GIS data; assessment of vector and raster systems, scale, resolution, map projection, coordinate systems; georeferencing and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Students will also learn how GIS technology can be applied to many fields including environmental research, government, business, real estate, health care, urban planning, fire technology, agriculture, landscape design, anthropology, and more. (Equivalent to GIS 321A.)
NR 321B Editing & Analyzing Map Data
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- Noncredit Hours: 45
- Prerequisite
- NR 321A or GIS 321A or concurrent enrollment.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are software systems that allow users to integrate spatially related information from spreadsheets with smart mapping capabilities. In this course, students work with Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ArcGIS software to learn fundamental concepts of performing GIS tasks: assessment of vector and raster systems, scale, resolution, map projection, coordinate systems; (GPS); querying and editing spatial analysis and modeling with GIS. Students will also learn how GIS technology can be applied to many fields including environmental research, government, business, real estate, health care, urban planning, fire technology, agriculture, landscape design, anthropology, and more. Students will learn how to create web-based interactive maps and web applications using ESRI's ArcGIS Online platform. (Equivalent to GIS 321B.)