Conservation and Resource Management
Certificate of Achievement Environmental Management & Technology · Merritt College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Program Description
The Conservation and Resource Management Certificate of Achievement offers students a practical approach to ecological management practices. Students learn basic concepts of environmental science, are prepared for more specialized coursework, and establish minimum qualifications for entry-level employment.
Students in the Conservation and Resource Management program will:
- Build a solid foundation in the principles of ecology, and then learn to apply them to solve environmental problems.
- Focus on habitat restoration, natural resource conservation and management, water quality and watershed analysis, outdoor education, urban planning, and vegetation surveys.
- Participate in field trips and field-based courses to sites around the Bay Area.
- Prepare for the following careers: Environmental educator, environmental consultant, habitat restoration technician, watershed analyst, parks maintenance technician, ranger, naturalist, ecologist.
Career Opportunities
Students will be trained for entry-level work in three main areas relating to nature and the environment: (1) non-profit organizations; (2) government agencies, such as parks, water agencies, and open spaces; (3) environmental consulting firms. Internship opportunities will be provided, as well as pathways to transfer to environmental programs at four-year universities. Career opportunities may include: Biological scientists and technicians, conservation scientists and technicians, environmental science and protection technicians, environmental scientists and specialists, fish and game wardens, forest and conservation technicians and workers, foresters, geographers, hydrologists, museum conservators and technicians, natural science managers, soil and plant scientists, and zoologists and wildlife biologists.
Learning Outcome(s)
- Articulate the history of the conservation movement in the U.S. (with particular emphasis on California) and put the current state of natural resource management in its proper historical context.
- Explain basic principles of ecology and how these principles are used in management and stewardship of natural spaces.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how parks and other public natural spaces operate and function.
- Demonstrate practical field skills used in the management and stewardship of natural resources.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | 29-33 | |
| Core Courses: | 17-20 | |
| BIOL 15 | Environmental Biology | 3 |
| ENVMT 001 | Environmental Careers | 1 |
| ENVMT 002 | Introduction to Sustainable Environmental Systems | 4 |
| ENVMT 056 | Conservation and Management of Parks and Public Lands | 3 |
| ENVMT 57 | Park Operations: Concepts and Practices | 4 |
| ENVMT 476F | Work Experience in Environmental Management | 1-4 |
| GEOL 21 | Bay Area Field Studies | 1 |
| Choose One: | 6 | |
| ENVMT 012 | Environmental Racism and Justice | 3 |
| AFRAM 38 | Environmental Racism and Justice | 3 |
| Choose One: | 2-4 | |
| ENVMT 8 | Introduction to Outdoor Education | 3 |
| ENVMT 14 | Environmental Impact Reports | 2 |
| ENVMT 39C | Geographical Information Systems Applications | 4 |
| ENVMT 44 | Introduction to Creek and Watershed Restoration: General Aspects | 3 |
| ENVMT 101 | Introduction to Climate Change | 3 |
| LANHT 81 | Arborist Equipment Fundamentals | 2 |
| Choose One: | 2-4 | |
| ART 166 | Beginning Botanical Drawing | 2 |
| BIOL 5 | Botany | 4 |
| BIOL 9 | Marine Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 29 | Introduction to Biodiversity | 4 |
| ENVMT 60A | Natural History of the Bay Area: The Local Parks | 0.5-3 |
| ENVMT 60B | Natural History of the Bay Area: Mt. Diablo State Park | 0.5-3 |
| ENVMT 60C | Natural History of the Bay Area: Herpetology | 0.5-2 |
| ENVMT 60E | Natural History of the Bay Area: Biogeography | 0.5-2 |
| ENVMT 061E | Natural History of the Tide Pools of the Greater Bay Area | 0.5-2 |
| ENVMT 61H | Natural History of the Bay Area: Butterflies and Moths | 0.5-2 |
| ENVMT 061I | Natural History of the Bay Area: Bryophytes | 0.5-2 |
| ENVMT 61K | Natural History of the Bay Area: Lichens | 0.5-2 |
| ENVMT 062S | Natural History of the Islands of California | 0.5-2 |
| ENVMT 80A | Raptors of Central California and the Bay Area | 0.5-2 |
| ENVMT 80B | Bird Songing: The Ecology of Bird Songs and Identification by Ear | 0.5-2 |
| ENVMT 80C | Fundamentals of Ornithology and Birding in Central California/Bay Area | 0.5-2 |
| GEOG 1 | Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEOL 1 | Introduction to Physical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 012 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| LANHT 2 | Plant Materials: Tree ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 2E | Plant Materials: Tree ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| LANHT 5A | Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 5EA | Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| LANHT 5B | Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 5EB | Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| LANHT 10 | Insect Pests | 3 |
| LANHT 16 | Soil Management | 3 |
| LANHT 23 | Plant Terminology | 2.5 |
| LANHT 53 | Alpines Lab | 1 |
| NATAM 76E | California Indian Ecology on the Central Coast | 1.5 |