Natural History and Resources
Certificate of Achievement Biology · Merritt College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Program Description
The Natural History and Resources Certificate of Achievement educates students on the biodiversity of the Bay Area and beyond and how that biodiversity interacts with humans in different ecosystems and scales. Coursework provides a foundation on local flora, fauna, and geology, as well as an ecosystem-driven approach to explore natural resources such as water, forests, and ecosystem services. Graduates of the program can expect to be prepared for entry-level employment in the field of natural resources and the environment.
Students in the Natural History and Resources program will:
- Discover the vast diversity of animals, plants, fungi, and microscopic organisms through courses in botany, ornithology, entomology, herpetology, and more.
- Learn the principles of biogeography and the interplay between biology and geology.
- Participate in field trips and field courses around the Bay Area and beyond.
- Prepare for the following careers: Environmental educator, environmental consultant, habitat restoration technician, parks maintenance technician, ranger, biologist, curatorial assistant, or collections manager.
Career Opportunities
The Natural History and Resources Certificate of Achievement prepares students for careers focused on organismal diversity and ecosystem functioning, specifically the positions of biological technician, ecological technician, ecological restoration technician, nature interpreter, field technician, biological consultant, and environmental consultant working for natural resource government agencies, environmental non-profits, and environmental consulting firms.
Learning Outcome(s)
- Provide an overview of the form and function of local biodiversity (flora and fauna) and understand the ecological roles of these organisms.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the various ecosystems and natural resources in the Bay Area and their importance.
- Demonstrate practical skills, such as species identification, field documentation, and environmental impact report preparation, used by professionals in the field.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | 26-31 | |
| Core Courses: | 15 | |
| BIOL 29 | Introduction to Biodiversity | 4 |
| ENVMT 001 | Environmental Careers | 1 |
| ENVMT 002 | Introduction to Sustainable Environmental Systems | 4 |
| GEOG 1 | Physical Geography | 3 |
| Choose One: | 3 | |
| ENVMT 012 | Environmental Racism and Justice | 3 |
| AFRAM 38 | Environmental Racism and Justice | 3 |
| Choose 9 - 12 Units: | 9-12 | |
| ART 166 | Beginning Botanical Drawing | 2 |
| BIOL 5 | Botany | 4 |
| BIOL 9 | Marine Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 15 | Environmental Biology | 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 5B | Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 5EA | Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) | 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 |
| NATAM 76E | California Indian Ecology on the Central Coast | 1.5 |
| 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 |
| ENVMT 101 | Introduction to Climate Change | 3 |
| Choose 2 - 4 Units: | 2-4 | |
| ENVMT 005 | Bay Area Food Culture | 3 |
| ENVMT 8 | Introduction to Outdoor Education | 3 |
| ENVMT 14 | Environmental Impact Reports | 2 |
| ENVMT 035 | Introduction to Urban Agroecology | 3 |
| ENVMT 39C | Geographical Information Systems Applications | 4 |
| ENVMT 44 | Introduction to Creek and Watershed Restoration: General Aspects | 3 |
| 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 | 1-2 |
| LANHT 53 | Alpines Lab | 1 |
| LANHT 81 | Arborist Equipment Fundamentals | 2 |