OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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When you study natural resources at OSU’s campus in Bend, you join one of the world’s top forestry schools.
One of the best colleges offering degrees in natural resources & conservation
College Factual
OSU's College of Forestry is ranked second in the world
CWUR
National forests and public lands in Central Oregon form our 2.5 million-acre classroom
Whitebark pine trees on top of mountain peaks are critical to our water-challenged region. They harness precious snowpack which creates late-season stream flows. They also create habitats and provide food for wildlife. But increasing numbers of these trees are threatened by fungus, beetles and climate change. Instructor Seth Ganzhorn and student researchers are working with the Forest Service to better understand the genetic identity of whitebark pines. They climb up mountains, collect needles, extract DNA and identify differences between healthy and diseased trees. They hope to use their results to enhance alpine ecosystems.
OSU’s College of Forestry is internationally recognized for its ground-breaking research and for preparing graduates who can take on the complex challenges that face our natural world.
In this interdisciplinary degree, students study science, management and policy topics with expert faculty who have experience in research, public agencies and industry. You’ll study complex interactions that take place in the natural world — and how humans can impact them. Your courses will include ecology, fish and wildlife, watershed management, habitat restoration, environmental ethics and law, sociology, and resource policy.
Our graduates are prepared to make the natural world better in careers in resource ecology, land use, water resources, environmental policy, resource technology and natural resource education – or even to apply to graduate school.
Undergraduate Degree Offered
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources
Your courses cross a broad spectrum of natural resource areas. By adding an option, you can further increase your understanding.
Students majoring in other programs at OSU-Cascades can choose to complete the natural resources minor. The minor is intended to provide a broad exposure to the natural resources field. It offers course work that integrates a number of natural resources disciplines.
The original plan was to become a chef. In downtime at culinary school though, Nick Maithonis read books about challenges facing our natural lands. Fast forward and this natural resources major has the knowledge to take on any challenge in the natural world. An internship with the Oregon Natural Desert Association opened his eyes to land stewardship. Local nonprofit Think Wild opened the door to managing a five-year restoration research project. And a George and Shirley Ray Endowed scholarship helped make it all possible.
In the Human and Ecosystem Resiliency and Sustainability Lab, you can study how populations of plants and animals are responding to changing environmental conditions. The Lab has established long-term monitoring programs focused on American pika and bat species in the Pacific Northwest.
Forest Types of the Northwest
Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Managing Natural Resources for Future
Wildland Plant Identification
Desert Watershed Management
Sustainable Communities
Aquatic Entomology
Endangered Species
Management of Pacific Salmon
Rangeland Management
Environmental Politics and Policy
We're here to help! Future students can connect with an OSU-Cascades admissions advisor for admission and program questions.
