Ecological Restoration - Paul Smith's College

Degree:

Bachelor's Degree

This program equips students with a deep understanding of the interdependent relationships among aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and the humans who populate them.

Bachelor of Science / 120 Credits

Ecological restoration is the art and science of reviving nature’s intricate balance. This program equips students with the skills necessary to transform degraded landscapes into thriving ecosystems.

Our breathtaking 14,000-acre campus is a living laboratory teeming with biodiversity, inviting you to dive into the heart of streams, lakes, meadows, and forests, each a dynamic canvas of ecological succession. In proactive partnership with local communities, we don’t just study; we roll up our sleeves and apply our knowledge. We assess and rejuvenate degraded landscapes, codesign ingenious solutions, and boldly shape the future of sustainable land management.

In the field, Ecological Restoration majors harness the power of botany, soil science, hydrology, landscape ecology, and engineering principles to assess and rejuvenate degraded habitats. We decipher the essence of thriving ecosystems, crafting visionary restoration plans that not only yield results but captivate the public’s imagination.

As graduates, you emerge equipped with the prowess to propose transformative solutions to global environmental challenges, no matter where they may arise.

Program Details

Plant Biology
General Ecology
Chemistry I & II
Geology
Dendrology
Introduction to GIS
Ecosystem Courses
Soils and Hydrology
Forest Ecology
Stream Ecology and Management
Wetlands Ecosystems and Management
Watershed Management
Conservation Biology
Ecological Restoration
Restoration Ecology

Restoration Ecologist
Environmental Consultant
Conservation Biologist
Environmental Scientist
Wetland Scientist
Environmental Analyst
Leader of Non-Profit

At the end of the program students will be able to:

Apply scientific knowledge and methods of inquiry to understand and study ecosystems.
Assess the level of damage or degradation to the structure and function of watersheds, rivers and streams, lakes, and wetlands in forested, agricultural, and suburban/urban environments.
Integrate ecosystem knowledge and human systems into restoration planning, implementation, and adaptive management in order to restore damaged or degraded ecosystems.

Semester 1
BIO 110	Biology I	3
ENG 101	Effective College Writing I	3
ENV 110	Foundations of Environmental Science	4
FYS 101	First Year Seminar	3
MAT 125	Algebra	3
Semester 2	Intro to Computer Apps	3
BIO 112	Biology II	3
FOR 110	Dendrology	3
ENG 102	Effective College Writing II	3
	Humanities	3
	Social Science	3
Semester 3	Natural Sciences	3-4
BIO 210	General Ecology	4
CHM 110	Chemistry I	3
ECN 200	Principles of Economics	3
	Elective	3-4
Semester 4	Humanities	3
CHM 112	Chemistry II	3
ENV 120	Geology	3
or GEO 101	General Geography	3
GIS 201	Introduction To GIS	3
HUM 270	Ethics	3
MAT 210	Statistics	3
Semester 5	Elective	3-4
BIO 204	Plant Biology	3
FOR 330	Soils and Hydrology	4
ENV 300	Restoration Ecology	3
	Elective	3
Select any course.	Responsibility & Expression – Integrated	3-4
Semester 6	Elective	3-4
ENV 330	Conservation Biology	3
FOR 310	Forest Ecology	3
ENV 340	Watershed Science	3
	Elective	3-4
	Elective	4
Semester 7	Elective – UD	3-4
ENV 471	Stream Ecology And Management	3
ENV 473	Wetland Ecosystems and Management	3
	System Cluster	3
	Elective – UD	3-4
	Elective – UD	3-4
Semester 8	Liberal Arts Elective	3-4
ENV 400	Ecological Restoration	3
SCI 495	Science Capstone	4
	Human System Cluster	3
	Elective	3-4
	Elective – UD	4
HUMAN SYSTEM CLUSTER – CHOOSE 2 COURSES	Track Cluster-UD	3
Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Law and Regulatory Processes, Natural Resource Economics, Philosophy of Nature, Sustainable Development	Elective-UD	3