Natural Resources Technician
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Natural Resources Technician
The Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC) in Natural Resource Technician provides Alaskan students with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful employment at the technician level in natural resources through hands-on training and coursework.
Students can complete this program in one semester
The Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC) in Natural Resource Technician provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful employment at the technician level in natural resources through hands-on training and coursework. Students will learn technical skills from content experts, as well as communicative and social skills required for success in this growing field. They will also interact directly with natural resource management organizations that are in need of skilled technician level employees, facilitating a transition from the program to employment.
Courses
Core courses:
- Biota of Alaska
- Conservation of Natural Resources
- Small Group Communication*
- Earth Systems: Elements of Physical Geography*
*Fulfills a University of Alaska General Education Requirement
Industry recommended and elective courses, including:
- First Aid/CPR
- Workplace Safety
- Wilderness First Aid
- University Studies
- Backpacking
- Internship
PWSC's residential housing is available for students.
Requirements
- 16 Credit Hours
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
Please view the current catalog for a list of all required classes for this program.
Tuition
Students (16 years or older) can attend this program for free* for the fall semesters through 2026 thanks to grant funding! *Tuition, academic fees, and housing are free.
Questions?
For more information about this program and to enroll you can contact PWSC admissions:
email: pwsc.admissions@alaska.edu
call: 907-834-1600 (Mondays-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. AKST)
Career Connections:
This program has been designed to prepare students for seasonal positions as:
- Entry-level technician with the Bureau of Land Management
- Entry-level technician with the National Forest Service
- Entry-level technician with the National Park Service
- Entry-level technician with Ahtna or other Alaska Native Corporations
Educational Pathways:
Students enrolled in this program may want to continue their studies to advance their career. Possible pathways for majors to transfer into upon completion include:
- Associate of Arts in General Studies at Prince William Sound College
- Associate of Applied Scince in Technology at Prince William Sound College
- Bachelor's degree in biological sciences or natural sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage
- Bachelor's degree in natural resources and environment or wildlife biology and conservation at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Bachelor's degree in marine biology or environmental resources at the University of Alaska Southeast
For specific guidance on a transfer path it is best to make an advising appointment with an academic advisor. Contact PWSC's academic advisor to set up an appointment.
Meet The Professor
Dr. Amanda Glazier
Amanda came to PWSC from Haverford College outside of Philadelphia. There she was
a visiting assistant professor, teaching marine ecology, population genetics, advanced
genetic analyses, and superlab. Prior to that she was a research assistant professor
and postdoctoral Fellow at Temple University in Philadelphia. Her research has focused
on population genetics, phylogenetics, and transcriptomics of deep-sea invertebrates,
and she is broadly interested in using genetic tools to address evolutionary and ecological
questions. Her research has spanned lab work, field work with five deep-sea research
cruises, and bioinformatics and computational work. While all of these are important
aspects of research and learning, in teaching, she deeply believes that experiential
and field-based techniques are the best way for students to learn and develop a passion
for environmental sciences and ecology. Her courses are developed as much in this
context as possible, getting students outside and physically working with the topics
instead of just sitting in a classroom. This may include part of the day in the field
and part in the lab or working with an online database to experience different aspects
of the subject. She is very excited to be in Alaska, developing courses in this context
in such a unique, incredible environment.
Follow her Instagram account where she posts about teaching environmental studies at PWSC! @environ_sciences_pwsc
Partners
Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
