Western Carolina University

Transfer Guide

Western Carolina University
Natural Resource Conservation and Management, BS

Transfer Guide for Associate in Science

2025-2026

Delivery Method: On-Campus

Program Admission Notes:

Transfer students should apply to Western Carolina University at applynow.wcu.edu. A minimum 2.2 GPA is required for consideration, however, this does not guarantee admission. We recommend that you aim for an average cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 12+ hours of college credit for competitiveness with other incoming transfer applicants.

Please note that admission to the institution does not guarantee admission to specific programs, and some programs do require a supplemental application. Check the program website at WCU.edu for supplemental application details and instructions, or reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 828.227.7317.

Contact:

Advising Center
transferadvising@wcu.edu

Revised: April, 2025

College Level Foreign Language Requirements:

No foreign language requirement for this program.

Major-Specific Course Recommendations:

Students are encouraged to build the North Carolina Community College (NCCC) course recommendations below into the associate degree to best prepare for the intended university and major.

Recommended NCCC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
BIO 112: General Biology II 4 BIOL 141: Principles of Biology II UGETC Natural Sciences Required Course, General Education
MAT 152: Statistical Methods I 4 MATH 170: Applied Statistics & MATH 19A: Lower Level Electives Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
CHM 151: General Chemistry I 4 CHEM 139: General Chemistry I Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course, General Education
BIO 145: Ecology 4 BIOL 241: Intro Ecology & Evolution Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
BIO 111: General Biology I 4 BIOL 140: Principles of Biology I UGETC Natural Sciences Suggested Course, General Education
BIO 250: Genetics 4 BIOL 240: Intro to Genetics Elective/Pre-Major Courses Suggested Course

Remaining Associate Degree Requirements:

In addition to major-specific course recommendations above, students should work with a community college advisor to select additional community college courses to fulfill the remaining associate degree requirements identified below.

Recommended NCCC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
ENG 111: Writing and Inquiry 3 ENGL 101: Writing and Rhetoric English Composition General Education
ENG 112: Writing/Research in the Disc 3 ENGL 202: Writing and Critical Inquiry English Composition General Education
COM 231: Public Speaking 3 COMM 201: Foundations of Communication UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 3 University Equivalencies UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 6 University Equivalencies UGETC Social/Behavioral Sciences General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 8 University Equivalencies UGETC Math General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 7 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses General Education
ACA 122: College Transfer Success 1 ELEC 19A: Lower Level Electives Academic Transition Elective
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 2 University Equivalencies Elective/Pre-Major Courses Elective

Additional Information From Western Carolina University:

The Natural Resource Conservation and Management Program, in the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Carolina University, offers students an interdisciplinary education that promotes the understanding, conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources.  Because of WCU’s role as a regional comprehensive university, we view western North Carolina and the Southern Appalachians as our primary areas of focus. However, our broad goal is to serve society through our students and through involvement in our community, region, state, nation, and beyond. The Program offers the Bachelor of Science Degree with coursework in forest resources, fisheries and wildlife management, and soil and water conservation. The program emphasizes high quality undergraduate instruction in preparation for entry level natural resources management positions or for further graduate study. The NRCM program prepares students for careers in the conservation and sustainable management of forested lands and the resources they support, and prepares students to evaluate environmental conditions and to apply techniques used in the protection and restoration of terrestrial and aquatic systems.

Remaining Bachelor’s Degree Requirements at University:

University Course Credit
Hours		 University Course Notes
Natural Resource Conservation and Management Requirements 24
  • GEOL 305 - Soils and Hydrology Credits: 4 (FOR 173: Soils & Hydrology)
  • NRM 150 - Career Opportunities in Natural Resources Management Credits: 1
  • NRM 210 - Methods in Natural Resources Management Credits: 3
  • NRM 213 - GIS for Natural Resource Management Credits: 3 (FOR 215: Intro to GIS/GPS)
  • NRM 240 - Natural Resource Measurements Credits: 3 (FOR 131: Forest Measurements)
  • NRM 255 - Dendrology Credits: 3 (FOR 121: Dendrology)
  • NRM 351 - Forest Ecology Credits: 3

or

  • BIOL 304 - General Ecology Credits: 3
  • NRM 440 - Integrated Resources Management Credits: 4

or

  • NRM 499 - Senior Thesis in NRCM Credits: 4  
Natural Resource Conservation and Management Electives 24

Major Electives, 24 hours, selected from the following options:

  • GEOG 300 - Weather and Climate Credits: 3
  • GEOG 324 - Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: 4
  • GEOL 302 - Geomorphology Credits: 4
  • GEOL 405 - Hydrogeology Credits: 4
  • GEOL 410 - Fluvial Geomorphology Credits: 3
  • GEOL 423 - Contaminated Rivers: Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Credits: 3
  • GEOL 455 - Wetlands Credits: 3
  • NRM 320 - Soil Conservation Credits: 3
  • NRM 330 - Introduction to Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Credits: 3
  • NRM 344 - Applied Geographic Information Systems Credits: 4
  • NRM 389 - Cooperative Education in NRM Credits: 1 or 3, R15
  • NRM 432 - Wildlife Research and Survey Techniques Credits: 4
  • NRM 451 - Foundations of Silviculture Credits: 4
  • NRM 460 - Watershed Management Credits: 3
  • NRM 472 - Geospatial Science Applications Credits: 4
  • NRM 476 - Contemporary Fisheries Credits: 4

or

  • BIOL 476 - Contemporary Fisheries Credits: 4
  • NRM 479 - Mammalogy Credits: 4

or

  • BIOL 479 - Mammalogy Credits: 4

or

  • NRM 480 - Independent Study Credits: 1-3, R6
  • NRM 481 - Independent Study Credits: 1-3, R6
  • NRM 483 - Applications in Forest Resource Management Credits: 3, R6
  • NRM 493 - Topics in NRM Credits: 1-4, R12
General Electives 30

To complete 120 hours, students may need to take additional General Electives (the number depends on how many Liberal Studies courses also count toward the major).

While any courses can be used to fulfill the general electives requirement, the following courses are particularly relevant to the program.

  • BIOL 425 - Flora of the Southern Appalachians Credits: 4
  • BIOL 434 - Terrestrial Landscape Ecology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 435 - Aquatic Ecology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 441 - Conservation Biology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 472 - Ornithology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 477 - Herpetology Credits: 4
  • ECON 310 - Natural Resource Economics Credits: 3
  • PAR 330 - America’s Wilderness Ethics and Aesthetics Credits: 3
  • PAR 333 - Environmental and Animal Ethics Credits: 3
  • PSC 326 - Natural Resources Policy and Administration Credits: 3
  • PSC 354 - International Environmental Politics Credits: 3