Certificate Program

Land Resources Analyst Certificate

The purpose of the Land Resources Analyst Certificate is to certify students as having proficiency in occupational skills in land resources interpretation, assessment, inventory, and management- skills required for planning, resource management, and related positions with employers such as township and county planning agencies, county zoning offices, departments of natural resources, private planning and engineering firms, and firms engaged in landscape architecture.

Minimum Course Requirement

a. One course in land resources, land stewardship ecology, or town and country planning, with a minimum of 90 contact hours.

b. One of the following: 301, 303, 304, 306, 308, 309, 343, 353, 403, 427, 457, 477, 479, 482, 486, 487, 489 with a minimum of 90 contact hours.

c. Once course from the following, with a minimum of 90 contact hours: Physical geography, soils, hydrology, general geology, field geology, geomorphology, environmental geology.

d. One course in ecology, ecological agriculture, or development and ecological sustainability with a minimum of 90 contact hours.

Minimum Occupational Techniques Requirement
This requirement is met through course work and proficiency tests administered by the faculty of the Institute.

a. Remote Sensing and Photographic Interpretation Techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Geographical Positioning Systems (GPS).
Must demonstrate proficiency in managing geographic information systems and ability to use satellite and aircraft imagery in interpretation and mapping land forms, vegetation types, and urban development.

b. Field Techniques
Must demonstrate proficiency in use of topographic maps, aerial imagery, and geographical positioning systems (GPS) for orientation and other purposes under field conditions. Must demonstrate proficiency at dominant species identification and classification of biotic communities and ecosystems.

c. Laboratory Techniques
Must demonstrate proficiency in overlay mapping techniques applied to land resources planning, management, and decision-making.

d. Literature and Information Techniques
Must demonstrate proficiency in identification, location, procurement, and use of planning and management documents of public and private agencies. Must demonstrate proficiency in preparing land resources maps and integrating them with non-technical but accurate text for use in policy-making and planning.

e. Computing and Information Processing Techniques
Must demonstrate proficiency in the use of computers in ecological and geographic and geo-referenced data management and analysis, spreadsheet modeling, and word-processing.

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