This option is available within the Natural Resources major at the following locations:

• Corvallis
• Ecampus
• OSU-Cascades

A specialty option is a required part of the Natural Resources major that allows the students to develop depth and focus in a particular area of natural resource management.

The Individualized Specialty Option (ISO) is a student-designed option that allows a student to tailor their academic program to specific goals or interests. In consultation with their academic advisor, students will develop a program of study that meets their goals, as well as program requirements. The student is required to submit a proposal for approval by the Natural Resources Program Director. Students should contact their assigned academic advisor for information on developing an Individualized Specialty option.

Option Code: 676

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Describe ecological processes, including human impacts that influence ecosystem change, natural succession and the future sustainability of natural resources. 
• Characterize natural resources and be able to quantify at least one of these resources.
• Envision desired future conditions in an area to achieve a set of natural resource-related objectives, prescribe management actions needed to achieve those objectives, and evaluate success of these actions.
• Describe how the use, management, and allocation of natural resources are affected by laws, policies, economic factors (both market and non-market), and characteristics (including demographic, cultural, ethnic, and “values” differences) of private and public resource owners and users.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with audiences of diverse backgrounds.
• Work effectively with, and within, interdisciplinary and diverse groups to resolve management problems and achieve management objectives.

A Specialty Option in the Natural Resources major requires a minimum of 37 credits including at least 20 upper division credits and a minimum GPA of 2.25.

Students pursuing the Individualized Specialty Option (ISO) are required to develop a proposal for approval by the Natural Resource Program Director. The proposal should encompass the following:

1.  Define the academic program of study (list of courses) that follows these criteria:

• A minimum of 37 credits including at least 20 upper division credits.
• The combined GPA of the courses used in the ISO must be at least 2.25
• No courses are allowed to double count with the Natural Resources major requirements but may double count for Baccalaureate Core or Writing Intensive course requirements.
• Include a description of the skills and knowledge that each course contributes to the academic program of study.
• The academic program of study may include up to 6 credits of internships, projects or study abroad that may be used to fulfill requirements in the specialty option.

2. Create a title for the Individualized Specialty Option that encompasses the professional goals and reflects the coursework in the academic program of study. Title is not transcripted.

3. Write a two - three page essay that describes the career and academic goals, relevant past experience and education, and a rationale for the courses that were included in the academic plan of study.

4. The proposal must be professionally written, proof read and submitted at least 6 terms prior to the anticipated graduation term.

The proposal is reviewed by an advisor to make sure that the criteria is met and then submitted to the Natural Resource Program Director for approval. Proposals not meeting the academic expectations of the program and university will not be approved or may be required to be resubmitted. Approved proposal coursework is entered into MyDegrees and the student will work with their assigned academic advisor to create a plan for degree completion. The Individualized Specialty Option can be revised if needed by submitting a new proposal with the program of study revisions and an updated essay.

Option Code: 676