Desert Ecology Certificate
There is a nonrefundable application fee of $50 to declare candidacy in this program.
Professional Certificate in Desert Ecology - Field Nature Studies Program
California is home to a rich and diverse range of settings—mountain, desert, coastal and urban environments. The purpose of the Field Nature Studies Program is to help students better understand the complex ecological relationships within nature.
The program consists of:
- Certificate Program in Field Ecology
- Certificate Program in Desert Ecology
- Specialized Study Program in Field Botany
- Specialized Study Program in Field Geology
- Specialized Study Program in Field Ornithology
The curricula for all five programs were developed in cooperation with an advisory panel of distinguished natural scientists. Each program emphasizes field study, augmented by classroom work and independent study. Field tours are led by instructors who are experts in natural science and history.
Who Can Benefit?
Because the focus is on field studies, the programs can augment earlier studies by professional naturalists. The programs also are designed for:
- Interpreters at parks and museums
- Nature photographers
- Gardeners
- Landscapers
- Florists
- Collectors
The programs are also for persons who simply want to know more about the natural world and ask "why" and "how" when they see a hawk coasting on a thermal breeze, a flower blooming in a high mountain meadow, or a burrowing animal adapting to the desert heat.
Course Schedule
Completion Information
Completion Requirements
To earn the certificate, students must successfully complete (grade C or better) 21 quarter units within these study tracks:
- Ecology and Natural History (7 units)
- Vertebrates (3 units)
- Invertebrates (2 units)
- Botany (3 units)
- Physical Sciences (3 units)
- Electives (3 units)
Completion Time
The certificate program can typically be completed in 18-24 months.
Cost
The cost for the certificate program ranges from approximately $2,500 to $3,500. This does not include textbooks or materials unless otherwise noted.
Instructors & Administrators
Instructor Opportunities
Interested in becoming an instructor at UCR Extension? Find out how.
Additional Information
Textbook Information
If a textbook is required, information is provided in the course listing when scheduled, on the confirmation you receive after enrolling, or by e-mail for an online class.
Delivery Method
Field study courses typically meet in the physical location of study on weekends. For example, Geology and Natural History of Northern Death Valley meets in Death Valley. Some courses may have an evening orientation in Riverside, Redlands or Palm Desert.
Advisory Board
- Eugene Cardiff, Professional Biologist and former Curator of Biological Sciences, San Bernardino County Museum
- James W. Cornett, Curator of Natural Science, Desert Museum, Palm Springs
- Mark C. Jorgensen, Associate Resource Ecologist, Colorado Desert District, California Department of Parks and Recreation
- Seymour D. Van Gundy, Dean Emeritus, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, UCR
- Edna Rey-Vizgirdas, Botanist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Boise, Idaho
- Ray S. Vizgirdas, Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Boise, Idaho
Contact Information
Linda Coco
(951) 827-5804
sciences@ucx.ucr.edu
