2024-2025

Natural Resources Law Enforcement, Minor

Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Natural Resource Law Enforcement Minor is designed for students interested in pursuing law enforcement careers with federal or state land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, municipal parks, state parks, or state environmental quality departments.

  • A minor is earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree.

    To receive a minor (18 - 24 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. At least 12 units of the minor must be unique to that minor and not applied to any other minor.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

No more than fifty percent of the units used to satisfy minor requirements may be used to satisfy major requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 18
Major GPA 2.0
Highest Mathematics Required STA 270

Purpose Statement

The Natural Resource Law Enforcement Minor is designed for students interested in pursuing law enforcement careers with federal or state land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, municipal parks, state parks, or state environmental quality departments. Students completing this minor will be prepared to make critical medical decisions and provide emergency care in remote settings using wilderness first responder training, understand park operations and resource protection regulations, analyze environmental laws for consumptive/non-consumptive plant/wildlife use, apply criminal law principles to park protection, and acquire proficiency in law enforcement tactics including firearms, control techniques, and emergency vehicle operations.

Students can pursue employment in numerous legal and law enforcement professions including Law Enforcement Park Ranger, Police Officer, Game Warden, etc. With continued education, training, and experience students can become supervisors, Chief Rangers and Superintendents of National Parks, and other Natural Resource and Law Enforcement agencies.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Make critical decisions related to injury and illness prevention, assessment, treatment, and evacuation of patient(s), through the application of wilderness first responder training, in response to medical and outdoor emergencies, while in wilderness and other remote backcountry settings.
  • Articulate the functions of park operations, management, and protecting the United States in terms of its historical roots, structure, and contemporary issues.
  • Analyze and evaluate Federal regulations protecting America’s natural resources.
  • Examine the evolution of environmental laws regulating the consumptive and non-consumptive uses of plants, wildlife, and fish.
  • Apply the basic precepts of criminal law, authority, and jurisdiction in the protection of state and national parks.
  • Acquire knowledge, skills, and abilities in law enforcement tactics (e.g., firearms, physical control techniques, emergency vehicle operations).

Minor Requirements

  • Students enrolled in this minor may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.