CNS: Conservation Technology

Browse Courses in the Course Catalog

The courses listed below are part of Hawkeye's course catalog. The course cost is subject to change, and the listing does not confirm that the course is currently available. To see currently available courses and sections, visit the course search.

If you plan to transfer courses back to your current college or university, make sure the courses you want to take at Hawkeye will transfer. To confirm, meet with your advisor at your current school or, if you're attending the University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, or Iowa State University, visit www.TransferinIowa.org.

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CNS-104 Outdoor Recreation II

1 credits—This course provides an introduction into basic outdoor recreation certifications. The course will provide a way for students to learn about boating safety, first aid, and CPR and gain certification necessary for employment. The course will provide background in the principles of Leave No Trace which are essential for wilderness camping. Additionally, the course will provide an examination of the Fish Iowa curriculum for students to share with others as they progress in their careers.

Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of D- in RDG-038.

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $334.00

CNS-107 Outdoor Recreation Techniques

1 credits—This course provides an introduction into basic outdoor recreation techniques commonly utilized by naturalists and conservation professionals to help citizens gain an appreciation of their environment. Recreational techniques will include activities such as canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and backpacking.

Lab Hours: 32

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $334.00

CNS-108 Wildlife Identification

3 credits—This course will provide information to assist in the identification of common wildlife of Iowa. Wildlife will be identified not only by physical characteristics, but by many other characteristics. Vertebrates, insects, and macroinvertebrates will be covered. Major groups of vertebrates including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians will be studied.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $767.00

CNS-109 Wildlife Ecology

3 credits—This course focuses on the application of wildlife ecology and management techniques. It studies censuring, capture and marking of wildlife. The course includes habitat evaluation, habitat restoration, Iowa game laws, life history studies and the application of wildlife management principles as they relate to important ecological and recreational resources.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of D- in CNS-121.

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $702.00

CNS-110 Equipment Operation and Safety

2 credits—Equipment Operation and Safety focuses on the operation, maintenance, personal protective equipment, and safety of equipment used in the natural resources field. Labs include the use of equipment ranging from small engines to equipment used for prairie restoration, timber stand improvement, aquatic management, and park management.

Lecture Hours: 16 Lab Hours: 32

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $493.00

CNS-121 Environmental Conservation

3 credits—Environmental Conservation is a course that enables students to learn about their environment. Students study about natural ecosystems, interactions within ecosystems, ecological principles and their application, the impact our increasing population has on the environment, the importance and components of a sustainable agriculture, and the environmental issues facing today's world.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $722.00

CNS-134 Wildlife Management

4 credits—This course will provide a foundation in the dynamics of wildlife conservation and management. This course relates the biological concepts of wildlife populations, habitat management, management goals and applications geared toward various forms of wildlife.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of D- in CNS-121.

Co-requisite(s): CNS-109

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $1,011.00

CNS-136 Aquatic Management

3 credits—This course introduces aquatic conservation and management. Basic background on aquatic environments, the ecology of fish, and the characteristics of humans who utilize aquatic resources or indirectly interact with them through land- and water-use activities will be covered.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of D- in CNS-121.

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $837.00

CNS-138 Woodland Management

3 credits—This course will provide an introduction to woodland management from an ecological management perspective. Management of small properties will be emphasized.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $782.00

CNS-143 Fire Management

3 credits—This course focuses on prescribed burns as a tool in ecosystem management. The use of fire to meet resource management objectives requires definitive and quantified knowledge of physical, biological, and ecological effects of fire on the ecosystem involved. Students will be trained in conducting prescribed burns and will participate as burn crew members.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): CNS-121

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $757.00

CNS-180 Principles of Interpretation

2 credits—This course covers the history, objectives, forms, and techniques of interpretation in the settings of county, state, national parks, and zoos. The course will explore the principles of effective communication as they apply to natural resource fields. Conceptual principles for planning interpretive programs and use of effective communication in multi-media delivery systems in outreach campaigns to manage and conserve natural resources are discussed. This course helps students gain the technical competencies of interpretation professionals by presenting and observing nature walks, giving public presentations, creating displays, writing news releases, and taking photographs as interpretative exercises. Students will have the opportunity to complete the National Certified Interpretative Guide exam.

Lecture Hours: 16 Lab Hours: 32

Pre/Co-requisite(s): A minimum grade of D- in CNS-121.

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $668.00

CNS-200 Conservation Biology

3 credits—Conservation Biology draws together scientists and environmentalists in basic and applied studies of biodiversity. The course will examine the nature of this emerging field, and will survey basic principles of ecology with emphasis on the ecosystem concept and its central role in conservation management. The course will examine biodiversity in detail, evaluate the threats to biodiversity, and examine the processes of extinction that are leading to a biodiversity crisis. Students will be active participants in current conservation projects and will conduct studies of the biological diversity of their community.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of D- in CNS-121.

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $777.00

CNS-204 Native Vegetation

3 credits—This course provides an introduction to botany, landforms of Iowa, and native plant communities. Emphasis will be on the identification of native plants and differentiation from exotic weed species.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $752.00

CNS-205 Advanced Outdoor Recreation Techniques

1 credits—This course provides a wilderness experience to utilize advanced outdoor recreation techniques during an intense time period (over Labor Day weekend or the equivalent). Techniques utilized include hiking, backpacking, canoeing or kayaking, low impact camping, and others. This wilderness encounter is at a remote location such as the Boundary Waters, Isle Royale, etc. The focus of this experience is to gain leadership skills to guide groups of citizens on basic outdoor recreation adventures to increase their appreciation of their environment such as is done by naturalists and conservation groups by following the 18 points set by the Wilderness Education Association and Leave No Trace Principles. This course can be repeated with different content for credit.

Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): CNS-107

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $404.00

CNS-228 Natural Areas Management

3 credits—This course provides a background in the restoration of native ecosystems. Restoration practices from site analysis, seed and plant selection, and planting techniques; to management by fire, mowing, and weed control are covered. Students will have practical experiences in the reconstruction and management of various ecosystems.

Lecture Hours: 16 Lab Hours: 64

Course Type: Technical

2025–2026 Course Cost: $922.00