Parks and Natural Resources
Pair Your Passion For the Outdoors With Your Career
Do you love the outdoors? Kirkwood’s Parks and Natural Resources program is perfect for anyone who has a deep concern for preserving and managing natural resources.
Students in Kirkwood’s Parks and Natural Resources program learn to maintain and build campgrounds and lake areas; identify and manage fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and nesting game birds; operate and maintain equipment; manage plant material and land; and maintain park facilities.
Parks and Natural Resources students manage a 600-acre off-campus site, a swan pond, and several prairies around campus. Kirkwood’s program is ranked sixth in the nation for the number of students graduating in natural resources.
Kirkwood offers more than $3 million in scholarships for students each year.
Students in Kirkwood's ag programs planning to transfer to Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are eligible to apply for the Leonard and Evelyn Dolezal Scholarship Program. This scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen from Linn, Clayton, Fayette and Johnson counties, and transfer students, particularly those from Kirkwood. If a student is not from one of the specified counties, they will become eligible as a Kirkwood transfer student.
Graduates of the Parks and Natural Resources program will be able to:
- Operate and maintain equipment currently used in the industry.
- Demonstrate knowledge of park and facility maintenance and construction techniques.
- Develop an appreciation for Iowa’s natural resources.
- Develop a wildlife management plan.
- Integrate GPS/GIS for surveying and map building of natural resource areas.
- Develop an understanding of the history, funding, and administration of parks at the county, state, and federal levels.
- Apply interpretive and public relation skills in the field of natural resources.
A one-hour program conference is required prior to acceptance to the program. You'll learn more about the program, specific admissions requirements, and have the opportunity to have questions answered by program faculty and staff.
Program Costs
Parks and Natural Resources
School Year: 2025–26
Program Entry Semester: Fall/Spring/Summer
| Pre-Reqs | Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring | Summer | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Hours per Semester | 0 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 18 | 15 | 0 | 65 |
| In-State Tuition | $0 | $3,757 | $3,315 | $0 | $3,978 | $3,315 | $0 | $14,365 |
| Technology Fee per Semester | $0 | $50 | $50 | $0 | $50 | $50 | $0 | $200 |
| Clinical Expenses (mileage, lodging, screenings, etc.) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Conferences/Seminars | $0 | $90 | $40 | $0 | $40 | $0 | $0 | $170 |
| Course Resources (textbooks, software, etc.) | $0 | $90 | $150 | $0 | $110 | $310 | $0 | $660 |
| Course/Section Fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $50 | $15 | $0 | $65 |
| Laptop (required devices) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Testing Fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Third Party Credentials | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $125 | $0 | $125 |
| Tool Sets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Uniforms | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $3,987 | $3,555 | $4,228 | $3,815 | $15,585 |
Costs provided are estimated and based on the following current tuition rates: $221 (In-State), $296 (Out-of-State), $400 (International).
Fees and costs are subject to change. To view all costs associated with attending college visit our Tuition and Costs page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conservation officer, park ranger, naturalist, park maintenance, watershed management, and more.
Actively participate in volunteer activities, parks-related organizations and on-campus clubs. Not only will you gain valuable work-related experience, but you’ll make some great industry contacts also.
Working a seasonal job at a park or in conservation is a good idea, too.
You can work in conservation law enforcement, environmental education, and with private organizations specializing in land protection and watershed management, just to name a few.
Program Requirements
To get into the Parks and Natural Resources program, you must complete the following, in addition to Kirkwood’s steps to become a student:
Explore More
Students in Kirkwood's Parks and Natural Resources program, as well as those pursuing the Parks and Natural Resources Diploma, are encouraged to join the Kirkwood chapter of the National Professional Agricultural Student Organization (PAS), a student-led organization that allows students to build and sharpen their skills so that they are ready for the workplace.
PAS is a recognized member of the National Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations (NCC-CTSO). CTSOs are co-curricular groups that help students in career and technical education programs further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events, and competitions.
Take A Closer Look
Explore Kirkwood's horticulture programs, including Golf Course and Athletic Turfgrass Management, Landscape Horticulture Studies, and Parks & Natural Resources.
“It’s never too late to finish what you’ve started or start something new. I would recommend easing into the program you’re interested in and work your educational goals into your life. Make sure that you take full advantage of all of the programs and support that Kirkwood offers.”
Casey Eiselstein,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Mission Statement
To prepare students for employment by creating a culture that promotes professionalism and equips students with basic knowledge and applied skills demanded in today's parks and natural resources workplace.
Questions?
Agricultural Sciences
1000 Washington Hall
319-398-5609
agsciences@kirkwood.edu