Naturalists

High School

If you are interested in this field, you should take a number of basic science courses, including biology, chemistry, and earth science. Botany courses and clubs are helpful, since they provide direct experience monitoring plant growth and health. Animal care experience, usually obtained through volunteer work, also is helpful. Take English courses in high school to improve your writing skills, which you will use when writing grant proposals and conducting research.

Postsecondary Training

An undergraduate degree in environmental, physical, or natural sciences is generally the minimum educational requirement for becoming a naturalist. Common college majors are biology, forestry, wildlife management, natural resource and park management, natural resources, botany, zoology, chemistry, natural history, and environmental science. Course work in economics, history, anthropology, English, international studies, and communication arts are also helpful.

Graduate education is increasingly required for employment as a naturalist, particularly for upper-level positions. A master's degree in natural science or natural resources is the minimum requirement for supervisory or administrative roles in many of the nonprofit agencies, and several positions require either a doctorate or several years of experience in the field. For positions in agencies with international sites, work abroad is necessary and can be obtained through volunteer positions such as those with the Peace Corps or in paid positions assisting in site administration and management.

Certification

Many colleges and universities offer certificate programs in environmental science, wildlife biology, wildlife conservation, environmental education, ecology, and related fields. For example, Arizona State University offers a certificate in environmental education to students who complete three of the following courses: Foundations of Environmental Education; Nature and Society: An Introduction to Environmental Studies; Urban Environmental Education; Environmental Education: A Global Perspective; Biodiversity Conservation: An Educational Inquiry; Discovering the Deserts of the Southwest; Ecology and Natural History of the Sonoran Desert; Introduction to Biomimicry; and Biomimicry: Nature's Sustainable Solutions. They also must complete several elective classes. Certificate programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education seminars, webinars, classes, and other learning opportunities are provided by professional associations (e.g., American Institute of Biological Sciences, Ecological Society of America, National Association of Environmental Professionals), colleges and universities, and for-profit online learning platforms. Contact these organizations for more information.