<h1>
	Stewardship Ecologist Certificate</h1>
<p>
	The purpose of the stewardship ecologist certificate is to develop proficiency in vocational and occupational skills in stewardship ecology &ndash; skills required for the application of scientific and ethical principles in the conduct of environmental stewardship. It is designed to meet the need for stewardship ecologists and related positions with employers and service agencies such as natural areas conservancy organizations, departments of natural resources, local governments, planning agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), ecological missions, churches, and denominations. It also is designed to provide the opportunity to do advanced post-baccalaureate work in Christian environmental stewardship.</p>
<h2>
	General Requirements</h2>
<ol>
	<li>
		A baccalaureate degree program at a liberal arts college or university approved by the Institute.</li>
	<li>
		An approved major field of study at a liberal arts college or university with an average grade of B or better in the major field of study.</li>
	<li>
		An average grade of B or better for courses taken at the Institute.</li>
	<li>
		A minimum of four approved courses taken in residence at the Institute for a minimum of 360 contact hours.</li>
	<li>
		A minimum of four field courses totaling a minimum of 300 contact hours to be made up of courses from either or both the college and the Institute. (A field course is one in which 50% or more of the contact hours are spent in out-of doors situations. The remaining 50% or less of the contact hours is spent in classrooms, laboratories, government buildings, fish hatcheries, etc.)</li>
	<li>
		A minimum of one applied course with a minimum of 45 contact hours. (An applied course is one in which 40% or more of the contact hours is devoted to applications and techniques which are routinely used in occupational and vocational work.)</li>
	<li>
		A minimum of two interdisciplinary courses each with a minimum of 45 contact hours. (An interdisciplinary course is one in which no more than 40% of the contact hours is derived from subject matter from a single traditional liberal arts department of field of study. Examples of such departments and fields of study are biology, political science, chemistry, history, physics, geology, and literature.)</li>
</ol>
<h2>
	Minimum Course Requirement:</h2>
<ol>
	<li>
		One course in restoration ecology with a minimum of 90 contact hours.</li>
	<li>
		One course in conservation biology with a minimum of 90 contact hours.</li>
	<li>
		One course in plant ecology with a minimum of 90 contact hours.</li>
	<li>
		Three courses from ecology, natural history, field biology, field botany, field geology, and field courses on specific animal and plant groups, not including introductory 100-level courses, with a minimum of 270 contact hours.</li>
	<li>
		One course in environmental ethics or stewardship, with a minimum of 90 contact hours.</li>
	<li>
		One course in ecological agriculture, global development, or practical stewardship, with a minimum of 90 contact hours.</li>
	<li>
		A minimum of 4 courses and 360 contact hours following achievement of an undergraduate degree.</li>
</ol>
