Coursework

Steps to becoming an Oregon Master Naturalist - Coursework

Certification in the Oregon Master Naturalist Program happens in several parts. Here is the basic overview of how you can become an Oregon Master Naturalist:  

Complete the online curriculum

This curriculum is a basic overview of Oregon’s natural history and the management of its natural resources.

Complete at least one regional course

These are based upon Oregon’s 8 ecologically distinct regions, known as Ecoregions.

Complete a training in Interpretation*

If you intend to volunteer your time as an Interpreter at a park, nature center or other natural area, you must complete a 2-day course in Interpretation Techniques.

The online curriculum

This curriculum is a basic overview of Oregon’s natural history and how its natural resources are managed. You’ll receive a certificate of completion once you’ve successfully completed this step.

This curriculum is evolving. The curriculum will continue to be improved upon and more sections will be added. We invite you to revisit this curriculum over time to learn about more topics as they are developed.

Here is what is currently included in the online course:

UNIT 1: Oregon’s Natural and Cultural History

Chapter 1 – Location, location, location: How Ecoregions can help us understand Oregon’s natural diversity

Chapter 2 – Oregon's Foundation: Earth Processes and Geology

Chapter 3 - Fundamentals of Ecology and Wildlife Management

UNIT 2: Managing Oregon’s Landscape

Chapter 1 – Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Ecology and Management in Oregon’s Forests

Chapter 2 – Rangelands: An introduction to Oregon’s wild open spaces

UNIT 3: Oregon Watersheds

Chapter 1 – An introduction to Watersheds in Oregon

To learn more about this online course, visit http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/workforce/oregon-master-naturalist-online/. This course is offered through Oregon State University's Professional and Non-credit Education program.

Ecoregion Courses

The online curriculum is only one way you can learn about Oregon’s natural history.

As an Oregon Master Naturalist, it is important that you explore your environment and experience the natural surroundings in a hands-on way. To acheive certification, complete at least one course based upon Oregon’s 8 ecoregions, as defined by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Conservation Strategy. Ecoregions are ecologically distinct regions defined by climate, geology, and the plants and animals that occupy them.

A course is a “specialization” in one or more ecoregion. The courses are taught in person at locations within an ecoregion and cover various topics in more depth than we can devote in the online curriculum.

We are already offering classes for the following Ecoregion Specialization:

Oregon Coast Specialization - classes occur at various times throughout the year. Click here to learn more about these classes

Willamette Valley Specialization - a planning committee has been formed and we are exploring a series of classes that will be developed over the coming months

East Cascades Specialization - a planning committee has been formed and we are exploring a series of classes that will be developed over the coming months

In time, specializations will be created for the Klamath-Siskiyou, Columbia Plateau, Blue Mountains, and Northern Basin and Range Ecoregions. Some combining of regions is possible.

Volunteer training courses

If you intend to volunteer your time as an Interpreter at a park, nature center or other natural area, you must complete a 2-day course in Interpretation Techniques.

You may subsitute this training for another training approved by the Oregon Master Naturalist Program. Contact the Jason O'Brien at Jason.OBrien@oregonstate.edu for more information.

*If you are volunteering in any other capacity (click here for volunteering details), you DO NOT have to take this training, although it is open to any Master Naturalist Participant who is interested.