Upstate Master Naturalist

To view course offerings visit the Master Naturalist program page.

Course Description:

The Master Naturalist program aims to turn out volunteer citizen scientists who can positively impact the natural resources of the state by studying underlying geology, specific inhabitants, ecology, and the impacts of humans on the landscape. The Upstate Master Naturalist Class is an outdoor program accessing some of the finest Upstate natural areas which require hiking on trails of moderate difficulty. Participants must be in good physical condition and able to hike 1-2 miles, without difficulty or assistance. 

Course Topics:

This course includes 10 main topics:

• Geology
• Mountain Ecology I
• Limnology I (streams)
• Ornithology & Entomology 
• Mountain Ecology II 
• Limnology II (reservoirs)
• Mountain Folklore
• Meadow Ecology & Ichthyology
• Old-field Succession, Piedmont Seepage, Bogs, Pteridology, Ichnology, & Scatology
• Hydrology

Course Requirements:

A course certificate will be issued upon successful completion of this course. Successful completion is attained when these requirements are met:

• Read and sign Participant Forms
• Attend the In-Person Site Visits
• Completion of the Site Surveys and Course Evaluation
• Completion of each module's Reading Assignment and Pre-Visit Activity
• Completion of the Final Exam/Knowledge Check

Technical Requirements:

To participate fully in this course, you will need:

• An active email address for the individual participating in the course.
• A desktop computer or laptop (recommended): Canvas is available on mobile devices, but some content may appear differently.
• Access to a high-speed internet connection.
• A web browser compatible with Canvas: Chrome and Firefox are recommended.
• Headphones or speakers (closed captioning also available).
• Computer skills, including Internet browsing, using email, typing, downloading files, and basic troubleshooting.

Need Help?

• If you need help accessing or registering for a course, please contact Clemson Online at onlineplus@clemson.edu.
• Our support email is monitored Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-4:30 pm EST. If you contact us in the evening or on the weekend, we will help you during the next business day.
• Please do not contact CCIT regarding CPE courses. Please reach out to Clemson Online so that we can assist you.
• Using Bulk Purchase? Please inform those you purchase seats for. They will receive an email invitation immediately upon enrollment. For more help, read about bulk enrollments in Catalog.