Center for Sonoran Desert Studies

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Naturalist Certificate Program

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Naturalist Certificate program is designed to help students better understand the ecological connections among the living residents of our region, and between the living and non-living world. The core course, Natural History of the Sonoran Desert, is required as an introduction to further studies. In addition, you must take a minimum of two courses from each of the five elective categories shown below. When an elective course is listed under more than one category, you will have to choose one for which it will be counted. The total number of required credits is 20, and in order to receive credit you must pass the accompanying test for each class.

The dates in parentheses denote when the classes are scheduled for the 2011-2012 season. Occasionally the dates may change slightly from those shown below and new classes may be added. If you plan to take the course for credit, call Sonya Norman at 520-883-3030 when you register.

Core Course

Electives

Botany

  • Cooking with Mesquite and Tepary Beans (September 10, 2011) 1 credit
  • Perfect Pruning (October 8, 2011) ½ credit
  • The Best of Baja - Whale Watching (March 1-9, 2012) 3 credits
  • Wildflower Walk (March 14 or March 17, 2012) ½ credit
  • Trees & Shrubs of the Sonoran Desert (April 7, 2012) ½ credit
  • Cholla Bud Harvest (April 14, 2012) 1 credit
  • Tree Ring Tales (June 2, 2012) ½ credit
  • Saguaro Fruit Harvest (June 23, 2012) 1 credit
  • Prickly Pear Harvest (August 11 or 19, 2012) 1 credit

Fauna

  • Zoo Keeping 101 (December 29, 2011) ½ credit
  • Sandhill Cranes, Raptors, Waterfowl (January 21 or February 4, 2012) 1 credit
  • The Best of Baja - Whale Watching (March 1-9, 2012) 3 credits
  • Hummingbirds of Southeastern Arizona (September 13 & 19, 2012) 1½ credits
  • Going Bats (July 21, 2012) ½ credit

Geology

  • Mountains, Mines & Minerals (January 28 or February 11, 2012) 1 credit
  • Geology Hike (February 18, 2012) ½ credit
  • Mineral Treasures (May 12, 2012) ½ credit
  • Land of the Hopi and Navajo (April 22-28, 2012) 3 credits
  • Death Valley: Where Wonder Reigns! (November 13-19, 2011) 3 credits

Culture

  • Cooking with Mesquite and Tepary Beans (September 10, 2011) 1 credit
  • Day of the Dead (November 2, 2011) 1 credit
  • Christmas in the Barrio (December 6, 2012) ½ credit
  • Cholla Bud Harvest (April 14, 2012) 1 credit
  • Land of the Hopi and Navajo (April 22-28, 2012) 3 credits
  • Saguaro Fruit Harvest (June 23, 2012) 1 credit
  • Prickly Pear Harvest (August 11 or 19, 2012) 1 credit