Park Management | West Valley College

Catalog 2026-2027

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Park Management

Certificate of Achievement

The Park Management Certificate is designed for students who have a desire to pursue a career with city, county, state, and federal parks, open space, and public land management agencies. Students learn to apply skills working directly with parks, open space, public land agencies, and non-governmental environmental organizations. Possible career positions include: Open Space Technicians, Park Rangers, Park Interpreters, Park Maintenance, Game Officers, Park Managers, Park Planners, Natural Resource Managers, Cultural Resource Managers, Wildland Firefighters, and Search and Rescue Technicians.

Program Requirements (35 units)

Course NumberCourse TitleUnits
PMGT010Introduction to Park Management3 units
PMGT011Park Communications3 units
Select one:
PMGT012A
PMGT012B

Basic Outdoor Skills
Backcountry Technical Rescue

3 units
3 units
PMGT013Wildland Fire Suppression2 units
PMGT014Conservation of Our Natural Resources3 units
PMGT015ADuties of the Park Professional3 units
PMGT015BNatural and Cultural Resource Interpretation3 units
PMGT015CIntroduction to Park Maintenance3 units
PMGT017Basic Horticulture for Parks3 units
PMGT018Park Planning & Design2 units
PMGT019ATitle 22 Public Safety First Aid3 units
PMGT021Park Operations Laboratory1 unit
Select one:
GIST016A
GIST016G

Introduction to Geospatial Technology
Introduction to Remote Sensing

3 units
3 units

Total Certificate Units: 35 units

To be awarded a certificate, a student must:

  1. Complete all the program requirements.
  2. Earn a grade of “C” (or "P") or better for all required courses.

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

  • Interpret and communicate natural and cultural resource information to the public through education and outreach techniques used in parks and open space settings.
  • Demonstrate practical skills park operations, maintenance, and visitor services for employment in parks and public lands.
  • Apply ecological principles and land management practices to support habitat restoration, resource protection, and sustainable land stewardship.
  • Identify and comply with safety, risk management, and environmental regulations relevant to park and open space operations.
  • Exhibit professional work habits and effective communication skills while collaborating with diverse teams and community partners to fulfill stewardship goals
  • Analyze and utilize maps, geographic data, and inventory tools to support resource monitoring and planning decisions.
  • Integrate Indigenous perspectives and ecological knowledge in understanding land stewardship practices and the historical context of public lands.
Last Updated 6/30/26