The Natural Resources Management and Policy track prepares students to examine environmental and conservation issues through a multi-disciplinary framework that includes political, cultural, social, economic, regulatory and ecological dimensions. Courses emphasize development of skill sets that promote strong interpersonal skills, leadership and collaboration with varied stakeholder groups. These critical skills are taught in the classroom and through field experiences, working in tandem to enhance students’ abilities to assess complex environmental issues, envision a desired conservation outcome, and design and implement a plan needed to bring visions to fruition.
The diverse coursework of this track prepares students for a variety of careers in industries such as public service, outdoor education, park and protected area management, environmental planning and consultation, and non-profit organizations.
Plan of Study Grid | First Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| AGEC 105 | Introduction to Agricultural Economics | 3 |
| ENGL 104 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
HORT 201
& HORT 202 | Horticultural Science and Practices
and Horticultural Science and Practices Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 140 | Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences | 3 |
| RWFM 101 | Exploring Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management | 1 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
| Spring |
|---|
| ECCB 205 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 3 |
| ECCB 215 | Fundamentals of Ecology--Laboratory | 1 |
ENGL 210
| Technical and Professional Writing
or Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH 142 | Business Calculus | 3 |
| 4 |
| Zoology | |
| Introductory Biology I | |
| Introductory Biology II | |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| CHEM 119 | Fundamentals of Chemistry I | 4 |
| POLS 206 | American National Government | 3 |
| RWFM 305 | Principles and Practices of Wildlife and Fisheries Management | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
| Spring |
|---|
| POLS 207 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| RWFM 202 | Concepts in Applied Plant Biology | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 1 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Summer |
|---|
| RWFM 333 | Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Field Techniques | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 3 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ECCB 318/RWFM 318 | Coupled Social and Ecological Systems | 3 |
| RWFM 308 | Fish and Wildlife Laws and Administration | 3 |
| RWFM 314 | Principles of Rangeland Management Around the World | 3 |
| RWFM 323 | Parks and Protected Area Management | 3 |
| RWFM 345 | Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management and Policy | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| AGEC 325 | Principles of Farm and Ranch Management | 3 |
| RPTS 336 | Recreation Program Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| RWFM 321 | Communicating Natural Resources | 3 |
| RWFM 322 | Community Development and Sustainability | 3 |
| STAT 302 | Statistical Methods | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ECCB 351 | Geographic Information Systems for Resource Management | 3 |
| RPTS 460/ECCB 460 | Nature, Values, and Protected Areas | 3 |
| RWFM 436 | Natural Resources Policy | 3 |
| RWFM 484 | Internship | 1 |
| 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 2 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| RWFM 375 | Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| RWFM 461 | Community-Based Conservation | 3 |
| RWFM 481 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 13 |
| | Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
Graduation requirements include a requirement for 3 hours of International and Cultural Diversity courses and 3 hours of Cultural Discourse courses. A course satisfying a Core category, a college/department requirement, or a free elective can be used to satisfy this requirement. Select in consultation with an academic advisor.
