Texas rangeland, woodland, wetland, and aquatic ecosystems provide the citizens of Texas with a multitude of benefits. These benefits include income, water, recreation, wildlife habitat, and scenic beauty. The population of Texas grew over 15% from 2010 to 2020 to approximately 29 million. This population increase has impacted several key regions in the state, e.g., suburban areas and the Hill Country. However, this rapid population growth and environmental change threaten resilience and sustainability of these vital ecosystems. Educating ecosystem managers skilled in making decisions that promote sustainability and resilience is a primary goal of the faculty and staff of the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management (RWFM). The RWFM curriculum provides graduates with the necessary skills and integrates knowledge from several science disciplines. The synergy that arises from the integration of biological, physical, and social sciences in RWFM gives rise to novel real-­‐world solutions suitable for uncertainty and unprecedented change. The RWFM curriculum is not entrenched in any one discipline or any single ecosystem. It equips students with the breadth and depth of knowledge that is reflective of the diversity in the ecosystems in which we live and the issues we face.

Natural Resources Management and Policy Track

Environmental issues are complex. They require a broad range of competencies to be successfully addressed. The Natural Resource 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. Students in the Natural Resource Management and Policy track gain knowledge and skills from courses in the natural and social sciences to evaluate environmental and conservation issues with consideration of varied stakeholder interests, to understand different perspectives, and to work effectively with others to find solutions to environmental challenges domestically and internationally. These critical skills are taught in the classroom and through field experiences that will enable students to envision a desired environmental or conservation outcome, and then design a plan and identify the steps needed to bring the vision to fruition. The Natural Resource Management and Policy track prepares students for a variety of jobs in conservation, environmental management, and policy, with an emphasis on positions that require strong interpersonal skills, leadership, and collaboration with people of diverse insights, experiences, and opinions. These skills are transferable to a broad range of conservation and environmental management employment opportunities in areas such as outdoor education, park and protected area management, environmental planning and consultation, and non-profit organizations.