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Resource Conservation B.S.

Laurie Yung, Associate Professor, Resource Conservation Program Director

The challenging and rapidly evolving field of environmental conservation requires broad training and the ability to integrate and communicate across disciplines. Resource Conservation is an interdepartmental undergraduate major that prepares students for the diverse opportunities that now exist in environmental conservation, natural resource management, and sustainable livelihoods and communities. Students can choose a more structured area of study in the natural sciences, such as ecology or hydrology, or emphasize emerging sub-disciplines such as wildland fire management, natural resource economics, or climate and environmental change. Students can also integrate across disciplines and focus on environmental policy and natural resources planning, wilderness studies, sustainable livelihoods and community conservation, or international conservation. Please go to the Resource Conservation website for more information on different curricular tracks within the Resource Conservation major. In addition to degree requirements listed below, students selecting the Bachelor of Science in Resource Conservation should contact their faculty advisor to approve their curriculum.

Bachelor of Science - Resource Conservation

W.A Franke College of Forestry & Conservation

Degree Specific Credits: 89-93

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Catalog Year: 2020-21

General Education Requirements

Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog.

Summary

Chemistry

4

Quantitative and Spatial Analysis

9-12

Biology

3-4

Communication

3

Physical Science

3

Ecology

3

Policy

3

Social Science

3

Ethics

3

Additional Required Courses

46

Upper-Division Writing Requirement

9

Total Hours

89-93


Chemistry

Code

Title

Hours

Complete the following course:

CHMY 121N

Introduction to General Chemistry

4

Total Hours

4

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Quantitative and Spatial Analysis

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3-4

FORS 201

Forest Biometrics

STAT 216

Introduction to Statistics

SOCI 202

Social Statistics

Complete two of the following courses:

6-8

FORS 250

Intro to GIS for Forest Mgt (highly recommended)

M 115

Probability and Linear Mathematics

M 121

College Algebra

M 122

College Trigonometry

M 151

Precalculus

M 162

Applied Calculus

Total Hours

9-12

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Biology

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3-4

BIOB 160N

Principles of Living Systems

BIOB 170N

Princpls Biological Diversity

BIOE 172N

Introductory Ecology

BIOO 105N

Introduction to Botany

Total Hours

3-4

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Communication

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

COMX 111A

Introduction to Public Speaking

3

or THTR 120A

Introduction to Acting I

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Physical Science

Code

Title

Hours

Complete the following course:

NRSM 210N

Soils, Water and Climate

3

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Ecology

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

BIOE 370

General Ecology

BIOE 447

Ecosystem Ecology

FORS 330

Forest Ecology

FORS 333

Fire Ecology

NRSM 462

Rangeland Ecology

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Policy

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

NRSM 370S

Wildland Conservation Policy/Governance

NRSM 422

Nat Res Policy/Administration

WILD 410

Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics

NRSM 427

Advanced Water Policy

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Social Science

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

NRSM 326

Climate and Society

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

NRSM 424

Community Forestry & Conservtn

NRSM 475

Environment & Development

PTRM 300

Recreation Behavior

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Ethics

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

NRSM 349E

Climate Change Ethics/Policy

3

or NRSM 389E

Ethics and Sustainability

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Additional Required Courses

Rule: Must take at least 36 traditional letter-graded credits from the College of Forestry and Conservation (NRSM, WILD, FORS, PTRM, GPHY, ERTH 303N, or BIOE 447)

Note: In addition to the above requirements, Resource Conservation students are also required to take at least 10 additional credits in their area of emphasis. Students can choose courses from the following prefixes: BIOO, BIOE, CHMY, ENSC, FORS, GEOS, M, NRSM, PHSX, and WILD. Alternatively, students can take two semesters of a foreign language (or otherwise demonstrate foreign language proficiency).

All students must take at least 49 approved credits in the major.

Students double majoring with Resource Conservation and Ecological Restoration, Forestry, Wildlife Biology, and Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management must take an additional 9.0 credits in FORS, NRSM, PTRM, and WILD in addition to courses required by either of their majors. These additional 9.0 credits will be relevant to the student s track/emphasis with the major.

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Experiential Learning Requirement

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

BIOE 342

Field Ecology

BIOE 400

Aquatic Microbial Ecology

BIOE 416

Alpine Ecology

BIOE 439

Stream Ecology

BIOE 440

Conservation Ecology

BIOE 451

Landscape Ecology

BIOE 453

Lake Ecology

BIOE 458

Forest and Fire Ecology

ENST 427

Social Issues: The Mekong Delta

ENST 437

Climate Change: Mekong Delta

FORS 130

Intro Forestry Field Skills

FORS 440

Forest Stand Management

GPHY 385

Field Techniques

NRSM 115

First Year Seminar in Field Studies in Conservation

NRSM 273

Wilderness/Civ Field Stds

NRSM 298

Internship

NRSM 345

Watershed Dynamics

NRSM 398

Internship

NRSM 495

Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum

NRSM 498

Internship

NRSM 499

Senior Thesis

PTRM 150

First Year Seminar in Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management

PTRM 345X

Sustaining Human Soc & Nat Env

PTRM 418

Winter Wilderness Field Studies

PTRM 484

PTRM Field Measurement Tech

WILD 374

Hunter Check Station

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Note: The following courses count for the entire upper-division writing requirement (only one course is required): PTRM 451, PTRM 482.

Code

Title

Hours

Complete three of the following courses:

9

BIOE 428

Freshwater Ecology

BIOE 447

Ecosystem Ecology

FORS 330

Forest Ecology

FORS 341

Timber Harvesting & Roads

FORS 347

Multiple Resource Silviculture

FORS 349

Practice of Silviculture

FORS 440

Forest Stand Management

FORS 499

Senior Thesis

NRSM 326

Climate and Society

NASX 403

Contmp Tribal Resource Issues

NRSM 349E

Climate Change Ethics/Policy

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

NRSM 389E

Ethics and Sustainability

NRSM 462

Rangeland Ecology

NRSM 465

Foundations of Restoration Ecology

NRSM 475

Environment & Development

NRSM 495

Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum

NRSM 499

Senior Thesis

PTRM 300

Recreation Behavior

WILD 410

Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics

Total Hours

9

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Tracks

These are advising tracks only and not official programs as recognized by the University of Montana (UM) or the Montana University System. This information will not appear on your UM transcript, diploma, university lists, student data system, or university publication. You do not fill out a major change for a track.

Climate & Environmental Change Track

Note: More detailed information about the Clima & Environmental Change track can be found on our website: www.cfc.umt.edu/rc. Students in this track typically complete the Climate Change Minor (www.cfc.umt.edu/ccs). Please talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.

Code

Title

Hours

CCS 103X

Intro Climate Change:Sci & Soc

3

CCS 352

Climate Field Studies

3

CCS 398

Clmt Change Internship/SERV

2-4

COMX 349

Communication, Consumption, and Climate

3

ECNS 445

Int Env Econ & Clim Change

3

FORS 232

Forest Insects & Diseases

2

FORS 333

Fire Ecology

3

GPHY 335

Water Policy

3

NRSM 349E

Climate Change Ethics/Policy

3

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

3

NRSM 385

Watershed Hydrology

3

NRSM 408

Global Cycles and Climate

3

NRSM 415

Environmental Soil Science

3

NRSM 418

Ecosystem Climatology

3

NRSM 426

Climate and Society

3

PSCI 324

Climate Policies: China & U.S.

3

Total Hours

46-48

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Ecology of Terrestrial Ecosystems Track

Note: Suggested courses for Ecology of Terrestrial Ecosystems. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.

Code

Title

Hours

BIOB 170N

Princpls Biological Diversity

3

BIOB 272

Genetics and Evolution

4

BIOB 480

Conservation Genetics

3

BIOE 370

General Ecology

3

BIOE 428

Freshwater Ecology

5

BIOE 449

Plant Biogeography

3

BIOO 320

General Botany

5

BIOO 335

Rocky Mountain Flora

3

BIOO 433

Plant Physiology

3

CHMY 123

Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry

4

ECNS 201S

Principles of Microeconomics

3

FORS 240

Tree Biology

2

FORS 241N

Dendrology

3

FORS 330

Forest Ecology

3

FORS 347

Multiple Resource Silviculture

3

GEO 101N

Introduction to Physical Geology

3

M 162

Applied Calculus

4

NRSM 265

Elements of Ecological Restoration

3

NRSM 385

Watershed Hydrology

3

NRSM 408

Global Cycles and Climate

3

NRSM 415

Environmental Soil Science

3

NRSM 418

Ecosystem Climatology

3

NRSM 462

Rangeland Ecology

3

PHSX 205N

College Physics I

4

PHSX 206N

College Physics I Laboratory

1

STAT 216

Introduction to Statistics

4

WILD 275

Wildlife Conservation

2

Total Hours

86

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Environmental Policy & Resources Planning Track

Note: Suggested courses in Environmental Policy and Resources Planning. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.

Code

Title

Hours

ECNS 201S

Principles of Microeconomics

3

ECNS 202S

Principles of Macroeconomics

3

ECNS 433

Economics of the Environment

3

ENST 367

Environmental Politics & Policies

3

ENST 382

Environmental Law

3

FORS 320

Forest Environmental Economics

3

GPHY 335

Water Policy

3

GPHY 465

Planning Principles & Processes

3

GPHY 466

Environmental Planning

3

NRSM 121S

Nature of Montana

3

NRSM 349E

Climate Change Ethics/Policy

3

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

3

NRSM 389E

Ethics and Sustainability

3

NRSM 422

Nat Res Policy/Administration

3

NRSM 424

Community Forestry & Conservtn

3

NRSM 425

Nat Res & Envir Economics

3

PSCI 210S

Intro to American Government

3

PSCI 332

Global Environmental Pol.

3

PSCI 361

Public Administration

3

PSCI 461

Administrative Law

3

WILD 275

Wildlife Conservation

2

WILD 410

Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics

3

Total Hours

65

Minimum Required Grade: C-


International Conservation Track

Note: Students in this track typically complete the International Development Studies Minor (www.cas.umt.edu/IDS). More detailed information about the International Conservation track can be found on our website: www.cfc.umt.edu/rc. Please talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.

Code

Title

Hours

ENST 225S

Sustainable Communities

3

ENST 396

Supervised Internship (PEAS)

10

ENST 480

Food Justice and Sustainability

3

ENST 487

Globalization, Justice & Environment

3

ENST 493

Study Abroad: Environmental Justice Latin America

3

GPHY 432

Human Role Environmental Change

3

GPHY 434

Food and Famine

3

NRSM 170

International Envir. Change

3

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

3

NRSM 424

Community Forestry & Conservtn

3

NRSM 475

Environment & Development

3

PTRM 345X

Sustaining Human Soc & Nat Env

3-6

PTRM 353

Tourism, Livelihoods and Sustainability in Mountains

3

PTRM 451

Tourism & Sustainability

3

WILD 460

Internat Wildlife Cons Issues

2

Total Hours

51-54

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Natural Resource Economics Track

Note: Suggested courses in Natural Resource Economics. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.

Code

Title

Hours

ANTY 326E

Indigenous Peoples & the Ethics of Development

3

ECNS 201S

Principles of Microeconomics

3

ECNS 202S

Principles of Macroeconomics

3

ECNS 217X

Issues in Economic Development

3

ECNS 301

Intermediate Micro with Calc

3

ECNS 302

Intermediate Macroeconomics

3

ECNS 403

Introduction to Econometrics

4

ECNS 433

Economics of the Environment

3

ECNS 445

Int Env Econ & Clim Change

3

ENST 230H

Nature and Society

3

ENST 480

Food Justice and Sustainability

3

FORS 320

Forest Environmental Economics

3

FORS 436

Project Appraisal

3

GPHY 323S

Economic Geography of Rural Areas

3

M 162

Applied Calculus

4

NRSM 121S

Nature of Montana

3

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

3

NRSM 389E

Ethics and Sustainability

3

NRSM 424

Community Forestry & Conservtn

3

NRSM 425

Nat Res & Envir Economics

3

SOCI 101S

Introduction to Sociology

3

SOCI 470

Environmental Sociology

3

SOCI 471

Gender and Global Development

3

WILD 275

Wildlife Conservation

2

Total Hours

73

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Range Management & Grassland Ecology Track

Note: Suggested courses in Range Management & Grassland Ecology. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.

Code

Title

Hours

BIOE 370

General Ecology

3

BIOE 447

Ecosystem Ecology

3

BIOE 458

Forest and Fire Ecology

3

BIOO 105N

Introduction to Botany

3

BIOO 335

Rocky Mountain Flora

3

BIOO 433

Plant Physiology

3

ECNS 201S

Principles of Microeconomics

3

FORS 230

Fire Management & Environmental Change

3

FORS 250

Intro to GIS for Forest Mgt

3

FORS 333

Fire Ecology

3

GPHY 335

Water Policy

3

NRSM 121S

Nature of Montana

3

NRSM 265

Elements of Ecological Restoration

3

NRSM 360

Rangeland Mgt (equiv 260)

3

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

3

NRSM 385

Watershed Hydrology

3

NRSM 462

Rangeland Ecology

3

WILD 275

Wildlife Conservation

2

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Sustainable Livelihoods and Community Conservation Track

Note: Suggested courses in Sustainable Livelihoods and Community Conservation. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.

Code

Title

Hours

COMX 347

Rhetoric, Nature, and Environmentalism

3

ECNS 433

Economics of the Environment

3

ENST 225S

Sustainable Communities

3

ENST 480

Food Justice and Sustainability

3

ENST 489S

Environmental Justice Issues & Solutions

3

GPHY 323S

Economic Geography of Rural Areas

3

GPHY 432

Human Role Environmental Change

3

GPHY 468

Community & Regional Analysis

3

NRSM 170

International Envir. Change

3

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

3

NRSM 424

Community Forestry & Conservtn

3

NRSM 475

Environment & Development

3

PHL 422

Environmental Philosophy

3

PTRM 451

Tourism & Sustainability

3

SOCI 220S

Race, Gender & Class

3

SOCI 270

Intro Development Sociology

3

SOCI 350

The Community

3

SOCI 443

Sociology of Poverty

3

SOCI 470

Environmental Sociology

3

SOCI 471

Gender and Global Development

3

Total Hours

60

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Water Resources Track

Note: Suggested courses in Water Resources. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with you faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.

Code

Title

Hours

BIOE 428

Freshwater Ecology

5

GEO 101N

Introduction to Physical Geology

3

GEO 102N

Introduction to Physical Geology Lab

1

GEO 420

Hydrogeology

4

GEO 421

Hydrology

3

GEO 460

Process Geomorphology

4

GPHY 335

Water Policy

3

M 172

Calculus II

4

M 171

Calculus I

4

NRSM 385

Watershed Hydrology

3

NRSM 415

Environmental Soil Science

3

NRSM 427

Advanced Water Policy

3

PHSX 205N

College Physics I

4

PHSX 206N

College Physics I Laboratory

1

PHSX 207N

College Physics II

4

PHSX 208N

College Physics II Laboratory

1

Total Hours

50

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Wilderness Studies Track

Note: To complete this track students must enroll in the Wilderness and Civilization Program. For information and an application see www.cfc.umt.edu/wc. Please talk to a faculty advisor about additional coursework in this track.

Code

Title

Hours

ARTZ 394A

Seminar- Environmental Drawing

3

LIT 280L

Ecology of Literature

3

MUSI 304A

Sound in the Natural World

3

NASX 303E

Ecological Perspectives in Native American Traditions

3

NRSM 271N

Conservation Ecology

3

NRSM 273

Wilderness/Civ Field Stds

1-3

NRSM 370S

Wildland Conservation Policy/Governance

3

NRSM 371

Wilderness Issues Lect Series

1

NRSM 373

Wilderness and Civilization

3

NRSM 398

Internship

1-6

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Wildland Fire Management Track

Note: Student in this track typically complete the Wildland Fire Sciences & Management Minor (www.cfc.umt.edu/FireSciences). Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take.

Code

Title

Hours

ECNS 201S

Principles of Microeconomics

3

ERTH 303N

Weather and Climate

3

FORS 202

Forest Mensuration

3

FORS 232

Forest Insects & Diseases

2

FORS 230

Fire Management & Environmental Change

3

FORS 241N

Dendrology

3

FORS 320

Forest Environmental Economics

3

FORS 331

Wildland Fuel Management

3

FORS 333

Fire Ecology

3

FORS 341

Timber Harvesting & Roads

3

FORS 347

Multiple Resource Silviculture

3

FORS 351

Env Remote Sensing

3

FORS 481

Forest Planning

3

FORS 495

Wildland RxFire Practicum

3

FORS 533

Use Fire Wldland Mgmt

3

GEO 101N

Introduction to Physical Geology

3

NRSM 265

Elements of Ecological Restoration

3

NRSM 385

Watershed Hydrology

3

NRSM 422

Nat Res Policy/Administration

3

PHSX 205N

College Physics I

4

PHSX 206N

College Physics I Laboratory

1

Total Hours

61

Minimum Required Grade: C-