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Bachelors of Science
Natural Resource Major
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 The
Natural Resource Major is the most flexible of the majors offered
under the B.S. in Natural Resource Sciences. It is designed to
meet two broad objectives:
- To provide maximum opportunity
for students to develop and pursue individualized curricula
that include subject matter focus and/or breadth tailored
to individual student interests and needs, and
- To provide opportunities for
students to focus on new, different and/or emerging fields
of natural resource sciences that transcend the traditional
disciplinary lines represented by our other three majors.
The first objective is realized through flexibility in selecting approved electives in all Options available under this major, plus the maximum flexibility available under the Directed Studies Option which, if selected by students, may be designed either to focus upon a specific subject area relevant to natural resource sciences that is not represented by other, subject matter-defined options, or to impart desired breadth across a range of subjects relevant to natural resource sciences.
The second objective is realized through a remarkably diverse array of other options that allow students to specialize in a variety of:
- Sociologic aspects of natural resource sciences, through the:
Policy/Social Science Option, which focuses upon the societal and/or economic factors of paramount importance in governing how natural resources are viewed, valued, utilized and/or managed as well as the complex political context within which natural resource science and management are practiced, and policies are promulgated and enforced. This option includes opportunities for obtaining a Minor in Sociology or a Minor in Political Science and/or preparatory coursework for careers in natural resource law, law enforcement or the political arena.
- Ecological and/or Managerial aspects of natural resource sciences, through the:
Fire Science/Management Option, which focuses upon understanding and manipulating fire both as an extraordinarily important natural factor and managerial tool in forest and rangeland ecosystems.
Wetland/Aquatic Resources Option, which emphasizes understanding, managing and/or restoring riparian, wetland, stream and lake ecosystems and their component resources and resource values.
Plant Resources Option, which can focus either upon applied plant ecophysiology as a critically important discipline in understanding plant responses to environmental variation and/or land management, or upon applied plant ecology as an equally important discipline related to individual plant, plant population or plant community responses to the environment and land management.
Landscape Ecology Option, which relates to the understanding and management of and among ecosystems at broad spatial and/or temporal scales and represents a currently expanding aspect of natural resource management
Urban Ecology/Resource Management Option, which focuses upon the interaction of humans and their environment in urban settings, and how urban ecosystems and component resources may be managed.
Students pursuing this major will still obtain broad, foundational knowledge related to natural resource sciences via completing the general university/department and natural resource common core requirements for the degree. Beyond those requirements, the core course requirements for this major (as noted below) are purposely more limited in credits and more flexible in course specificity than those for the other majors.
In addition to the general university/departmental, natural resource common core and major core requirements, each student (in consultation with his/her faculty advisor) will develop an individualized curriculum of at least 15 to 23 credit hours of approved elective courses within one of the Options briefly described above. Students may select courses for each option from the lists of approved electives provided later in this section, or may identify additional, potentially suitable courses subject to approval by their advisors.
Natural Resource Major Core
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Course
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Number of Credits
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Course Description |
| Soils 201 |
3
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Soil - A Living System |
| NATRS 450 |
3
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Conservation Biology |
| NATRS 488 |
3
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Senior Thesis in Natural Resources |
| Approved Social Sci Elective |
3-4
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| Approved Ecology Elective |
3-4
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| Subtotal - NRS Core |
15-17
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Required Option
Completion of one of the following options (5-7 courses per Option, each to include at least 9 credits in 300 and/or 400 level courses).
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Option/Area
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Number of
Credits
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Course Numbers
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| Directed Studies: At least five elective courses approved by the Department |
15
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Either to focus upon a specific subject area relevant to Natural Resoure Sciences that is not represented by other, subject matter-defined options; or to impart desirable breadth across a range of subjects relevant to natural resource sciences. |
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Policy/Social Science- At least five elective courses
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15
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Approved by the Dept. (e.g., Natrs 419; AgEcon 435; RS 435, 441; Soc 424; ESRP 335, 444; PolSci 101, 316, 340, 418, 420, 430, 430, 443, 446, 448). With at least 18 hours of PolSci courses (including PolSci 101, 102, and 103), students may qualify for a Minor in Political Sciences; or: Approved by the Dept. (e.g., Natrs 419; Econ 481; AgEcon 480; RS 334, 336, 423, 435, 441; Soc 101, 301, 320, 321, 315, 331, 332, 424, 374, 415, 420, 430, 421). With at least 18 hours of Soc courses (including Soc 101 and 320), students may qualify for a Minor in Sociology. |
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Wetland/Aquatic Resources - At least five elective courses
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15
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Approved by the Dept. (e.g., Natrs 460, 461, 485, 416, 421, 419; Zool 411, 430, 310, 414, 412; BsysE 351, 352, 457). |
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Plant Resources - At least seven courses
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23
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Chem 106 and GenCB 301 are required, plus at least five elective courses approved by the Dept in the areas of either a) Applied Plant Physiology (e.g., Chem 240; Biochem 364; Bot 320, 332, 410, 417, 460; Natrs 419, 427; Micro 301; GenCB 488, 420; Crops 413; Hort 416); or b) Applied Plant Ecology (e.g., Natrs 305, 419, 459, 430, 437, 452; Bot 462, 463; Crops 305, 413). |
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Landscape Ecology - At least five elective courses
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15
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Approved by the Dept. (e.g., Natrs 460, 374, 441, 429, 426, 430, 419; Soils 474; LA 264, 425, 467; ESRP 404, 444, 486, 450; Bot 462, 463). |
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Fire Science/Management
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15
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Approved by the Dept, including Natrs 430 and 437 as required courses, plus at least 11 credits of elctives pertinent to the field (e.g., Natrs 374, 460; CE 174, 341, 401, 414, 471; ESRP 444, 486) |
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Free Electives
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4-14
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Total for Degree/Major
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120
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