Natural Resources (B.S.)

Students must complete 40 upper division credits.

Liberal Education Requirements
A minimum of 40 liberal education credits required. Students must complete the 10 goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum with the following specific liberal education courses required.
BIOL 1009 - General Biology, BIOL SCI, PEOPLE/ENV (4.0 cr)
CHEM 1001 - Introductory Chemistry, PHYS SCI (4.0 cr)
COMP 1011 - Composition I, COMMUNICAT (3.0 cr)
COMP 1013 - Composition II, COMMUNICAT (3.0 cr)
PHYS 1012 - Introductory Physics, PHYS SCI, PEOPLE/ENV (4.0 cr)
SPCH 1101 - Public Speaking, COMMUNICAT (3.0 cr)

Technology Requirement (3 cr)
CA 1010 - Introduction to Computer Technology (1.0 cr)
CA 1xxx

Natural Resources Program Requirements (33 cr)
COMM 3303 - Writing in Your Profession, LIB ED ELC (3.0 cr)
MGMT 3210 - Supervision and Leadership (3.0 cr)
NATR 1233 - Introduction to Natural Resources (3.0 cr)
NATR 1244 - Elements of Forestry (4.0 cr)
NATR 2630 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3.0 cr)
NATR 3344 - Land Use Planning (3.0 cr)
NATR 3364 - Plant Taxonomy (3.0 cr)
NATR 3374 - Ecology, BIOL SCI (4.0 cr)
NATR 3900 - Internship (1.0-4.0 cr)
NATR 3901 - Post-Internship Seminar (0.5 cr)
NATR 4652 - Seminar (1.0 cr)
SOIL 1293 - Soil Science (3.0 cr)
NATR 2899 - Pre-Internship Seminar (0.5 cr)
or  NATR 3899 - Pre-Internship Seminar (0.5 cr)

Program Sub-plans

Students are required to complete one of the following sub-plans. (Note for the Twin Cities and Morris campuses: The honors sub-plan does not meet this requirement. Honors students are required to complete one sub-plan plus the honors sub-plan. Please see an adviser if no honors sub-plan is listed for the program.)

Natural Resources Law Enforcement

(A collaborative program with Bemidji State University)
This emphasis provides integrated instruction in natural resources law enforcement. General classes in natural resources, wildlife and fisheries management, recreation, and land use planning are combined with criminal justice/law enforcement classes. After completing coursework and training in first aid and traffic law, students may attend a skills session and take the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certification examination.

Program outcomes: graduates will

• understand the role of education/law enforcement in natural resource management
• attend the peace officer's skills training academy

Emphasis Requirements (41-42 cr)
CRJS 1120 - Criminal Justice and Society (BSU), LIB ED ELC (4.0 cr)
CRJS 3304 - Police Process (BSU) (3.0 cr)
CRJS 3305 - Judicial Process (BSU), LIB ED ELC (3.0 cr)
CRJS 3320 - Juvenile Delinquency and Justice (BSU) (3.0 cr)
CRJS 3334 - Criminal Justice Planning (BSU) (3.0 cr)
CRJS 3358 - Criminal Law (BSU) (3.0 cr)
CRJS 3359 - Criminal Investigation (BSU) (3.0 cr)
CRJS 3360 - Criminal Procedure (BSU) (3.0 cr)
CRJS 4100 - Applied Ethics (BSU) (3.0 cr)
CRJS 4103 - Criminal Justice Diversity (BSU) (3.0 cr)
CRJS 4480 - Policing People (BSU) (3.0 cr)
NATR 3654 - Wildlife Ecology and Management (4.0 cr)
BIOL 2012 - General Zoology, LIB ED ELC (4.0 cr)
or  BIOL 2022 - General Botany, LIB ED ELC (3.0 cr)

Liberal Education Requirement (3 cr)
Will count towards the 40 credits required in liberal education.
MATH 1031 - College Algebra, MATH THINK (3.0 cr)
or  MATH 1150 - Elementary Statistics, MATH THINK (3.0 cr)

Open Electives
Students must take 2 to 3 credits.

Natural Resources Management

This emphasis provides an integrated approach to land use and the conservation of wildlife, fish, forest, and recreation resources. This major is especially appropriate for students seeking a broad understanding of resource management principles and environmental issues. A combination of coursework in natural resources, agriculture, and liberal education prepares students for land management positions in which a balance between environmental, economic, and social concerns is sought.

Program outcomes: graduates will

• understand ecological and management principles that apply to wildlife, fish, forest, soil, water, and recreation resources

Emphasis Requirements (26 cr)
ASM 3009 - Surveying (4.0 cr)
BIOL 2022 - General Botany, LIB ED ELC (3.0 cr)
NATR 3203 - Park and Recreation Management (3.0 cr)
NATR 3654 - Wildlife Ecology and Management (4.0 cr)
NATR 3660 - Prairie Ecosystem Management (2.0 cr)
NATR 3699 - Integrated Resource Management (3.0 cr)
SWM 3224 - Soil and Water Conservation (4.0 cr)
AGRO 1183 - Field Crops: Production Principles (3.0 cr)
or  HORT 1010 - Introduction to Horticulture (3.0 cr)

Liberal Education Requirement
Will count towards the 40 credits required in liberal education.
MATH 1031 - College Algebra, MATH THINK (3.0 cr)
or  MATH 1150 - Elementary Statistics, MATH THINK (3.0 cr)

Agriculture/Natural Resources Electives
Students must take 9 credits selected in consultation with an adviser.

Open Electives
Students must take 9 credits.

Park Management

This emphasis provides an integrated approach to park and recreation area management. A combination of natural resources, horticulture, and management courses prepare students for park and resource management positions, typically with federal/state/county/city recreation agencies. A series of wilderness management coursework is delivered collaboratively from the University of Montana School of Forestry. Flexibility in the choice of major electives allows students to build a customized program that meets their specific career goals.

Program outcomes: graduates will

• understand the interrelatedness of and techniques used to manage both visitor use and recreational resources

Emphasis Requirements (9 cr)
BIOL 2022 - General Botany, LIB ED ELC (3.0 cr)
NATR 3203 - Park and Recreation Management (3.0 cr)
NATR 3699 - Integrated Resource Management (3.0 cr)

Liberal Education Requirement (3 cr)
Will count towards the 40 credits required in liberal education.
MATH 1031 - College Algebra, MATH THINK (3.0 cr)
or  MATH 1150 - Elementary Statistics, MATH THINK (3.0 cr)

Agriculture/Natural Resources Electives
Students must take 15 credits.

Horticulture Electives
Students must take 7 credits.

Management Electives
Students must take 3 credits.

Open Electives
Students must take 10 credits.

Water Resource Management

This emphasis blends courses in natural resources with agriculture, geology, soils, fisheries management, water quality, and land use planning to provide a background focused on water resources. Watersheds studies by land cover and mapping technologies in relationship to field monitoring of lakes and streams.

Program outcomes: graduates will

• understand methods of assessing land management practices at the watershed scale and how they affect water quality
• be able to measure and use appropriate water quality parameters to assess the health of aquatic systems
• be able to recommend appropriate land/water management practices to achieve soil conservation and water quality goals

Emphasis Requirements (36 cr)
AGRO 1183 - Field Crops: Production Principles (3.0 cr)
ASM 3009 - Surveying (4.0 cr)
BIOL 2022 - General Botany, LIB ED ELC (3.0 cr)
BIOL 3722 - Limnology, LIB ED ELC (3.0 cr)
GEOL 1001 - Introductory Geology, PHYS SCI, PEOPLE/ENV (3.0 cr)
NATR 1663 - Principles of Fisheries Management (3.0 cr)
NATR 3376 - Wetland and Riparian Ecology and Management (3.0 cr)
NATR 3699 - Integrated Resource Management (3.0 cr)
SWM 3009 - Hydrology and Water Quality (4.0 cr)
SWM 3224 - Soil and Water Conservation (4.0 cr)
SWM 3225 - Watershed Management (3.0 cr)

Liberal Education Requirement (3 cr)
Will count towards the 40 credits required in liberal education.
MATH 1031 - College Algebra, MATH THINK (3.0 cr)
or  MATH 1150 - Elementary Statistics, MATH THINK (3.0 cr)

Open Electives
Students must take 8 credits.

Wildlife Management

This emphasis concentrates on wildlife and habitats. The major focuses on land and wetland habitats and their animal associates with some emphasis on fisheries management. Graduates fulfill the educational requirements for certification as an Associate Wildlife Biologist by The Wildlife Society. Professional relationships and student development are enhanced by a student chapter of The Wildlife Society.

Program outcomes: graduates will

• understand the interrelatedness and techniques used to manage vertebrate populations and their habitat
• understand the dynamics of wildlife populations/habitats, and appropriate monitoring techniques

A minimum GPA of 3.00 is required for graduation.

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