Rangeland Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following locations:
- Corvallis
- Ecampus
- LaGrande
Rangeland sciences is about the study and sustainable management of rangelands across a variety of biomes, from arid deserts, to mesic grasslands, to tropical savannahs. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach to provide advanced scientific knowledge regarding multiple ecological processes and social drivers influencing rangeland ecosystems around the globe. Students gain the skills and knowledge needed to deeply understand and effectively manage rangelands for improved productivity and enhanced ecosystem resilience. The end goal is that students graduating from the program will be able to integrate contemporary rangeland ecology and management principles into a systems-based decision-making framework that promotes ecological resilience, sustainable societies, and thriving economies in socioecological rangeland ecosystems.
Major Code: 292
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Develop a vegetation monitoring plan, including sampling design, methods, analysis and interpretation, to meet land management objectives.
- Interpret a site evaluation using quantitative data and ecological principles to predict the effects of management actions on ecological processes.
- Calculate available forage and develop a grazing management plan that balances available forage with livestock and wildlife demand while meeting management objectives including delivery of ecological services.
- Formulate action plans to address complex natural resource challenges through the application of professional communication skills, consensus-building and facilitation of stakeholder participation.
- Evaluate habitat selection by animals throughout life history stages and season based on resource availability.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| Select one of the following biology series: | 15 | |
| Series 1 | ||
| +*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION | ||
| Series 2 | ||
| +*INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I and *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II and *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III | ||
| CH 121 & CH 122 & CH 123 | +GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 15 |
| MTH 112Z | +*PRECALCULUS II: TRIGONOMETRY | 4 |
| ST 243Z | +ELEMENTARY STATISTICS I | 4 |
| or ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | |
| WR 227Z | +*TECHNICAL WRITING | 3-4 |
| or WR 362 | +*SCIENCE WRITING | |
| GEOG 102 | +*DYNAMIC PLANET | 4 |
| GEOG 360 | GISCIENCE I: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THEORY | 3-4 |
| or FW 303 | SURVEY OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN NATURAL RESOURCE | |
| or GEOG 201 | +*FOUNDATIONS OF GEOSPATIAL SCIENCE AND GIS | |
| BI 370 | ECOLOGY | 3 |
| AG 311 | +*INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE AND SUBSISTENCE | 3 |
| or ENSC 333/GEOG 333 | +*ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | |
| or FW 340 | +*POWER AND JUSTICE IN U.S. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | |
| or SUS 331 | +*SUSTAINABILITY, JUSTICE, AND ENGAGEMENT | |
| Rangeland Science Base Program | ||
| Fundamentals of Rangeland Ecology | ||
| RNG 307 | +LAND STEWARDSHIP CAREER SKILLS & BUILDING 1 | 3 |
| or LEAD 242 | +PERSONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | |
| RNG 341 | PRINCIPLES OF RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| RNG 351 | ECOLOGY OF GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS | 3 |
| RNG 352 | ECOLOGY OF SHRUBLAND ECOSYSTEMS | 3 |
| RNG 421 | RANGELAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| RNG 441 | VEGETATION MONITORING AND ANALYSIS | 4 |
| RNG 442 | RANGELAND-ANIMAL RELATIONS | 4 |
| RNG 455 | RIPARIAN ECOHYDROLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| RNG 491 | ^RANGELAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING - PRINCIPLES AND PROCESSES | 4 |
| Plants | ||
| BOT 321 | PLANT SYSTEMATICS | 4 |
| BOT 331 | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| RNG 353 | WILDLAND PLANT IDENTIFICATION | 4 |
| Soil | ||
| SOIL 205 & SOIL 206 | SOIL SCIENCE and +*SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | 4 |
| or CSS 205 | +*SOIL SCIENCE | |
| SOIL 366 | ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS | 3-4 |
| or SOIL 466 | SOIL MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION | |
| Human Dimensions | ||
| ECON 201Z | +*PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS | 4 |
| or AEC 250 | +*INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | |
| FW 340 | +*POWER AND JUSTICE IN U.S. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| or AG 201 | +*INDIGENOUS ECOSYSTEM SCIENCES IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGIONS | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| *NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| *ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| Animals | ||
| ANS 313 | APPLIED ANIMAL NUTRITION: FEEDS AND RATION FORMULATION | 3-4 |
| or ANS 311 | PRINCIPLES OF ANIMAL NUTRITION | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| SHEEP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS | ||
| BEEF PRODUCTION SYSTEMS | ||
| LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION ON PASTURE | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO GRAZING ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| Related Resource Management | ||
| Select 14 credits from the following courses: | 14 | |
| FORAGE PRODUCTION | ||
| WEED MANAGEMENT | ||
| WILDLAND FIRE ECOLOGY | ||
| +INTRODUCTION TO FORESTRY | ||
| +TOPICS IN WILDLAND FIRE | ||
| WILDLAND FIRE SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION | ||
| INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | ||
| WETLANDS AND RIPARIAN ECOLOGY | ||
| HABITAT ANALYSIS 1: HABITAT USE AND MOVEMENT | ||
| HABITAT ANALYSIS 2: ABUNDANCE, OCCUPANCY AND DEMOGRAPHY | ||
| OUTDOOR RECREATION MANAGEMENT ON PUBLIC LANDS | ||
| Remaining Core Ed and Electives | 39-45 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
RNG 307 is the preferred Core Education Beyond OSU I and II course for the major
Major Code: 292
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CH 121 | +GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| MTH 111Z | +*PRECALCULUS I: FUNCTIONS | 4 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| CH 122 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| MTH 112Z | +*PRECALCULUS II: TRIGONOMETRY | 4 |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CH 123 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| ECON 201Z or AEC 250 | +*PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS or +*INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | 4 |
| GEOG 102 | +*DYNAMIC PLANET | 4 |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BI 221Z or BI 204 | +*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS or +*INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | 5 |
| RNG 341 | PRINCIPLES OF RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| ST 243Z or ST 351 | +ELEMENTARY STATISTICS I or INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Soils Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| BI 222Z or BI 205 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS or *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II | 5 |
| BOT 331 | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| WR 362 or WR 227Z | +*SCIENCE WRITING or +*TECHNICAL WRITING | 3-4 |
| Related Resource Management | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANS 313 or ANS 311 | APPLIED ANIMAL NUTRITION: FEEDS AND RATION FORMULATION or PRINCIPLES OF ANIMAL NUTRITION | 3-4 |
| BI 223Z or BI 206 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION or *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III | 5 |
| BOT 321 | PLANT SYSTEMATICS | 4 |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| RNG 351 | ECOLOGY OF GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS | 3 |
| FW 340 or AG 201 | +*POWER AND JUSTICE IN U.S. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT or +*INDIGENOUS ECOSYSTEM SCIENCES IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGIONS | 3 |
| Animals Course | 3-4 | |
| Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| RNG 307 or LEAD 242 | +LAND STEWARDSHIP CAREER SKILLS & BUILDING or +PERSONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| RNG 352 | ECOLOGY OF SHRUBLAND ECOSYSTEMS | 3 |
| RNG 442 | RANGELAND-ANIMAL RELATIONS | 4 |
| Related Resource Management | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| BI 370 | ECOLOGY | 3 |
| RNG 353 | WILDLAND PLANT IDENTIFICATION | 4 |
| Human Dimensions | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| RNG 441 | VEGETATION MONITORING AND ANALYSIS | 4 |
| Related Resource Management | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| GEOG 360 | GISCIENCE I: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THEORY or +*FOUNDATIONS OF GEOSPATIAL SCIENCE AND GIS or SURVEY OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN NATURAL RESOURCE | 3-4 |
| RNG 455 | RIPARIAN ECOHYDROLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| RNG 491 | ^RANGELAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING - PRINCIPLES AND PROCESSES | 4 |
| Related Resource Management | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| AG 311 | +*INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE AND SUBSISTENCE or +*ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE or +*POWER AND JUSTICE IN U.S. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT or +*SUSTAINABILITY, JUSTICE, AND ENGAGEMENT | 3 |
| RNG 421 | RANGELAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| SOIL 366 or SOIL 466 | ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS or SOIL MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION | 3-4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course