Rangeland Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
Also available at LaGrande and via Ecampus.
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
- 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.
Departmental requirements may be utilized to satisfy baccalaureate core and non-departmental minor requirements.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Baccalaureate Core 1 | ||
Skills Courses | ||
Fitness | ||
*LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH | ||
*LIFETIME FITNESS (or PAC course) | ||
Mathematics | ||
Met with Rangeland Sciences General Sciences, Math and Statistics | ||
Speech | ||
*PUBLIC SPEAKING | ||
or COMM 114 | *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE | |
or COMM 218 | *INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | |
Writing I | ||
*ENGLISH COMPOSITION (Must be taken in first 45 credits) | ||
Writing II | ||
*TECHNICAL WRITING | ||
Perspective Courses 2 | ||
Biological Science (Lecture/Lab) | ||
Cultural Diversity (CD) | ||
Literature and the Arts (LA) | ||
Physical Science (Lecture/Lab or Lab) | ||
Social Processes and Institutions (SPI) | ||
Western Culture (WC) | ||
Difference, Power, and Discrimination Courses (DPD) | ||
Synthesis Courses 3 | ||
Contemporary Global Issues (CGI) | ||
Science, Technology, and Society (STS) | ||
Writing Intensive Course (WIC) | ||
Select one course from the following: | ||
^WRITING IN AGRICULTURE | ||
^ETHICAL ISSUES IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE | ||
^ENVIRONMENTAL CASE STUDIES | ||
^WILDLIFE IN AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS | ||
Rangeland Science Base Program | ||
Fundamentals of Rangeland Ecology | ||
RNG 121 | *INTRODUCTION TO WILDLAND ECOLOGY | 4 |
RNG 341 | PRINCIPLES OF RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | 3 |
RNG 351 | ECOLOGY OF GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS | 3 |
RNG 352 | ECOLOGY OF SHRUBLAND ECOSYSTEMS | 3 |
Methods and Management | ||
RNG 421 | RANGELAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT | 4 |
RNG 441 | VEGETATION MONITORING AND ANALYSIS | 4 |
RNG 442 | RANGELAND-ANIMAL RELATIONS | 4 |
RNG 490 | RANGELAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING | 4 |
Plants | ||
BOT 331 | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
BOT 341 | PLANT ECOLOGY | 4 |
RNG 353 | WILDLAND PLANT IDENTIFICATION | 4 |
Soil | ||
Select one of the following options: | 4 | |
SOIL SCIENCE and *SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | ||
*SOIL SCIENCE | ||
Select one course from the following: | ||
ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS | ||
SOIL MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION | ||
Water | ||
RNG 355 | DESERT WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | 4 |
RNG 455 | RIPARIAN ECOHYDROLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | 4 |
Socio-Economic | ||
Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
*NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
*ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
Select one course from the following: | 4 | |
*RURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY | ||
RURAL SOCIOLOGY | ||
*ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY | ||
*SOCIETY AND NATURAL RESOURCES | ||
Animals | ||
ANS 313 | APPLIED ANIMAL NUTRITION: FEEDS AND RATION FORMULATION | 4 |
Select one course from the following: | ||
SHEEP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS | ||
BEEF PRODUCTION SYSTEMS | ||
GRAZING LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION | ||
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION ON PASTURE | ||
Other Animals | ||
FW 255 | FIELD SAMPLING OF FISH AND WILDLIFE | 3 |
RNG 457 | HABITAT ANALYSIS 1: HABITAT USE AND MOVEMENT | 3 |
General Science, Math and Statistics | ||
Select one of the following biology series: | 12 | |
Series 1 | ||
*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS | ||
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 241 | *CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE | 4 |
ST 201 | PRINCIPLES OF STATISTICS | 4 |
or ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | |
Additional Requirements | ||
Select a minor of your choice for a minimum of 27 credits | 27 | |
Remaining Bacc Core and Electives | 48 | |
Total Credits | 180 |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- ^
Writing Intensive Course (WIC)
- 1
Certain classes may be used to satisfy both the baccalaureate core and the rangeland ecology and management core
- 2
No more than two courses (or lecture/lab combinations) from any one department may be used by a student to satisfy the Perspectives category of the core
- 3
The two courses used to fulfill the Synthesis requirement may not be in the same department
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 | |
WR 121 | *ENGLISH COMPOSITION | 4 |
CH 121 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
HHS 231 or HHS 241 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH or *LIFETIME FITNESS | 2 |
RNG 121 | *INTRODUCTION TO WILDLAND ECOLOGY | 4 |
Credits | 15 | |
Winter | ||
COMM 111 | *PUBLIC SPEAKING or *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or *INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
CH 122 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
MTH 111 | *COLLEGE ALGEBRA | 4 |
Bacc Core: Literature & The Arts | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
AEC 250 | *INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | 3 |
CH 123 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 5 |
SOIL 205 & SOIL 206 or CSS 205 | SOIL SCIENCE or *SOIL SCIENCE | 4 |
Bacc Core: Western Culture | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
BI 221 or BI 204 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS or *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | 4 |
MTH 241 | *CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE | 4 |
RNG 341 | PRINCIPLES OF RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | 3 |
Bacc Core: Cultural Diversity | 3 | |
Minor course | 2 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Winter | ||
BI 222 or BI 205 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS or *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II | 4 |
WR 327 | *TECHNICAL WRITING | 3 |
BOT 331 | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
ST 201 or ST 351 | PRINCIPLES OF STATISTICS or INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
BI 223 or BI 206 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS or *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III | 4 |
BOT 341 | PLANT ECOLOGY | 4 |
RNG 353 | WILDLAND PLANT IDENTIFICATION | 4 |
Bacc Core: DPD | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
AEC 351 | *NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS AND POLICY or *ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | 3 |
FW 251 | PRINCIPLES OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION | 3 |
RNG 441 | VEGETATION MONITORING AND ANALYSIS | 4 |
Animals Course | 4 | |
Credits | 14 | |
Winter | ||
RNG 352 | ECOLOGY OF SHRUBLAND ECOSYSTEMS | 3 |
RNG 442 | RANGELAND-ANIMAL RELATIONS | 4 |
SOIL 366 | ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS | 3 |
Socio-Economic Course | 4 | |
Minor course | 2 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
ANS 313 | APPLIED ANIMAL NUTRITION: FEEDS AND RATION FORMULATION | 4 |
RNG 351 | ECOLOGY OF GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS | 3 |
RNG 355 | DESERT WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | 4 |
Bacc Core: STS | 4 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
RNG 421 | RANGELAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT | 4 |
RNG 455 | RIPARIAN ECOHYDROLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | 4 |
RNG 457 | HABITAT ANALYSIS 1: HABITAT USE AND MOVEMENT | 3 |
Minor course | 3 | |
Credits | 14 | |
Winter | ||
AG 421 | ^WRITING IN AGRICULTURE or ^ETHICAL ISSUES IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE or ^WILDLIFE IN AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS | 3 |
Minor courses | 9 | |
Electives | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
RNG 490 | RANGELAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING | 4 |
Minor courses | 11 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Total Credits | 180 |