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Ecosystem Science and Restoration - Terrestrial

The major in Ecosystem Science and Restoration prepares students to understand how ecosystems work to solve pressing environmental problems or help restore degraded ecosystems. Students can select one of two options:

  • the terrestrial concentration, which focuses on the understanding and repair of terrestrial ecosystems; and

  • the aquatic concentration, which focuses on aquatic ecosystem function and watershed restoration.

Students engage in field-based learning, contribute to cutting-edge restoration or ecosystem science projects, and are challenged to apply ecological theory to research projects and restoration practice. The major requires completion of a nine-credit restoration capstone, during which students gain hands-on real-world experience planning and implementing research or restoration projects in partnership with natural resource management agencies and organizations in western Montana.

A degree in Ecosystem Science and Restoration prepares students for careers as ecologists or restoration practitioners with non-profit, private, or governmental agencies and for graduate school in ecology or natural resource management. Students who graduate with this major may qualify for the following federal civil service jobs:

  • biological technician (Series 0404),

  • ecologist (Series GS-408),

  • forester (Series G-460),

  • hydrologist (Series GS-1315) and

  • soil conservationist (Series GS-457).

More information on federal civil service requirements can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Title.

Bachelor of Science - Ecosystem Science & Restoration; Terrestrial Concentration

W.A Franke College of Forestry & Conservation

Degree Specific Credits: 93-95

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Catalog Year: 2019-2020

General Education Requirements

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

Summary

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Lower-Division Major Required Courses

6

Lower-Division Outside Major Required Courses

26-27

Upper-Division Major Required Courses

21

Upper-Division Outside Major Required Courses

3

Terrestrial Restoration Concentration Required Courses

16-17

Terrestrial Restoration Concentration Electives

9

Social Science Elective Courses

3

Upper-Division Writing Requirement

9

Total Hours

93-95


Lower-Division Major Required Courses

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

NRSM 121S

Nature of Montana

3

or NRSM 170

International Envir. Change

NRSM 265

Elements of Ecological Restoration

3

Total Hours

6

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Lower-Division Outside Major Required Courses

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

BIOB 160N

Principles of Living Systems

3

BIOB 161N

Prncpls of Living Systems Lab

1

BIOB 260

Cellular and Molecular Biology

4

BIOB 272

Genetics and Evolution

4

CHMY 121N

Introduction to General Chemistry

4

CHMY 123

Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry

4

COMX 111A

Introduction to Public Speaking

3

or THTR 120A

Introduction to Acting I

Complete one of the following courses:

3-4

STAT 216

Introduction to Statistics

FORS 201

Forest Biometrics

WILD 240

Intro to Biostatistics

Total Hours

26-27

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Upper-Division Major Required Courses

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

NRSM 344

Ecosystem Science and Restoration Capstone

5

NRSM 385

Watershed Hydrology

3

NRSM 389E

Ethics Forestry & Conservation

3

or NRSM 349E

Climate Change Ethics/Policy

NRSM 422

Nat Res Policy/Administration

3

NRSM 465

Foundations of Restoration Ecology

3

or BIOE 447

Ecosystem Ecology

NRSM 494

Ecosystem Science and Restoration Seminar

1

Complete one of the following courses:

3

NRSM 495

Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum

NRSM 498

Internship (ESR Capstone Internship Experience)

NRSM 499

Senior Thesis

Total Hours

21

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Upper-Division Outside Major Required Courses

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete the following course:

BIOE 370

General Ecology

3

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Terrestrial Restoration Concentration Required Courses

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

BIOO 105N

Introduction to Botany

3

BIOO 335

Rocky Mountain Flora

3

M 162

Applied Calculus

4

NRSM 210N

Soils, Water and Climate

3

Complete one of the following courses:

3-4

BIOE 448

Terrestrial Plant Ecology

FORS 330

Forest Ecology

NRSM 462

Rangeland Ecology

Total Hours

16-17

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Terrestrial Restoration Concentration Electives

Note: No double dipping is allowed with core courses.

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete 9 credits of the following courses:

9

BIOE 342

Field Ecology

BIOE 416

Alpine Ecology

BIOE 447

Ecosystem Ecology

BIOE 448

Terrestrial Plant Ecology

BIOE 451

Landscape Ecology

BIOE 458

Forest and Grassland Ecol

BIOO 320

General Botany

BIOO 433

Plant Physiology

FORS 202

Forest Mensuration

FORS 250

Intro to GIS for Forest Mgt

FORS 330

Forest Ecology

FORS 331

Wildland Fuel Management

FORS 333

Fire Ecology

FORS 347

Multiple Resource Silviculture

GEO 318

Climate System Dynamics

NRSM 360

Rangeland Mgt (equiv 260)

NRSM 408

Global Cycles and Climate

NRSM 415

Environmental Soil Science

NRSM 418

Ecosystem Climatology

NRSM 465

Foundations of Restoration Ecology

NRSM 462

Rangeland Ecology

WILD 470

Conserv of Wildlife Populatns

Total Hours

9

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Social Science Elective Courses

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

ECNS 433

Economics of the Environment

FORS 320

Forest Environmental Economics

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

NRSM 426

Climate and Society

NRSM 427

Advanced Water Policy

NRSM 475

Environment & Development

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete three of the following courses:

9

BIOE 428

Freshwater Ecology

FORS 330

Forest Ecology

NRSM 344

Ecosystem Science and Restoration Capstone

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

NRSM 465

Foundations of Restoration Ecology

NRSM 495

Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum

NRSM 499

Senior Thesis

Total Hours

9

Minimum Required Grade: C-