Resource Conservation B.S.
Laurie Yung, Associate Professor, Resource Conservation Program Director
The challenging and rapidly evolving field of environmental conservation requires broad training and the ability to integrate and communicate across disciplines. Resource Conservation is an interdepartmental undergraduate major that prepares students for the diverse opportunities that now exist in environmental conservation, natural resource management, and sustainable livelihoods and communities. Students can choose a more structured area of study in the natural sciences, such as ecology or hydrology, or emphasize emerging sub-disciplines such as wildland fire management, natural resource economics, or climate and environmental change. Students can also integrate across disciplines and focus on environmental policy and natural resources planning, wilderness studies, sustainable livelihoods and community conservation, or international conservation. Please go to the Resource Conservation website for more information on different curricular tracks within the Resource Conservation major. In addition to degree requirements listed below, students selecting the Bachelor of Science in Resource Conservation should contact their faculty advisor to approve their curriculum.
Bachelor of Science - Resource Conservation
W.A Franke College of Forestry & Conservation
Degree Specific Credits: 89-93
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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | 4 | |
| Quantitative and Spatial Analysis | 9-12 | |
| Biology | 3-4 | |
| Communication | 3 | |
| Physical Science | 3 | |
| Ecology | 3 | |
| Policy | 3 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| Ethics | 3 | |
| Additional Required Courses | 46 | |
| Upper-Division Writing Requirement | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 89-93 | |
Chemistry
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following course: | ||
| CHMY 121N | Introduction to General Chemistry | 4 |
| Total Hours | 4 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Quantitative and Spatial Analysis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3-4 | |
FORS 201 | Forest Biometrics | |
STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics | |
SOCI 202 | Social Statistics | |
| Complete two of the following courses: | 6-8 | |
FORS 250 | Intro to GIS for Forest Mgt (highly recommended) | |
M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics | |
M 121 | College Algebra | |
M 122 | College Trigonometry | |
M 151 | Precalculus | |
M 162 | Applied Calculus | |
| Total Hours | 9-12 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Biology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3-4 | |
BIOB 160N | Principles of Living Systems | |
BIOB 170N | Princpls Biological Diversity | |
BIOE 172N | Introductory Ecology | |
BIOO 105N | Introduction to Botany | |
| Total Hours | 3-4 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Communication
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following courses: | ||
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| or THTR 120A | Introduction to Acting I | |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Physical Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following course: | ||
| NRSM 210N | Soils, Water and Climate | 3 |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Ecology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3 | |
BIOE 370 | General Ecology | |
FORS 330 | Forest Ecology | |
NRSM 462 | Rangeland Ecology | |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Policy
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3 | |
NRSM 370S | Wildland Conservation Policy/Governance | |
NRSM 422 | Nat Res Policy/Administration | |
WILD 410 | Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics | |
NRSM 427 | Advanced Water Policy | |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Social Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3 | |
NRSM 379 | Collab in Nat Res Decisions | |
NRSM 424 | Community Forestry & Conservtn | |
NRSM 426 | Climate and Society | |
NRSM 475 | Environment & Development | |
PTRM 300 | Recreation Behavior | |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Ethics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following courses: | ||
| NRSM 349E | Climate Change Ethics/Policy | 3 |
| or NRSM 389E | Ethics Forestry & Conservation | |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Additional Required Courses
Rule: Must take at least 36 traditional letter-graded credits from the College of Forestry and Conservation (NRSM, WILD, FORS, PTRM, CCS 103X, CCS 352, CCS 391)
Note: In addition to the above requirements, Resource Conservation students are also required to take at least 10 additional credits in their area of emphasis. Students can choose courses from the following prefixes: BIOO, BIOE, CHMY, ENSC, FORS, GEOS, M, NRSM, PHSX, and WILD. Alternatively, students can take two semesters of a foreign language (or otherwise demonstrate foreign language proficiency).
All students must take at least 49 approved credits in the major.
Students double majoring with Resource Conservation and Ecological Restoration, Forestry, Wildlife Biology, and Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management must take an additional 9.0 credits in FORS, NRSM, PTRM, and WILD in addition to courses required by either of their majors. These additional 9.0 credits will be relevant to the student s track/emphasis with the major.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Note: The following courses count for the entire upper-division writing requirement (only one course is required): PTRM 451, PTRM 482.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete three of the following courses: | 9 | |
BIOE 428 | Freshwater Ecology | |
FORS 330 | Forest Ecology | |
FORS 341 | Timber Harvesting & Roads | |
FORS 347 | Multiple Resource Silviculture | |
FORS 349 | Practice of Silviculture | |
FORS 440 | Forest Stand Management | |
FORS 499 | Senior Thesis | |
NASX 403 | Contmp Tribal Resource Issues | |
NRSM 349E | Climate Change Ethics/Policy | |
NRSM 379 | Collab in Nat Res Decisions | |
NRSM 389E | Ethics Forestry & Conservation | |
NRSM 426 | Climate and Society | |
NRSM 462 | Rangeland Ecology | |
NRSM 465 | Foundations of Restoration Ecology | |
NRSM 475 | Environment & Development | |
NRSM 495 | Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum | |
NRSM 499 | Senior Thesis | |
PTRM 300 | Recreation Behavior | |
WILD 410 | Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics | |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Tracks
These are advising tracks only and not official programs as recognized by the University of Montana (UM) or the Montana University System. This information will not appear on your UM transcript, diploma, university lists, student data system, or university publication. You do not fill out a major change for a track.
Climate & Environmental Change Track
Note: More detailed information about the Clima & Environmental Change track can be found on our website: www.cfc.umt.edu/rc. Students in this track typically complete the Climate Change Minor (www.cfc.umt.edu/ccs). Please talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CCS 103X | Intro Climate Change:Sci & Soc | 3 |
| CCS 352 | Climate Field Studies | 3 |
| CCS 398 | Clmt Change Internship/SERV | 2-4 |
| COMX 349 | Communication, Consumption, and Climate | 3 |
| ECNS 445 | Int Env Econ & Clim Change | 3 |
| FORS 232 | Forest Insects & Diseases | 2 |
| FORS 333 | Fire Ecology | 3 |
| GPHY 335 | Water Policy | 3 |
| NRSM 349E | Climate Change Ethics/Policy | 3 |
| NRSM 379 | Collab in Nat Res Decisions | 3 |
| NRSM 385 | Watershed Hydrology | 3 |
| NRSM 408 | Global Cycles and Climate | 3 |
| NRSM 415 | Environmental Soil Science | 3 |
| NRSM 418 | Ecosystem Climatology | 3 |
| NRSM 426 | Climate and Society | 3 |
| PSCI 324 | Climate Policies: China & U.S. | 3 |
| Total Hours | 46-48 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Ecology of Terrestrial Ecosystems Track
Note: Suggested courses for Ecology of Terrestrial Ecosystems. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOB 170N | Princpls Biological Diversity | 3 |
| BIOB 272 | Genetics and Evolution | 4 |
| BIOB 480 | Conservation Genetics | 3 |
| BIOE 370 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 428 | Freshwater Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE 449 | Plant Biogeography | 3 |
| BIOO 320 | General Botany | 5 |
| BIOO 335 | Rocky Mountain Flora | 3 |
| BIOO 433 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| CHMY 123 | Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry | 4 |
| ECNS 201S | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| FORS 240 | Tree Biology | 2 |
| FORS 241N | Dendrology | 3 |
| FORS 330 | Forest Ecology | 3 |
| FORS 347 | Multiple Resource Silviculture | 3 |
| GEO 101N | Introduction to Physical Geology | 3 |
| M 162 | Applied Calculus | 4 |
| NRSM 265 | Elements of Ecological Restoration | 3 |
| NRSM 385 | Watershed Hydrology | 3 |
| NRSM 408 | Global Cycles and Climate | 3 |
| NRSM 415 | Environmental Soil Science | 3 |
| NRSM 418 | Ecosystem Climatology | 3 |
| NRSM 462 | Rangeland Ecology | 3 |
| PHSX 205N | College Physics I | 4 |
| PHSX 206N | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| WILD 275 | Wildlife Conservation | 2 |
| Total Hours | 86 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Environmental Policy & Resources Planning Track
Note: Suggested courses in Environmental Policy and Resources Planning. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECNS 201S | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECNS 202S | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECNS 433 | Economics of the Environment | 3 |
| ENST 367 | Environmental Politics & Policies | 3 |
| ENST 382 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| FORS 320 | Forest Environmental Economics | 3 |
| GPHY 335 | Water Policy | 3 |
| GPHY 465 | Planning Principles & Processes | 3 |
| GPHY 466 | Environmental Planning | 3 |
| NRSM 121S | Nature of Montana | 3 |
| NRSM 349E | Climate Change Ethics/Policy | 3 |
| NRSM 379 | Collab in Nat Res Decisions | 3 |
| NRSM 389E | Ethics Forestry & Conservation | 3 |
| NRSM 422 | Nat Res Policy/Administration | 3 |
| NRSM 424 | Community Forestry & Conservtn | 3 |
| NRSM 425 | Nat Res & Envir Economics | 3 |
| PSCI 210S | Intro to American Government | 3 |
| PSCI 332 | Global Environmental Pol. | 3 |
| PSCI 361 | Public Administration | 3 |
| PSCI 461 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| WILD 275 | Wildlife Conservation | 2 |
| WILD 410 | Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 65 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
International Conservation Track
Note: Students in this track typically complete the International Development Studies Minor (www.cas.umt.edu/IDS). More detailed information about the International Conservation track can be found on our website: www.cfc.umt.edu/rc. Please talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENST 225S | Sustainable Communities | 3 |
| ENST 396 | Supervised Internship (PEAS) | 10 |
| ENST 480 | Food Justice and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENST 487 | Globalization, Justice & Environment | 3 |
| ENST 493 | Study Abroad: Environmental Justice Latin America | 3 |
| GPHY 432 | Human Role Environmental Change | 3 |
| GPHY 434 | Food and Famine | 3 |
| NRSM 170 | International Envir. Change | 3 |
| NRSM 379 | Collab in Nat Res Decisions | 3 |
| NRSM 424 | Community Forestry & Conservtn | 3 |
| NRSM 475 | Environment & Development | 3 |
| PTRM 345X | Sustaining Human Soc & Nat Env | 3-6 |
| PTRM 353 | Tourism, Livelihoods and Sustainability in Mountains | 3 |
| PTRM 451 | Tourism & Sustainability | 3 |
| WILD 460 | Internat Wildlife Cons Issues | 2 |
| Total Hours | 51-54 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Natural Resource Economics Track
Note: Suggested courses in Natural Resource Economics. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTY 326E | Indigenous Peoples & the Ethics of Development | 3 |
| ECNS 201S | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECNS 202S | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECNS 217X | Issues in Economic Development | 3 |
| ECNS 301 | Intermediate Micro with Calc | 3 |
| ECNS 302 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECNS 403 | Introduction to Econometrics | 4 |
| ECNS 433 | Economics of the Environment | 3 |
| ECNS 445 | Int Env Econ & Clim Change | 3 |
| ENST 230H | Nature and Society | 3 |
| ENST 480 | Food Justice and Sustainability | 3 |
| FORS 320 | Forest Environmental Economics | 3 |
| FORS 436 | Project Appraisal | 3 |
| GPHY 323S | Economic Geography of Rural Areas | 3 |
| M 162 | Applied Calculus | 4 |
| NRSM 121S | Nature of Montana | 3 |
| NRSM 379 | Collab in Nat Res Decisions | 3 |
| NRSM 389E | Ethics Forestry & Conservation | 3 |
| NRSM 424 | Community Forestry & Conservtn | 3 |
| NRSM 425 | Nat Res & Envir Economics | 3 |
| SOCI 101S | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 470 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 471 | Gender and Global Development | 3 |
| WILD 275 | Wildlife Conservation | 2 |
| Total Hours | 73 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Range Management & Grassland Ecology Track
Note: Suggested courses in Range Management & Grassland Ecology. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOE 370 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 447 | Ecosystem Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 458 | Forest and Grassland Ecol | 3 |
| BIOO 105N | Introduction to Botany | 3 |
| BIOO 335 | Rocky Mountain Flora | 3 |
| BIOO 433 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| ECNS 201S | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| FORS 230 | Fire Management & Environmental Change | 3 |
| FORS 250 | Intro to GIS for Forest Mgt | 3 |
| FORS 333 | Fire Ecology | 3 |
| GPHY 335 | Water Policy | 3 |
| NRSM 121S | Nature of Montana | 3 |
| NRSM 265 | Elements of Ecological Restoration | 3 |
| NRSM 360 | Rangeland Mgt (equiv 260) | 3 |
| NRSM 379 | Collab in Nat Res Decisions | 3 |
| NRSM 385 | Watershed Hydrology | 3 |
| NRSM 462 | Rangeland Ecology | 3 |
| WILD 275 | Wildlife Conservation | 2 |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Sustainable Livelihoods and Community Conservation Track
Note: Suggested courses in Sustainable Livelihoods and Community Conservation. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMX 347 | Rhetoric, Nature, and Environmentalism | 3 |
| ECNS 433 | Economics of the Environment | 3 |
| ENST 225S | Sustainable Communities | 3 |
| ENST 480 | Food Justice and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENST 489S | Environmental Justice Issues & Solutions | 3 |
| GPHY 323S | Economic Geography of Rural Areas | 3 |
| GPHY 432 | Human Role Environmental Change | 3 |
| GPHY 468 | Community & Regional Analysis | 3 |
| NRSM 170 | International Envir. Change | 3 |
| NRSM 379 | Collab in Nat Res Decisions | 3 |
| NRSM 424 | Community Forestry & Conservtn | 3 |
| NRSM 475 | Environment & Development | 3 |
| PHL 422 | Environmental Philosophy | 3 |
| PTRM 451 | Tourism & Sustainability | 3 |
| SOCI 220S | Race, Gender & Class | 3 |
| SOCI 270 | Intro Development Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 350 | The Community | 3 |
| SOCI 443 | Sociology of Poverty | 3 |
| SOCI 470 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 471 | Gender and Global Development | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Water Resources Track
Note: Suggested courses in Water Resources. Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with you faculty advisor about which courses to take in this track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOE 428 | Freshwater Ecology | 5 |
| GEO 101N | Introduction to Physical Geology | 3 |
| GEO 102N | Introduction to Physical Geology Lab | 1 |
| GEO 420 | Hydrogeology | 4 |
| GEO 421 | Hydrology | 3 |
| GEO 460 | Process Geomorphology | 4 |
| GPHY 335 | Water Policy | 3 |
| M 172 | Calculus II | 4 |
| M 171 | Calculus I | 4 |
| NRSM 385 | Watershed Hydrology | 3 |
| NRSM 415 | Environmental Soil Science | 3 |
| NRSM 427 | Advanced Water Policy | 3 |
| PHSX 205N | College Physics I | 4 |
| PHSX 206N | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHSX 207N | College Physics II | 4 |
| PHSX 208N | College Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Hours | 50 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Wilderness Studies Track
Note: To complete this track students must enroll in the Wilderness and Civilization Program. For information and an application see www.cfc.umt.edu/wc. Please talk to a faculty advisor about additional coursework in this track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARTZ 394A | Seminar- Environmental Drawing | 3 |
| LIT 280L | Ecology of Literature | 3 |
| MUSI 304A | Sound in the Natural World | 3 |
| NASX 303E | Ecological Perspectives in Native American Traditions | 3 |
| NRSM 271N | Conservation Ecology | 3 |
| NRSM 273 | Wilderness/Civ Field Stds | 1-3 |
| NRSM 370S | Wildland Conservation Policy/Governance | 3 |
| NRSM 371 | Wilderness Issues Lect Series | 1 |
| NRSM 373 | Wilderness and Civilization | 3 |
| NRSM 398 | Internship | 1-6 |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Wildland Fire Management Track
Note: Student in this track typically complete the Wildland Fire Sciences & Management Minor (www.cfc.umt.edu/FireSciences). Please see more detailed description of this track online and talk with your faculty advisor about which courses to take.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECNS 201S | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ERTH 303N | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| FORS 202 | Forest Mensuration | 3 |
| FORS 232 | Forest Insects & Diseases | 2 |
| FORS 230 | Fire Management & Environmental Change | 3 |
| FORS 241N | Dendrology | 3 |
| FORS 320 | Forest Environmental Economics | 3 |
| FORS 331 | Wildland Fuel Management | 3 |
| FORS 333 | Fire Ecology | 3 |
| FORS 341 | Timber Harvesting & Roads | 3 |
| FORS 347 | Multiple Resource Silviculture | 3 |
| FORS 351 | Env Remote Sensing | 3 |
| FORS 481 | Forest Planning | 3 |
| FORS 495 | Wildland RxFire Practicum | 3 |
| FORS 533 | Use Fire Wldland Mgmt | 3 |
| GEO 101N | Introduction to Physical Geology | 3 |
| NRSM 265 | Elements of Ecological Restoration | 3 |
| NRSM 385 | Watershed Hydrology | 3 |
| NRSM 422 | Nat Res Policy/Administration | 3 |
| PHSX 205N | College Physics I | 4 |
| PHSX 206N | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Hours | 61 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-