Natural Resources Management Major
Major Requirements
Degree Type: B.S. Minimum Credits Required: 120
University Degree Requirements
For complete details on these and other university degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section in the University Catalog.
- Minimum of 120 semester credits (some programs may exceed this minimum).
- Complete the University General Education requirements.
- Minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- Minimum of 30 credits in resident at NDSU.
- Minimum of 36 upper level credits (courses numbered 300 or higher).
- Students with transfer credit must meet the NDSU 30 credits in residence (#4). Of these 30 credits in residence, a minimum of 15 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 credits must be in the student's declared major curricula.
University General Education Requirements
A list of university approved general education courses along with the administrative policies governing the requirement and the categories is available here.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category C: Communication | 12 | |
| Category R: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Category S: Science and Technology | 10 | |
| Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts | 6 | |
| Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 6 | |
| Category W: Wellness | 2 | |
| Category D: Cultural Diversity | ||
| Category G: Global Perspectives | ||
| Category L: Digital Literacy | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| BIOL 150 & 150L | General Biology I and General Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 151 & 151L | General Biology II and General Biology II Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 121 & 121L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ENGL 321 | Writing in the Technical Professions | 3 |
| or ENGL 324 | Writing in the Sciences | |
| or ENGL 459 | Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal | |
| ENT 210 | Insects, Humans and the Environment | 3 |
| PHIL 215 | Contemporary Moral Issues | 3 |
| or PHIL 225 | Environmental Ethics | |
| MATH 103 | College Algebra | 3 |
| NRM 150 | Natural Resource Management Orientation | 1 |
| NRM 225 | Natural Resources & Agrosystems | 3 |
| NRM 421 | Environmental Outreach Methods | 3 |
| NRM/RNG/SOIL 462 | Natural Resource and Rangeland Planning | 3 |
| RNG 136 | Introduction to Range Management | 3 |
| RNG 213 | Rangeland Sampling Techniques | 3 |
| RNG 452 | Managing Natural and Rangeland Resources using GIS | 3 |
| EMGT, POLS, or SOC Elective | 3 | |
| SOIL 210 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| STAT 330 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
| Emphasis: Students must select one of the NRM emphasis areas listed below to complete the major requirements. | 45-50 | |
| Total Credits | 100-105 | |
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT EMPHASIS AREAS
- Declaring an Emphasis- Students should formally declare an emphasis area with the Office of Registration & Records no later than the beginning of their junior year. The emphasis area is recorded on the academic transcript with the degree.
Water, Habitat, and Environmental Management Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 364 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 475 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 476 | Wildlife Ecology and Management | |
| ECON 481 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| NRM 264 | Natural Resource Management Systems | 3 |
| NRM 402 | River and Stream Resource Management | 3 |
| or NRM 454 | Wetland Resources Management | |
| or SOIL 410 | Soils and Land Use | |
| NRM 431 | National Environmental Policy Act and Environmental Impact Assessment | 3 |
| NRM 453 | Rangeland Resources Watershed Management | 3 |
| Select a minimum of 29 credits from the approved electives below: | 29 | |
| Evolution | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Animal Physiology | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Physiological Ecology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Structure and Diversity of Plants and Fungi | ||
| Wildlife and Fisheries Management Techniques | ||
| Ecotoxicology | ||
| Wetland Science | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Introductory Microbiology and Introductory Microbiology Lab | ||
| Urban-Ecosystem Management | ||
| Sustainable Scenarios in Natural Resources Management | ||
| Introduction to Prairie & Community Forestry | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Weed Science | ||
| Woody Landscape Plants | ||
| Fire Ecology and Rangeland Management | ||
| Ecological Restoration | ||
| Grazing Ecology and Rangeland Management | ||
| Range Plants | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology | ||
| Soil Ecology | ||
| Soils and Land Use | ||
| Soil Ecohydrology and Physics | ||
| Soil Genesis and Survey | ||
| Total Credits | 50 | |
Environmental Sustainability, Outreach, and Policy Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 364 | General Ecology | 3 |
| ECON 481 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| NRM 401 | Urban-Ecosystem Management | 3 |
| NRM 420 | Sustainable Scenarios in Natural Resources Management | 3 |
| NRM 431 | National Environmental Policy Act and Environmental Impact Assessment | 3 |
| POLS, SOC or EMGT | 200 level or higher | 6 |
| Select a minimum of 29 credits from the approved electives listed below: | 29 | |
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Understanding Media and Social Change | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural Communication | ||
| Conflict Communication | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Emergencies, Disasters, and Catastrophes | ||
| Disasters Through A Systems Lens | ||
| Disaster Preparedness | ||
| Disaster Mitigation | ||
| Disaster Response | ||
| Comprehensive Emergency Management Planning | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Climate Change and Energy | ||
| Oceanography | ||
| Environmental Geology | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
| Hydrogeology | ||
| Biogeochemistry | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Environmental Law and Policy | ||
| Rangeland Resources Watershed Management | ||
| World Food Crops | ||
| Introduction to Prairie & Community Forestry | ||
| American Government | ||
| Problems and Policies In American Government | ||
| Global Policy Issues | ||
| Fire Ecology and Rangeland Management | ||
| Ecological Restoration | ||
| Grazing Ecology and Rangeland Management | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Social Research Methods | ||
| Community Assessment | ||
| Community Development | ||
| Cultural Diversity | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| Social Change | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology | ||
| Principles of Real Estate | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural Management | ||
| Applied Agricultural Law | ||
| Food Laws and Regulations | ||
| Cooperatives | ||
| Mathematics for Business | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| Intermediate Microeconomics | ||
| Public Economics | ||
| Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
| Total Credits | 50 | |
Rangeland Ecology Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANSC 114 | Introduction to Animal Sciences | 3 |
| BIOL 364 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 452 | Ichthyology | 3 |
| or BIOL 454 | Herpetology | |
| or BIOL 456 | Ornithology | |
| or BIOL 458 | Mammalogy | |
| BIOL 461 | Plant Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 475 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 476 | Wildlife Ecology and Management | |
| NRM 431 | National Environmental Policy Act and Environmental Impact Assessment | 3 |
| NRM 453 | Rangeland Resources Watershed Management | 3 |
| or NRM 454 | Wetland Resources Management | |
| PLSC 380 | Principles of Plant Physiology | 3 |
| RNG 450 | Range Plants | 3 |
| RNG 451 | Fire Ecology and Rangeland Management | 3 |
| RNG 456 | Ecological Restoration | 3 |
| RNG 458 | Grazing Ecology and Rangeland Management | 3 |
| SOIL 217 | Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology | 3 |
| SOIL 351 | Soil Ecology | 3 |
| or SOIL 410 | Soils and Land Use | |
| or SOIL 444 | Soil Genesis and Survey | |
| Select a minimum of 9 additional credits of 300 or 400 level courses from ENT, SOIL, RNG, or NRM: | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 51 | |
Rangeland Livestock Production Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANSC 114 | Introduction to Animal Sciences | 3 |
| ANSC 220 | Livestock Production | 3 |
| ANSC 223 | Introduction to Animal Nutrition | 3 |
| ANSC 357 | Animal Genetics | 3 |
| NRM 431 | National Environmental Policy Act and Environmental Impact Assessment | 3 |
| PLSC 315 | Genetics | 3 |
| PLSC 320 | Integrated Forage and Cover Crops Production Management and Ecosystem Services | 3 |
| PLSC 323 | Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| RNG 450 | Range Plants | 3 |
| RNG 456 | Ecological Restoration | 3 |
| RNG 458 | Grazing Ecology and Rangeland Management | 3 |
| SOIL 217 | Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology | 3 |
| SOIL 351 | Soil Ecology | 3 |
| or SOIL 410 | Soils and Land Use | |
| or SOIL 444 | Soil Genesis and Survey | |
| Select a minimum of 9 additional credits of 300 or 400 level courses from ENT, SOIL, RNG, or NRM | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Soil Science Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 240 | Survey of Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| or BIOC 260 | Elements of Biochemistry | |
| or MICR 202 & 202L | Introductory Microbiology and Introductory Microbiology Lab | |
| GEOL 105 & 105L | Physical Geology and Physical Geology Lab | 4 |
| MATH 105 | Trigonometry | 3 |
| PHYS 211 & 211L | College Physics I and College Physics I Laboratory | 4 |
| PLSC 110 | World Food Crops | 3 |
| PLSC 225 | Principles of Crop Production (or 300/400 level Range Sciences Course ) | 3 |
| PLSC 380 | Principles of Plant Physiology | 3 |
| SOIL 217 | Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology | 3 |
| SOIL 322 | Soil Fertility and Fertilizers | 3 |
| SOIL 351 | Soil Ecology | 3 |
| SOIL 410 | Soils and Land Use | 3 |
| SOIL 433 | Soil Ecohydrology and Physics | 3 |
| SOIL 444 | Soil Genesis and Survey | 3 |
| SOIL/NRM 454 | Wetland Resources Management | 3 |
| Select a minimum of 6 additional credits of 300 or 400 level classes from PLSC, RNG, NRM, ENT, PPTH, ABEN, or ASM | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 50 | |
Entomology Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 364 | General Ecology | 3 |
| RNG 450 | Range Plants | 3 |
| or BIOL 461 | Plant Ecology | |
| or PLSC 380 | Principles of Plant Physiology | |
| BIOL 450 | Invertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BIOL 475 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| ENT 350 | General Entomology | 3 |
| ENT 431 | Principles of Insect Pest Management | 3 |
| ENT 470 | Insect Ecology | 3 |
| PLSC 110 | World Food Crops | 3 |
| Select a minimum of 6 credits of approved electives from below: | 6 | |
| Horticulture Science | ||
| Introduction to Prairie & Community Forestry | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Principles of Weed Science | ||
| Sugarbeet Production | ||
| Woody Landscape Plants | ||
| Herbaceous Landscape Plants | ||
| Landscape Management | ||
| Turfgrass Management | ||
| Nursery Production and Management | ||
| Vegetable Crop Production | ||
| Fruit Crop Production | ||
| Greenhouse Production and Management | ||
| Potato Science | ||
| Intermediate Genetics | ||
| Weed Biology and Ecology | ||
| Cropping Systems:An Integrated Approach | ||
| Soil Ecology | ||
| Select a minimum of 15 credits from the approved electives listed below: | 15 | |
| Evolution | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Wildlife Ecology and Management | ||
| Introductory Microbiology | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Clinical Parasitology | ||
| Urban-Ecosystem Management | ||
| River and Stream Resource Management | ||
| Sustainable Scenarios in Natural Resources Management | ||
| National Environmental Policy Act and Environmental Impact Assessment | ||
| Rangeland Resources Watershed Management | ||
| Wetland Resources Management | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Landscape Plant Pathology | ||
| Fungal Biology | ||
| Range Plants | ||
| Soils and Land Use | ||
| Total Credits | 45 | |
Accelerated Program in Natural resource Management
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NRM 621 | Environmental Outreach Methods | 3 |
| NRM 652 | Managing Natural and Rangeland Resources using GIS | 3 |
| NRM 662 | Natural Resource and Rangeland Planning | 3 |
| 600 Level Electives | NRM/RNG/SOIL/ENT 1 | 6 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
Accelerated Electives must be advisor approved and the specific courses are to be identified on the Accelerated Declaration form.
Degree Requirements and Notes:
- Acceptable Substitutions: For the Water, Habitat, and Environmental Management; Environmental Sustainability, Outreach, and Policy; and Entomology emphasis areas there is a list of recommended emphasis electives: All other substitutions require advisor approval and a substitution form to be completed and submitted to the Office of Registration and Records. Emphasis area courses may not be double-counted with the NRM core classes; a maximum of 3 credits of Field Experience (396/496) or Co-op Ed (397/497) may be counted as emphasis electives.
- Accelerated Program in NRM Notes:
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If a student is interested in this option, they should speak with their Undergraduate Advisor. Students intending to pursue the Accelerated option will need a 3.0 overall GPA, as well as 60 completed credits (in-progress courses do not count). Students will be required to complete a Combined/Accelerated Program Declaration Form and apply to the Graduate School. Taking the GRE is not required.
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