Natural Resources Management
Natural Resources Management
With increasing human pressure and a growing need to balance competing demands, our world needs new and better ways to manage society’s impacts on the environment. The Natural Resources Management program prepares students for challenging careers requiring the sustainability perspective and global social perspective necessary for examining and solving complex natural resources management problems. Our goal is the highest and best societal uses of natural resources while maintaining the integrity of life-sustaining socio-ecological systems. Career opportunities abound in federal, state and local government, the private sector, non-profit conservation and environmental organizations, as well as higher education and research.
An interdisciplinary major in NRM leads to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Students benefit from faculty engagement from the various colleges across the university in the coordination of the program, classroom teaching and advising.
During the first four semesters of the NRM program, students complete a broad foundation of core courses in the social, biological, and physical sciences. The second half of the program offers students the opportunity to focus on a specific area of interest (emphasis). NRM offers six emphasis areas, each allowing students the flexibility to select courses for specialized career preparation.
- Biotic Resources Science: deals with basic scientific principles that govern the interrelationship between biotic (e.g., plants, animals) and abiotic factors (e.g., climate, soils) in major ecosystems and the use of these principles for environmentally sound management of both natural and agro-ecosystems.
- Environmental Communication: is designed for environmentally oriented students preparing for careers in communication fields such as journalism, public relations, broadcast media and the internet.
- Natural Resources Economics: prepares students for management, administrative, regulatory, and policy positions that require a broad understanding of natural resources management and allocation.
- Physical/Earth Resources Science: leads to an understanding of the physical and chemical aspects of ecosystems. Topics of study include hydrology, water management and quality, waste management, soil properties, energy resources and land-use management.
- Pollution Control: focuses on the principles and practices of managing natural resources for pollution control. Topics include the technical aspects of pollution as they relate to water, air/solids, earth/soils, and the impact of environmental pollution on biotic factors. Students interested in this emphasis are strongly urged to complete College Algebra before entering the NRM program.
- Social Sciences: concentrates on human factors (social, political, anthropological) in environmental management and environmental disaster management, while recognizing constraints and opportunities presented by physical and biological factors.
Major Requirements
Major: Natural Resources Management
Degree Type: B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 128
General Education Requirements
| First Year Experience (F): | ||
| AGRI 189 | Skills for Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take AGRI 189.) | 1 |
| Communication (C): | ||
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| One Course in Upper Level Writing: Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business and Professional Writing | ||
| Writing in the Technical Professions | ||
| Writing in the Sciences | ||
| Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences | ||
| COMM 110 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (R): | ||
| STAT 330 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
| Science & Technology (S): | ||
| CHEM 121 & 121L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology | 3 |
| NRM 225 | Natural Resources & Agrosystems | 3 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): | ||
| ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Emergencies, Disasters, and Catastrophes | ||
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Wellness (W): Select from current general education list | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list | ||
| Global Perspectives (G): | ||
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Major Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 40 | |
| Required Core Courses for Natural Resources Management: | ||
| BIOL 150 & 150L | General Biology I and General Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 151 & 151L | General Biology II and General Biology II Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 364 | General Ecology | 3 |
| ECON 481 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| HIST 434 | Environmental History | 3 |
| NRM 150 | Natural Resource Management Orientation | 1 |
| NRM/SOIL 264 | Natural Resource Management Systems | 3 |
| NRM 431 | National Environmental Policy Act & Environmental Impact Assessment | 3 |
| POLS 115 | American Government | 3 |
| or POLS 215 | Problems and Policies In American Government | |
| RNG 452 | Geographic Information Systems in Range Survey | 3 |
| or GEOG 455 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| Principles of Public Administration | ||
| State and Local Politics | ||
| Global Policy Issues | ||
| Anthropology and the Environment | ||
| Disaster Preparedness | ||
| Disaster Mitigation | ||
| Disaster Response | ||
| Disaster Recovery | ||
| Introduction to Soil Science | ||
| NRM Emphasis Area: Students must select one of the six NRM emphasis areas to complete the major. See below. | 38 | |
| Degree Requirements: Potential of a minimum of 12 credits to reach 128. | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 123 | |
Natural Resources Management Emphasis Areas
- Select and complete one emphasis area as part of the Natural Resources Management major.
- Declaring an Emphasis- Students should formally declare an emphasis area with the Office of Registration & Records by the beginning of their junior year. The emphasis area is recorded on the academic transcript with the degree.
Biotic Resources Science
| Required. Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Survey of Organic Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Range Management | ||
| Rangeland Resources Watershed Management | ||
| Select a minimum of 32 credits from the approved electives list below for Biotic Resourses: | 32 | |
| Plant Systematics | ||
| Range Habitat Management | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology | ||
| Urban-Ecosystem Management | ||
| Scenarios in Natural Resources Management | ||
| Introduction to Prairie & Community Forestry | ||
| Limnology | ||
| Wildlife Ecology and Management | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Wetland Resources Management | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Introductory Microbiology | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Woody Landscape Plants | ||
| Range Plants | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Grazing Ecology | ||
| Introductory Microbiology Lab | ||
| River and Stream Resource Management | ||
| Environmental Outreach Methods | ||
| Physiological Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Wildlife and Fisheries Management Techniques | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Principles of Weed Science | ||
| Modeling of Range and Agro-Ecosystems | ||
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Physical/earth Resources Science
| Required: | ||
| CHEM 122 & 122L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 146 | Applied Calculus I | 4 |
| or MATH 165 | Calculus I | |
| GEOL 412 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| or SOIL 444 | Soil Genesis and Survey | |
| Select a minimum of 27 credits from the approved electives list below for Physical/Earth Resources Science: | 27 | |
| Resource Conservation and Irrigation Engineering | ||
| Electricity and Electronic Applications | ||
| Introduction to Range Management | ||
| Physical Geology Lab | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
| Soil Genesis and Survey | ||
| Urban-Ecosystem Management | ||
| Wetland Resources Management | ||
| Scenarios in Natural Resources Management | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| Surveying | ||
| Soil Fertility and Fertilizers | ||
| Soils and Land Use | ||
| Introductory Microbiology | ||
| Soil And Plant Analysis | ||
| Geochemistry | ||
| Computer Applications in Agricultural Systems Management | ||
| College Physics I Laboratory | ||
| Survey of Organic Chemistry | ||
| Environmental Geology | ||
| Hydrogeology | ||
| Introductory Microbiology Lab | ||
| River and Stream Resource Management | ||
| Environmental Outreach Methods | ||
| Principles and Application of Precision Agriculture | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology | ||
| Soil Ecology | ||
| Soil Physics | ||
| Microclimatology | ||
| Soils and Pollution | ||
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Environmental Communication
| Required: | ||
| COMM 112 | Understanding Media and Social Change | 3 |
| COMM 200 | Introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| NRM 421 | Environmental Outreach Methods | 3 |
| COMM 485 | Crisis Communications in Public Relations | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Applied Research Methods | ||
| Social Research Methods and Social Research Methods Laboratory | ||
| Select a minimum of 22 credits from the approved electives list below for Environmental Communication: | 22 | |
| Principles of Internet Web-Based Design | ||
| Rhetorical Traditions | ||
| Principles of Broadcast Production | ||
| Scenarios in Natural Resources Management | ||
| Legal Communication | ||
| Digital Media and Society | ||
| Advanced Broadcast Production | ||
| Public Relations Campaigns | ||
| Contemporary Rhetoric | ||
| Introduction to Web Development | ||
| Advanced Media Writing | ||
| Principles of Design For Print | ||
| Organizational Communication I | ||
| Environmental Outreach Methods | ||
| Issues in Mass Communications | ||
| Mass Media and Public Opinion | ||
| Issues in Communication | ||
| Communication Ethics | ||
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Pollution Control
| Required: | ||
| CE 309 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| CE 370 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CE 408 | Water Resources and Supply | 3 |
| CHEM 122 & 122L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I | 4 |
| ME 221 | Engineering Mechanics I | 3 |
| ME 222 | Engineering Mechanics II | 3 |
| Select a minimum of 15 credits from the approved electives list below for Pollution Control: | 15 | |
Air/Solids: | ||
| Solid Waste Management | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology | ||
| Microclimatology | ||
Biotic: | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| General Microbiology | ||
| General Microbiology Lab | ||
| Limnology | ||
| Wildlife Ecology and Management | ||
| Wildlife and Fisheries Management Techniques | ||
Earth/Soils: | ||
| Survey of Organic Chemistry | ||
| Environmental Geology | ||
| Soil Fertility and Fertilizers | ||
| Soil Ecology | ||
| Soils and Land Use | ||
| Soil Physics | ||
| Soil Genesis and Survey | ||
| Microclimatology | ||
| Soil And Plant Analysis | ||
| Soils and Pollution | ||
Water: | ||
| Resource Conservation and Irrigation Engineering | ||
| Water and Wastewater Engineering | ||
| Open Channel Flow | ||
| Applied Hydrology | ||
| Water Quality Management | ||
| Hydrogeology | ||
| Rangeland Resources Watershed Management | ||
| Geochemistry | ||
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Natural Resources Economics
| Required: | ||
| MATH 146 | Applied Calculus I | 4 |
| or MATH 165 | Calculus I | |
| ECON 341 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| STAT 331 | Regression Analysis | 2 |
| Select a minimum of 29 credits from the approved electives list below for Natural Resources Economics: | 29 | |
| Quantitative Methods & Decision Making | ||
| Applied Agricultural Law | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| Intermediate Macroeconomics | ||
| History of Economic Thought | ||
| Public Economics | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Geography of North America | ||
| Urban-Ecosystem Management | ||
| Scenarios in Natural Resources Management | ||
| International Politics | ||
| Global Policy Issues | ||
| Comparative Political Economy | ||
| Sociology of The Great Plains | ||
| Social Change | ||
| Principles of Real Estate | ||
| Agricultural Policy | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Money and Banking | ||
| Econometrics | ||
| Economic Development | ||
| International Trade | ||
| Leisure And Society | ||
| River and Stream Resource Management | ||
| Environmental Outreach Methods | ||
| Principles of Public Administration | ||
| International Law | ||
| Environmental Policy and Politics | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Social Sciences
| Required: | ||
| SOC 340 & SOC 341 | Social Research Methods and Social Research Methods Laboratory | 4 |
| SOC 422 | Development Of Social Theory | 3 |
| or ANTH 480 | Development of Anthropological Theory | |
| Select a minimum of 31 credits from the approved electives list below for Social Science: | 31 | |
| Archaeology and Prehistory | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology: Peoples of the World | ||
| Latin America & Carribean: Afro-Latino/as, Gender, Indigeneity | ||
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | ||
| Disaster Preparedness | ||
| Disaster Response | ||
| Spatial Analysis in Emergency Management | ||
| Business Continuity and Crisis Management | ||
| Disaster Analysis | ||
| Geography of North America | ||
| Urban-Ecosystem Management | ||
| Environmental Outreach Methods | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| State and Local Politics | ||
| Sociology of The Great Plains | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| International Disasters | ||
| Human Origins | ||
| Apes and Human Evolution | ||
| Anthropology and the Environment | ||
| Qualitative Methods in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Emergencies, Disasters, and Catastrophes | ||
| Disaster Mitigation | ||
| Disaster Recovery | ||
| Voluntary Agency Disaster Services | ||
| Native American Literature | ||
| Scenarios in Natural Resources Management | ||
| Problems and Policies In American Government | ||
| Principles of Public Administration | ||
| Environmental Policy and Politics | ||
| Community Development | ||
| Social Change | ||
| Applied Demographics | ||
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Degree Notes:
- Acceptable Substitutions: The following courses are accepted as electives in all emphasis areas: NRM courses (may not be double-counted with the NRM Core); a maximum of 3 credits of Field Experience (396/496); a maximum of 3 credits of Co-op Ed (397/497). All other substitutions require NRM advisor approval and a substiution form to be completd and submitted to the Office of Registration and Records.
Minor Requirements
Natural Resources Management Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 19
| Core Courses | ||
| NRM 150 | Natural Resource Management Orientation | 1 |
| NRM 225 | Natural Resources & Agrosystems | 3 |
| NRM 431 | National Environmental Policy Act & Environmental Impact Assessment | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Courses | ||
| I. Biotic Resources Science: Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| General Ecology | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Rangeland Resource/Watershed Management | ||
| Introduction to Range Management | ||
| II. Physical/Earth Resources Science: Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Natural Resource Management Systems | ||
| Physical Geology | ||
| Introduction to Soil Science | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology | ||
| III. Social Sciences: Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Environmental History | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| Environmental Outreach Methods | ||
| Global Policy Issues | ||
| Environmental Policy and Politics | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes:
- Students must earn a 2.00 minimum GPA in the courses used to satisfy the minor requirements.
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
