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Range Science

Range Science is a unique program that blends ecology and management for the purpose of sustaining rangelands. Rangelands are important for the diverse array of products and services they provide, including livestock production, wildlife habitat, clean air and water, and recreation to name a few. Rangeland ecosystems comprise over 40% of the earth’s land and include grasslands, savannahs, shrublands, deserts, alpine meadows, marshes and wetlands. Rangelands are comprised mainly of native grasses, forbs, and shrubs which are extremely productive and rich in biodiversity.

Just as rangeland ecosystems are diverse, so too are the careers available in rangeland management. Professional career options for rangeland managers are in private and public land management, educators, ranching, wildlife and fisheries, hydrology and economics, scientists, and consultants. The majority of graduates in Range Science find employment with consulting firms, private industry, non-profit organizations, and state and federal agencies. Many of the state and federal agency jobs are as range conservationists with the USDA Forest Service and Natural Resource Conservation Service; USDI Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; and state agencies that include State Land Departments, State Health Departments and universities.  Students in the Range Science program will take courses in animal sciences, biology, botany, chemistry, ecology, economics, natural resources management, plant sciences, range science, statistics, wildlife management, zoology, as well as the requirements of general education.

Major Requirements

Major: Range Science

Degree Type: B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 128

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

  • A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
  • General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
First Year Experience (F)1
Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM)
Communication (C)12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (R) 3
Science and Technology (S) 10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) 6
Wellness (W) 2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits40

Major Requirements

Required Courses for Range Science
AGRI 150Agriculture Orientation (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take AGRI 150.)1
ANSC 114Introduction to Animal Sciences3
ANSC 123Feeds and Feeding3
or ANSC 220 Livestock Production
RNG 136Introduction to Range Management3
RNG 450Range Plants3
RNG 452Geographic Information Systems in Range Survey3
RNG 453Rangeland Resources Watershed Management3
or RNG 454 Wetland Resources Management
RNG 456Range Habitat Management3
RNG 458Grazing Ecology3
RNG 460Plant Ecology3
RNG 462Natural Resource and Rangeland Planning3
RNG 491Seminar1
Other Required Courses
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 151
151L
General Biology II
and General Biology II Laboratory
4
BOT 380Plant Physiology3
CHEM 121
121L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
CHEM 122General Chemistry II (May satisfy general education category S)3
CHEM 140Organic Chemical Concepts and Applications1
CHEM 260Elements of Biochemistry4
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics (May satisfy general education category B and G)3
Select one of the following: (May satisfy general education category C)3
Writing in the Technical Professions
Writing in the Sciences
Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal
MATH 103College Algebra (or higher level)3
PLSC 110World Food Crops (May satisfy general education category S)3
Select one of the following:2-3
Introduction to Prairie & Community Forestry
Principles of Forage Production
Principles of Weed Science
PLSC 315
315L
Genetics
and Genetics Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
SOIL 210Introduction to Soil Science3
SOIL 217Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology (May satisfy general education category S)3
Select one of the following:3
Soil Ecology
Soils and Land Use
SOIL 444Soil Genesis and Survey3
STAT 330Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R)3
ZOO 475Conservation Biology3
or ZOO 476 Wildlife Ecology and Management
Total Credits91

Minor Requirements

Range Science Minor

Minor Requirements

Required Credits: 16

Required Courses
RNG 225Natural Resource & Agro-Ecosystems3
RNG 3363
RNG 450Range Plants3
Select one of the following:3
Geographic Information Systems in Range Survey
Rangeland Resources Watershed Management
Plant Ecology
RNG 456Range Habitat Management3
or RNG 458 Grazing Ecology
Elective Course: Seminar may be used to fulfill this elective.1
Total Credits16

Minor Requirements and Notes:                                                                   

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
  • Students must earn a minimum 2.00 GPA for the minor requirements.