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 list of approved general education courses is available here .
- 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, should they apply.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Credits | 39 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | May be satisfied with courses required in the major. Review major requirements to determine if a specific upper division writing course is required. |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses for Range Science | ||
| AGRI 150 | Agriculture Orientation (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take AGRI 150.) | 1 |
| AGRI 189 | Skills for Academic Success 1 | 1 |
| ANSC 114 | Introduction to Animal Sciences | 3 |
| ANSC 123 | Feeds and Feeding | 3 |
| or ANSC 220 | Livestock Production | |
| RNG 136 | Introduction to Range Management | 3 |
| RNG 450 | Range Plants | 3 |
| RNG 452 | Geographic Information Systems in Range Survey | 3 |
| RNG 453 | Rangeland Resources Watershed Management | 3 |
| or RNG 454 | Wetland Resources Management | |
| RNG 456 | Range Habitat Management | 3 |
| RNG 458 | Grazing Ecology | 3 |
| RNG 460 | Plant Ecology | 3 |
| RNG 462 | Natural Resource and Rangeland Planning | 3 |
| RNG 491 | Seminar | 1 |
| Other Required Courses | ||
| BIOC 260 | Elements of Biochemistry | 4 |
| 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 380 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| CHEM 121 & 121L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 4 |
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry II (May satisfy general education category S) | 3 |
| CHEM 140 | Organic Chemical Concepts and Applications | 1 |
| ECON 201 | Principles 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 103 | College Algebra (or higher level) | 3 |
| PLSC 110 | World 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 210 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| SOIL 217 | Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology (May satisfy general education category S) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Soil Ecology | ||
| Soils and Land Use | ||
| SOIL 444 | Soil Genesis and Survey | 3 |
| STAT 330 | Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R) | 3 |
| ZOO 475 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| or ZOO 476 | Wildlife Ecology and Management | |
| Total Credits | 92 | |
| 1 | AGRI189 is only required for first-time, first-year students--A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student. Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take AGRI 189. |
Minor Requirements
Range Science Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 16
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| RNG 136 | Introduction to Range Management | 3 |
| RNG 225 | Natural Resource & Agro-Ecosystems | 3 |
| RNG 450 | Range Plants | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Geographic Information Systems in Range Survey | ||
| Rangeland Resources Watershed Management | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| RNG 456 | Range Habitat Management | 3 |
| or RNG 458 | Grazing Ecology | |
| Elective Course: Seminar may be used to fulfill this elective. | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
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.
