Natural Resources Management

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.

Major Requirements

Major: Natural Resources Management

Degree Type: B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120

University Degree Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
  2. Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework.  Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
  3. Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
  4. A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  5. At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits.  Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
  6. At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
  7. Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.

For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.

University General Education Requirements

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 Credits39
*

 May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category.

 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 major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories.

  •  A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

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
CHEM 121
121L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
4
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics (May satisfy general education category B and G)3
ENGL 321Writing in the Technical Professions3
or ENGL 324 Writing in the Sciences
or ENGL 459 Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal
ENT 210Insects, Humans and the Environment3
PHIL 215Contemporary Moral Issues (May satisfy general education category A)3
or PHIL 225 Environmental Ethics
MATH 103College Algebra3
NRM 150Natural Resource Management Orientation1
NRM 225Natural Resources & Agrosystems3
NRM 421Environmental Outreach Methods3
NRM/RNG/SOIL 462Natural Resource and Rangeland Planning3
RNG 136Introduction to Range Management3
RNG 213Rangeland Sampling Techniques3
RNG 452Managing Natural and Rangeland Resources using GIS3
or GEOG 455 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
EMGT, POLS, or SOC Elective3
SOIL 210Introduction to Soil Science3
STAT 330Introductory Statistics3
Emphasis: Students must select one of the NRM emphasis areas listed below to complete the major requirements.45-50
Total Credits100-105

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

BIOL 364General Ecology3
BIOL 475Conservation Biology3
or BIOL 476 Wildlife Ecology and Management
ECON 481Natural Resource Economics3
NRM 264Natural Resource Management Systems3
NRM 402River and Stream Resource Management3
or NRM 454 Wetland Resources Management
or SOIL 410 Soils and Land Use
NRM 431National Environmental Policy Act and Environmental Impact Assessment3
NRM 453Rangeland Resources Watershed Management3
Select a minimum of 29 credits from the approved electives below: 29
Evolution
Plant Systematics
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
Ecology of Fire-Dependent Ecosystems
Ecological Restoration
Grazing Ecology
Range Plants
Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology
Soil Ecology
Soils and Land Use
Soil Ecohydrology and Physics
Soil Genesis and Survey
Total Credits50

Environmental Sustainability, Outreach, and Policy Emphasis

BIOL 364General Ecology3
ECON 481Natural Resource Economics3
NRM 401Urban-Ecosystem Management3
NRM 420Sustainable Scenarios in Natural Resources Management3
NRM 431National Environmental Policy Act and Environmental Impact Assessment3
POLS, SOC or EMGT200 level or higher6
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
Disaster Preparedness
Disaster Mitigation
Disaster Response
Disaster Recovery
Comprehensive Emergency Management Planning
Disaster Analysis
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
Ecology of Fire-Dependent Ecosystems
Ecological Restoration
Grazing Ecology
Introduction to Sociology
Social Problems
Social Research Methods
Community Assessment
Community Development
Cultural Diversity
Environmental Sociology
Social Change
International Disasters
Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology
Principles of Real Estate
Introduction to Agricultural Management
Applied Agricultural Law
Food Laws & Regulations
Cooperatives
Mathematics for Business
Principles of Macroeconomics
Intermediate Microeconomics
Public Economics
Remote Sensing of the Environment
Total Credits50

Rangeland Ecology Emphasis

ANSC 114Introduction to Animal Sciences3
BIOL 364General Ecology3
BIOL 452Ichthyology3
or BIOL 454 Herpetology
or BIOL 456 Ornithology
or BIOL 458 Mammalogy
BIOL 461Plant Ecology3
BIOL 475Conservation Biology3
or BIOL 476 Wildlife Ecology and Management
NRM 431National Environmental Policy Act and Environmental Impact Assessment3
NRM 453Rangeland Resources Watershed Management3
or NRM 454 Wetland Resources Management
PLSC 380Principles of Plant Physiology3
RNG 450Range Plants3
RNG 451Ecology of Fire-Dependent Ecosystems3
RNG 456Ecological Restoration 3
RNG 458Grazing Ecology3
SOIL 217Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology3
SOIL 351Soil Ecology3
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 Credits51

Rangeland Livestock Production Emphasis

ANSC 114Introduction to Animal Sciences3
ANSC 220Livestock Production3
ANSC 223Introduction to Animal Nutrition2
ANSC 357Animal Genetics3
NRM 431National Environmental Policy Act and Environmental Impact Assessment3
PLSC 315Genetics3
PLSC 320Principles of Forage Production3
PLSC 323Principles of Weed Science3
RNG 450Range Plants3
RNG 456Ecological Restoration 3
RNG 458Grazing Ecology3
SOIL 217Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology3
SOIL 351Soil Ecology3
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 NRM9
Total Credits47

Soil Science Emphasis

CHEM 240Survey of Organic Chemistry3
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 105Trigonometry3
PHYS 211
211L
College Physics I
and College Physics I Laboratory
4
PLSC 110World Food Crops3
PLSC 225Principles of Crop Production (or 300/400 level Range Sciences Course )3
PLSC 380Principles of Plant Physiology3
SOIL 217Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology3
SOIL 322Soil Fertility and Fertilizers3
SOIL 351Soil Ecology3
SOIL 410Soils and Land Use3
SOIL 433Soil Ecohydrology and Physics3
SOIL 444Soil Genesis and Survey3
SOIL/NRM 454Wetland Resources Management3
Select a minimum of 6 additional credits of 300 or 400 level classes from PLSC, RNG, NRM, ENT, PPTH, ABEN, or ASM6
Total Credits50

Entomology Emphasis

BIOL 364General Ecology3
RNG 450Range Plants3
or BIOL 461 Plant Ecology
or PLSC 380 Principles of Plant Physiology
BIOL 450Invertebrate Zoology3
BIOL 475Conservation Biology3
ENT 350General Entomology3
ENT 431Principles of Insect Pest Management3
ENT 470Insect Ecology3
PLSC 110World Food Crops3
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
Introductory Plant Pathology
Diseases Of Field and Forage Crops
Plant Disease Management
Landscape Plant Pathology
Fungal Biology
Range Plants
Soils and Land Use
Total Credits45

Accelerated Program in Natural resource Management

NRM 621Environmental Outreach Methods3
NRM 652 Managing Natural and Rangeland Resources using GIS 3
NRM 662Natural Resource and Rangeland Planning3
600 Level ElectivesNRM/RNG/SOIL/ENT 16
Total Credits15
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: 
    • 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.


 

Minor Requirements

Minor: Natural Resources Management

Required Credits: 18

Core Course
NRM 225Natural Resources & Agrosystems3
Interdisciplinary Courses: Select 5 of the following: 15
General Ecology
Wildlife Ecology and Management
Natural Resource Economics
Disaster Preparedness
Disaster Mitigation
General Entomology
Physical Geology
Environmental Geology
Environmental History
World Environmental History
Natural Resource Management Systems
Urban-Ecosystem Management
River and Stream Resource Management
Sustainable Scenarios in Natural Resources Management
Environmental Outreach Methods
National Environmental Policy Act and Environmental Impact Assessment
Rangeland Resources Watershed Management
Wetland Resources Management
Ecological Restoration
Introduction to Range Management
Range Plants
Ecology of Fire-Dependent Ecosystems
Grazing Ecology
Community Development
Environmental Sociology
Introduction to Soil Science
Soil Ecology
Soils and Land Use
Soil Ecohydrology and Physics
Total Credits18

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.