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University of Montana Catalog 2024-2025

Environmental Science and Sustainability B.S. - Resource Conservation

The Resource Conservation concentration provides students with the flexibility to design their own emphasis or to focus more generally on natural resource management and conservation. Students in this concentration complete the ESS core as well as the math, biology, and GIS courses outlined below, and then work with their faculty advisor to select additional coursework based on their interests and professional goals.

General Degree Requirements

To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information. 

Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page

Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.

Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY; RESOURCE CONSERVATION CONCENTRATION

Course Requirements

Lower-Division Required Courses
Complete all of the following courses:
CHMY 121NIntroduction to General Chemistry4
COMX 111AIntroduction to Public Speaking3
or THTR 120A Introduction to Acting I
FORS 201Forest Biometrics3-4
or STAT 216 Introduction to Statistics
or WILD 240 Intro to Biostatistics
GPHY 111N
GPHY 112N
Intro to Physical Geography: Climate, Landforms, and Vegetation
and Intro to Physical Geography Laboratory: Climate, Landforms, and Vegetation
3-4
or NRSM 211N
NRSM 212N
Soils and Water
and Ecology, Physics and Taxonomy of Soils
NRSM 110First Year Seminar in Environmental Science and Sustainability 11
NRSM 121SEnvironmental Science and Sustainability3
Resource Conservation Concentration Requirements
Mathematics
Complete one of the following courses: 3-4
Probability and Linear Mathematics
College Algebra
College Trigonometry
Precalculus
Applied Calculus
Biology
Complete one of the following courses:3-4
Principles of Living Systems
Principles of Biological Diversity
Introductory Ecology
Introduction to Botany
GIS
Complete the following course:
FORS 250Intro to GIS for Forest Mgt3
Electives
Complete 36 credits of courses with the following course prefixes: 36
FORS - Forestry
GPHY - Geography
NRSM - Natural Resource Management
PTRM - Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management
WILD - Fish, Wildlife Science & Management
Additional Requirements in Area of Emphasis
Complete 10 credits of courses with the following course prefixes. Alternatively, students can take two semesters of a foreign language or otherwise demonstrate foreign language proficiency. 10
BIOE - Biology, Ecological
BIOO - Biology, Organismal
CHMY - Chemistry
ENSC - Environmental Science
ENST - Environmental Studies
FORS - Forestry
GEO - Geosciences
M - Mathematics
NRSM - Natural Resource Management
PHSX - Physics
WILD - Fish, Wildlife Science & Management
Ecology
Complete one of the following: 3
Ecosystem Ecology
Forest Ecology
Fire Ecology
Ethics
Complete one of the following courses: 3
Climate Change Ethics and Policy
Ethics and Sustainability
Policy
Complete one of the following courses: 3
Natural Resource Policy and Administration
Water Policy
Climate Policy
Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics
Social Science
Complete one of the following courses: 3
Climate and Society
Collaborations in Natural Resource Decisions
Environment & Development
Recreation Behavior
Experiential Learning Requirement
Complete one of the following courses:
Field Ecology
Aquatic Microbial Ecology
Alpine Ecology
Stream Ecology
Conservation Ecology
Landscape Ecology
Lake Ecology
Forest and Fire Ecology
Social Issues: The Mekong Delta
Climate Change: Mekong Delta
Introduction to Forestry Field Skills
Forest Stand Management
Field Techniques
First Year Seminar in Field Studies in Conservation
Wilderness and Civilization Field Studies
Internship
Watershed Dynamics and Management Issues
Internship
Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum
Internship
Senior Thesis
First Year Seminar in Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management
Sustaining Human Society & Natural Environment
Winter Wilderness Field Studies
Capstone in Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management
Hunter Check Station
Advanced Writing Requirement
Complete three of the following courses:
Freshwater Ecology
Ecosystem Ecology
Forest Ecology
Timber Harvesting & Roads
Multiple Resource Silviculture
Practice of Silviculture
Forest Stand Management
Senior Thesis
Climate and Society
Climate Change Ethics and Policy
Collaborations in Natural Resource Decisions
Ethics and Sustainability
Rangeland Ecology
Foundations of Restoration Ecology
Environment & Development
Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum
Senior Thesis
Recreation Behavior
Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics
Total Hours84-88
1

NRSM 110 is not required for students who declare the major after already earning 60+ credits.

 
 

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