Ecology emphasis

Resources Conservation Degree Program

Goals:

Prepare students for graduate level program in ecology, forest biology, plant ecology, forestry and allied disciplines as preparation for careers as natural resource scientists for government agencies, NGO's, consultants, or academia. In all cases the goal is to train scientists with a broad technical background as well as to have working knowledge of the social/policy context of conservation, so that they can be effective in both acquiring and using scientific knowledge in the conservation field. As an example this degree program could be used to prepare students for graduate programs that would provide training for forest service botanists, ecologists, and silviculturists, and as ecologists for NGO's. Key skills that need to be developed include use of scientific method (study design), retrieval and synthesis of primary scientific literature, field work including data collection and measurement of both biotic and abiotic factors, taxonomic skills, statistics, and GIS. Students should be familiar with key concepts in ecology including consideration of geology, soils, hydrology, biology, botany, and wildlife, but at the same time have a general understanding of economics, policy and society and how it influences the practice of conservation. As designed this curriculum provides the scientific foundation so that students can take upper division courses in biology, forestry, and allied disciplines. Many specializations are possible within this general framework. Below is a proposed core of existing courses to prepare students for these fields:

This is an idea of how this program might be implemented:

First Year
ENEX 101	composition	3
COMM 111a	public speaking	2
Chem 151N	general chemistry	3
Chem 152N	organic chemistry	3
Biol 103/104	diversity of life (or 108/109	5
Geol 100N/101	general geology	3
Math 121	precalculus	4
Math 150	calculus	4
Electives		1
Summer
For 200	natural resources meas. camp	2
Second Year ***
For 201*	biometrics	3
For 210	soils	3
For 220	tech writing	2
For 230	forest fire management	2
For 240/241	forest biology or Biol 316	3-5
Econ 111	microeconomics	3
Biol 223**	genetics and evolution	4
Phys 121	general physics	5
Electives		5
Third and Fourth year ****
Wbio 370	wildlife habitat conservation	3
For 330	forest ecology (or Biol 340)	3
For 385	watershed resource policy	3
For 422	natural resource policy	3
For 347	multiple resource silviculture	3
For 480	project design and analysis	3
For 303	intro to GIS	3
Biol 350	Rocky Mtn. Flora	3
Biol 444/345	plan or animal physiology	4
Electives		27
Electives - One Additional ecology class (3 credits from below:
For 455	Riparian ecology and management	3
For 462	Range ecology	3
For 465	Restoration ecology	3
Biol 413	Field ecology	3
Biol 340	General ecology	3
Biol 447	Terrestrial ecosystem ecology	3
Biol 366	Freshwater ecology	5
Biol 448	Terrestrial Plant ecology	4
Biol 430	Plant biogeography	3
Electives		24

*Math 241 or WBIO 240 can substitute for biometrics

**Biol 221 is highly recommended as well(cell and molecular biology)

***The second year is an ideal time to do the year-long wilderness and civilization program for students that are interested in conservation or interdisciplinary synthesis combined with extensive field trips which are central elements of this program. See information sheet on wilderness and civilization for more information. Most of those courses can meet core course or general education requirements if taken early in your program.

****Strong encouragement is given for students continuing on to graduate school to do an independent study research project in their junior and senior years.

The ecology option of Resources Conservation degree provides all the requirements for the Ecologist Series (GS-408) in the Federal Government (e.g. USDA Forest Service, USGS, Park Service, and others).

Ecos Guide to Ecology of the Northern Rockies