Featured Alumni

Jeffrey Ross
B.S. Resource Conservation 2006

Jeffrey Ross originally transferred to the University of Montana from a small, two-year college in Colorado as a Wildlife Biology major. However, Jeffrey’s interest in the human-nature relationship, natural resources policy, and .... read more



Ecology emphasis

Resources Conservation Degree Program

Advisors: Paul Alaback and Andrew Larson

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.

Basic Resources Conservation Degree Requirements:

  • 3 communications courses:
    • 1 oral (Comm 111 or Dram 111)
    • FOR 220 Tech Writing (or transfer equivalent)
    • Upper-division writing (also required for GER)
  • 3 quantitative courses:
    • 1 math course out of (Math 111, 112, 121, 150, 117)
    • 1 statistics course out of ( Math 241, Soc 202, FOR 201)
    • 1 course of either GIS or math (Math of above- not already taken or FOR 250 GIS)
  • FOR 200 Natural resources managment camp
  • Chem 151
  • 1 general biology course out of (BIOL 108, BIOL 110, 120, 121 or transfer equivalent)
  • 1 soils class (FOR 210 Soils)
  • 1 ecology course out of (For 330, BIOL 340, RSCN 462 or transfer equivalent)
  • 1 policy course out of ( FOR 422, RSCN 370, WBIO 410 or transfer equivalent)

Students have to take at least 36 traditional letter-graded credits within the College – so any courses with FOR, RECM, RSCN, WBIO prefix will work.

Students have to take at least 39 upper-division credits – now that can be in with the above 36 to count for both. General educational requirements of UM (GER) need to be completed and 120 total credits need to be completed.

Students also need to complete forestry measurements camp during their sophomore year (FOR 200) either at end of spring semester or before the beginning of the fall semester, and need to complete at least 400 hours of professional experience.

 Below is an example of how this resources conservation degree might be implemented for an emphasis in ecology (classes in bold fulfill basic requirements, but other courses can substitute for them as explained above):

First Year
ENEX 101 Composition 3
COMM 111A OR
DRAM 111A
Public speaking
Acting for Non-majors
3
3
CHEM 151N General chemistry 3
CHEM 152N Organic chemistry 3
BIOL 108N OR
BIOL 110N OR
BIOL 120N OR
BIOL 121N
Diversity of life
Principals of biology
Botany
Intro to Ecology
3
3
3
3
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 OR
MATH 241 OR
WBIO 240
Biometrics
Statistics
Intro to Biostats/honors
3
4
3
FOR 210 Soils 3
FOR 220 Technical 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 ****
FOR 275 Wildlife habitat conservation 3
FOR 330 OR
BIOL 340
Forest ecology
Ecology
3
3
FOR 385 Watershed hydrology 3
FOR 422 OR
WBIO 4120
Natural resource policy
Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics
3
FOR 347 Multiple resource silviculture 3
FOR 480 Project design and analysis 3
FOR 250 GIS Practicum 2
BIOL350 Rocky Mtn. Flora 3
BIOL 316/345 Plant or animal structure & physiology 4-5
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
     

**advanced juniors or seniors can also take Conservation Genetics (Biol 480)

***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 and to take calculus (Math 150) and basic physics (Phys 121).

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



College of Forestry and Conservation, The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812

Phone:
406-243-5521 | Fax: 406-243-4845
Email: request@cfc.umt.edu