The courses are offered in two formats: Traditional and Online

Traditional Distance Education (Correspondence)

Traditional Distance Education (Correspondence) courses using the study guide format are self-paced, allowing you the freedom to learn when and where you wish. Upon enrolling, you will receive a study guide for the course. In it, the General Information section explains how the program works, including how to apply for academic credit, extensions, and preparing for the final exam.

You can register and start any of our 4 courses as a correspondence course at any time and have six months from the time you register to complete the course requirements including taking the final exam.

• NRSM 404 Wilderness in the American Context (UG) or NRSM 560 American Wilderness Philosophy and Policy (G)

• NRSM 405 Management of the Wilderness Resource (UG) or NRSM 561 Managing Wilderness Ecosystems (G)

• NRSM 406 Wilderness Management Planning (UG) or NRSM 563 Wilderness Planning Theory, Management Frameworks and Application (G)

• PTRM 407 Managing Recreation Resources(UG) or PTRM 562 Managing Recreation Resources in Wilderness Settings (G)

Online

Online courses provide resources to help you augment your learning experience by engaging with the material and interacting with the instructors and other students. This course generally adopts an asynchronous learning style. That is, you are encouraged to regularly check in on the course website for information and participate in the weekly discussion forum as your schedule permits. It is designed to cover the material in about 16 weeks, however, just as in the correspondence course, students have six months to complete all course requirements.

The online format is offered twice a year (fall and spring) and we cycle through the courses, so each course is offered every other year.

• NRSM 405 Management of the Wilderness Resource (UG) or NRSM 561 Managing Wilderness Ecosystems (G) - Offered online fall 2022
  
  Registration deadline: September 19, 2022
  Course Dates: September 26, 2022 – January 20, 2023
  
  The course will be capped at 16 students and needs 8 students to run. Register early to reserve your spot.
  
  
• PTRM 407 Managing Recreation Resources (UG) or PTRM 562 Managing Recreation Resources in Wilderness Settings (G) – Offered online spring 2023
  
  
• NRSM 406 Wilderness Management Planning (UG) or NRSM 563 Wilderness Planning Theory, Management Frameworks and Application (G)  -- Offered online Fall 2023
  
  
• NRSM 404 Wilderness in the American Context (UG) or NRSM 560 American Wilderness Philosophy (G) - Offered online spring 2024

In order to complete a WMDEP course, participants must read assigned materials, respond with written answers to review questions, submit other assignments and projects, and take a proctored final exam. Note: Graduate increment requires students to submit an original research paper. If students are registered for academic credit, the final grade for each course is recorded on an official University of Montana transcript.