Program Overview
The Rangeland Ecology & Management program at the University of Idaho provides students with the knowledge and skills to manage, conserve, and restore rangelands. With a focus on ecology, the program prepares students to address soil, grazing, fire, and climate change impacts on plants. Graduates gain expertise in livestock management, wildlife management, and other relevant areas, leading to high demand in government agencies, conservation groups, and other organizations.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Overview:
The Rangeland Ecology & Management program at the University of Idaho is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage, conserve, and restore rangelands. Rangelands are natural landscapes that include grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, and deserts, and they cover nearly half of the land on earth. Managing these landscapes requires specialized skills and science-based knowledge.
Objectives:
The program's objectives are to:
- Provide students with a solid understanding of ecological restoration and the effects of soil, animal grazing, fire, and climate change on plants.
- Prepare students to manage, conserve, and restore rangelands.
- Develop students' skills in livestock management, wildlife management, social factors, recreation, agriculture, and other areas of natural resource management.
Program Description:
The program is rooted in ecology and provides students with a deep understanding of the ecological processes that shape rangelands. Students will learn how to manage these landscapes for a variety of purposes, including livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, recreation, and conservation.
Careers:
Potential Career Paths:
Graduates of the Rangeland Ecology & Management program are in high demand by government agencies, conservation groups, tribal organizations, environmental consulting firms, ranches, and other organizations. Some potential career paths include:
- Environmental consultant
- Field botanist
- Invasive plant manager
- Natural resource communication specialist
- Natural resource GIS specialist
- Range conservationist
- Rangeland economy
- Range livestock manager
- Restoration specialist
- Watershed or riparian ecologist
- Tribal land manager
- Wildland fire manager
- Wildland soil specialist
