Master of Natural Resources Stewardship, Plan C, Western Ranch Management and Ecosystem Stewardship Specialization

Program Overview

The Master of Natural Resources Stewardship with a specialization in Western Ranch Management and Ecosystem Stewardship is a coursework-intensive degree that provides broad natural resources education and specialized expertise in ranch management, preparing students for careers in natural resources stewardship. The program includes core courses in Western ranch assessment and planning, environmental impact analysis, and ecology of disturbed lands, as well as specialized courses in ranch management and stewardship field work, seminar, and skills. Students also complete directed electives from a wide range of topics related to natural resources management.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This Master of Natural Resources Stewardship (MNRS), Plan C, Western Ranch Management and Ecosystem Stewardship Specialization is a coursework-intensive professional master’s degree. It provides students with a broad natural resources education and specialized resource management expertise in ranch management.

Outline:

Core Requirements:

• NR 539 Western Ranch Assessment and Planning (3 credits)
• NR 567 Analysis of Environmental Impact (3 credits)
• NR 578 Ecology of Disturbed Lands (3 credits)
• Select one from the following (2-3 credits):
• F 575 Monitoring for Advanced Silviculture
• NR 566 Natural Resource Inventory and Data Analysis
• RS 532 Rangeland Ecosystem Sampling
• Select one from the following (1-2 credits):
• F 592 Advanced Silviculture Seminar
• NR 693 Natural Resources Stewardship Seminar

Western Ranch Management and Ecosystem Stewardship Specialization Requirements:

• NR 536 Ranch Management and Stewardship Field Course (4 credits)
• NR 537 Ranch Management and Stewardship Seminar (1 credit)
• NR 538 Skills in Ranch Management (2 credits)
• RS 452 Rangeland Herbivore Ecology and Management (3 credits)

Directed Electives (6-8 credits):

• AGRI 631 Building the Business
• AGRI 634 Animal Production Systems
• AGRI 635 Integrated Forage Management
• AGRI 637 Understanding Policy and Emerging Issues
• AGRI 638 Ecosystem Services on Agricultural Lands
• AGRI 639 Products to Profit
• AREC 342 Water Law, Policy, and Institutions
• AREC 375 Agricultural Law
• ESS 501 Principles of Ecosystem Sustainability
• F 325 Silviculture
• F 510 Ecophysiology of Trees
• F 610 Advanced Forest Ecology
• FW 553 Adaptive Fish and Wildlife Management
• FW 557 Wildlife Habitat Management on Private Land
• FW 568/BZ 568 Sustaining River Ecosystems in Changing World
• NR 505 Concepts in GIS
• NR 515 Natural Resources Policy and Biodiversity
• NR 577 Wetland Ecology and Restoration
• NRRT 548 Agritourism Enterprise Management
• RS 329 Rangeland Assessment
• RS 500 Advanced Rangeland Management
• RS 630 Ecology of Grasslands and Shrublands
• SOCR 441 Soil Ecology