Logo - University of Alaska Fairbanks

1999-2000 Catalog

Degrees and Programs

Natural Resources Management

College of Natural Resource Development and Management
School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management
(907) 474-7083

Degrees: B.S., M.S.

Minimum Requirements for Degrees: B.S.: 130 credits; M.S.: 30-35 credits

Natural resources management is making and implementing decisions to develop, maintain or protect ecosystems to meet human needs and values. The core natural resources management curriculum provides students with a broad education in the various natural resources and their related applied fields. Programs can be tailored to enhance a student's depth or breadth in a given field of interest. The program is designed for students desiring careers in resources management or in other fields requiring knowledge of resources management, students planning advanced study, as well as those wishing to be better informed citizens.

The B.S. degree has three concentrations: forestry; plant, animal, and soil sciences; and resources. The forestry concentration offers students the opportunity to focus on the multi-resource management of forests and associated ecosystems for the sustained production of goods and services and to prepare for forestry related employment.

The natural resources management/forestry program is the only accredited four-year forestry program in Alaska.

The goals of UAF's forestry program are: to produce graduates who are highly competitive in obtaining professional employment, who have the knowledge to perform well on the job and who are valued for work in Alaska and the circumpolar North; maintain close student interaction with faculty and provide opportunity for students to obtain practical professional experience as part of their education; and to prepare students for lifelong learning and responsible participation in decision making about the use of natural resources.

The university provides students with a foundation in the biological, social and physical sciences and a blend of classroom, laboratory, and field work to develop skills for a career in forestry. The forestry program leads to a professional degree in forestry. The program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF).

A pre-forestry program (SALRM) is provided for students interested in pursuing a forestry degree outside of Alaska. This pre-forestry program introduces students to land resources management and provides lower level courses common to most forestry curricula. Students complete the first two years at UAF and then can transfer to a forestry school elsewhere. Students electing this path should consult their UAF faculty advisor before registering for classes. This will ensure a schedule that provides for expeditious transfer of credit to the desired institution.

Students who are considering forestry as a career choice should contact the student affairs coordinator within the School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management.

The plant, animal and soil sciences concentration offers opportunities for scientific study and education in areas such as: field and greenhouse plant production, domestication and propagation of native plants, revegetation, domestic and native animal production, and agricultural and ecological aspects of soil science. The resources concentration emphasizes responsible stewardship in the management of multiple resources that occur in natural systems. Field and laboratory activities and applications of knowledge gained are stressed throughout the program. Internships and work-study arrangements are often available for qualified students.

The School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management offers an M.S. degree in natural resources management. The courses and curriculum for this program were developed in cooperation with groups and agencies that work professionally with resource management in Alaska.

The M.S. program offers both thesis and non-thesis options. The thesis option is designed for those intending to pursue management careers requiring thorough familiarity with research procedures and techniques in one or more of the resources fields, to proceed to doctoral programs, and/or to conduct research in management problems. The non-thesis option is designed for those planning a management career involving largely non-research responsibilities such as general planning and administration, communication and public information, and impact assessment.

Thesis research in natural resources management is directed toward resource problems at high latitudes. Research by graduate students has centered on biological and physical aspects of land management in Alaska in relation to land ownership, land use planning, economic analysis and competing resources needs. Areas of emphasis have included forest management, land use planning, soil management, natural resource policy, parks and recreation management, horticulture and agronomy and animal science.

State and federal agencies such as the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Soil Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contribute significantly to the instructional program, by providing guest lecturers and internship and field work opportunities for students.

Undergraduate Program

Major

Natural Resources Management -- B.S. Degree

Concentrations: Forestry; Plant, Animal and Soil Sciences; Resources

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete a MATH -- Calculus course.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements (page 30).
  3. Complete the following (major) requirements:*
    BIOL 105X -- Fundamentals of Biology I** (4 credits)
    BIOL 106X -- Fundamentals of Biology II** (4 credits)
    BIOL 271 -- Principles of Ecology (4 credits)
    CHEM 105X -- General Chemistry*** (4 credits)
    CHEM 106X -- General Chemistry*** (4 credits)
    ECON 235 -- Introduction to Natural Resource Economics (3 credits)
    NRM 101 -- Natural Resources Conservation and Policy (3 credits)
    NRM 106 -- Orientation to Natural Resource Management (1 credit)
    NRM 304O -- Perspectives in Natural Resources Management (3 credits)
    NRM 380W -- Soils and the Environment (3 credits)
    NRM 405W -- Senior Thesis in Natural Resources Management I (2 credits)
    NRM 406W -- Senior Thesis in Natural Resources Management II (2 credits)
    STAT 200 -- Elementary Probability and Statistics*** (3 credits)
  4. Complete 1 of the following concentrations:*

    Forestry

    1. Complete the following:
      AIS 101 -- Effective Personal Computer Use**** (3 credits)
      BIOL 239 -- Introduction to Plant Biology (4)
           or NRM 211 -- Introduction to Applied Plant Science (3) (3-4 credits)
      CE 112 -- Elementary Surveying (3 credits)
      ECON 335 -- Intermediate Natural Resource Economics (3 credits)
      GEOS 101X -- The Dynamic Earth (4 credits)
      NRM 204 -- Natural Resources Legislation and Policy (3 credits)
      NRM 251 -- Silvics and Dendrology (4 credits)
      NRM 290 -- Resource Management Issues at High Latitudes (2 credits)
      NRM 338 -- Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
      NRM 340 -- Natural Resources Measurement and Inventory (3 credits)
      NRM 365W -- Principles of Outdoor Recreation Management (3 credits)
      NRM 370 -- Introduction to Watershed Management (3 credits)
      NRM 430 -- Resource Management Planning (3 credits)
      NRM 450 -- Forest Management (3 credits)
      NRM 451W -- Silviculture (3 credits)
      NRM 452 -- Forest Protection (3 credits)
      NRM 453 -- Harvesting and Utilization of Forest Products (3 credits)
      WLF 201 -- Wildlife Management Principles (3)
           or FISH 401W,O/2 -- Fisheries Management (3) (3 credits)
    2. Complete 3 of the following to total at least 8 credits:*****
      AVTY 302 -- Aerial Data Collection (2 credits)
      BIOL 331 -- Systematic Botany (4 credits)
      FIRE -- Any course on wildland fire control/management (3 credits)
      GEOS 408 -- Photogeology (2 credits)
      GEOS 422 -- Geoscience Applications of Remote Sensing (3 credits)
      NRM 277 -- Introduction to Conservation Biology (3 credits)
      NRM 300 -- Internship in Natural Resources Management****** (1-6 credits)
      NRM 303X -- Environmental Ethics and Actions******* (3 credits)
      NRM 312 -- Introduction to Range Management (3 credits)
      NRM 341 -- GIS Analysis (4 credits)
      STAT 401 -- Regression and Analysis of Variance (4 credits)
      STAT 402 -- Scientific Sampling (3 credits)
      WLF 201 -- Wildlife Management Principles (3)
           or FISH 401W,O/2 -- Fisheries Management (3) (3 credits)
    3. Minimum credits required (130 credits)

      4. * Student must earn a "C" grade or better in each course.

      ** Satisfies core natural science requirement.

      *** Satisfies B.S. degree natural science requirement.

      **** Or approved alternative.

      ***** Courses other than those listed must be approved by student's advisor.

      ****** Must be forestry related.

      ******* If used to fulfill the baccalaureate core requirement for ethics/values and choices in the perspectives on the human condition, NRM 303X may not also count toward a natural resources management major.

    Plant, Animal and Soil Sciences

    1. Complete the following:
      BIOL 331 -- Systematic Botany (4 credits)
      NRM 211 -- Introduction to Applied Plant Science (3 credits)
      NRM 290 -- Resource Management Issues at High Latitudes (2 credits)
      NRM 310O -- Agricultural Concepts (3 credits)
      NRM 320 -- Introduction to Animal Science (3 credits)
      NRM 480 -- Soil Management for Quality and Conservation (3 credits)
    2. Complete at least 8 credits in biology, botany, physics, chemistry, geosciences and/or mathematics, in addition to the above basic courses. Courses must be approved for science majors.
    3. Complete at least 9 credits in the following natural resources management electives:
      NRM 102 -- Practicum in Natural Resources Management (1-2)
           and/or NRM 300 -- Internship in Natural Resources Management (1-3) (1-3 credits)
      NRM 204 -- Natural Resources Legislation and Policy (3 credits)
      NRM 215 -- Plant Propagation (3 credits)
      NRM 251 -- Silvics and Dendrology (4 credits)
      NRM 312 -- Introduction to Range Management (3 credits)
      NRM 313 -- Introduction to Plant Pathology (4 credits)
      NRM 321 -- Applied Animal Nutrition (3 credits)
      NRM 338 -- Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
      NRM 340 -- Natural Resources Measurement and Inventory (3 credits)
      NRM 341 -- GIS Analysis (4 credits)
      NRM 370 -- Introduction to Watershed Management (3 credits)
      NRM 404 -- Processes of Natural Resources Decision Making (3 credits)
      NRM 412 -- Field Crop Production (3 credits)
      NRM 420 -- Animal Nutrition and Metabolism (3 credits)
      NRM 425 -- Ungulate Management and Production Systems (3 credits)
      NRM 485 -- Soil Biology (3 credits)
    4. Complete at least 12 credits beyond those taken to fulfill categories above in a support field which is a group of courses selected for its clear pertinence to a cohesive program. Support fields may include but are not limited to: animal science, chemistry, communications, education, engineering, forestry, geography, marketing, natural resources management, nutrition, plant science, rural development and soils. The courses must be approved by the student's academic advisor prior to attaining senior standing.
    5. Minimum credits required (130 credits)

    Resources

    1. Complete the following:
      ECON 335 -- Intermediate Natural Resource Economics (3 credits)
      GEOS 101X -- The Dynamic Earth (4 credits)
      NRM 204 -- Natural Resources Legislation and Policy (3 credits)
      NRM 251 -- Silvics and Dendrology (4 credits)
      NRM 290 -- Resource Management Issues at High Latitudes (2 credits)
      NRM 312 -- Introduction to Range Management (3)
           or NRM 480 -- Soil Management for Quality and Conservation (3) (3 credits)
      NRM 338 -- Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
      NRM 340 -- Natural Resources Measurement and Inventory (3 credits)
      NRM 365W -- Principles of Outdoor Recreation Management (3 credits)
      NRM 370 -- Introduction to Watershed Management (3 credits)
      NRM 430 -- Resource Management Planning (3 credits)
      WLF 201 -- Wildlife Management Principles (3)
           or FISH 401W,O/2 -- Fisheries Management (3) (3 credits)
    2. Complete at least 9 credits from the humans and the environmental electives category. Courses involve human effects on the environment and its products through management. Substitutions may be made only with the permission of the student's academic advisor and the department head.
      ANTH 428W -- Ecological Anthropology (3 credits)
      ECON 437W -- Regional Economic Development (3 credits)
      EQS 201 -- Environmental Management (3 credits)
      FISH 261-F -- Introduction to Seafood Science and Nutrition (3 credits)
      FISH 401W,O/2 -- Fisheries Management (3 credits)
      FIRE 256 -- Wildland Fire Planning and Multiple Use Management (3 credits)
      GEOG 327 -- Cold Lands (3 credits)
      MIN 101 -- Minerals, Man and the Environment (3 credits)
      MIN 400 -- Practical Engineering Report (1 credit)
      MIN 407W -- Mine Reclamation and Environmental Management (3 credits)
      NRM 277 -- Introduction to Conservation Biology (3 credits)
      NRM 300 -- Internship in Natural Resources Management (3 credits)
      NRM 310O -- Agricultural Concepts (3 credits)
      NRM 312 -- Introduction to Range Management (3 credits)
      NRM 404 -- Processes of Natural Resources Decision Making (3 credits)
      NRM/WLF 431 -- Wildlife Policy and Administration (3 credits)
      NRM 450 -- Forest Management (3 credits)
      NRM 451 -- Silviculture (3 credits)
      NRM 465 -- Outdoor Recreation Planning (3 credits)
      NRM 480 -- Soil Management for Quality and Conservation (3 credits)
      PS 420 -- Environmental Policies (3 credits)
      RD 255 -- Rural Alaska Land Issues (3 credits)
      RD 265 -- Perspectives on Subsistence in Alaska (3 credits)
      RD 350O -- Community Research Techniques (3 credits)
      WLF 201 -- Wildlife Management Principles (3 credits)
      WLF 419O/2 -- Waterfowl and Wetlands Ecology and Management (4 credits)
    3. Select at least 9 credits in an approved support field. Selections may include courses listed within the humans and the environmental elective category, and need not be limited to those with NRM designators. Courses are selected for their clear pertinence to a cohesive program and must be approved by the student's academic advisor prior to attaining senior standing. Examples include but are not limited to: communications, data management, economics, marketing, recreation or resources policy. Support fields may also include subject areas in forest and plant, animal, and soil sciences.
    4. Minimum credits required (130 credits)

Note: Courses required for the majors may also be used to satisfy the general university and B.S. degree requirements as appropriate.

Minor

  1. Complete the following:
    NRM 101 -- Natural Resources Conservation and Policy (3 credits)
    NRM electives* (15 credits)
  2. Minimum credits required (18 credits)

* At least 6 credits must be upper division. The minor program must be approved by an NRM advisor.

Graduate Program

Natural Resources Management -- M.S. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements.
  2. Complete the master's degree requirements.
  3. Complete or have prior general familiarity with the major resource fields listed as concentrations under the B.S. degree requirements. Course requirements in any one field will depend on the needs of the candidate and the capabilities of the university.
  4. Complete or have prior coursework within the program in computer science, statistical methods and basic economics.
  5. Complete the thesis or non-thesis requirements:

    Thesis

    1. Complete the following:
      NRM 692 -- Graduate Seminar (3 credits)
      NRM 699 -- Thesis (6-12 credits)
      Research methods course at the 300-level or above* (3 credits)
      STAT course at the 300-level or above** (3 credits)
      Additional approved courses (9-15 credits)
    2. Minimum credits required (30 credits)

    Non-thesis

    1. Complete the following:
      NRM 692 -- Graduate Seminar (3 credits)
      NRM 698 -- Research (3 credits)
      Research methods course at the 300-level or above* (3 credits)
      STAT course at the 300-level or above** (3 credits)
      Additional approved courses (23 credits)
    2. Minimum credits required (35 credits)

* Requirement may be met with a research methods course in a discipline related to natural resources management.

** Requirement may be met with a statistics course in mathematical sciences or in a discipline related to natural resources management.