Rangeland Sciences BS
Rangeland sciences is the study and sustainable management of rangelands across a variety of biomes, from arid deserts, to mesic grasslands, to tropical savannahs. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach to provide advanced scientific knowledge regarding multiple ecological processes and social drivers influencing rangeland ecosystems around the globe. Students gain the skills and knowledge needed to fully understand and effectively manage rangelands for improved productivity and enhanced ecosystem resilience. The goal is that students graduating from the program will integrate contemporary rangeland ecology and management principles into a systems-based decision-making framework that promotes ecological resilience, sustainable societies, and thriving economies in rangeland ecosystems.
The base program is divided up into knowledge areas that are the foundation of land management, and map to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) course requirements for multiple 400-series Biological Sciences positions (i.e., 401 Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series; 408 Ecology Series; 454 Range Management Series; and 457 Soil Conservation Series). This is an important feature of the Rangeland Sciences program as many students go on to careers with federal or state agencies.
Student Learning Outcome 1: Apply rangeland sciences understanding of multifaceted disturbance dynamics for bolstering site ecological resilience and increasing the generation of ecosystem goods and services.
Student Learning Outcome 2: Assess the plant-soil-water-animal complex for a given rangeland location and outline goals, objectives, and actions for improved site productivity while preserving the environment.
Student Learning Outcome 3: Apply a wide variety of interdisciplinary monitoring and assessment techniques for developing rangeland management plans for improved habitat of multiple wildlife and domestic species.
Student Learning Outcome 4: Use a systems approach to develop sustainable rangeland stewardship programs relevant to the specific conditions of rangeland ecosystems worldwide.
For more information, contact Dodi Reesman, Departmental Head Advisor for Animal and Rangeland Sciences.