Natural Resource Management (BOT, EES, RANG, WL)

David Willis, Department Head
Department of Natural Resource Management
Northern Plains Biostress Laboratory 138C
605-688-6121
e-mail: david.willis@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/wfs/

Faculty

Distinguished Professor Willis, Head; Professor Troelstrup, Assistant Head; Distinguished Professor Emeritus Flake; Distinguished Professors Jenks, W. Johnson; Professors Emeritus Berry, Higgins, Scalet; Professors Brown, Chipps, Dieter, Gates, Gilmanov, Hubbard, P. Johnson, Johnston, Larson, Smart, Wimberly; Associate Professors Graeb, Jensen, Stafford, Xu; Assistant Professors Bertrand, Gigliotti, Grovenburg, Perkins, Wuellner; Adjunct Professors Barnes, Bowyer, Chipps, Fredrickson, Leslie, Mousel, Wahl, Wylie; Adjunct Associate Professors Blackwell, DePerno, Euliss, Klaver, Klumb, Naugle, Stafford, Sutton, Uresk, Waits; Adjunct Assistant Professors Adams, Anteau, Austin, Bakker, Fincel, Gigliotti, Granfors, Grovenburg, Holland, Isermann, Jacques, James, Lehman, Pegg, Rumble, Schmitz, Sovada, Switzer

Programs

North America is blessed with a wide diversity of natural resources. These natural resources provide both consumptive and non-consumptive values to humans. Natural resources provide economic benefit from the wise use of renewable natural resources such as grass or wildlife. In addition, the quality of life for many humans is intimately tied to natural resources. Thus, educational opportunities in natural resource management at SDSU can lead to a diverse array of career opportunities. SDSU offers three majors focused on improving our understanding and management of natural resources. These include majors in Ecology and Environmental Science, Range Science, and Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences.

Ecology and Environmental Science Major

The Ecology and Environmental Science major includes a strong core in biophysical sciences and a variety of elective courses that allow students to follow their interests within the major. Students are given the opportunity to select from two emphases. Undergraduate students interested in education to become an ecologist are encouraged to pursue the Ecology emphasis. Curricula are designed so that upon completion students may become a certified ecologist (certification from the Ecological Society of America) for employment with state or federal agencies, or private consulting firms. Undergraduate students interested in a career or graduate program to address contemporary environmental issues should select the Environmental Science emphasis. This emphasis includes a broader selection of elective credits, allowing the student to design a track optimal for their future career or graduate education path. Most students enrolled in this major are planning careers with environmental monitoring and regulatory agencies or private consulting firms.

Range Science Major

Undergraduate students interested in Range Science can choose one of two emphases. An emphasis in Rangeland Ecology and Management is available for students who wish to find employment opportunities with agencies such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Students more interested in grasslands and cattle can pursue a Ranch Management emphasis. The Range Science major is accredited by the Society for Range Management.

Wildlife and Fisheries Science Major

Undergraduate students interested in this subject matter can find career opportunities with a B.S. degree by working as conservation officers for state natural resource agencies. For students more interested in the biology of wildlife and fishes, there are some technician-level positions for B.S.-level wildlife and fisheries biologists. However, most of the biologist positions are filled with individuals who have earned a graduate degree. Students majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences can be certified by the American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society.

Minors

The Department offers a minor in Range Science and Botany Minor for those wishing to students with varied interests. Plants are the base of the energy web within the planet’s natural resources, and thus these minors cross many disciplines to other fields such as ecology and wildlife and fisheries sciences.

Graduate degrees

Graduate programs include M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in either Biological Science or Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. The M.S. degree is intended to educate students for management-level positions with state and federal agencies, private companies, and for the pursuit of higher academic degrees. By using specifically identified coursework and mentoring, we strive to assist students in developing their intellectual capabilities in working with natural resources and people. In addition, each student must propose and conduct an original scientific investigation. The Ph.D. degree is intended to educate students for upper-level management, research and administrative positions with state and federal agencies, and private companies. It is also intended to prepare students in the teaching, research, and service component responsibilities needed for faculty positions with universities and colleges. By building on the educational foundation that students obtain from B.S. and M.S. degree work, we endeavor to raise them to a higher intellectual plateau. While coursework is involved, this educational experience is primarily based on research and mentoring. This degree requires original thought and research contributions, synthesis and development of information, and contributions to the world and its natural resources.