Range Science Major

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Program Coordinator/Contact
Alexander (Sandy) Smart, Professor
Department of Natural Resource Management
Animal Science Building, Room 219
605-688-4017
E-mail: alexander.smart@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/nrm
Click here for additional information.

Program Information
Range Science focuses on the scientific study of rangelands, arid regions, grasslands, as well as resource management for maximum benefit and environmental balance. Graduates are well prepared for careers in a variety of fields including ranching and other agricultural pursuits, as well as agency and private sector positions. Students can choose one of two emphases.

The Rangeland Ecology and Management emphasis is available for students who will readily find employment opportunities with federal agencies such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
The Ranch Management emphasis is for those with an interest in careers focused on grasslands, grazing, and cattle management. Interaction with the student’s advisor can help focus on appropriate complimentary coursework in animal science and agricultural business coursework.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure
The Range Science major is accredited by the Society for Range Management.

Course Delivery Format
The Range Science program is on campus and engages students in experiential learning in lecture, laboratory, and field based settings.

Requirements for Range Science Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

System General Education Requirements*: 31-32

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101
and
ENGL 201
Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101
Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity :
SOC 100
or
SOC 150
or
SOC 240
or
ANTH 210
and
ECON 201
Credits: 6
Goal #4 Humanities and Arts/Diversity : Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 102
(or higher) Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 153-153L
or
BOT 201-201L
and
CHEM 106-106L
or
CHEM 112-112L
Credits: 7-8

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 5

Goal #1 First Year Seminar :
NRM 109**
Credits: 2
Goal #2 Cultural Awareness and Social and Environmental Responsibility Credits: 3

Major Requirement Credits: 34

AS 101-101L - Introduction to Animal Science and Lab Credits: 3
AS 233-233L - Applied Animal Nutrition and Lab Credits: 4
AS 474-474L - Cow/Calf Management and Lab Credits: 3
or AS 477-477L - Sheep and Wool Production and Lab Credits: 3
RANG 105-105L - Introduction to Range Management and Lab * Credits: 3
RANG 210-210L - Range Plant Identification and Lab Credits: 2
RANG 215 - Introduction to Integrated Ranch Management Credits: 3
RANG 321 - Wildland Ecosystems Credits: 3
RANG 425-425L/525-525L - Rangeland Assessment and Monitoring Lab Credits: 3
RANG 415-415L - Range Improvements and Grazing Management and Lab Credits: 4
RANG 421-521 - Grassland Fire Ecology Credits: 3

Capstone Course: 3

Select one course:

ABS 475-475L - Integrated Natural Resource Management and Lab (AW) Credits: 3
RANG 485-485L - Advanced Integrated Ranch Management and Lab Credits: 3

Required Support Course Credits: 38

PS 310-310L - Soil Geography and Land Use Interpretation and Lab ** (G)
Credits: 3
or
PS 362-362L - Environmental Soil Management and Lab **
Credits: 3
ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) (AW)
Credits: 3
or
SPCM 215 - Public Speaking (COM) *
Credits: 3
PS 313 - Forage Crop and Pasture Management
Credits: 3
or
PR/BOT 303-303L - Forest Ecology and Management and Lab
Credits: 3
or
WL 220 - Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries Management
Credits: 3
BOT 419-419L - Plant Ecology and Lab (COM)
Credits: 3
or
EES 425-425L/525-525L - Disturbance Ecology and Lab
Credits: 4
or
NRM 440-440L - Restoration Ecology and Lab
Credits: 4
PS 213-213L - Soils and Lab * **
Credits: 3

AGEC 271-271L - Farm and Ranch Management and Lab Credits: 4
BIOL 151-151L - General Biology I and Lab * (COM) Credits: 4
BOT 301-301L - Plant Systematics (COM) Credits: 4
BOT 327-327L - Plant Physiology and Lab (COM) Credits: 4
GEOG 472 - Introduction to GIS Credits: 3
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics * (COM) Credits: 3

Emphasis: 13-15

Choose among the following courses in one of the two emphases.

Rangeland Ecology and Management Emphasis: 13-15

BOT 405-405L/505-505L - Grasses and Grasslike Plants and Lab
Credits: 3
BIOL 311-311L - Principles of Ecology and Lab (COM)
Credits: 3, 1
HO 303-303L - Forest Ecology and Management and Lab
Credits: 3
PS 313 - Forage Crop and Pasture Management
Credits: 3
RANG 400 - Judging Teams
Credits: 1-4
WL 220 - Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries Management
Credits: 3
WL 411-411L - Principles of Wildlife Management and Lab
Credits: 3

Ranch Management Emphasis: 13-15

RANG 400 - Judging Teams
Credits: 1-3

ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (COM) Credits: 3
AGEC 354 - Agricultural Marketing and Prices Credits: 3
AGEC 430-530 - Advanced Agricultural Marketing and Prices Credits: 3
AS 285-285L - Livestock Evaluation and Marketing and Lab Credits: 4
AS 332 - Livestock Breeding and Genetics Credits: 4
PS 313 - Forage Crop and Pasture Management Credits: 3

Total Required Credits: 120

Curriculum Notes

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has a 5 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.