Grassland Management Certificate

Program Coordinator/Contact

Alexander (Sandy) Smart, Professor
Department of Natural Resource Management
Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Laboratory 138, Box 2140B
605-688-6121
E-mail: alexander.smart@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/natural-resource-management

Program Information

Grasslands represent a fundamental resource of the region that determines the environmental and economic future of the Great Plains. Many of the managers or advisors on these grasslands have B.S. degrees in natural resources or agriculture and want to further develop their expertise in grassland management through university programs. However, constraints associated with their work schedule and responsibilities limit their ability to pursue conventional on-campus coursework and graduate degrees. The Grassland Management Graduate Certificate Program was developed to address the needs of working professionals as well as other students interested in distance education opportunities. Students will interact with their institutional advisors to develop a plan of study most beneficial to the student. Coursework may be transferred in on a case-by-case basis with the approval of the student’s advisor.

Course Delivery Format

This program is delivered fully online through the AG*IDEA Program, an affiliate of the Great Plains IDEA, a national consortium of universities offering programs and courses in agriculture disciplines. AG*IDEA’s fully online program provides flexibility, enabling students to balance career advancement with professional, social and financial commitments.

Certificate Requirements

Complete a minimum of 12 credits from the following courses:

RANG 510 - Grassland Monitor & Assessment Credits: 2
RANG 520 - Watershed Management Credits: 3
RANG 521 - Grassland Fire Ecology Credits: 3
RANG 530 - Ecology of Invasive Species Credits: 3
RANG 540 - Grassland Plant Identification Credits: 2
RANG 710 - Principles of Forage Quality Credits: 3
RANG 750 - Grazing Ecology and Management Credits: 3

Total Required Credits: 12

Additional Admission Requirements

Please refer to the following for additional information:

Graduate School Admission
Distance Education

Additional Information

Students enrolled in SDSU certificate programs are not eligible for federal student financial aid. The non-federal alternative loan programs may be used for students meeting the lender criteria as found at www.sdstate.edu (search alternative loans). For further information, please contact the SDSU financial aid office at 605-688-4695 or finaid@sdstate.edu.