Conservation Planning and Park Management (B.S.) - Park Administration and Management Specialization

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Program Coordinator/Contact

Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek, Assistant Professor
Department of Natural Resource Management
Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Laboratory, Room 138
605-688-6121

Program Information

Conservation Planning and Park Management is an interdisciplinary science that trains students to develop conservation strategies at landscape scales. The specialization in Park Administration and Management prepares student for careers in park management, particularly Federal and state government managed facilities. The courses outlined in this specialization are designed to enhance the human management focus needed for this career track.

Student Learning Outcomes

Conservation Planning and Park Management graduates will:

Demonstrate understanding of ecological and environmental principles required for management of natural resources for multiple-uses, including (but not limited to) wildlife habitat, water management, ecosystems services, recreation, and livestock production.
Describe how natural resource management fits into the context of society and how societal factors (e.g., economics, policy, laws, regulations, attitudes, behaviors, norms) influence natural resource management.
Lead and work with others as appropriate to successfully manage natural resources.
Demonstrate appropriate use of natural resource field & lab techniques as well as contemporary technology.
Analyze and critically evaluate data and other information.
Effectively communicate (both written and orally) with both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
Demonstrate an understanding of the professional and ethical responsibility that is necessary for a natural resource manager.

Course Delivery Format

Conservation Planning and Park Management coursework is delivered on-campus in lecture, discussion, and laboratory settings, and off-campus in numerous field-based settings.

Requirements for Conservation Planning and Park Management Major - Park Administration and Management Specialization: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101 - Composition I (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
and
ENGL 201 - Composition II (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
CMST 101 - Fundamentals of Speech (COM) [SGR #2] Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity: ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3 and POLS 210 - State and Local Government (COM) [SGR #3] Credits: 3
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity:
SGR #4 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 114 - College Algebra (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 151-151L - General Biology I and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 4
and CHEM 106-106L - Chemistry Survey and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3, 1

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Requirements

Bachelor of Science Requirements: 11

Students who wish to complete a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences must complete a minimum of 11 credits from the approved list of Group 1 courses. Some departments require specific courses from the list, whereas others leave the selection entirely to the student and the advisor.

System General Education Requirements and/or major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Please review major requirements and the Group 1 list to determine if additional courses are required.

ABS 475-475L - Integrated Natural Resource Management and Lab Credits: 3 (Major Requirement)
NRM 221 - Introduction to Conservation Planning and Management Credits: 3 (Major Requirement)
NRM 282-282L - Natural Resource Statistics and Lab Credits: 3 (Major Requirement)
NRM 311 - Principles of Ecology (COM) Credits: 3 (Major Requirement)

Major Requirements

ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (COM) Credits: 3
ABS 475-475L - Integrated Natural Resource Management and Lab Credits: 3
BOT 301-301L - Plant Systematics (COM) Credits: 3
or BOT 405-405L/505-505L - Grasses and Grasslike Plants and Lab Credits: 3
or BOT 419-419L - Plant Ecology and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
GEOG 131-131L - Physical Geography: Weather and Climate and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 4
or GEOG 132-132L - Physical Geography: Natural Landscapes and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 4
GEOG 365 - Land Use and Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 372-372L - Introduction to GIS and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
HO 339 - Arboriculture and Urban Forestry Credits: 3
or BOT 303-303L - Forest Ecology and Management and Lab Credits: 3
LDR 435 - Organizational Leadership and Team Development Credits: 3
NRM 119 - Orientation to Natural Resource Management Credits: 2
NRM 221 - Introduction to Conservation Planning and Management Credits: 3
NRM 230 - Natural Resource Management Techniques Credits: 2
NRM 276 - Scientific Communications Credits: 1
NRM 282-282L - Natural Resource Statistics and Lab Credits: 3
NRM 300 - Laws and Policies in Natural Resource Management Credits: 3
NRM 311 - Principles of Ecology (COM) Credits: 3
NRM 321 - Park Interpretation Credits: 3
PS 213-213L - Soils and Lab [SGR #6] Credits: 2, 1
RANG 321 - Wildland Ecosystems Credits: 3
RANG 374-374L - Habitat Conservation and Management and Lab Credits: 4
RECR 140 - Introduction to Sport, Recreation and Park Management Credits: 3
RECR 402-502 - Outdoor Recreation Resources Management Credits: 3
WL 430 - Human Dimensions in Natural Resource Management Credits: 3

Select from the following

Select three courses from the following list. Credits: 9

BADM / MGMT 360 - Organization and Management (COM) Credits: 3
BLAW 350 - Legal Environment of Business (COM) Credits: 3
CM 216 - Construction Methods and Materials Credits: 3
HRM 460 - Human Resource Management (COM) Credits: 3

Select from the following

Select two of the following. Credits: 6

RECR 302 - Commercial Recreation and Tourism Credits: 3
RECR 360 - Sport, Recreation and Park Programming Credits: 3
RECR 415-515 - Sport and Recreation Facility Management Credits: 3

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science
System General Education Requirements	32 Credit Hours
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Requirements*	11 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	79 Credit Hours
Electives**	9 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements, Major Requirements, and Supporting Coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.