Program: Natural Resource Law Enforcement (B.S.) - South Dakota State University

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Apr 14, 2025

Students listening to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer.

Program Coordinator/Contact

Riley Moundsdon, Instructor
Department of Natural Resource Management
Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Laboratory, Room 139D
605-688-5602

Program Information

The Natural Resource Law Enforcement program was developed in coordination with state and federal agencies to prepare students for careers as conservation officers, federal wildlife agents, park rangers, and game wardens. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong academic foundation that integrates natural resource management, conservation and law enforcement. Students pursue coursework in wildlife and fisheries sciences, ecology, criminal law and procedures, constitutional law, social issues, and environmental laws and policies. Students acquire skills in communication, conflict resolution, teamwork, leadership, ethics, laws and human dimensions, statistics, technology, global competence, critical thinking, and problem solving. The Natural Resource Law Enforcement Program also delivers outstanding non-traditional educational experiences to students, further increasing their opportunities for career success.

Course Delivery Format

The Natural Resource Law Enforcement program is on campus and engages students in experiential learning in lecture, laboratory, and field based settings.

Requirements for Natural Resource Law Enforcement Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication: SGR #1 Elective Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication: SGR #2 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences: CJUS 201 - Introduction to Criminal Justice (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 and SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 (Supporting Coursework) or SOC 150 - Social Problems (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 or SOC 240 - The Sociology of Rural America (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 (Supporting Coursework)
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities: SGR #4 Elective Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics: SGR #5 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 151 - General Biology I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
,BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1 , CHEM 106 - Chemistry Survey (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3 , and CHEM 106L - Chemistry Survey Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1

Major Requirements

BOT 201 - General Botany (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
and BOT 201L - General Botany Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 0
or BOT 405 - Grasses and Grasslike Plants Credits: 1
and BOT 405L - Grasses and Grasslike Plants Lab Credits: 2
or BOT 415 - Aquatic Plants Credits: 1
and BOT 415L - Aquatic Plants Lab Credits: 2
or BOT /RANG 419 - Plant Ecology (COM) Credits: 2
and BOT /RANG 419L - Plant Ecology Lab (COM) Credits: 1
or PS 255 - Woody Plants Credits: 3
and PS 255L - Woody Plants Lab Credits: 1
NRM 119 - Orientation to Natural Resource Management Credits: 2
NRM 230 - Natural Resource Management Techniques Credits: 2
NRM 276 - Scientific Communications Credits: 1
NRM 282 - Natural Resource Statistics Credits: 2
and NRM 282L - Natural Resource Statistics Lab Credits: 1
or STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3
NRM 300 - Laws and Policies in Natural Resource Management Credits: 3
NRM 311 - Principles of Ecology (COM) Credits: 3
NRM 475 - Natural Resource Law Enforcement Investigations and Report Writing Credits: 3
NRM 476 - Law Enforcement Techniques for Natural Resource Officers Credits: 3
RANG 374 - Habitat Conservation and Management Credits: 3
RANG 374L - Habitat Conservation and Management Lab Credits: 1
WL 220 - Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries Management Credits: 3
WL 355 - Mammalogy (COM) Credits: 3
WL 355L - Mammalogy Lab (COM) Credits: 0
WL 363 - Ornithology (COM) Credits: 4
WL 363L - Ornithology Lab (COM) Credits: 0
WL 367 - Ichthyology Credits: 2
WL 367L - Ichthyology Lab Credits: 1
WL 411 - Principles of Wildlife Management Credits: 2
WL 411L - Principles of Wildlife Management Lab Credits: 1
WL 412 - Principles of Fisheries Management Credits: 2
WL 412L - Principles of Fisheries Management Lab Credits: 1
WL 420 - Wildlife Law Enforcement Credits: 3
WL 430 - Human Dimensions in Natural Resource Management Credits: 3

Supporting Coursework

CJUS 201 - Introduction to Criminal Justice (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
CJUS 338 - Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties Credits: 3
or SOC 325 - Domestic and Intimate Violence (COM) Credits: 3
CJUS 334 - Criminal Investigation (COM) Credits: 3
CJUS 412 - Criminal Prosecution and Defense (COM) Credits: 3
CJUS 431 - Criminal Law (COM) Credits: 3
GEOG 372 - Introduction to GIS (COM) Credits: 2
GEOG 372L - Introduction to GIS Lab (COM) Credits: 1
PS 213 - Soils [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 2
PS 213L - Soils Lab [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
or SOC 150 - Social Problems (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
or SOC 240 - The Sociology of Rural America (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
SOC 351 - Criminology (COM) Credits: 3

Select one of the following options

Select one of the emphasis areas. Credits 9

Natural Resource Science Emphasis

Select 9 credits from the following:

BIOL 373 - Evolution (COM) Credits: 3
EES 430 - Biological Invasions Credits: 3
NRM 350 - Conservation and Management of Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Credits: 3
NRM 410 - Conservation Biology (COM) Credits: 3
NRM 450 - Freshwater Monitoring and Assessment Credits: 2
NRM 450L - Freshwater Monitoring and Assessment Lab Credits: 1
NRM 464 - Ecosystem Ecology Credits: 3
NRM 466 - Environmental Toxicology and Contaminants (COM) Credits: 3
NRM 482 - Natural Resource Management Biometry Credits: 2
NRM 482L - Natural Resource Management Biometry Lab Credits: 1
RANG 421 - Grassland Fire Ecology Credits: 3
WL 415 - Upland Game Ecology and Management Credits: 2
WL 415L - Upland Game Ecology and Management Lab Credits: 1
WL 417 - Large Mammal Ecology and Management Credits: 2
WL 417L - Large Mammal Ecology and Management Lab Credits: 1
WL 419 - Waterfowl Ecology and Management Credits: 2
WL 419L - Waterfowl Ecology and Management Lab Credits: 1
WL 427 - Limnology and Stream Ecology Credits: 2
WL 427L - Limnology and Stream Ecology Lab Credits: 1
WL 431 - Advanced Fisheries Management Credits: 2
WL 431L - Advanced Fisheries Management Lab Credits: 1

Regulation, Law and Policy Emphasis

Select 9 credits from the following:

AGEC 352 - Agricultural Law Credits: 3
CJUS 203 - Policing in a Free Society (COM) Credits: 3
POLS 210 - State and Local Government (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
POLS 225 - Introduction to Moot Court Credits: 3
POLS 337 - Constitutional Law: Government Powers Credits: 3
PUBR 243 - Public Relations Principles (COM) Credits: 3
SOC 350 - Race and Ethnic Relations (COM) Credits: 3
SOC 354 - Victimology (COM) Credits: 3
SOC 455 - Juvenile Delinquency (COM) 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*	26 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	52 Credit Hours
Supporting Coursework	36 Credit Hours
Electives**	6 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements and Supporting Coursework.
**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.

Natural Resource Law Enforcement (B.S.)

Natural Resource Law Enforcement (B.S.)

Location(s): Brookings Main CampusClose