Rangeland is a fundamental renewable natural resource. In Wyoming, it occupies over 50 million acres, offering wide opportunities for the multiple uses of livestock and wildlife grazing, recreation, water production and natural beauty. Students are taught to understand and manage complex rangeland ecosystems.
The rangeland ecology and watershed management curriculum is designed for students wishing to study ecology, utilization and management of rangelands and wildland watersheds and related resources of forestry, recreation, wildlife management, soil science, botany and zoology. Degrees include Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy.
The undergraduate course of study helps students become well prepared for careers in natural resource management (e.g., range management, watershed management, restoration ecology/reclamation of degraded land, wildlife habitat management, ranch management, various types of environmental consulting), or other natural science careers. The curriculum fully meets the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) requirements for Rangeland Management Specialist. By appropriate course selection within the elective hours, students will also meet OPM requirements for additional professional work, such as soil conservationist or hydrologist.
120 hours are required for graduation. Most students will need about 30 additional credit hours after satisfying core requirements. To increase job search marketability, students are advised to consider selecting many of their electives from the Natural Resources Elective Courses.
A minor in rangeland ecology and watershed management is available for students in other majors interested in increasing their knowledge of the field. The number of hours required is 22. The required courses for the minor are: BIOL/LIFE 1010 (4 hrs) and 3400 (3); and REWM 2000 (3), 2500 (2), 4330 (3), 4530 (1) and 6 hrs. selected from other REWM upper-division (3000 or 4000 level) courses.
