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The Institute of Renewable Natural Resources

Professional Fields of Study and Department Heads

  Forestry
-
 C. Tattersall Smith, Jr.
  Rangeland Ecology and Management
-
 Robert E. Whitson
  Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences
-
 Joseph O'Leary
  Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
-
 Robert D. Brown

General Statement

The curricula in the four departments comprising the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources offer opportunities to obtain professional training in specific areas in management and conservation of natural resources. Students also may select a broader approach to natural resource education by pursuing the multi-departmental degree in renewable natural resources. This program may be selected in any department in the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources.

Renewable Natural Resources

Renewable Natural Resources (RENR) is for students desiring a rigorous education in the study and management of sustainable ecosystems for a wide variety of resource values. The RENR program of study is comprised of a core of courses and three emphases. The goal of this core/emphasis structure is to provide students with an identity as a renewable natural resources specialist, while, at the same time, affording the flexibility for preparation for a variety of career tracks. One emphasis focuses on management, one on science and one on policy. Technical electives guide the students in chosen educational and career directions. The underlying goal of the RENR degree is to integrate the scientific issues of renewable natural resources. Graduates of this program will be able to articulate these issues verbally and in writing in their chosen career. Therefore, the RENR degree emphasizes verbal presentations and major papers as well as field-oriented activities.

The RENR programs are designed to help students prepare for careers in public and private organizations associated with the planning and use of natural resources and the environment. Possible employment includes areas such as multiple-use land management, environmental assessment, resource inventory, natural resource planning, policy analysis and land remediation. The science emphasis is especially appropriate for research positions, the management emphasis for ranch or timberland management, and the policy emphasis for careers in law or policy.

The RENR degree consists of 132 credit hours: 104 common to all three emphases, and 28 designated by the emphases (with free electives).

Curricula in Renewable Natural Resources

Freshman Year

First Semester

(Th-Pr)

Cr

 

Second Semester

(Th-Pr)

Cr
AGLS 101 Mod. Ag. Sys. and Ren. Nat. Res.

(1-0)

1

 

CHEM 102 Fund. of Chemistry II

(3-3)

4
BOTN 101 Botany

(3-3)

4

 

ENGL 104 Composition and Rhetoric

(3-0)

3
CHEM 101 Fund. of Chemistry I

(3-3)

4

 

MATH 131 Math. Concepts-Calculus

 

 

AGEC 105 Intro. to Agricultural Econ.

 

 

 

or

 

 

or

 

 

 

MATH 142 Business Math. II

(3-0)

3
ECON 202 Principles of Economics

(3-0)

3

 

ZOOL 107 Zoology

(3-3)

4
MATH 141 Business Math. I

 

 

 

* KINE 199 Required Physical Activity

(0-2)

1
or

 

 

 

 

 

15
MATH 166 Topics in Cont. Math. II

(3-0)

3

 

 

 

 
* KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity

(0-2)

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 
Sophomore Year
COMM 203 Public Speaking

(3-0)

3

 

PHYS 201 College Physics

(3-3)

4
POLS 206 American Natl. Govt.

(3-0)

3

 

POLS 207 State and Local Govt.

(3-0)

3
RENR 201 Computer Applic. in Ag.

(2-2)

3

 

RENR 205 Fundamentals of Ecology

(3-0)

3
American history elective 2

 

3

 

RENR 215 Fundamentals of Ecology Lab.

(0-3)

1
 

 

12

 

American history elective 2

 

3
 

 

 

 

 

 

14
 
Junior and Senior Years
Course
(Th-Pr)
Cr
AGEC 350 Environmental and
Natural Resource Economics
(3-0)
3
AGRO 301 Soil Science
(3-2)
4
ENGL 210 Scientific and Technical Writing
     or ENGL 301 Technical Writing
(3-0)
3
FRSC 302 Fund. of Envir. Decision Making
     or FRSC 406 Forest Policy
     or WFSC 303 Fish and Wildlife Laws and Administration
(3-0)
3
FRSC 306 Forest Mensuration 1
(2-3)
     or RLEM 315 Vegetation Inventory and Analysis 1
(2-2)
3
FRSC 461 Geographic Information Systems for Resource Management 1
(3-0)
3
RENR 375 Conservation of Natural Resources
(3-0)
3
RLEM 301 Range and Forest Watershed Management
(2-2)
3
RPTS 316 Recreational Mgmt. of Wildlands 1
(3-0)
3
STAT 302 Statistical Methods
(3-0)
3
WFSC 414 Limnology
(3-3)
4
Emphasis electives 4
28
Humanities elective 2,3
3
Plant or animal taxonomy
3
Visual and performing arts elective 2,6
3
Work/field experience 5
3
 
75

Notes:
1. Equivalent course may be substituted with approval of an advisor.

2. To be selected from the University Core Curriculum.

3. Three hours must be satisfied by either PHIL 314 (Environmental Ethics) or PHIL 316 (Agricultural Ethics).

4. The 28 emphasis elective credit hours are a combination of restricted and free electives determined by the student's selection of the emphasis and subsequent consultation with the advisor. A description of each of the three emphases and the course work required follows.

5. Work/field experience to be arranged with student's advisor.

6. The University Core Curriculum includes a requirement for 6 hours of international and cultural diversity courses. Click here for a list of acceptable courses. A course satisfying another Core category, a college/department requirement or used as a free elective can be used to satisfy these requirements.

* Click here for more information.
RENR Science Emphasis

Science. Designed for students desiring a rigorous foundation in science as it relates to the integration of renewable natural resources disciplines. The flexibility designed into this curriculum provides the student with the opportunity to acquire a broad-based understanding of general principles. The science emphasis seeks to prepare the student for graduate study and technical careers in the field and laboratory (28 credit hours emphasis electives, 14 credit hours of which are restricted electives, with 14 credit hours of free electives).

Restricted and Free Electives

At least 28 credit hours from the following are required for completion of the renewable natural resources degree with the science emphasis.

CHEM 222 Elements of Organic and Biological Chemistry
(3-0)
3
GENE 301 Genetics
(3-3)
4
PHYS 202 College Physics
(3-3)
4
One of the following:
     FRSC 204 Forest Ecology
(3-0)
3
     RLEM 316 Rangeland Communities and Ecosystems
(2-2)
3
     WFSC 403 Animal Ecology
(3-0)
3
Free electives
14
RENR Management Emphasis

Management. Designed for an education in the scientific management of integrated natural resources. In today's world, it is important to have college graduates prepared to deal with integrated systems, accounting for all the separate aspects of the system. The management emphasis seeks to prepare the student to integrate concerns related to land, water, air, plants and wildlife into the management process (28 credit hours emphasis electives, 13-14 credit hours of which are restricted electives, with 14-15 credit hours of free electives).

Restricted and Free Electives

At least 28 credit hours from the following are required for completion of the renewable natural resources degree with the management emphasis.

RENR 410 Ecosystem Management
(3-3)
4
One of the following:
     FRSC 203 Dendrology 1
(2-2)
3
     WFSC 302 Natural History of Vertebrates 1
(2-2)
3
Two of the following:
     FRSC 305 Silviculture
(3-3)
4
     RLEM 314 Prin. of Range Management
(2-2)
3
     RPTS 460 Dev. of Recreational Resources
(3-0)
3
     WFSC 201 Wildlife Con. Management
(3-0)
3
     WFSC 406 Conservation Biology and Wildlife Habitat      Management
(3-0)
3
Free electives
14-15

NOTES: 1.
Taxonomy course chosen may not be the same course used under the required junior- and senior-level courses; no more than one plant or one animal taxonomy course may be taken for the degree.

RENR Policy Emphasis

Environmental Policy and Planning. Designed for students desiring an education in natural resources policy. This emphasis incorporates knowledge from all renewable natural resources disciplines, which provides a foundation for decision-making related to the environment. Students will obtain an understanding of the behavior of institutions and organizations associated with natural resource management.

Professionals associated with natural resources need to consider legislative mandates, community interests, resource evaluation and competing uses, and conflict management techniques. This emphasis prepares the student for work in private industry, public and non-profit agencies, and law or graduate school. Students must select 15 hours of restricted electives from an approved list in consultation with their advisor. The remaining 13 hours are free electives.

Restricted and Free Electives

The following 28 credit hours are required for completion of the Renewable Natural Resources option with the policy emphasis.

Restricted electives 15
Free electives 13