Course Descriptions

Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

R. J. Ansley, Jr., R. D. Baker, T. W. Boutton, D. D. Briske, D. M. Burton, T. D. Byram, J. R. Conner, R. N. Coulson, M. Eriksson, R. A. Feagin, T. D. Forbes, C. D. Foster, J. Gan, J. H. Gould, W. T. Hamilton, C. W. Hanselka, C. R. Hart, S. L. Hatch, R. W. Knight, M. M. Kothman, U. P. Kreuter, K. V. Krutovsky, D. K. Loh, C. Loopstra, R. K. Lyons, A. McGinty, R. G. Merrifield, M. G. Messina, B. P. Mohanty, G. W. Moore, M. K. Owens, H. Perotto, W. E. Pinchak, S. C. Popescu, W. E. Rogers, J. L. Schuster, M. T. Simmons, F. E. Smeins, R. Srinivasan, C. A. Taylor, Jr., R. W. Teague, M. G. Tjoelker, W. T. Watson, S. G. Whisenant (Head), B. P. Wilcox, X. B. Wu*

* Graduate Advisor

The Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (ESSM) offers graduate programs leading to the MS and PhD degrees in both Forestry and Rangeland Ecology and Management, the MAgr degree in Rangeland Ecology and Management, and the Master of Natural Resources Development (MNRD) degree in Ecosystem Science and Management. The MS and PhD degrees are intended to educate scientists and professionals in research and management in natural resources and related fields. The MS offers a thesis option for those who desire a serious research experience and a non-thesis option for those who seek a professional career outside of research. The MNRD and MAgr degrees are professional (non-research) degree programs providing advanced training in the science and management of natural resources, including a required internship.

Fields of study are available in (1) natural resource ecology and management: plant ecology, physiological ecology, landscape ecology, eco-hydrology, biogeochemistry, biosystematics, ecological restoration, global change ecology, watershed management, silviculture, ranch management, range animal and plant nutrition, international natural resource management, and ecosystem health; (2) plant genetics and biotechnology: genetics, genomics, tree improvement, biotechnology, molecular biology, plant physiology, and tissue culture; (3) natural resource policy and decision sciences: natural resource policy, natural resource economics, biometrics and forest statistics, knowledge engineering and simulation modeling, and human dimensions and socio-economics of natural resources; (4) urban ecosystem management: urban and community forestry, arboriculture, urban planning, wildland-urban interface; and (5) spatial and information sciences: remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), mapping sciences and spatial sciences.

Facilities within the department include modern teaching classrooms and laboratories. There are fifteen state of the art research laboratories in the department, as well as a large herbarium, tissue culture facilities, growth chambers and large greenhouses, equipped to support cutting edge research. Field sites and facilities are available throughout Texas and many of them are associated with research and extension centers associated with the department. The ESSM faculty acquire external competitive research grants and contracts that provide funding for additional research avenues and graduate student support.

Graduate courses are designed to develop the academic skills of individuals and to advance their knowledge in the professional fields related to ecosystem science and management. Departmental seminars supplement the individual education of graduate students and serve to relate the most recent research findings applicable to the discipline. The department welcomes applications from students with diverse educational backgrounds, experiences and interests. Individually planned graduate programs assure a focused, individualized education for each candidate.

Graduate courses offered in this department are currently listed under Forest Science (FRSC) and Rangeland Ecology and Management (RLEM). Additional information on academic programs and faculty may be found at forestry.tamu.edu and rangeland.tamu.edu.

Forest Science

(FRSC)
601. Forest Ecosystems and Global Change. (3-0). Credit 3.

Focus on the physical and biological principles governing the structure and function of forests and terrestrial ecosystems; examine how plants, animals, and microorganisms control water, carbon, and nutrient cycling; evaluate ecosystem response to global change, including climate and human impacts. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

602. Advanced Silviculture. (3-0). Credit 3.

Advanced silvicultural methods, techniques and problems; current research and technical literature. Prerequisite: FRSC 305 or equivalent.

606. The Research Process. (2-0). Credit 2.

Nature and objectives of graduate work, the scientific method and basic and applied research. Introduction to design of experiments and analysis of data; principles of organization of project proposals, theses and scientific reports.

608. Remote Sensing for Natural Resource Management. (2-2). Credit 3.

Remote sensing for the management of renewable natural resources; use of aerial photography and satellite imagery to detect, identify and monitor forest, range and agricultural resources; utilize remotely sensed data as input to computerized information management systems. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

614. Economic Analysis for Forest Resource Decisions. (3-0). Credit 3.

Concepts of managerial economics in forestry; survey of economic analysis and management science techniques to solve forest resource allocation and valuation problems; use of microcomputer-based models to achieve landowner, investor, and social objectives for the ownership, use and management of forestlands. Prerequisite: ECON 202 or approval of instructor.

620. Advances and Issues in Forest Science. (2-0). Credit 2.

Introduces the social and scientific context for forestry; develops an understanding of current social, economic and environmental issues confronting forested ecosystems and consider implications for renewable natural resource management, research and policy. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

630. Introduction to Tree Improvement. (3-0). Credit 3.

Genetic variation in forest trees and its use in tree breeding programs; includes introductory genetics, breeding schemes, progeny testing, seed orchards and seeding productions. Prerequisite: B.S. in Forestry or closely related field.

632. Forest Genetics. (3-0). Credit 3.

Statistical and theoretical basis for managing the scientific aspects of a tree improvement program and an introduction to the literature. Prerequisite: FRSC 630.

634. Plant Functional Ecology. (2-0). Credit 2.

Advanced study of plant ecology and physiology with emphasis on the relationship of woody plants to the environment in ecological and evolutionary contexts. Prerequisite: RENR 205 or MEPS 313 or equivalent.

635. Forest Biotechnology. (2-0). Credit 2.

Introduction to methods and concepts important for the genetic modification of plants through biotechnology; recent developments in forest biotechnology; potential impacts of biotechnology on native species and the forest products industry. Prerequisite: Course in biology (genetics course preferred).

636. Forest Genetics Practicum. (0-3). Credit 3.

Practical experience with tree improvement techniques including pollen collection, control pollination methods, field test establishment, orchard establishment and management, tree physiology and forest biotechnology. Prerequisites: FRSC 630, 632, 634, 635.

640. Arboriculture (3-2). Credit 4.

Tree selection and planting to fit climatic, space and edaphic conditions, diagnosing tree abnormalities, and practicing intensive tree care; frequent field work and demonstrations; includes seminar classes involving discussions and presentations of current arboriculture research from peer-reviewed journals. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

641. Urban Forestry. (4-0). Credit 4.

Conceptual role of trees in improving the urban environment; optimum use of existing forested areas and the establishment of trees in appropriate open spaces; tree ordinances, species evaluation, street tree planning and tree inventory systems; includes seminar classes involving discussions and presentations of current urban forestry research from peer-reviewed journals. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

650. Plant Cell Culture for Crop Improvement. (3-1). Credit 3.

Focus on techniques in plant cell culture which can be applied to all crop plants, including agronomic crops, horticulture and forestry crops for germplasm improvement. Prerequisites: MEPS 313; CHEM 101. Cross-listed with MEPS 650.

651. Geographic Information Systems. (2-2). Credit 3.

Design, planning and implementation of geographic information systems; computer hardware and software evaluation; practical experience in data entry, analysis and update of spatial and characteristic data; linkages of GIS and artificial intelligence; use of maps and remotely sensed data as data inputs. Prerequisites: GEOG 398 and RENR 444 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with BAEN 651.

652. Advanced Topics in Geographic Information Systems. (2-2). Credit 3.

Advanced GIS topics with a focus on modeling actual GIS applications including relational and database theory, design and implementation and its connection to GIS; surface analysis with digital terrain models; and an introduction to spatial statistics. Prerequisite: FRSC 651 or BAEN 651.

653. Computer Programming for Natural Resources Applications. (2-2). Credit 3.

An introduction to programming concepts and applications; elements of Visual Basic programming including data types, control and program structure; introduction to objects and object-oriented programming; macro and applications development; automation of GIS programming through the use of macros. Prerequisites: Approval of instructors.

661. Advanced Remote Sensing. (2-2). Credit 3.

Advanced techniques for information extraction using airborne and satellite imagery; active and passive sensors characteristics; customizing and developing image processing tools for remote sensing applications for a broad range of sensors and applications. Prerequisites: Approval of instructor, or FRSC 308 or RENR 444 or GEOG 651 or 661.

663. Applied Spatial Statistics. (2-2). Credit 3.

An introduction to the theory and practice of spatial statistics as applied to the natural resources. Spatial analyses focusing primarily on ordinary kriging, point processes, and lattice data. Prerequisites: MATH 141, 142; STAT 651; or equivalents; FRSC 651 preferred. Cross-listed with AGRO 663

684. Professional Internship. Credit 1 or more each semester.

Application of forestry principles in a working environment. Prerequisite: Limited to graduate students seeking a professional degree in forestry.

685. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4 each semester.

Designed for investigations not included in students’ research for thesis or dissertation. Problems to be selected in some aspect of forest science.

689. Special Topics in… Credit 1 to 4.

Selected topics in an identified area of forest science. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

691. Research. Credit 1 or more each semester.

Research in an approved aspect of forest science for thesis or dissertation credit.