NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

With increasing human pressure and a growing need to balance competing demands, we need new and better ways to manage society's impacts on the environment. The natural resources management (NRM) program prepares students for careers requiring an understanding of the social, biological and physical aspects of solving problems associated with the management of natural resources for their highest and best uses for society while maintaining the integrity of life-sustaining ecological systems.

The Program

NRM is an interdisciplinary major offered as a four-year Bachelor of Science degree. The curriculum is divided into 90 core credits required of all students, and 38 emphasis credits selected by the individual student from six areas of interest.

 

NRM Core -- This group of courses provides each student a broad foundation in the social, biological and physical/earth sciences. The NRM core also satisfies North Dakota State University's General Education requirements and includes 23 elective credits referred to as core electives.

NRM Emphasis -- During the third and fourth years of the program, students focus on a specific area of interest - an emphasis. The majority of courses are selected from a diverse group of approved electives. NRM offers six emphasis areas:

• Biotic Resources Science —deals with basic scientific principles that govern the interrelationship between biotic (e.g., plants, animals) and abiotic factors (e.g., climate, soils) in major ecosystems and the use of these principles for environmentally sound management of natural resources and agroecosystems.
• Environmental Communication — is designed for environmentally oriented students preparing for careers in communications fields such as journalism, public relations, broadcast media and the Internet.
• Natural Resources Economics — prepares students for management, administrative, regulatory and policy positions that require a broad understanding of natural resources management and allocation.
• Physical/Earth Resources Science— leads to an understanding of the physical and chemical aspects of ecosystems. Topics of study include hydrology, water management and quality, waste management, soil properties, energy resources and land-use management.
• Pollution Control — focuses on the principles and practices of managing natural resources for pollution control. Topics include the technical aspects of pollution as they relate to water, air/solids, earth/soils, and the impact of environmental pollution on biotic factors.
• Social Sciences — concentrates on human factors (social, anthropological, political) in environmental management and environmental disaster management, while recognizing constraints and opportunities presented by physical and biological factors.

The Faculty

NRM is an inter-college/interdisciplinary program actively engaging faculty from four colleges in the coordination of the program, classroom teaching and advising. The four colleges represented are: the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources; College of Engineering and Architecture; College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; and the College of Science and Mathematics.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Summer job opportunities in natural resources management fields are plentiful. Internship programs leading to full-time employment with several federal agencies are available. Natural resources management offers six scholarships each year ranging from $250 to $500 each. Additional scholarships are available through the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources. Student loan, grant and work-study information is available from Student Financial Services.

Career Opportunities

Policy makers, elected officials at all levels of government, business leaders, farmers and ranchers are facing ever more complex, multidisciplinary and international problems dealing with natural resources and the environment. NRM graduates are prepared with the skills and knowledge for examining these problems from a holistic ecological perspective and a global social perspective. Federal government employment opportunities include U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Geological Survey, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, Agency for International Development, Peace Corps and more. State government opportunities include departments of natural resources, water management agencies, parks and recreation agencies, agriculture departments, health departments, Public Service Commission, Cooperative Extension Service, state Agricultural Experiment Stations and university and secondary school education. Many positions also are available with local government units. Private sector employment opportunities include mining and forest product companies, consulting firms, water organizations and non- profit conservation and environmental organizations.

Sample Curriculum

This sample curriculum is not intended to serve as a curriculum guide for current students, but rather an example of course offerings for prospective students. For the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of entrance into a program, consult with an academic advisor or with the Office of Registration and Records.

Contact Information

Dr. Carolyn E. Grygiel
Director, Natural Resources Management
North Dakota State University
Morrill Hall 307
Dept. #7510
PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050

Tel: (701) 231-8180
Fax: (701) 231-7590
E-mail: Carolyn.Grygiel@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/nrm/

Office of Admission

North Dakota State University
Ceres 114
Dept 5230, PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050

Tel: (701) 231-8643
Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/admission/

(07/12)