Natural Resources Management

The Natural Resources Management curriculum is designed to offer a B.S. degree preparing students to fill positions requiring a broad background in natural resources as well as in-depth emphasis in one or two specific areas. Farmers, ranchers, business people and policy makers are facing ever more complex, multidisciplinary and international problems dealing with natural resources and the environment. This program prepares graduates for a multidisciplinary and culturally diverse workplace.

The Program

Natural resources management is a systems approach to managing our natural resources. The program addresses the biological, engineering, social and economic aspects of managing natural resources as an integrated system. This undergraduate program provides an opportunity for students interested in managing society's impacts on the environment. Students focus in one of three areas: biotic resources, physical/earth resources or social sciences. Respective departments and their faculties are actively involved with the advising, classroom teaching and coordination of this interdisciplinary program. Natural resources management majors can choose from many courses in one of the three emphasis areas.

• Biotic Resources — This emphasis area deals with basic scientific principles that govern the interrelationship between biotic (e.g., plants, animals, insects, microorganisms) and abiotic factors (e.g., climate, soils) in major ecosystems and the use of these principles for environmentally sound management of natural resources and agro-ecosystems Topics of study include grassland ecosystems, wetland ecosystems, land reclamation, agroforestry, wildlife management, sustainable agriculture, soil biology.
  
  
• Physical and Earth Resources — This emphasis area 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.
  
  
• Social Sciences — This emphasis area prepares students for management, administrative, regulatory and policy positions that require a broad understanding of the social, biological and physical aspects of natural resources management and allocation. This area concentrates on human factors (social, political, economic) in environmental management, while recognizing constraints and opportunities presented by physical and biological factors.
  

The Faculty

The natural resources management undergraduate program involves faculty from the Colleges of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources; Engineering and Architecture; and Science and Mathematics. Faculty with strong interests in natural resources management from many academic disciplines are involved in teaching and advising natural resources management students.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program pursue employment in a variety of federal and state agencies and the private sector. The curriculum and emphasis area courses qualify graduates for many state and federal job classifications that specify minimum course work requirements. Federal government employment opportunities include the 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 Station, and university and secondary school education. Many positions also are available with local government units. Private sector employment opportunities include mining and forest products companies, consulting firms, water organizations, conservation and environmental organizations.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The Colleges of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources, Engineering and Architecture, and Science and Mathematics award scholarships each year. Contact the Office of the Dean within the appropriate college for information and application forms. Student loan, grant and work- study information is available from the NDSU Office of Student Financial Services.

Contact Information

Dr. Carolyn E. Grygiel
Natural Resources Management Program Director
Department of Animal and Range Sciences
North Dakota State University
Hultz Hall 163
Fargo, ND 58105

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

(02/10)