Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management

Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management is involved in a variety of activities designed to help meet our major goal-- "helping people solve range management and natural resource problems." Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management is accredited by the Society for Range Management (SRM).

Rangelands are complex ecosystems known for their unpredictable weather, varying topography, and a wide array of soils, wildlife habitat, and forage for domestic and wild herbivores. Rangeland managers must have the education, skills, and common sense to integrate information about the climate, topography, soils, plants, animals, watersheds, and land uses into usable management plans. Their decisions will influence present and future production of goods and services from rangelands.

As a range student, you'll learn about a variety of disciplines. In addition to rangeland ecology and watershed management, you will complete courses in botany, ecology, recreation, wildlife habitat management, and forestry. You'll also study economics, soils, mathematics, chemistry, and animal science. Range courses include studies on the ecology, use, and management of rangelands; range improvement techniques; and management practices to achieve land management objectives.

Managing rangeland requires a complete understanding of the water cycle and how users perceive water resources should be allocated. Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management offers you a unique opportunity to blend your rangeland ecology background with courses in wildland watershed management and hydrology.

These then serve as the background with courses in stream and wetland restoration, fisheries, and chemistry, and can lead to being certified as a hydrologist. This exciting option has proven successful for many students in their quest for employment as managers of natural resources and the environment.

Rangeland resource managers spend much of their time working outside, but also work in the office. Many hours are spent communicating with people. Good resource managers relate well with others, learn from the knowledge and experience of others, and share their knowledge.

The University of Wyoming Renewable Resources Department is accredited by the Society of Range Management. Programs leading to the bachelor of science, master of science, and doctor of philosophy degrees are offered.

Nine information disciplinary concentrations are offered to cover the diverse, ever-changing field of rangeland ecology and watershed management.

• range livestock management
• rangeland habitat management
• rangeland ecology
• natural resources
• disturbed land reclamation/restoration ecology
• wildland watershed management
• range hydrology
• range improvements
• range business management

In addition, a concentration in the School of Environment and Natural Resources is offered. All range graduates exceed the minimum standards for range specialist positions with federal agencies.

Students and faculty in rangeland ecology and watershed management participate together in many organizations, such as the international Society for Range Management, plant identification and range exam teams, and the Range Club. The Range Club coordinates business and social activities and sponsors guest speakers. Club members also participate in range management and plant identification contests, competing with students from other universities.

Rangeland ecology and watershed management classes are conducted both on and off campus. Facilities in the College of Agriculture include expansive herbaria and research labs housing studies on feeding behavior, disturbed land reclamation, restoration ecology, range ecology, stable isotope research, and watershed management. Five instrumented field research stations and watersheds along an elevational gradient from the plains to the sub-alpine facilitate study of the interrelations of the aquatic-riparian-upland environment with changing land and water use.

Wyoming's diverse rangeland, including plains, grasslands, mountains, deserts, foothills, and shrublands, provides abundant opportunities for study. Field trips to neighboring states and countries give students a broad perspective on resource management.

Undergraduate Program

Rangeland is a fundamental renewable natural resource. In Wyoming, it occupies over 50 million acres, offering wide opportunities for the multiple uses of livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, 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 fully meets the Office of Personnel Management requirements for Range Conservationist. By appropriate course selection within the elective hours, students will also meet requirements for additional professional work, including state and local government, disturbed land reclamation, consulting, and the livestock and supporting services industry. Areas of graduate study include range ecology, range improvement, animal nutrition, watershed, wildlife habitat management, and reclamation of disturbed lands. See the Graduate Bulletin for more detailed information.

Range Majors (B.S.) Basic Curriculum Requirements

Area/Courses	Hours
REWM 2000, 2500, 3020, 3500, 4330, 4530, 4700, 4830, 4850, 4900	26
Biological sciences BIOL 1010, 2022, 2023, or MOLB 2020, BIOL3400, REWM 4300 or BOT 4680	14-15
CHEM 1000	4
Communication skills WA, WB, COJO 1010	9
Humanities and social sciences CA, CH, G, V, D, L, I, AGEC 1020 (CS)	25
MATH QA, MATH  1000 or 1400, STAT 2050 (QB)	7
Physical education (P)	1
Resource Management SOIL/AECL 2010, SOIL 4120, AGEC 4450, 4600, 4640, 4700, 4720, or 4750, BOT 4111 and 4112 or G&R 4200, F1	14-15
Unrestricted electives	17-21
Total hours	120

Recommended Course Sequence

Freshman Year: Fall	Hours	Freshman Year: Spring	Hours
BIOL 1010	4	BIOL 2022 or 2023	4
CHEM 1000	4	ENGL 1020  (WB)	3
ENGL 1010 (WA)	3	POLS 1000 (P)	3
MATH 1000 or equivalent	3	UNIV STUDIES	3
ENR 1100 or ESS 1000 (IL)	2	REWM 2000	3
Physical education	1
Total Hours	17	Total Hours	16

Sophomore Year: Fall	Hours	Sophomore Year: Spring	Hours
BIOL 3400	3	AGEC 1020	3
RNEW 2100	3	REWM 3500	3
COJO 1010	3	SOIL 2010	4
UNIV STUDIES	3	STAT 2050	3
REWM 2500	2	REWM 3020	3
RNEN 2345 (CH,D)	3
Total Hours	17	Total Hours	16

Junior Year: Fall	Hours	Junior Year: Spring	Hours
ANSC 3020 GIS Course	3-4	REWM 4300	3
SOIL 4120	4	REWM 4700	3
REWM 4330	3	REWM 4850	3
Electives	6	Electives	6
Total Hours	16	Total Hours	15

Senior Year: Fall	Hours	Senior Year: Spring	Hours
REWM 4530	1	REWM 4900	3
Electives	12	REWM 4530	1
		REWM 4830	3
		Electives	6-8
Total Hours	13	Total Hours	13

Concentrations
Rangeland ecology and watershed management are inherently broad fields and are becoming more diverse. Nine informal disciplinary concentrations are offered to expand educational experiences and enhance career opportunities. All require completion of basic core curriculum and additional course selections to fill unrestricted elective hours.

Rangeland Livestock Management. Management and production of domestic livestock on rangelands.

Rangeland Habitat Management. Manipulation of habitat of range animals, especially wildlife, for production, damage control, increased benefits of grazing impacts or increased recreational use.

Rangeland Ecology. The inherently multidisciplinary nature of range science, including interactions of natural vegetation, domestic livestock, wildlife, soils and management.

Natural Resources. Broad background in all aspects of natural resource management as required by federal and state management agencies.

Rangeland Improvements. Principles and practices to enhance rangeland values and uses through applied manipulations of both biotic and abiotic components of rangelands.

Rangeland Reclamation. Reclamation of drastically disturbed rangelands, including reconstruction of rangeland ecosystems impacted by such activities as surface mining, oil/gas development and others.

Wildland Watershed Management and Range Hydrology. These two options provide a broad ecological basis for managing water resources, preparing students for participating in multidisciplinary decision-making processes affiliated with managing wildland watersheds.

Rangeland Business Management. The business of range animal management and production or recreational use of rangeland.

In addition, the department offers an approved ENR concentration in the School of Environment and Natural Resources.

Minor
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 26. The required courses for the minor are: BIOL 1010 (4 hrs), 2022 0r 2023 (4) 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.

E-mail us dmanore@uwyo.edu

Graduate Program

Thank you for your interest in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management at the University of Wyoming. If interested, an information packet will be sent at your request. Feel free to utilize the email address on the Department of Renewable Resources homepage.

 Advanced study leading to the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees is offered in this department. Thesis and dissertation problems may be developed in aspects of range ecology, wildlife habitat, reclamation of disturbed lands, restoration ecology, watershed management, utilization and improvement of rangelands, and many other facets of range management. Research may be conducted at university laboratories and greenhouses or at field locations across the state.

 The student, major professor and graduate committee will develop the appropriate program of study. Faculty members involved in research and recognized for their accomplishments are available for consultation and guidance, together with the faculties of other university departments and the professional staff of cooperating research organizations.

 Attendance at, and participation in, graduate seminars (REWM 5620) is required of all candidates during all semesters of their residence at the University of Wyoming. Graduate students are required to assist in the preparation and teaching of departmental courses during their tenure at the University of Wyoming as follows: M.S. students--1course; Ph.D. students--2 courses. The course(s) in which teaching assistance is performed will be arranged in consultation with the student's major advisor and the instructor of the course(s), and approved by the department head.

 It is possible to pursue an interdisciplinary Master's degree in rangeland ecology and watershed management/water resources. The degree requirements are established in cooperation between the Department of Renewable Resources and the Wyoming Water Resources Center (WWRC). The WWRC serves as the academic center for this academic program and provides research assistantships in conjunction with sponsored research projects.

 To be considered for admission into our graduate program the following items must be addressed:

1. Department of Renewable Resources Application for Acceptance to Graduate Program (sent in packet)
2. Three reference letters - (form letter sent in packet)
3. Graduate Record Exam scores - a minimum score of 900 (for the master's) or 1000 (for the doctorate). A TOEFL score of 540 or greater is required if the student is from a country where English is not an official language.
4. Official transcripts of all previous college level course work.
5. Graduate School Application for Admission (sent in packet) plus $50 fee.
6. Total test score of at least 525 (for international inquiries) Score of 58 on Section 1.

The MS degree is normally offered under Plan A which requires at least 26 hours of graduate course work and 4 hours of thesis research. Plan B is available under special circumstances and requires 30 hours of graduate course work. Plan B candidates must also prepare 1 paper or, if the advisor requests, 2 papers in selected courses. Each candidate shall present a final project seminar and successfully complete an oral defense of the thesis (Plan A) or the paper(s) (Plan B) before that student's graduate committee. A listing and description of the courses available in the Department of Renewable Resources is provided. Further information is also available in the University of Wyoming Graduate Bulletin

The department encourages all Master of Science candidates to have completed a minimum number of undergraduate range management and supporting courses (27-30 hours) to provide the basic education background needed for graduate work in range management. If Master of Science candidates are deficient in undergraduate range management courses, the students advisor and/or committee may recommend a prescribed number of "labeling courses". These courses cannot be a part of the total hours of graduate course work required for the M.S. degree. For students having any  previous coursework in Range ecology and Watershed management, the department will require completion of REWM 5000, Rangeland Resource Management. If approved by the student's graduate committee, some of these courses may be used for meeting the requirements for a Ph.D. degree. The student's graduate committee will determine if the candidate has any other deficiencies that must be overcome and may require additional background or supporting courses in other disciplinary areas. Other than these requirements, the degree requirements for the master of science are the same as those set forth in the general section of the graduate bulletin.

In addition to the minimum requirements set forth in the general section of the graduate bulletin, the Department of Renewable Resources requires candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree to acquire an approved working tool. Each tool requires 6 additional hours of course work in areas such as statistics, computer programming, GIS, or other appropriate disciplines. The courses taken for tools are in addition to the total hours required for the Ph.D. Selection of a tool will be made by the candidate and approved by the student's adviser and graduate committee. The adequacy of the candidates undergraduate and previous graduate course work and any deficiencies to be overcome will be determined by that student's graduate committee.

If you have comments or questions, or just want to let us know you visited our Web page, please contact us at:

Department of Renewable Resources
College of Agriculture
University of Wyoming
Department 3354
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, Wyoming 82071
Phone: 307-766-3114
Fax: 307-766-6403 
E-mail: renewableresources@uwyo.edu

 

This site is maintained by Randy L. Anderson.