Oklahoma State University

957

Natural Resource Ecology and Management Faculty in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM) have expertise in conducting interdisciplinary instruction, research and extension education which focus on the natural resources of fisheries, forests, rangeland and wildlife within and beyond the boundaries of Oklahoma. Increased public understanding of the ecology and management of these natural resources which are important in agriculture, hunting and fishing, ecotourism, forest production and use, as well as the conservation of wildlife habitat is an important goal of the faculty in NREM. The NREM faculty support undergraduate and graduate programs in the general areas of fisheries, forestry, rangeland and wildlife. The NREM curriculum prepares students to plan, implement and research the management, protection and sustainable use of natural resources within Oklahoma and throughout the world. The department provides an integrated education in renewable natural resource management, conservation and utilization, as well as a valuable perspective for understanding and solving critical contemporary environmental problems at local, regional and global scales. Courses in NREM study options fulfill the requirements for many applied and professional careers in the natural resource disciplines, including preparation for graduate programs and certification with the Society of American Foresters, The Wildlife Society and The American Fisheries Society. Graduates may be employed by governmental agencies, non- profit organizations, private agencies or individuals. Federal agencies hiring NREM graduates include U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Agricultural Research Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In addition, state, county and municipal governments employ NREM graduates in a variety of resource management consultant, restoration, service and technical positions. Natural Resource Ecology and Management Undergraduate Degree Options Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology is an option designed for students with interest in the management of fish populations and habitats. Courses offer research techniques and methodology in fisheries science, including sampling design, habitat measurements, sampling techniques and abundance estimation, age and growth analysis, recreational surveys, data analysis and report writing. Forest Ecology and Management emphasizes the science-based conservation and management of forest lands, ecosystems and related natural resources. Students gain the skills that are necessary for the measurement, assessment and valuation of natural resources and the evaluation of management strategies for forest and related wildlands. Successful completion of the curriculum will provide competency in the general areas of basic science, forest biology, forest mensuration, forest plant species identification, forest economics, natural resource policy, decision-making and problem-solving, and communications. The option is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF), the specialized accrediting body for forestry programs in the U.S. Requirements for this option include the successful completion of two three-week field camps

in May, which are scheduled to follow the sophomore and junior years, and are held annually in diverse forest settings. Field forestry skills, forest ecology, integrated natural resource management, state-of-the- art operations and resource economics are emphasized at camp and integrated in the senior-level capstone course. Rangeland Ecology and Management program emphasizes understanding management of grasslands, shrub lands, and forests for forage and habitat production. This includes the effects of livestock grazing, fire, invasive species and other disturbances on biotic and abiotic processes. The importance of prescribed fire as rangeland restoration tool, and the identification and value of native grass species for livestock forage and for other uses are emphasized. Students learn to integrate their knowledge of soil, water and vegetation attributes and natural resource policies into management of public or private wild lands for multiple uses. Wildlife Ecology and Management option provides insight into the biological basis for management of wildlife populations and habitats, with emphasis on current management problems. This option combines research techniques, including aging and sexing, wildlife and vegetation sampling, and wildlife population and habitat analysis with the methodology of wildlife science. Wildlife Biology and Preveterinary Science option provides ecological background and training in natural wildlife science and population dynamics in addition to the basic sciences necessary to prepare students for graduate education in wildlife biology or veterinary medicine. The option combines research and management training in population ecology with basic biology and chemistry. Students entering the NREM department are encouraged to join and become active members of one of the many student organizations: Society of American Foresters, Society for Range Management, The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society. Participation in one or more of these organizations provides students the opportunity to attend state, regional or national meetings where they will gain valuable advantages through networking, student competitions and interacting with various career-related activities. Undergraduate Programs • Natural Resource Ecology & Management: Fisheries & Aquatic Ecology, BSAG (p. 961) • Natural Resource Ecology & Management: Forest Ecology & Management, BSAG (p. 963) • Natural Resource Ecology & Management: Rangeland Ecology & Management, BSAG (p. 965) • Natural Resource Ecology & Management: Wildlife Biology & Preveterinary Science, BSAG (p. 967) • Natural Resource Ecology & Management: Wildlife Ecology & Management, BSAG (p. 969) • Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology (FAEC), Minor (p. 959) • Forestry (FOR), Minor (p. 960) • Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM), Minor (p. 971) • Rangeland Ecology and Management (REM), Minor (p. 972) • Wildlife Ecology (WLEC), Minor (p. 973)