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Environmental Science and Sustainability B.S.

Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science and Sustainability

W.A Franke College of Forestry & Conservation

Degree Specific Credits: 65-95

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Catalog Year: 2021-22

General Education Requirements

Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog.

Summary

Lower-Division Required Courses

14-15

Social Science Requirement

3

Policy Requirement

3

Ecology Requirement

3

Ethics Requirement

3

Experiential Learning Requirement

Concentration

36-59

Climate Science and Environmental Change

Ecosystem Science and Restoration

Environmental Policy and Planning

Resource Conservation

Sustainable Livelihoods and Communities

Water Resources

Upper-Division Writing Requirement

3-9

Total Hours

65 - 95


Lower-Division Required Courses

Note: NRSM 110 will not be required if students declare the major with 60+ credits.

Code

Title

Hours

Complete the following courses:

NRSM 110

First Year Seminar in Environmental Science and Sustainability

1

NRSM 210N

Soils, Water and Climate

Oral Communication - Complete one of the following courses:

3

COMX 111A

Introduction to Public Speaking

3

or THTR 120A

Introduction to Acting I

Statistics Requirement - Complete one of the following courses:

3-4

FORS 201

Forest Biometrics

or STAT 216

Introduction to Statistics

or WILD 240

Intro to Biostatistics

Chemistry - Complete the following course:

CHMY 121N

Introduction to General Chemistry

4

Total Hours

14-15

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Social Science Requirement

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

NRSM 326

Climate and Society

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

NRSM 424

Community Forestry & Conservtn

NRSM 475

Environment & Development

PTRM 300

Recreation Behavior

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Policy Requirement

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

NRSM 370S

Wildland Conservation Policy/Governance

NRSM 422

Nat Res Policy/Administration

NRSM 427

Advanced Water Policy

WILD 410

Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Ecology Requirement

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

BIOE 370

General Ecology

BIOE 447

Ecosystem Ecology

FORS 330

Forest Ecology

FORS 333

Fire Ecology

NRSM 462

Rangeland Ecology

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Ethics Requirement

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

NRSM 349E

Climate Change Ethics/Policy

3

or NRSM 389E

Ethics and Sustainability

3

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Experiential Learning Requirement

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

BIOE 342

Field Ecology

BIOE 400

Aquatic Microbial Ecology

BIOE 416

Alpine Ecology

BIOE 439

Stream Ecology

BIOE 440

Conservation Ecology

BIOE 451

Landscape Ecology

BIOE 453

Lake Ecology

BIOE 458

Forest and Fire Ecology

ENST 427

Social Issues: The Mekong Delta

ENST 437

Climate Change: Mekong Delta

FORS 130

Intro Forestry Field Skills

FORS 440

Forest Stand Management

GPHY 385

Field Techniques

NRSM 115

First Year Seminar in Field Studies in Conservation

NRSM 273

Wilderness/Civ Field Stds

NRSM 298

Internship

NRSM 345

Watershed Dynamics

NRSM 398

Internship

NRSM 495

Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum

NRSM 498

Internship

NRSM 499

Senior Thesis

PTRM 150

First Year Seminar in Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management

PTRM 345X

Sustaining Human Soc & Nat Env

PTRM 418

Winter Wilderness Field Studies

PTRM 484

PTRM Field Measurement Tech

WILD 374

Hunter Check Station

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Concentrations

Rule: Must complete one of the following concentrations.

Climate Science and Environmental Change

The Climate Science and Environmental Change concentration provides students with an understanding of climate science, interactions between climate and ecosystems, and the intersections of climate, society, and policy.

Rule: Complete all of the following subcategories. 47-48 total credits required.

Foundations

Code

Title

Hours

Complete the following courses:

CCS 103X

Climate Change Science and Society

3

Mathematics Requirement - Complete one of the following:

M 122

College Trigonometry

3-4

or M 151

Precalculus

or M 162

Applied Calculus

Biology Requirement - Complete one of the following:

3-4

BIOB 160N

Principles of Living Systems

or BIOB 170N

Principles Biological Diversity

or BIOE 172N

Introductory Ecology

or BIOO 105N

Introduction to Botany

Physics Requirement - Complete all of the following courses:

PHSX 205N

College Physics I

4

PHSX 206N

College Physics I Lab

1

Total Hours

14-15

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Climate Science

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

ERTH 303N

Weather and Climate

3

NRSM 281

Science of Climate Change

3

NRSM 408

Global Cycles and Climate

3

NRSM 418

Ecosystem Climatology

3

Total Hours

12

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Environmental Change

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

FORS 230

Fire Management and Environmental Change

3

FORS 333

Fire Ecology

3

NRSM 385

Watershed Hydrology

3

Total Hours

9

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Climate and Society A

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

NRSM 326

Climate and Society

3

NRSM 349E

Climate Ethics and Policy

3

Total Hours

6

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Climate and Society B

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

COMX 349

Communication, Consumption, and Climate

ECNS 445

Intro to Environmental Economics & Climate Change

ENST 427

Social Issues: The Mekong Delta

NPAD 191

Nonprofit Administration Special Topics Course

PHIL 112E

Intro Ethics and Environment

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Climate Solutions

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

BGEN 160S

Issues in Sustainability

BGEN 445

Sustainability Reporting

BMGT 410

Sustainable Business Practices

ENST 391

Special Topics/Experimental Course

ENST 437

Climate Change: Mekong Delta

GPHY 421

Sustainable Cities

NRSM 321

Field Stds Energy Syst Montana

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Ecosystem Science and Restoration

The Ecosystem Science and Restoration concentration spans the range of ecology from microbial to global scales and includes basic and applied science. Students will focus on learning about how ecosystems work, solving pressing environmental problems, and/or helping to restore degraded ecosystems. In the ESR concentration, students can focus on either aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems and tailor their capstone experience to best fit their interests and career path.

Rule: Complete all of the following subcategories. 56-59 total credits required.

Lower-Division Required Courses

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

BIOB 160N

Principles of Living Systems

3

BIOB 161N

Principles of Living Systems Lab

1

BIOB 260

Cellular & Molecular Biology

4

BIOB 272

Genetics & Evolution

4

CHMY 123

Introduction to Organic & Biochemistry

4

M 162

Applied Calculus

4

NRSM 265

Elements of Ecological Restoration

3

Complete one of the following:

GEO 101N

Introduction to Physical Geology

3-4

and GEO 102N

Introduction to Physical Geology Lab

GEO 103N

Introduction to Environmental Geology

and GEO 104N

Introduction to Environmental Geology Lab

BIOO 105N

Introduction to Botany

Total Hours

26-27

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Upper-Division Required Courses

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

BIOE 370

General Ecology

3

BIOE 428

Freshwater Ecology

3 - 5

or BIOO 335

Rocky Mountain Flora

NRSM 344

Ecosystem Science and Restoration Capstone

5

NRSM 385

Watershed Hydrology

3

NRSM 465

Restoration Ecology

3

or BIOE 447

Ecosystem Ecology

NRSM 494

Seminar in Ecosystem Science and Restoration

1

NRSM 495 or 498 or 499

Practicum, Internship, or Senior Thesis

3

Total Hours

21-23

Minimum Required Grade: C-

ESR Natural Science Electives

Code

Title

Hours

Complete three of the following courses:

9

BIOE 416

Alpine Ecology          

BIOE 447

Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology

BIOE 448

Terrestrial Plant Ecology

BIOE 451

Landscape Ecology

BIOE 458

Forest and Fire Ecology

BIOO 320

General Botany

BIOO 340

Biology & Management of Fishes         

BIOO 433

Plant Physiology

ERTH 303N

Weather and Climate

FORS 202

Forest Mensuration

FORS 250  

Intro to GIS        

FORS 330

Forest Ecology

FORS 331

Wildland Fuels Management

FORS 333

Fire Ecology

FORS 347

Silviculture

FORS 462

Range Ecology

GEO 420

Hydrogeology        

GEO 421

Hydrology 

GEO 346

Earth’s Changing Climate

GEO 460     

Process Geomorphology

GPHY 317

Geomorphology

NRSM 360

Rangeland Management

NRSM 408        

Global Cycles and Climate  

NRSM 415

Environmental Soil Science   

NRSM 418

Ecosystem Climatology  

NRSM 462   

Range Ecology 

NRSM 465

Restoration Ecology

WILD 470   

Conservation of Wildlife Populations   

WILD 485

Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Ecology

Total Hours

9

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Environmental Policy and Planning

The Environmental Policy and Planning concentration focuses on policy and planning processes at multiple scales. Students are introduced to real-world environmental problems and the policy and planning approaches, strategies, and tools that can be used to deal with them. Coursework covers U.S. public lands, water, and wildlife policy; community, regional, and federal lands planning; conflict resolution and collaboration; markets and economic incentives; and political institutions and processes.

Rule: Complete all of the following subcategories. 42-44 total credits required.

Required Courses

Code

Title

Hours

Mathematics Requirement - Complete one of the following:

3-4

M 115

Probability and Linear Mathematics

or M 121

College Algebra

or M 122

College Trigonometry

or M 151

Precalculus

or M 162

Applied Calculus

Biology Requirement - Complete one of the following:

3-4

BIOB 160N

Principles of Living Systems

or BIOB 170N

Principles Biological Diversity

or BIOE 172N

Introductory Ecology

or BIOO 105N

Introduction to Botany

Complete all of the following courses:

FORS 250

Intro to GIS for Forest Mgt

3

GPHY 465

Planning Principles & Processes

3

NRSM 349E

Climate Change Ethics/Policy

3

NRSM 379

Collaboration in Natural Resource Decisions

3

NRSM 422

Natural Resource Policy & Administration

3

PSCI 210S

Intro to American Government

3

PSCI 361

Public Administration

3

Total Hours

27-29

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Policy and Law Requirement

Code

Title

Hours

Complete two of the following courses:

6

ENST 382

Environmental Law

GPHY 335

Water Policy

NRSM 427

Advanced Water Policy

WILD 410

Wildlife Policy

Total Hours

6

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Planning Requirement

Code

Title

Hours

Complete two of the following courses:

6

FORS 481

Forest Planning

GPHY 466

Environmental Planning

PTRM 485

Recreation Planning

Total Hours

6

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Economics Requirement

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

ECNS 433

Economics of the Environment

FORS 320

Forest Economics

GPHY 323

Economics of Rural Areas

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Resource Conservation

The Resource Conservation concentration provides students with the flexibility to design their own emphasis or to focus more generally on natural resource management and conservation. Students in this concentration complete the ESS core as well as the math, biology, and GIS courses outlined below, and then work with their faculty advisor to select additional coursework based on their interests and professional goals.

Rule: Complete all of the following subcategories. 55-57 total credits required.

Core Courses

Code

Title

Hours

Mathematics Requirement - Complete one of the following:

3-4

M 115

Probability and Linear Mathematics

or M 121

College Algebra

or M 122

College Trigonometry

or M 151

Precalculus

or M 162

Applied Calculus

Biology Requirement - Complete one of the following:

3-4

BIOB 160N

Principles of Living Systems

or BIOB 170N

Principles Biological Diversity

or BIOE 172N

Introductory Ecology

or BIOO 105N

Introduction to Botany

Complete the following course:

FORS 250

Intro to GIS for Forest Mgt

3

Total Hours

9-11

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Required Courses

Note: Students in the Resource Conservation option should work closely with their faculty advisor to select courses that align with their interests and professional goals.

Code

Title

Hours

Complete 36 credits of courses with the following course prefixes:

36

FORS

Forestry

GPHY

Geography

NRSM

Natural Resource Management

PTRM

Parks, Tourism & Recreation Management

WILD

Fish, Wildlife Science & Management

Total Hours

36

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Additional Requirements in Area of Emphasis

Note: Alternatively, students can take two semesters of a foreign language or otherwise demonstrate foreign language proficiency.

Code

Title

Hours

Complete 10 credits of courses with the following course prefixes:

10

BIOE

Biology - Ecological

BIOO

Biology - Organismal

CHMY

Chemistry

ENSC

Environmental Science

ENST

Environmental Studies

FORS

Forestry

GEO

Geoscience

M

Mathematics

NRSM

Natural Resource Management

PHSX

Physics

WILD

Fish, Wildlife Science & Management

Total Hours

10

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Sustainable Livelihoods and Communities

The Sustainable Livelihoods and Communities concentration provides students with an understanding of key social and institutional processes involved in transitioning to sustainable economies from global to local levels. Courses address the intersections between environment and development, natural resource governance and collaboration, and pathways to sustainability.

Rule: Complete all of the following subcategories. 36-38 total credits required.

Core Courses

Code

Title

Hours

Mathematics Requirement - Complete one of the following:

3-4

M 115

Probability and Linear Mathematics

or M 121

College Algebra

or M 122

College Trigonometry

or M 151

Precalculus

or M 162

Applied Calculus

Biology Requirement - Complete one of the following:

3-4

BIOB 160N

Principles of Living Systems

or BIOB 170N

Principles Biological Diversity

or BIOE 172N

Introductory Ecology

or BIOO 105N

Introduction to Botany

Complete the following course:

FORS 250

Intro to GIS for Forest Mgt

3

Total Hours

9-11

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Electives

Code

Title

Hours

Complete 5 of the following courses:

15

ENST 225S

Sustainable Communities

GPHY 323S

Economic Geography of Rural Areas

GPHY 421

Sustainable Cities

GPHY 433

Community Resilience

NRSM 379

Collaboration in Natural Resource Decisions

NRSM 424

Community Forestry & Conservation

NRSM 475

Environment & Development

PTRM 451

Tourism and Sustainability

Total Hours

15

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Additional Electives

Code

Title

Hours

Complete 4 of the following courses:

12

BGMT 410

Sustainable Business Practices

ECNS 433

Economics of the Environment

ENST 480

Food Justice and Sustainability

FORS 320

Forest Economics

GPHY 468

Community & Regional Analysis

PTRM 210

Nature-Based Tourism

SOCI 270

Intro to Development Sociology

SOCI 443

Sociology of Poverty

SOCI 470

Environmental Sociology

SOCI 471

Gender and Global Development

Total Hours

12

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Water Resources

The Water Resources concentration prepares students for careers and/or graduate study related to watershed hydrology, water policy, and other aspects of water resources governance and management. Coursework focuses on technical training in fundamental sciences such as physics, chemistry, and biology; more specialized training in hydrology, hydrogeology, geomorphology, and soil science; and the social and political context of water use, allocation, conservation, and management, both with regard to water quality and water quantity issues. Students who complete this concentration will satisfy the education requirements for the Hydrology Series (1315) and Hydrologic Technician Series (1316) civil service qualifications.

Rule: Complete all of the following subcategories. 42-46 total credits required.

Required Courses

Code

Title

Hours

Mathematics Requirement - Complete one of the following:

4

M 171

Calculus I

or M 172

Calculus II

Biology Requirement - Complete one of the following:

3-4

BIOB 160N

Principles of Living Systems

or BIOB 170N

Principles Biological Diversity

or BIOE 172N

Introductory Ecology

or BIOO 105N

Introduction to Botany

Geology Requirement - Complete one of the following sequences:

4

GEO 101N

Introduction to Physical Geology

and GEO 102N

Introduction to Physical Geology Lab

or

GEO 103N

Introduction to Environmental Geology

and GEO 104N

Introduction to Environmental Geology Lab

Complete all of the following courses:

GPHY 335

Water Policy

3

NRSM 210N                        

Soils, Water, Climate     

3

NRSM 385                                                               

Watershed Hydrology  

3

NRSM 427                                                    

Advanced Water Policy

3

PHSX 205N                               

College Physics I    

4

PHSX 206N                         

College Physics I Lab   

1

PHSX 207N                            

College Physics II     

4

PHSX 208N                       

College Physics II Lab   

1

Total Hours

33-34

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Physical Science Course

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3-4

GEO 320                                            

Global Water  

GEO 420                                          

Hydrogeology   

GEO 421                                                   

Hydrology

GEO 460                        

Process Geomorphology     

Total Hours

3-4

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Biological Science Course

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3-5

BIOE 447                               

Ecosystem Ecology    

BIOE 400                 

Aquatic Microbial Ecology      

BIOE 428                                   

Freshwater Ecology

BIOE 439                                      

Stream Ecology    

BIOE 453         

Lake Ecology

GPHY 474                            

Remote Sensing for Freshwater Ecology

WILD 485                

Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology   

Total Hours

3-5

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Additional Required Course

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

ERTH 303N                               

Weather and Climate

FORS 341                  

Timber Harvesting and Roads

FORS 434                           

Advanced Forest Roads 

GPHY 317              

Geomorphology

NRSM 415                

Environmental Soil Science     

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Code

Title

Hours

Complete three of the following courses:

9

BIOE 428

Freshwater Ecology

BIOE 447

Ecosystem Ecology

FORS 330

Forest Ecology

FORS 341

Timber Harvesting & Roads

FORS 347

Multiple Resource Silviculture

FORS 349

Practice of Silviculture

FORS 440

Forest Stand Management

FORS 499

Senior Thesis

NASX 403

Contmp Tribal Resource Issues

NRSM 326

Climate and Society

NRSM 349E

Climate Change Ethics/Policy

NRSM 379

Collab in Nat Res Decisions

NRSM 389E

Ethics Forestry & Conservation

NRSM 462

Rangeland Ecology

NRSM 465

Foundations of Restoration Ecology

NRSM 475

Environment & Development

NRSM 495

Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum

NRSM 499

Senior Thesis

PTRM 300

Recreation Behavior

WILD 410

Wildlife Policy & Biopolitics

Total Hours

9

Minimum Required Grade: C-