James Burchfield (Associate Professor),
Director, Bolle Center for People and Forests
The Bolle Center for People and Forests was established on the
campus of The University of Montana in Missoula in 1994. Its
mission is to provide "interdisciplinary education, research,
and community service to advance knowledge of the relationships
between forests and people with the goal of ensuring the continued
diversity, productivity, and beauty of forests through the healthful
coexistence with human communities." The strategic plan
of the Bolle Center identifies the development of a new, interdisciplinary
curriculum as a major programmatic response to fulfill the mission
of the Center. The curriculum for the minor, Nature and Democracy,
combines understanding of cultural, political, and ecological
contexts surrounding natural-resource issues with basic skills
to participate in conflict-laden decision-making processes.
This curriculum enriches research and learning opportunities
for students, faculty, and residents of the region. Its goal
is to develop effective professional participants in the public
affairs surrounding natural resources decisions. The Nature
and Democracy curriculum examines the effects of people, places
and processes on natural resources management, advancing toward
the objective of interdisciplinary education.
The Nature and Democracy minor provides a semester-based course
format with specialized training modules and community-level
problem-solving experiences. Although presented as a package
which provides an academic minor to upper-level undergraduate
students, it is also an open-ended, regional resource for learning
among all interested parties. Course offerings allow academic
credit for graduate students, and outreach mechanisms incorporated
into the design promote distance learning. The curriculum offers
opportunities for interaction between students and residents
of rural communities, providing valuable contacts for post-academic
endeavors.
Admission to the minor: Students are required to apply for admission
to the Nature and Democracy minor. Applications and information
are available from the Bolle Center for People and Forests,
Science Complex 465. Upper-level undergraduates and graduate
students from all departments are eligible with 18-24 students
accepted annually.
Prerequisites: An academic foundation in natural science, humanities,
and social sciences is necessary for students entering the minor.
Undergraduate students are required to have at least two courses
relevant to understanding biophysical functions and processes
(available within the natural science perspective of General
Education Requirements), at least one course in introductory
economics, and at least two preparatory courses in the social
sciences and humanities. Transfer students may apply relevant
courses at other institutions to fulfill these requirements.
The adequacy of the specific courses will be determined by the
Bolle Center Director, who serves as advisor for only the academic
minor for each student enrolled in the Nature and Democracy
minor.
Requirements for a Minor back to top
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To earn a minor in Nature
and Democracy the student must complete successfully 24 credits
including:
FOR/HFD 471 Natural Resource Managment Core Behaviors
FOR 472 Building Knowledge on an Integrative Theme
FOR/EVST 473 Collaboration in Natural Resources Decisions
FOR 478 Montana Community Analysis
FOR 479 Nature and Democracy Synthesis
One 3-credit ecology course
From BIOL 121N; FOR 330, 462; other 300-level coursein BIOL or WBIO
One 3-credit natural resources management course
From FOR 271, 275, 296, 360, 389, 441; RECM 217; WBIO 370
One 4-credit internship......................................................................................................
(Must be fulfilled prior to enrollment in final semester.
Placement, supervision, and evaluation will be responsibility
of the Bolle Center director.)
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