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The University of Montana - Missoula  

Course Catalog 2003-2004

 
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College of Forestry and Conservation

Perry J. Brown, Dean
James Burchfield, Associate Dean

Natural resources education began at The University of Montana in 1913 with the founding of the School of Forestry. In the intervening 91 years, the School's educational programs expanded and evolved into the most interdisciplinary, action-oriented conservation training in the world. In 2003 the name of the School of Forestry changed to the College of Forestry and Conservation to demonstrate this evolution and to identify the faculty's commitment to the integration of multiple natural resources disciplines into an extraordinary undergraduate experience.

The College provides four undergraduate degrees in the following majors: Forestry, Recreation Management, Resource Conservation, and Wildlife Biology. These programs are housed in three new departments: Ecosystem Sciences and Conservation, Society and Conservation, and Forest Management. These departments share responsibilities for the fulfillment of educational requirements of the aforementioned undergraduate degree programs, with the exception of the Wildlife Biology program, which is designed as a joint program with the Division of Biological Sciences.

Present day land management challenges range from intensive resource utilization to organism and ecosystem preservation. Resource professionals need a broad range of talents and perspectives to solve present day problems and quickly adapt to address an even more complex future. Our instructional programs produce both specialists and broadly trained generalists, all of whom understand the complex interrelationships between resource use and quality of human environment.

All instructional programs emphasize interaction with practicing professionals and opportunities to observe and participate in current field resource management situations. Field trips are offered in many courses. In addition, students in several options may obtain intensive field experience through on-site course offerings in a camp setting at the Lubrecht Experimental Forest.

High School Preparation: Students planning to enter the College of Forestry and Conservation should attain a sound high school background in English, social studies, mathematics, biology, and other sciences.

Entering freshmen and non-resident transfer students will be admitted to the College of Forestry and Conservation in accordance with general university admissions requirements listed previously in the catalog. See Index.

Resident transfer students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or above to be admitted to the College of Forestry and Conservation.

University students wanting to change their major to the College of Forestry and Conservation must have a grade point average of 2.0 or above.

Students are required to consult with their advisors before each registration period. New students needing an advisor and current students who wish to change advisors should contact the Dean's Office. Students may change their advisor at any time, and often do as their specific interests develop or change. Students are responsible for fulfilling the published requirements. Students are urged to solicit the advisor's help at all times.

Special Degree Requirements

Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog. See Index.

Degree candidates must complete successfully a curriculum that includes:

1. A minimum of three courses primarily designed to develop communication skills with at least one each in the areas of oral communications and written communications including an upper-division writing course.

2. A minimum of three quantitative courses CS 172, BADM 201, FOR 201, PSYC 220, SOC 202, WBIO 240, ANTH 381, and MATH 117 or higher, but not to include MAT 005, MATH 100, 107, 109, 130 or 132.

3. Except for the B.S. in Wildlife Biology, a course of study containing not less than 36 traditional letter-graded semester credits in the College of Forestry and Conservation, of which a minimum of 20 credits must be taken while an approved major within the College of Forestry and Conservation.

4. Except for the B.S. in Wildlife Biology, a minimum of 400 hours of work experience appropriate to the degree being sought and to the student's career objectives, as determined by the forestry faculty.

5. An overall course of study approved by the forestry faculty selected from one of the following academic program areas:

-Forest Resources Management Option in Forestry (BSF)
-Range Resources Management Option in Forestry (BSF)
-Conservation Option in Resource Conservation (BSRC)
-Land and People Option in Resource Conservation (BSRC)
-Terrestrial Sciences Option in Resource Conservation (BSRC)
-Recreation Management (BSRM)
-Terrestrial Option in Wildlife Biology (BSWB)
-Aquatic Option in Wildlife Biology (BSWB)
-Honors Emphasis in Wildlife Biology (BSWB)

Each student will select an academic option, preferably during the first or early in the second year. A coursework program will be worked out for each student with an advisor, according to the guidelines and any additional requirements set forth in the current University Catalog.

6. All students in any of the academic program areas in the College of Forestry and Conservation will complete, and pass with a D or better, a core curriculum that includes:

a) Natural Resources Measurements Summer Camp (except Wildlife Biology students--see Wildlife Biology section of this catalog) (if a student enters the University with 60 or more transfer credits, he/she will be exempt)

b) A course in ecology (FOR 330, FOR 462, BIOL 340/341 or transferred equivalent)

c) A course in natural resources policy (FOR 422, RECM 370, WBIO 410, WBIO 475, or transferred equivalent)

d) A course in multidisciplinary natural resources management planning (FOR 480 or transferred equivalent)

7. The Upper-division Writing Expectation must be met by successfully completing an upper-division writing course from the approved list in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog. See Index.

To continue coursework in the College of Forestry and Conservation beyond the freshman year, the student must maintain a cumulative grade average of 2.00 (C) or above. To graduate, the student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (C) for all forestry courses taken as well as a cumulative 2.00 overall average (2.5 for wildlife biology), and pass all required classes.

Bachelor of Science in Forestry

This degree emphasizes the training and preparation of students in the art and science of multiple-use land management. Two options are offered in this degree: forest resources management and range resources management. Both are described below.

Forest Resources Management Option: This curriculum, accredited by the Society of American Foresters, is designed to provide students with education and training in the art and science of resource analysis and in making and implementing land management decisions to provide for the best use of all resources of the forest environment. Current philosophy and methods of producing forest-based goods and services such as recreation, timber, water, range and wildlife are stressed, with a heavy emphasis in field methods and applications. Completion of the requirements for this degree allows for qualification as a Forester for the U.S. Civil Service Commission, a requirement of all who wish to practice as a forester for federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, and many state government and private forestry employers.

Range Resources Management Option: This curriculum is designed to prepare students for a variety of career opportunities in rangeland vegetation management. The program emphasizes rangeland ecology, use, management and conservation. The interrelationships of soil, plants, and animals are studied in great breadth and depth, with extensive field and laboratory experience stressed. Opportunities for employment as a range management specialist include, but are not limited to, federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management; state agencies and private corporations and ranches that require the expertise of a professional range manager.

Bachelor of Science in Resource Conservation

This degree provides a broad academic foundation in natural resources with emphasis on their social importance. The degree is designed for individuals with unique or specific career objectives not served by the College's other degree programs. This program provides career opportunities by combining the science and management base gained from natural resource-oriented courses with courses from departments in the social sciences and liberal arts. Graduates from this program can be prepared for specialization in environmental law or business. Graduates might also seek employment with advocacy and professional organizations dealing with natural resources. This degree is not intended to prepare students for professional careers in forest management, recreation management or wildlife biology. Students wishing to pursue careers in these areas should enroll in the appropriate degree program.

Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management

A detailed description of this degree, including curriculum requirements, is found under the Recreation Management section in this catalog.

Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology

The College of Forestry and Conservation cooperates with the Division of Biological Sciences in offering a degree program in wildlife biology.

Wildlife biology is the study of wild vertebrate animals, their habitats and their environment. The undergraduate curriculum constitutes pre-professional training for employment in fish and game conservation, ad provides an excellent background in general ecology.

Since few employment opportunities exist in wildlife management or research for students with the bachelor's degree, wildlife biology students should plan to continue their education, at least through the master's degree, to qualify for most state and federal wildlife management or research positions.

Three curricula are offered in the wildlife biology program: Terrestrial, Aquatic, and Honors. Curriculum requirements are found under the Wildlife Biology section in this catalog.

Minor in Nature and Democracy

Descriptions of this minor and of the Bolle Center for People and Forests are found under the Nature and Democracy section of this catalog.

Minor in Wilderness Studies

Descriptions of this minor and of the Wilderness and Civilization program are found under the Wilderness Studies section of this catalog.

Graduate Programs

The College of Forestry and Conservation offers these graduate degrees: Master of Science in Resource Conservation, Master of Science in Forestry, Master of Ecosystem Management, Master of Science in Wildlife Biology, Master of Science in Recreation Management, and Doctor of Philosophy.

For further information on these programs contact the Graduate School.


Forestry and Resource Conservation

Bachelor of Science in Forestry

Forest Resources Management Option

In addition to special degree requirements listed previously, the students selecting the Forest Resources Management option must complete the following required courses or their equivalent, if transferred from another college or university. Transference and equivalency will be determined by the University and College of Forestry and Conservation. Electives may be taken at any time, keeping in mind these requirements as well as the University's General Education requirements for graduation.

First Year Credits

BIOL 120N General Botany ......................................... 3
CHEM 151N General Chemistry ................................... 3
COMM 111A Introduction to Public Speaking ................... 2
ECON 111S Introduction to Microeconomics .................... 3
ENEX 101 Composition ............................................... 3
MATH 121 Pre-Calculus .............................................. 4
MATH 150 Applied Calculus ........................................ 4
Electives and General Education .................................... 8

Summer

FOR 200 Natural Resources Measurements Camp ............ 2

Second Year

FOR 201 Forest Biometrics .......................................... 3
FOR 202 Forest Mensuration ........................................ 4
FOR 220 Technical Writing .......................................... 2
FOR 210N Introductory Soils ........................................ 3
FOR 230 Forest Fire Management ................................. 2
FOR 232 Forest Insects and Diseases ............................. 2
FOR 240N Tree Biology .............................................. 2
FOR 241N Dendrology ................................................ 3
FOR 275 Wildlife Conservation ..................................... 2
RECM 217 Wildland Recreation Management .................. 3
Electives and General Education .................................... 2

Third and Fourth Years

FOR 320 Forest Economics .......................................... 3
FOR 330 Forest Ecology .............................................. 3
FOR 340 Harvesting and Products .................................. 4
FOR 347 Multiple Resource Silviculture ......................... 3
FOR 351 Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing ................. 3
FOR 360 Range Management ........................................ 3
FOR 385 Watershed Hydrology ..................................... 3
FOR 422 Natural Resource Policy ................................ 3
FOR 441 Timber Management ...................................... 3
FOR 480 Project Design and Analysis ............................ 3
FOR 481 Forest Planning ............................................. 3
Electives and General Education .................................. 26

Range Resources Management Option

In addition to special degree requirements listed previously, students electing the range resources management option must complete the following required courses, or their equivalent if transferred from another college or university. Transference and equivalency will be determined by the University and College of Forestry and Conservation. Electives may be taken at appropriate times, keeping in mind these requirements as well as the University's General Education requirements for graduation.

First Year Credits

BIOL 120N General Botany ......................................... 3
CHEM 151N General Chemistry .................................. 3
COMM 111A Introduction to Public Speaking ................... 2
ECON 111S Introduction to Microeconomics .................... 3
ENEX 101 Composition ............................................... 3
GEOG 102N Introduction to Physical Geography ............... 3
MATH 121 Pre-Calculus .............................................. 4
MATH 150 Applied Calculus ........................................ 4
Electives and General Education ................................ 6‑12

Summer

FOR 200 Natural Resources Measurements Camp ............ 2

Second Year

BIOL 350 Rocky Mountain Flora .................................. 3
FOR 201 Forest Biometrics .......................................... 3
FOR 210N Introductory Soils ........................................ 3
FOR 220 Technical Writing .......................................... 3
FOR 230 Forest Fire Management ................................. 2
FOR 275 Wildlife Conservation ..................................... 2
Electives and General Education .............................. 10-16

Third and Fourth Years: FOR 320, 330, 351, 360, 361, 362, 385, 410, 455, 460, 461, 462, 463, 480.

Bachelor of Science in Resource Conservation

In addition to special degree requirements listed previously, students selecting the Bachelor of Science in Resource Conservation should contact their advisors to approve curriculum. In addition, the student, with advice and consent of his or her advisor from the College of Forestry and Conservation, should design a curriculum addressing their specific needs. Any deviations from the program can be made only with the advice and consent of the student's faculty advisor.

Conservation Option

This program provides students with a foundation in natural resource courses along with courses in the social sciences and liberal arts. It prepares students for specializing in environmental law, business or professional organizations dealing with natural resources.

Example of possible program in the conservation option:

First Year Credits

BIOL 120N General Botany ......................................... 3
CHEM 151N General Chemistry ................................... 3
COMM 111A Introduction to Public Speaking ................... 2
ENEX 101 Composition ............................................... 3
MATH 121 Pre-Calculus .............................................. 4
Electives and General Education .............................. 15-18

Summer

FOR 200 Natural Resources Measurements Camp ............ 2

Second Year

ECON 111S Introduction to Microeconomics .................... 3
ECON 112S Introduction to Macroeconomics ................... 3
PSC 100S Introduction to American Government ............... 3
FOR 210N Introductory Soils ........................................ 3
FOR 220 Technical Writing .......................................... 2
Electives and General Education .............................. 16-20

Third and Fourth Years: (minimum of 30 credits at the 300-level or above; and at least two 400-level or above to include For 422).

Terrestrial Sciences Option

The terrestrial sciences option is designed to provide students with a solid scientific foundation in the biological and physical science aspects of terrestrial conservation. The curriculum consists of a required core of science classes and an individualized curriculum of upper-division science courses chosen by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor. The curriculum must include at least 12 credits in forestry or wildlife biology at the upper-division level in addition to those specified below. This is an ideal option for those students who want to specialize their undergraduate education in areas such as forest ecology, hydrology, forest soils, biometrics, fire, or remote sensing.

First Year

ENEX 101 Composition ............................................... 3
COMM 111A Introduction to Public Speaking ................... 2
CHEM 151N General Chemistry ................................... 3
CHEM 152N-154N Organic Chemistry ........................... 5
BIOL 103N-104N Diversity of Life ................................ 5
GEOL 100N General Geology or 109N
Environmental Geoscience ............................................ 2
GEOL 101N Geology Laboratory ................................... 1
MATH 121 Precalculus ................................................ 4
MATH 152 Calculus I ................................................. 4
Electives and General Education .................................... 1

Summer

FOR 200 Natural Resources Measurements Camp ............ 2

Second Year

FOR 201 Forest Biometrics .......................................... 3
FOR 210N Forest Soils ................................................ 3
FOR 220 Technical Writing .......................................... 2
FOR 240 Tree Biology ................................................. 2
FOR 241 Dendrology ................................................... 3
PHYS 221N General Physics I ....................................... 5
PHYS 222N General Physics II ...................................... 5
MATH 153 Calculus II or MATH
158 Differential Equations ............................................ 3
Electives and General Education ................................. 1-2

Third and Fourth Year

FOR 330 Forest Ecology .............................................. 3
FOR 385 Watershed Hydrology ..................................... 3
FOR 480 Project Design and Analysis ............................. 3
FOR 422 Natural Resource Policy ................................. 3
Electives and General Education .................................. 48

Land and People Option

The purpose of this curriculum is to provide a broad program of study, which focuses on the evolving relationship between people and their natural environment. The curriculum is designed to prepare people with career interests in the management of natural resources with a particular human focus involving conservation, law, business or public affairs. The core program of required courses is designed to be supplemented by electives chosen by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor. These electives must include at least two other upper-division courses in forestry, recreation, or wildlife biology.

First Year

ENEX 101 Composition ............................................... 3
COMM 111A Introduction to Public Speaking ................... 2
MATH 121 Precalculus ................................................ 3
CHEM 151N General Chemistry ................................... 3
CS 101 Introduction to Programming or CS 172
Introduction to Computer Modeling ................................ 3
GEOL 109N Environmental Geoscience .......................... 2
BIOL 121N-122N Introductory Ecology .......................... 4
ECON 111S-112S Micro- and Macro-economics ............... 6
Electives and General Education .................................... 4

Summer

FOR 200 Natural Resources Measurements Camp ............ 2

Second Year

FOR 201 or MATH 241 or SOC 202
or PSYC 220 Statistics ................................................. 3
FOR 210N Introductory Soils ........................................ 3
FOR 220 Technical Writing .......................................... 2
FOR 230 Forest Fire Management ................................. 2
WBIO 275 Wildlife Conservation ................................... 2
RECM 217 Wildland Recreation Management .................. 3
Electives and General Education .................................. 13

Third and Fourth Years

FOR 320 Forest Economics .......................................... 3
FOR 330 Forest Ecology .............................................. 3
FOR 347 Multiple Resource Silviculture ......................... 3
FOR 360 Range Management ........................................ 3
FOR 385 Watershed Hydrology
or FOR 455 Riparian Ecology and Management ................ 3
FOR 422 Natural Resource Policy ................................. 3
FOR 424 Social Forestry .............................................. 3
FOR 480 Project Design and Analysis ............................ 3
FOR 489 Ethics and Management of Public Lands ............. 3
Electives and General Education .................................. 33

Courses

U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G = for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.

Forestry (FOR)

U 140 Introduction to Urban Forestry 2 cr. Offered spring. An introduction to urban forestry principles and practices. Benefits of the urban forest. Topics covered include plant species selection, site design, site assessment, planting, watering, fertilization, insects and diseases, pruning and tree care, inventory of prop­erty values, and community forestry development.
U 170N International Environmental Change 2 cr. Offered spring. An introduction to natural and anthropogenic environmental change from ancient to contemporary times. Exploration of the historical role and importance of ecological disturbance on the development and maintenance of terrestrial ecosystems around the world. Introduction to fields of study available in the College of Forestry and Conservation.
U 180 Careers in Natural Resources 2 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Same as WBIO 180 and RECM 180. Subject matter and fields of study within natural resources management. Topics include forestry, wildlife biology, range, water, recreation management, forest products production, and other opportunities for careers in natural resources.
U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 196 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-3) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Problems course designed to allow individual research at the undergraduate level.
U 200 Natural Resources Measurements Camp 2 cr. Offered summer. Intensive two-week resident camp at the Lubrecht Experimental Forest. Introduction to the common measurements and skills used in identifying, quantifying, and understanding natural resources.
U 201 Forest Biometrics 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., MATH 117 or MATH 121 or equivalent. Applying statistics, hypothesis-testing and modeling to biological problems.
U 202 Forest Mensuration 4 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., FOR 201. The theory and practice of timber inventory and growth projection, including sampling procedures, statistical methods, field procedures, and use of microcomputers to compile inventories and simulate stand growth under specified management prescriptions.
U 210N Introductory Soils 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., CHEM 151N. An introduction to the chemical, physical, biological and morphological properties of soils.
U 220 Technical Writing 2 cr. Offered every term. Emphasis on strategy, style and tone in effective technical prose. Traditions of technical writing and how to adopt a wide range of tones and styles in writing various technical documents to diverse audiences. Focus on more effective technical sentences, paragraphs and larger writing components. Assignments include analyses, summaries, employment documents, research reports, case studies and editing/revision exercises.
U 230 Forest Fire Management 2 cr. Offered spring. Presuppression and suppression of fire and the uses of fire in management practices. Fire weather, the measurement of fire weather, the factors that influence fire behavior, and fire management decisions.
U 232 Forest Insects and Diseases 2 cr. Offered spring. Identification, significance of and remedies for insect infestations and infectious and non-infectious diseases of forests and forest products.
U 240N Tree Biology 2 cr. Offered autumn. Suggested coreq., FOR 241N. The physical and biological requirements for the growth and development of trees. Discussions of: identification, classification, range, and economic importance of the major tree species of North America.
U 241N Dendrology 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., BIOL 120N; suggested coreq., FOR 240N. Methods and techniques for identifying the major families of North American trees, based on gross morphological and anatomical features. Building and use of identification keys.
U 271N Issues in Wilderness Ecology 3 cr . Offered spring. A study of forestry and wildlife issues which affect the maintenance of wilderness integrity. Topics include: global climate changes; management of wildfires, cattle grazing and noxious weeds; game management; threatened and endangered species, including grizzly bears, wolves, bird and fish species.
U 272 Wilderness and Civilization 3 cr. (R-6) Offered autumn and spring. Social and cultural perspectives on the wilderness idea and wildland practices. Course topics include history of wilderness and the wilderness movement, various philosophical viewpoints on wilderness, protected area management issues, and how wilderness fits into larger landscapes and societies.
U 273 Wilderness and Civilization Field Studies 2 cr. (R-4) Offered every term. Field instruction in wilderness issues. Includes natural history, ecology, protected area management, field research, sustainability, and land ethics. One-day trips as well as extended backcountry trips. Part of the Wilderness and Civilization program.
U 274 Yellowstone Studies 1 cr. Offered spring. Ecological and sociopolitical perspectives on the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Topics include winter ecology, biodiversity conservation, national park planning and management, winter recreation, fire, and wildlife. Field course in the Yellowstone area.
U 275 Wildlife Conservation 2 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., sophomore standing or consent of instr. Principles of animal ecology and framework of wildlife administration as a basis for the conservation of wild birds and animals, and biodiversity. For non-wildlife biology majors.
U 280S International Wilderness Issues 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Concepts and practices of international wildland conservation. Effects of culture, globalization, and subsistence on protected area design and management.
U 295 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors; new courses or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 296 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-3) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Individual research at the undergraduate level.
U 303 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 3 cr. Offered autumn. Introduction to the basic concepts and techniques of computerized spatial data management and analysis systems and application to natural resource assessment.
UG 307 Forest Vegetation Management Models 3 cr. (R-6) Offered autumn. Prereq., FOR 202 or consent of instr. Hands-on experience in applying the common simulation models used by forest managers in forecasting the development of forest vegetation. Includes elements of model building and evaluation.
UG 320 Forest Economics 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., MATH 150; ECON 111S. Economic analysis involved in the use and distribution of forest resources.
UG 330 Forest Ecology 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., BIOL 120N or BIOL 103N, 104N; prereq. or coreq., FOR 210N. Examination of physical and biological factors affecting forest structure, composition, and function, including biodiversity, disturbance, and nutrient cycling. Field labs throughout Northern Rockies including developing skills in field observation, data interpretation and problem solving.
UG 331 Wildland Fuel Management 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., FOR 230 or equiv. Fire ecology, western vegetation types; planning for prescribed use of fire; fuel management objectives and techniques: mechanical, chemical, prescribed fire; smoke management considerations.
UG 332 Forest Entomology 3 cr.
Offered intermittently. Prereq., FOR 232. Classification, identification, life cycles, and control of insects which injure forests and forest products.
UG 340 Timber Harvesting and Forest Products Manufacturing 4 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Survey of ground, cable and aerial timber harvesting techniques and the subsequent manufacture of wood-based products from this harvest. Laboratory field trips to timber harvesting operations and several local manufacturing facilities.
UG 342 Wood Anatomy, Properties and Identification 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., BIOL 120N or FOR 240N, 241N. Lecture and laboratory investigation of the structure, identification and physical and mechanical properties of the commercial tree species of North America.
UG 347 Multiple Resource Silviculture 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., FOR 330 or BIOL 340 or equiv. An introduction to the concepts and application of silvicultural techniques to forest ecosystems to meet multiple resource objectives.
UG 351 Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., MATH 121. The theory and application of photo- and electro-optical remote sensing for mapping resources and developing information systems.
UG 360 Range Management 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. An introduction to rangelands and their management, grazing influences, class of animal, grazing capacity, control of livestock distribution, improvements, competition and interrelationships with wildlife. Laboratory exercises to gain on-site experience on topics and concepts presented in lectures.
U 361 Range Forage Plants 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., FOR 360 and BIOL 165N. Description, identification, forage value and ecology of forage plants of the western United States; important weed species, management of grazing lands, and the relationship of ecophysiology and morphology to grazing response.
U 362 Range Livestock Production 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., FOR 360 or consent of instr. An introduction to livestock production in natural systems and the role of livestock production in the world food situation; emphasizes selection, production and management principles of beef cattle systems.
UG 380S Environmental Conservation 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing. The interrelationships of resource conservation problems and programs; management and conservation in the context of an expanding economy.
U 381 International Social and Environmental Change 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOC 370, FOR 210, FOR 330 recommended. Case study approach to developing interdisciplinary and critical perspectives on social and environmental change. Cultural, political and economic processes which affect and are affected by ecological change are examined and related to sustainable development and natural resource management.
U 382 Field Studies in International Social and Environmental Change 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., FOR 381. Examination of social and environmental change, its management implications through an experiential learning, interdisciplinary field research experience.
U 385 Watershed Hydrology 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. An introduction to physical and biological controls over water movement and storage in the environment, and how those controls are affected by land management practices.
U 386 Watershed Hydrology Laboratory 1 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Coreq., FOR 385 or consent of instr. An introduction to basic watershed measurement and analysis techniques. Lab exercises designed around the use of spreadsheets and computer graphics.
U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-12) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one‑time offerings of current topics.
U 396 Independent Study 1-3 cr. (R-10) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Individual study or research problems.
U 398 Cooperative Education Internship Variable cr. (R-12) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience that provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office.
UG 410 Soil Morphology, Genesis and Classification 3 cr. Offered spring odd-numbered years. Prereq., FOR 210N. The morphological characteristics of soils, how the horizons formed and an introduction to the Soil Taxonomy classification system used in this country. Field trips will be included.
UG 415 Environmental Soil Science 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., FOR 210N. A detailed analysis of how natural and anthropogenic disturbances influence soil processes and how those processes in turn influence our environment. Specific topic areas include nutrient cycling, water quality, xenobiotic compounds, metal contamination, and the remediation of contaminated soils.
UG 422 Natural Resources Policy and Administration 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Policy formation in the United States and a survey of the major resource policies interpreted in their historical and political contexts.
U 423 Montana Wilderness Policy and Politics 2 cr. Examination of congressional legislative processes and congressional efforts concerning wilderness and roadless public lands management, particularly in Montana. Consideration of economic, social and political factors affecting how congress and the executive branch determine the fate of roadless lands.
UG 424 Social Forestry 3 cr. Offered spring. Same as SOC 424. A review of agroforestry, community forestry, and opportunities and constraints to the use of trees in rural development and protected areas management.
UG 441 Timber Management 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., FOR 320, 347. Management of forest stands for timber production, including review of factors influencing physical and value growth; use of growth and yield projections; economic evaluation of alternative stand management strategies; classical forest regulation; fundamentals of timber harvest scheduling; stumpage appraisal and timber sales.
UG 442 Technical Processing of Wood Products 5 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., FOR 340 and 342. Lecture, discussion, laboratory manufacture, and evaluation of solid and composite wood products. Exercises include lumber manufacture and drying at College's sawmill; plywood, laminated beam manufacture and strength testing; particle board and flakeboard manufacture and testing.
UG 447 Advanced Silviculture 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., FOR 347. Examination of silvicultural topics such as regeneration practices, thinning/stand density concepts, and silvicultural systems at an advanced level.
UG 455 Riparian Ecology and Management 3 cr. Offered autumn. Coreq. or prereq., FOR 385 and one introductory ecology course or consent of instr.. Importance of riparian/wetland areas and the complexities associated with their management for short and long term benefits.
UG 460 Range Inventory and Analysis 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., FOR 360 and one course in statistics. Methods of measuring range and shrub-land vegetation at individual and community level for determining plant composition, changes following treatments, and carrying capacity of range livestock and native ungulates.
UG 461 Animal Nutrition 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., FOR 360 or consent of instr. Elements of animal nutrition, physiology of ruminant nutrition, nutritional characteristics of forage plants related to nutrition requirements of livestock and wildlife, and nutritional strategies of free-roaming animals.
UG 462 Range Ecology 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., FOR 360 and one course in plant ecology. Applied ecology of rangeland uses by various biota, synecological response to grazing, fire, herbicides, fertilizers and mechanical treatments, structural and functional responses of grassland systems to disturbance.
UG 463 Range Improvement 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., FOR 360. Methods of improving rangelands, including grazing systems, control of weeds, controlled burning, seeding, fertilization and mechanical soil treatments.
UG 465 Restoration Ecology 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., senior standing and a course in forest ecology or plant ecology. Same as EVST 465. Philosophy and practice of restoring damaged ecosystems. Restoration planning including improvement of degraded soils, site preparation for revegetation, and case studies.
U 471 Natural Resource Management Core Behaviors 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Development of basic skills in communication, decision-making, evaluation, and conflict resolution using examples from the natural resources arena.
U 472 Building Knowledge on an Integrative Theme 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Interdisciplinary learning combining the arts, humanities, and sciences around a given theme. Possible themes include living with fire, water in the American west, growth property and land use, hunting and subsistence, forest communities.
UG 473 Collaboration in Natural Resources Decisions 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Same as EVST 473. Political and social processes affecting natural resource decisions. Examination of cases of multi-party collaboration in forestry, range, and watershed management issues.
U 478 Montana Community Analysis 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Conducting community-based assessments. Combining history, culture, economics, demographics, and ecology to create integrated profiles of communities to identify trends affecting current community development.
U 479 Nature and Democracy Synthesis 2 cr. Offered intermittently. In-depth evaluation of community/forest relationships as a follow-up to student internships.
UG 480 Forest and Rangeland Area Planning and Design 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., senior standing, WBIO 370, RECM 310, FOR 347 or FOR 360; senior or graduate standing; or consent of instr. A multidisciplinary planning team approach to developing detailed, site-specific resource management planning for units of forest and rangeland at the area or watershed level. Includes use of geographic information systems, computer modelling, and linear programming.
UG 481 Forest Planning 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., FOR 422 or consent of instr. Integrated multiple use planning at the forest-wide level: defining multi-resource management goals, generating management alternatives, projecting out­comes, assessing environmental impacts, and implementing preferred option.
UG 485 Watershed Management 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., FOR 385 or consent of instr. Effects of land management practices on water and sediment yields from wildland watersheds. Introduction to statistical methods in hydrology. Introduction to water yield and sediment modeling techniques.
UG 489E Ethics and the Management of Public Lands 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., lower-division course in Perspective 5 or consent of instr.; senior standing. Theoretical and practical ethical issues affecting the management of natural resources in national forests and on other public lands.
UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-12) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 496 Independent Study 1-3 cr. (R-10) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Individual study or research problems.
U 497 Senior Thesis 3 cr . Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., senior standing and consent of instr. Preparation of a major paper based on study or research in a field selected according to the needs and objectives of the student.
UG 498 Cooperative Education Internship Variable cr. (R-15) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off-campus. Prior approval must be obtained from faculty advisor and Internship Services office.
G 500 Forest Growth and Yield 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., FOR 202 or consent of instr. Offered alternate years. Theory and methods for projecting quantitative measures of tree and stand growth over time; includes analysis of computer growth and yield models used in the region.
G 501 Research Methods 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., a course in statistics or consent of instr. The nature of scientific research, planning research projects, organization and presentation of research results. Emphasis on the development of study plans for specific research projects.
G 503 GIS: Methods and Applications I 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of instr. General principles of geographic information systems. Instruction and lab use of specific software packages used for management decision-making in natural resources management. Students have hands-on experience in digitizing, mapping, spatial analysis and data-base creation.
G 504 GIS: Methods and Applications II 3 cr . Offered spring. Prereq., FOR 503. Continuation of 503.
UG 505 Sampling Methods 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., FOR 201 or equiv.; consent of instr. Definitions, sampling with and without replacement, equal and unequal probability sampling, sample size and allocation, estimates and their variances, simple random sampling, stratification, double sampling, two‑stage sampling, PPS and 3P sampling uses and precision.
G 508 Modeling Forest Dynamics 3 cr.
Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., FOR 500 and some experience with statistical methods and a programming language. Introduction to the construction of simulation models for forecasting change in forest vegetation. Survey of alternative modeling approaches followed by construction of a simulator. Includes specification of conceptual model, statistical analysis of data, and programming a working simulator.
G 511 Soil Chemistry 3 cr. Offered spring odd-numbered years. Prereq., FOR 210N, 330. A series of lectures on soil chemistry in the beginning of the semester, emphasizing water and nutrient movement, followed by a series of laboratory and lecture classes on soil chemistry, emphasizing data interpretation and problem solving.
G 520 Forest Resource Economics 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., FOR 320 or equiv., an upper-division or graduate level course in microeconomics, and consent of instr. The demand for, and supply of, commodity products from the forest, including characteristics of demand for stumpage, logs and processed products, forest management and harvesting decisions, and the supply of stumpage, intermediate and processed products.
G 524 Resource Policy and Administration Seminar 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., graduate standing or consent of instr. Theory and practice of environmental dispute resolution.
G 530 Forest Meteorology 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., graduate standing or consent of instr. A brief introduction to synoptic and mesoscale meteorology, followed by more intense study of physics in the forest environment: transfers of heat, light and momentum and their influences on plant structure, function, productivity and survival.
G 532 Forest Ecosystem Analysis 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., FOR 330 or equiv. Current research on important processes in forest ecosystems, including carbon, water and nutrient cycles, with emphasis on recent computer simulation models.
G 533 Use of Fire in Wildland Management 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years. Prereq., consent of instr. Western fire ecology and the planned use of fire. Wildlife, range and forestry applications of prescribed fire. Seminars and discussions; research applications.
G 545 Silviculture Research 1 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., graduate standing and consent of instr.; prereq. or coreq., FOR 347 or equiv. Reading and discussion of scientific literature related to silvicultural practice and science. Different topic each semester. Students become familiar with silviculture literature, develop skills for scrutinizing scientific literature, and examine silvicultural topics in detail.
G 547 Forest Vegetation Dynamics 3 cr . Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of instr. Role of disturbances, plant interactions, tree architecture, and structure on forest stand development. Laboratory provides experience with vegetation development reconstruction. Discusses even-aged, uneven-aged, single- and mixed-species stand development as well as landscape linkages.
G 548 Forest Stand Dynamics and Culture 1 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., FOR 347 or equiv. One-week continuing education course designed to present emerging concepts in stand dynamics and stand culture to practicing silviculturists. Topics include even- and uneven-aged stand dynamics and density control, fire management, fertilization, and stand health.
G 551 Digital Image Processing 4 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years. Prereq., FOR 351 or equiv. and consent of instr. Fundamentals of electro-optical digital remote sensors, data compilation, preprocessing, and pattern recognition.
G 571 International Resource Management 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., enrollment in Peace Corps Masters Program or intention of working in international resource management. Critical review of selected natural resource development, conservation and management approaches and experiences in developing societies.
G 582 Tropical Ecosystems and Management 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., graduate standing or consent of instr. Introduction to tropical forests and agroecosystems, and a critical examination of their management and conservation within the context of ecological, socioeconomic and political change.
G 586 Snow Hydrology 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., graduate standing or consent of instr. The physics of snow formation, distribution and ablation. Snow and forest management in the subalpine zone.
G 594 Graduate Seminar in Forestry 1 cr . (R-3) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., graduate standing. Presentation by students, staff and visitors of issues and topics in their fields.
G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-12) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
G 596 Independent Study 1-3 cr. (R-10) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Individual study or research problems.
G 598 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-15) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office.
G 599 Professional Paper Variable cr. (R-15) Offered autumn and spring. Preparation of Master of Ecosystem Management professional paper.
G 697 Graduate Research Variable cr. (R-15) Offered every term. Independent graduate research in forest management, wood science, soils, wildlife management, silvicultur­e, recreation and other topic areas.
G 699 Thesis Variable cr. (R-15) Offered every term. Preparation of thesis/dissertation.

Nature and Democracy

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

To earn a minor in Nature and Democracy the student must complete successfully 24 credits including:

FOR/HFD 471 Natural Resource Managment Core
Behaviors .................................................................. 3
FOR 472 Building Knowledge on an Integrative Theme ...... 3
FOR/EVST 473 Collaboration in Natural
Resources Decisions .................................................... 3
FOR 478 Montana Community Analysis .......................... 3
FOR 479 Nature and Democracy Synthesis ...................... 2
One 3-credit ecology course .......................................... 3

From BIOL 121N; FOR 330, 462; other 300-level course in BIOL or WBIO
One 3-credit natural resources management course ............ 3

From FOR 271, 275, 296, 360, 441, 455; RECM 217; WBIO 370
One 4-credit internship ................................................. 4

(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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