Wilderness Studies
Laurie Yung (Assistant Professor) Director of Wilderness Institute
The Wilderness Institute in the College of Forestry and Conservation offers educational opportunities and special presentations, and coordinates research related to wilderness and wildlands management. In addition to the Wilderness Issues Lecture Series and a summer educational program, the Wilderness Institute offers the interdisciplinary undergraduate program Wilderness and Civilization.
The Wilderness and Civilization program is designed to provide students, at or beyond the sophomore level, with a broad interdisciplinary introduction to the subject of wilderness, focusing on the multi-faceted values that wild lands hold for civilized society. The intent is to produce informed citizens, better able to participate in processes for public involvement concerning wilderness issues; the program is not intended as a professional land management qualification, although many students supplement their professional education through this program. A special feature is that students develop a sense of community by participating as a group in the intensive package of courses and field experiences required. Students who complete the Wilderness and Civilization program become eligible for the wilderness studies minor.
Admission to Wilderness and Civilization is based on academic ability and promise, commitment to wilderness studies, and over quality of application. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all college and university work. Applications are due by April 1 and are st available at the Wilderness Institute, University Hall 303.
Requirements for a Minor
To earn a minor in wilderness studies the student must participate in the Wilderness and Civilization two-semester program and fulfill the course requirements shown below (a minimum of 18 credits). The program's course offerings may vary from year to year, but will include sufficient courses from the A and B lists:
| Two semesters of: | Credits |
|---|---|
| FOR 273 Wilderness and Civilization Field Studies | 2 |
| FOR 373 Wilderness and Civilization | 3 |
| and at least two courses from Section A: Arts and Humanities |
|
| DRAM 214A Wilderness and Expression | 3 |
| ENLT 324 Montana Writers | 3 |
| EVST 301E Ethics, Beauty and the Environment | 3 |
| HIST 364E Environmental History | 3 |
| LS 302L American Indian Literature | 3 |
| NAS 303E Ecological Perspectives in Native American Traditions | 3 |
| PHIL 327E Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| and at least two courses from Section B: Biophysical and Social Sciences |
|
| ECON 345S Economics of Wildland Preservation | 3 |
| EVST 101N Environmental Science | 3 |
| FOR 271N Wilderness Ecology | 3 |
| FOR 304 Conservation of Natural and Human Resources in Montana | 3 |
| RECM 370S Conservation of Wilderness, Wild Rivers and National Parks | 3 |