Ecological restoration ─ the process of assisting in the repair of damaged ecosystems─ is one of the fastest growing areas of natural resource management. With increasing interest, there is a corresponding need for trained professionals who understand not only the science of restoration ecology but also the management practices and social factors that lead to successful project implementation. The College of Forestry and Conservation offers a Bachelor of Science and a minor in Wildland Restoration (for more information see: http://www.cfc.umt.edu/wildland/).
The major in Wildland Restoration prepares students to tackle the complex challenges associated with repairing degraded ecosystems. Students can select one of two options: the Terrestrial Option, which focuses on the repair of terrestrial ecosystems; and the Aquatic Option which focuses on stream, wetland, and groundwater restoration. Both options provide in-depth training in the science of restoration ecology and the management activities and human dimensions of restoration practice. Students engage in field-based learning, contribute to cutting-edge restoration projects, and are challenged to apply ecological theory to restoration practice. The major requires completion of a nine-credit restoration capstone, during which students gain hands-on real-world experience planning and implementing restoration projects in partnership with natural resource management agencies and organizations in western Montana.
A degree in Wildland Restoration prepares students for careers as restoration practitioners with non-profit, private, or governmental agencies and for graduate school in ecology or natural resource management. Students who graduate with this major may qualify for the following federal civil service jobs: biological technician (Series 0404), ecologist (Series GS-408), forester (Series G-460), hydrologist (Series GS-1315) and soil conservationist (Series GS-457). More information on federal civil service requirements can be found at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/alph-ndx.asp.
In addition to the major, the Wildland Restoration program also offers a minor for students who wish to gain basic competency in restoration while pursuing another UM major.
| First Year | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOB 160N (BIOL 110N) Principles of Living Systems |
4 |
| CHMY 121N (CHEM 151N) Introduction to General Chemistry |
3 |
| CHMY 123N (CHEM 152N) Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry |
3 |
| COMX 111A (COMM 111A) Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| GEO 101N/102N (GEOS 100N/101N) General Geology/Lab |
3 |
| M 171 (MATH 152) Calculus I |
4 |
| NRSM 121S (RSCN 121S) Nature of Montana or NRSM 170 (RSCN 170) International Environmental Change or NRSM 180 (FOR/RECM/WBIO 180) Careers in Natural Resources |
2-3 |
| WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) College Writing I | 3 |
| Electives and General Education | 6 |
| Second Year | Credits |
| BIOB 260 (BIOL 221) Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOB 272 (BIOL 223) Genetics and Evolution | 4 |
| M 172 (MATH 153) Calculus II |
4 |
| NRSM 265 (FOR 265) Elements of Ecological Restoration |
3 |
| FORS 201 (FOR 201) Forest Biometrics or STAT 216 (MATH 241) Statistics or WILD 240 (WBIO 240) Introduction to Biostatistics |
3-4 |
| WRIT 222 Technical Writing or WRIT 325 Science Writing (honors) | 2-3 |
| Electives and General Education | 7-8 |
| Third and Fourth Years | Credits |
| BIOE 370 (BIOL 340) General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 428 (BIOL 366) Freshwater Ecology | 5 |
| NRSM 365 (FOR 365) Foundation of Restoration Ecology |
3 |
| NRSM 385 (FOR 385) Watershed Hydrology |
3 |
| NRSM 422 (FOR 422) Natural Resource Policy and Administration |
3 |
| NRSM 444 (FOR 444) Ecological Restoration Capstone |
5 |
| NRSM 494 (FOR 494) Seminar in Ecological Restoration |
1 |
| NRSM 495 (FOR 445) Ecological Restoration Practicum |
3-6 |
| NRSM 489E (FOR 489E) Ethics Forestry and Conservation | 3 |
| Restoration/Aquatic Electives |
9 |
| Restoration/Social-Sci. Elective | 3 |
| Electives and General Education |
14-17 |
| Rest/Aquatic Electives: At least nine credits must be completed from: | Credits |
| BIOO 340 (BIOL 308) Biology and Management of Fishes | 4 |
| ENSC 245N (FOR 210N) Soils |
3 |
| GEO 420 (GEOS 480) Hydrogeology | 3 |
| GEO 460 (GEOS 460) Process Geomorphology |
4 |
| GPHY 284 Introduction to GIS and Cartography |
3 |
| NRSM 455 (FOR 455) Riparian Ecology and Management |
3 |
| NRSM 485 (FOR 485) Watershed Management |
3 |
| WILD 491 Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Ecology | 3 |
| Rest/ Social-Science Electives: At least three credits must be completed from: | Credits |
| ECNS 433 (ECON 440) Environmental Economics | 3 |
| FORS 320 (FOR 320) Forest Environmental Economics | 3 |
| NRSM 379 (FOR 379) Collaboration in Natural Resource Decisions | 3 |
| NRSM 426 Climate and Society |
3 |
| NRSM 475 (FOR 475) Environment and Development |
3 |
| First Year | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOB 160N (BIOL 110) Principles of Living Systems |
4 |
| BIOO 105N (BIOL 120) Introduction to Botany |
3 |
| CHMY 121N (CHEM 151N) Introduction to General Chemistry |
3 |
| CHMY 123N (CHEM 152N) Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry |
3 |
| COMX 111A (COMM 111A) Introduction to Public Speaking |
3 |
| M 162 (MATH 150) Calculus |
4 |
| NRSM 121S (RSCN 121S) Nature of Montana or NRSM 170 (RSCN 170) International Environmental Change or NRSM 180 (FOR/RECM/WBIO 180) Careers in Natural Resources |
2-3 |
| WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) College Writing I |
3 |
| Electives and General Education | 6 |
| Second Year | Credits |
| BIOB 260 (BIOL 221) Cellular and Molecular Biology |
4 |
| BIOB 272 (BIOL 223) Genetics and Evolution |
4 |
| ENSC 245N (FOR 210N) Soils |
3 |
| NRSM 265 (FOR 265) Elements of Ecological Restoration |
3 |
| FORS 201 (FOR 201) Forest Biometrics or STAT 216 (MATH 241) Statistics or WILD 240 (WBIO 240) Introduction to Biostatistics |
3-4 |
| WRIT 222 Technical Writing or WRIT 325 Science Writing (Honors) |
2-3 |
| Electives and General Education | 9-10 |
| Third and Fourth Years | Credits |
| BIOE 370 (BIOL 340) General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 448 Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology or BIOE 448 (BIOL 448) Terrestrial Plant Ecology or FORS 330 (FOR 330) Forest Ecology or NRSM 462 (FOR 462) Range Ecology |
3-4 |
| BIOO 335 (BIOL 350) Rocky Mountain Flora |
3 |
| NRSM 365 (FOR 365) Restoration Ecology |
3 |
| NRSM 385 (RSCN 385) Watershed Hydrology | 3 |
| NRSM 422 (FOR 422) Natural Resource Policy and Administration |
3 |
| NRSM 444 (FOR 444) Ecological Restoration Capstone | 5 |
| NRSM 489E (FOR 489E) Ethics, Forestry and Conservation |
3 |
| NRSM 494 (FOR 494) Seminar in Ecological Restoration |
1 |
| NRSM 495 (FOR 445) Ecological Restoration Practicum |
3-6 |
| Electives and General Education | 14-17 |
| Rest/Terrestrial Electives: At least nine credits must be completed from (students may not select an elective that is being used to fulfill any of the course requirements above): | Credits |
| BIOE 447 Ecosystem Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 448 (BIOL 448) Terrestrial Plant Ecology | 4 |
| BIOO 320 (BIOL 316) General Botany | 5 |
| BIOO 433 (BIOL 444) Plant Physiology |
3 |
| BIOM 430 (MICB 423) Applied and Environmental Microbiology |
3 |
| FORS 330 (FOR 330) Forest Ecology | 3 |
| FORS 331 (FOR 331) Wildland Fuels Management | 3 |
| FORS 347 (FORS 347) Silviculture | 3 |
| GPHY 284 Intro to GIS and Cartography |
3 |
| NRSM 335 (FOR 335) Environmental Entomology |
3 |
| NRSM 360 (FOR 360) Rangeland Management |
3 |
| NRSM 363 (FOR 361) Range Forage Plants |
3 |
| NRSM 415 (FOR 415) Environmental Soil Science |
3 |
| NRSM 462 (FOR 462) Range Ecology |
3 |
| NRSM 485 (FOR 485) Watershed Management |
3 |
| WILD 470 (WBIO 470) Conservation of Wildlife Populations |
3 |
| Rest/Social-Science Electives: At least three credits must be completed from: | Credits |
| ECNS 433 (ECON 440) Environmental Economics | 3 |
| FORS 320 (FOR 320) Forest Environment Economics | 3 |
| NRSM 379 (FOR 379) Collaboration in Natural Resource Decisions | 3 |
| NRSM 426 Climate and Society | 3 |
| NRSM 475 (FOR 475) Environment and Development |
3 |
To earn a minor in Wildland Restoration, students must fulfill the course requirements listed below.
|
Minor in Wildland Restoration |
Credits |
|---|---|
| NRSM 265 (FOR 265) Elements of Ecological Restoration | 3 |
| NRSM 365 (FOR 365) Foundations of Restoration Ecology | 3 |
|
BIOE 370 (BIOL 340) General Ecology or BIOE 428 (BIOL 366) Freshwater Ecology or FORS 330 (FOR 330) Forest Ecology or NRSM 462 (FOR 462) Range Ecology |
3 |
|
FORS 201 (FOR 201) Forest Biometrics or STAT 216 (MATH 241) or WILD 240 (WBIO 240) Introduction to Biostatistics |
3-4 |
|
ENSC 245N (FOR 210N) Soils |
3 |
| BIOO 335 (BIOL 350) Rocky Mountain Flora or NRSM 385 (FOR 385) Watershed Hydrology | 3 |
| Rest/Natural Science Electives: At least three credits must be completed from the following: (Students may not select an elective that is being used to fulfill any of the course requirements above): | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOE 370 (BIOL 340) General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 428 (BIOL 366) Freshwater Ecology |
5 |
| BIOE 448 (BIOL 448) Terrestrial Plant Ecology |
3 |
| BIOO 335 (BIOL 350) Rocky Mountain Flora | 3 |
| BIOO 340 (BIOL 308) Biology and Management of Fishes |
3 |
| BIOO 433 (BIOL444) Plant Physiology | 3 |
| FORS 330 (FOR 330) Forest Ecology |
3 |
| FORS 331 (FOR 331) Wildland Fuel Management |
3 |
| FORS 347 (FOR 347) Multiple Resource Silviculture |
3 |
| GEO 420 (GEOS 480) Hydrogeology |
3 |
|
GEO 460 (GEOS 460)Process Geomorphology |
3 |
|
NRSM 335 (FOR 335) Environmental Entomology |
3 |
| NRSM 360 (FOR 360) Range Management |
3 |
| NRSM 385 (FOR 385) Watershed Hydrology |
3 |
| NRSM 415 (FOR 415) Environmental Soil Science |
3 |
| NRSM 455 (RSCN 455) Riparian Ecology and Management |
3 |
| NRSM 462 (FOR 462) Range Ecology |
3 |
| NRSM 485 (RSCN 485) Watershed Management |
3 |
| WILD 470 (WBIO 470) Conservation of Wildlife Populations |
3 |
| WILD 491 Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Ecology | 3 |
| Rest/Social - Science Electives: At least three credits must be completed from the following (student may not select an elective that is also required for the student's major degree): | Credits |
|---|---|
| ECSN 433 (ECON 440) Economics of the Environment | 3 |
| FORS 320 (FOR 320) Forest Environmental Economics | 3 |
| NRSM 379 (FOR 379) Collaboration in Natural Resource Decisions |
3 |
| NRSM 422 (FOR 422) Natural Resource Policy and Administration | 3 |
| NRSM 426 Climate and Society |
3 |
| NRSM 449E (FOR/RSCN 449) Climate Change Ethics and Policy |
3 |
| NSRM 475 (FOR 475) Environment and Development |
3 |
| NRSM 489E (FOR 489E) Ethics Forestry and Conservation |
3 |
| PTRM 482 (RECM 482) Wilderness & Protected Areas Management | 3 |
| Total | 24-25 |