Aquatic Ecosystem Science and Restoration

This is an archived copy of the 2017-2018 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.umt.edu/.

The major in Ecosystem Science and Restoration prepares students to understand how ecosystems work to solve pressing environmental problems or help restore degraded ecosystems. Students can select one of two options:

  • the terrestrial concentration, which focuses on the understanding and repair of terrestrial ecosystems; and
  • the aquatic concentration, which focuses on aquatic ecosystem function and watershed restoration.

Students engage in field-based learning, contribute to cutting-edge restoration or ecosystem science 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 Ecosystem Science and Restoration prepares students for careers as ecologists or 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 .

Bachelor of Science - Ecosystem Science & Restoration; Aquatic Concentration

W.A Franke College of Forestry & Conservation

Degree Specific Credits: 89

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Catalog Year: 2017-2018

General Education Requirements 

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

Summary

Major Required Courses9
Outside Major Required Courses39-40
Major Required Courses21
Outside Major Required Courses8
Restoration Aquatic Electives9
Social Science Elective Courses3
Writing Requirements15
Math Requirements for Major8
Exception to the Modern/Classical Languages Requirement3-4
Expressive Arts Requirement for Major3
Social Science3
Ethical & Human Values Elective within Major3
Natural Sciences within Major7
Total Hours131-133

Major Required Courses

Rule: Must take all courses

NRSM 121SNature of Montana3
or NRSM 170 International Envir. Change
NRSM 200Nat.Resource Professional Wrtg3
NRSM 265Elements of Ecological Restora3
Total Hours9

Minimum Required Grade: C- 

Outside Major Required Courses

Rule: Must take all courses

BIOB 160NPrinciples of Living Systems3
BIOB 161NPrncpls of Living Systems Lab1
BIOB 260Cellular and Molecular Biology4
BIOB 272Genetics and Evolution4
CHMY 121NIntroduction to General Chemistry3
CHMY 123Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry3
COMX 111AIntro to Public Speaking3
or THTR 120A Introduction to Acting I
GEO 101NIntroduction to Physical Geology3
GEO 102NIntroduction to Physical Geology Lab1
M 171Calculus I4
M 172Calculus II4
WRIT 101College Writing I3
Select one of the following:3-4
STAT 216
Introduction to Statistics
FORS 201
Forest Biometrics
WILD 240
Intro to Biostatistics
Total Hours39-40

Minimum Required Grade: C- 

Major Required Courses

Rule: Must take all courses

NRSM 344Ecosystem Science and Restoration Capstone5
NRSM 385Watershed Hydrology3
NRSM 422Nat Res Policy/Administration3
NRSM 465Foundations of Restoration Ecology3
or BIOE 447 Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology
NRSM 389EEthics Forestry & Conservation3
NRSM 494Ecosystem Science and Restoration Seminar1
NRSM 495Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum3
Total Hours21

Minimum Required Grade: C- 

Outside Major Required Courses

Rule: Must take all courses

BIOE 370General Ecology3
BIOE 428Freshwater Ecology5
Total Hours8

Minimum Required Grade: C- 

Restoration Aquatic Electives

Select at least 9 credits from the following:9
BIOE 342
Field Ecology
BIOE 439
Stream Ecology
BIOE 451
Landscape Ecology
BIOE 447
Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology
BIOE 453
Ecology of Small & Large Lakes
BIOO 340
Biology and Mgmnt of Fishes
FORS 250
Intro to GIS for Forest Mgt
GEO 318
Climate System Dynamics
GEO 420
Hydrogeology
GEO 421
Hydrology
GEO 460
Process Geomorphology
NRSM 210N
Soils, Water and Climate
NRSM 408
Global Cycles and Climate
NRSM 418
Ecosystem Climatology
NRSM 455
Riparian Ecology & Management
NRSM 465
Foundations of Restoration Ecology
WILD 485
Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology
Total Hours9

Minimum Required Grade: C- 

Social Science Elective Courses

Rule: must take at least 3 credits

Select at least one of the following:3
ECNS 433
Economics of the Environment
FORS 320
Forest Environmental Economics
GPHY 335
Water Policy
NRSM 379
Collab in Nat Res Decisions
NRSM 426
Climate and Society
NRSM 475
Environment & Development
Total Hours3

Minimum Required Grade: C- 

Writing Requirements

Rule: Must complete the following subcategories

Lower Division Writing

Rule: Complete all courses

NRSM 200Nat.Resource Professional Wrtg3
Total Hours3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Upper Division Writing

Rule: Must take at least three courses

Select at least 9 credits from the following:9
BIOE 428
Freshwater Ecology
FORS 330
Forest Ecology
NRSM 344
Ecosystem Science and Restoration Capstone
NRSM 379
Collab in Nat Res Decisions
NRSM 495
Ecosystem Science and Restoration Practicum
NRSM 499
Senior Thesis
Total Hours9

 Minimum Required Grade: C-

Math Requirements for Major

Rule: Must take all courses

M 171Calculus I4
M 172Calculus II4
Total Hours8

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Exception to the Modern/Classical Languages Requirement

Rule: The Ecosystem Science and Restoration major has been granted an exception to the Modern/Classical Language Requirement. Must take one of the following courses to will satisfy this requirement. 

Select one of the following:3-4
FORS 201
Forest Biometrics
STAT 216
Introduction to Statistics
WILD 240
Intro to Biostatistics
Total Hours3-4
Minimum Required Grade: C-

Expressive Arts Requirement for Major

Rule: must take one of the following courses

COMX 111AIntro to Public Speaking3
or THTR 120A Introduction to Acting I
Total Hours3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Social Science

Rule: May take the following course

NRSM 121SNature of Montana3
Total Hours3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Ethical & Human Values Elective within Major

Rule: must take one of the following courses

NRSM 449EClimate Change Ethics/Policy3
or NRSM 389E Ethics Forestry & Conservation
Total Hours3

 Minimum Required Grade: C-

Natural Sciences within Major

Rule: Must take all courses

BIOB 160NPrinciples of Living Systems3
BIOB 161NPrncpls of Living Systems Lab1
CHMY 121NIntroduction to General Chemistry3
Total Hours7

Minimum Required Grade: C-