Undergraduate Courses
in Natural Resource Management (NRM)
(Subject titles and course numbers in parentheses at the end of the course description represent the course equivalent in the Texas Common Course Numbering system.)
1101 Introduction to Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (1-0)
Seminar course designed to introduce students to faculty, facilities, and progrmas in ANRS and introduce students to study skills essential to a successful career.
2301 Range Resources (3-0)
An introduction to the principles of range management, including a survey of its history, resources, policies, grazing regions, range ecology, grazing systems, range improvements and evaluation. Offered spring.
2302 Wildlife Resources (3-0)
An introduction to the wildlife resources of the United States with specific reference to Texas. The history of game management, endangered species, and methods for the maintenance, control, and increase of wildlife resources. Offered fall.
2303 Principles of Conservation Biology (3-0)
Introductory course on the fundamental issues in the discipline of conservation biology including conservation genetics, habitat fragmentation, natural resource sustainability, and island biogeography. Offered spring.
2404 Soils (3-2)
The origin, formation and classification of soils, as well as their physical, chemical and biological properties. Organic matter, moisture and soil fertility maintenance are also covered. Offered fall (even years) and summers (odd years).
3301 Fire Ecology (3-0)
Study of fire in range ecosystems, including history of fire, climate factors associated with fire, vegetation response, evolution of ecosystems with fire, prescribed burning as a management tool, fire safety and liability concerns. Offered spring, even years. Prerequisite: NRM 2301
3302 Forest Ecology (3-0)
Introduction to forest ecosystems. Includes forest types and distribution, inventory and monitoring techniques and management of forest ecosystems. Offered summer (even years).
3303 Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources (3-0)
An overview of the history, science, use and policy approaches to natural resource management, with an emphasis on rangeland, wildlife, soil and water resources within a social context. Offered fall.
3304 Natural Resource Policy and Administration (3-0)
An advanced course in land use management and policy, administrative organizations, and public relation philosophies of private, state and federal agencies that manage natural resources on publicly and privately owned lands. This course includes special programs presented by speakers from both state and federal agencies responsible for policy implementation and administration of wildlife and other natural resources. Offered fall. Prerequisite: NRM 2302.
3308 Agricultural Statistics (3-0)
Major emphasis is placed upon design, analysis and interpretation of agricultural and biological experimental data. Information presented in this course will include statistical concepts and models, simple tests of significance, analysis of variance, mean separation procedures, and linear regression-correlation analysis. Offered fall and spring. Prerequisite: MATH 1310, 1315, 1342 or permission of instructor.
3310 Special Topics (3-0)
Selected topics in the field of natural resource management. Topic selected according to student interest and need. May be repeated as topics vary.
3401 Rangeland Ecology (3-2)
A study of rangeland communities, including principal forage species characteristics, growth and phenology; resource planning and management; the effects of range livestock and wildlife on range vegetation; the study of plant succession and climax in relation to grazing and ecological condition. Offered fall.
3405 Horticulture (3-2)
A survey of the general field of horticulture; a study of the principles and practices of propagation; the growth and fruiting habits of horticulture plants and the culture, harvesting, handling and utilization of fruit and nuts. Entrepreneurship skills and landscape design will be emphasized. Offered spring (odd years).
3409 Upland and Wetland Wildlife Management (3-2)
Application of wildlife management principles to wildlife species in upland and wetland habitats; a survey of migratory and nonmigratory upland and wetland wildlife species; discussion regarding common management practices and survey techniques for monitoring upland and wetland species. Offered spring (odd years). Prerequisite: NRM 2302.
4301 Environmental Assessment (3-0)
An overview of environmental assessments, including but not limited to environmental impact statements, gap analysis, natural resource and biological survey techniques. This course will review legal requirements as well as assessment procedures currently used by private entities and federal and state agencies. Offered spring (odd years). Prerequisite: NRM 2301 and NRM 2302 (NRM 4406 and 4407 recommended) or permission from instructor.
4302 Advanced Topics in Conservation Biology (3-0)
Examines the major areas in conservation-oriented research including patterns of biodiversity, extinction, conservation genetics, conservation of populations, communities and landscapes, and natural resource sustainability. Offered fall (even years).
4309 Wildlife Population Dynamics (3-0)
Subject material dealing with the mechanics of growth and structure of populations, departures from stability and natural and artificial regulation of population levels, and techniques used to survey and monitor wildlife populations. Offered fall (odd years). Prerequisite: NRM 2302 and junior or senior status or approval of instructor.
4311 Problems in Natural Resource Management (3-0)
Individualized instruction in all facets of natural resource management. This course is developed to meet specific needs of individual students. May be repeated with approval of NRM chair. Offered all semesters. Prerequisite: Approval of NRM chair.
4314 Range Watershed and Hydrology (3-0)
Discussion of basic hydrologic processes, watershed drainage on rangeland watersheds; networks and stream-flow characteristics; influences of range vegetation on watershed, and management of rangelands to optimize watershed benefits. Offered spring (odd years). Prerequisite: NRM 2301
4405 Range and Wildlife Habitat Management (3-2)
Principles and practices of range and wildlife habitat management, including range improvement through mechanical, chemical, prescribed burning and biological manipulation of vegetation, grazing systems, revegetation and other habitat management practices. Also incorporates the effects of these practices on livestock and wildlife interactions. Offered fall (odd years). Prerequisite: NRM 2301 or NRM 2302 and junior or senior status or approval of instructor.
4406 Range Inventory and Analysis (3-2)
An overview of methods for measuring and analyzing rangeland plant communities and populations; statistical analysis of sampling; techniques to inventory rangeland resources; determining range condition and trend; determining forage production and utilization; determining proper stocking rates; development of management plans. Offered spring. Prerequisite: NRM 2301 or NRM 2302 or permission of instructor.
4407 Wildlife Management Techniques (3-2)
An overview of habitat inventory and evaluation techniques, census methods, age and sex criteria, banding data analysis and research methods in wildlife management. Offered spring. Prerequisite: NRM 2302 and junior or senior status or approval of instructor.
4408 Big Game Management (3-2)
Application of the principles of wildlife management to big game species; habitat management, production, population characteristics and management strategy for each big game species will be stressed. Offered spring (even years). Prerequisite: NRM 2302.
4409 Mammalogy (3-2)
The systematics, pylogeny, natural history and economic relations of mammals of the world with particular emphasis on mammals native to the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. Museum technique and field work will be stressed. Prerequisite: General Zoology or equivalent.
4410 Ornithology (3-2)
The systematics, pylogeny, natural history and field studies of birds with emphasis on those found in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. Prerequisite: General Zoology or equivalent.
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Sul Ross State University
